Noosa council crack down on Airbnb, short stay accommodation industry

Noosa Council’s controversial crackdown on holiday homes and units will come at a multimillion-dollar cost, a new report reveals. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Noosa Council’s war on short-term accommodation has ramped up with a swag of rules estimated to cost $2.5m over five years in a bid to protect the area’s amenity.

Latest reports revealed the proposed rules for holiday homes and units including the introduction of a 24/7 complaints register would come at a multimillion-dollar cost.

If approved, the proposed local law will force owners of short stay accommodation properties to apply for annual registration, have public liability insurance worth $20m, keep a record of visitors and complaints and have a manager who lives within 20 kilometres.

A cost-benefit analysis revealed it would cost the council about $2.5m over five years with staffing requirements alone to cost $1.4m.

But the report backs the crackdown estimating it would result in a $9m benefit to residents in the way of health and amenity each year.

Councillor Brian Stockwell said during the planning and environment committee meeting that the benefits outweighed the costs.

“It found the benefits were estimated as $9.5m per annum,” he said.

“That should put that debate to bed.”

Noosa Council Mayor Clare Stewart and Stayz corporate affairs director Eacham Curry.

The council also proposed some changes to the local law in response to the more than 600 submissions received in April and May.

Stayz corporate affairs director Eacham Curry said if approved the regulations could lead to fewer holiday homes in the area.

He also questioned the council’s estimated costs.

“Councils are famous of underestimating how much things cost so I’m a bit sceptical,” he said.

He said it would introduce additional costs for short stay homeowners which could lead to some pulling their properties out of the holiday market.

Mr Curry said Stayz continued to work with the council and hoped it would instead lobby for statewide regulation.

The latest report found that there were about 5000 short-stay accommodation homes and units in the shire.

School holiday crowds pack into Noosa Main Beach.

It said 86 per cent were owned by people who lived outside the area and of those 51 per cent lived outside Queensland.

The council’s latest plan included the introduction of a security firm to monitor compliance at holiday homes and units, at a cost of almost $80,000 a year.

It also added that the council should establish a 24/7 complaints hotline, in response to submissions from residents and some holiday home operators.

It said this would help provide security and anonymity for residents lodging complaints but would cost $78,000 a year for three years.

Another change from the previous proposed local law was that a security firm could be used as a contact person for holiday homes and units, but they must be located within 20km.

It also added boats, trailers and jet skis as part of the vehicle management rules.

Planning and environment committee councillors Ms Stewart, Mr Stockwell, Karen Finzel and Tom Wegener voted that the matter be discussed at the general committee meeting, scheduled for October 18.

Originally published as Noosa council crack down on Airbnb, short stay accommodation industry