Norah Head AirBnB refused by Central Coast Council

The Airbnb debate has been reignited, as Central Coast Council refused the first holiday rental DA to come before the combined council. Here’s why they rejected it.

Council has refused a holiday rental DA in Soldiers Point Drive, Norah Head

CENTRAL Coast Council has stamped its authority on AirBnBs operating in residential areas.

Councillors refused the first ever development application to come before the amalgamated council for short term holiday accommodation.

They voted against the staff recommendation, and shut down the application for the holiday rental on Soldiers Point Drive in Norah Head.

Reasons for refusal included impacts on surrounding properties such a noise, inability to maintain residential amenity of the area, and the DA not being in the public interest.

Mick Hart and Noel Honeybrook spoke at council against the DA last year. Picture: Sue Graham

Neighbours have been complaining about the anti-social behaviour at the property, prompting the DA to come before council.

Councillor Richard Mehrtens said in many cases, long term residents of the Coast are waking up to find a “party house” next door.

“This is conversation that is happening across the coast,” he said.

He said approving the application would set a precedent for others to run AirBnBs.

Council’s staff recommendation for approval came with conditions including a maximum of eight guests, use of the swimming pool prohibited between 10pm and 8am and loud music not to be played between 10pm and 10am.

Norah Head is becoming a popular holiday destination. Drone image taken by Central Coast photographer Andrew Cooney

Councillor Chris Holstein said it comes down to the owner’s ability to control who leases the house and the activities carried out there.

“Unless there’s a live in site manager you’ve got no control,” he said.

In October last year the owner of the house Michelle Thomas, who resides at the house and leaves when it is rented out, told the Express said she was just trying to pay her mortgage.

“It feels like I’m being discriminated against,” she said.

Resident of Soldiers Point Drive, Mick Hart organised a petition of 230 signatures and said when the house was used for AirBnB it was damaging the area’s quiet lifestyle.