Controversial proposed caravan reforms from NSW government

People living in caravans on private property could soon be facing new restrictions in one state in a huge blow to many struggling to make ends meet.

Australians living in caravans could be slapped with restrictions following a push from the NSW government.

Under the planned changes, people living in caravans on private property will need to gain council approval if their vehicle exceeds 20 sqm or if it is connected to electricity and water for more than six months.

Current legislation allows people to live in caravans on private property indefinitely if it is used by someone in the main household.

Eryn Norris lives in a caravan at the back of her parents’ property in Kariong on the NSW Central Coast.

Caravan residents on private property could soon need to gain council approval. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Troy Snook

The 23-year-old said the proposed reforms would discourage people from pursuing the affordable housing option.

“It would be drastic for so many people, even just people my age but also say like my grandparents’ sort of age, it would be detrimental to so many people’s ability to have a house that’s safe,” Ms Norris said.

“I looked into renting and renting was just way out of the picture while I was at university. It’s way too expensive so we looked into different sorts of living situations, something that would work for us and this – without council approval – just changed everything.

“We would all eventually like to own our own homes but to be able to even think about doing that you’d have to earn over $100,000 a year which … coming out of university is next to impossible,” she said.

She said she was afraid she would never own her own home and hoped she and her three sisters could live in the caravan together as they grew up.

VanHomes chief executive Vito Russo said the change was unnecessary, particularly during a housing crisis.

The change could challenge low-income people. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

“We are not against updating legislation but definitely a lot more work needs to be done,” he told Sky News Australia.

“As the current proposal is, it will exacerbate the housing crisis.

“It is almost contradictive to be announcing all these initiatives to provide more housing, more affordable housing then on the other hand … change the legislation.”

A large proportion of VanHomes'’s customers include young people trying to save money, grandparents who want to be closer to grandchildren, people with mental health issues and domestic violence survivors.

“Some councils still want you to go through a development application process and once you go through that DA process, you could be looking at an up to 12-month delay and another $25,000, $30,000 to the cost,” Mr Russo said.

NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully said the proposed reforms aimed to ensure greater safety with installations. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Minister for Planning Paul Scully said in a statement to Sky News the proposed reforms aimed to ensure greater safety with installations.

“It’s been 30 years since the current regulation for regulations around caravan parks, manufactured home estates and movable dwellings were reviewed,” the statement said.

“A lot of the industry has changed, some good and some bad. We’re wanting to focus on what’s working well and build on it.

“In a time where we are increasingly seeing tiny homes and movable dwellings becoming permanent secondary residencies, we also want to provide our councils with peace of mind when planning for local amenities and infrastructure.”

Those impacted by natural disasters would have special dispensation to live in an installed caravan in a backyard – without council approval – for up to two years.

A second package of proposed reforms will be considered later this year.

Originally published as Controversial proposed caravan reforms from NSW government