Whitsunday Regional Council approves short term accommodation as residents fight change

North Queensland residents have blamed their council for not “fighting hard enough’ for families that need housing, as they battle against adding more short term accommodation to their quiet suburbs.

Concerned residents fighting to limit new short term accommodation in the Whitsundays, so that locals have homes to live in believe the council isn’t working hard enough for the families missing out.

Whitsunday councillors, at the last ordinary meeting, approved two applications to turn homes into short term accommodation lettings (STAs), while residents had strongly opposed it during the consultation phase.

A Jubilee Pocket property at 2 Armada Crescent received council approval to be turned into short term accommodation.

The first application was at 2 Armada Crescent, Jubilee Pocket and two formal complaints were submitted, reminding councillors the AirBnB would bring party extravaganza to a low-density residential zone people choose for its quiet character.

Jubilee Pocket resident Melissa Schroeder told council it was “sad” and “disgraceful” to accept more STAs, while the region was facing unprecedented rental crisis.

“I don’t know if this email is even worth writing,” she wrote councillors, adding that this was the second time residents had been fighting for STAs not to come to their “lovely cul-de-sac”.

She added that a couple were currently renting the house.

“Why does this need to change?” she said.

“Our council isn’t fighting hard enough for the families who are losing out.”

A Shute Harbour property at 16 Harbour Ave received council approval to be turned into short term accommodation.

The second application was at 16 Harbour Ave, Shute Harbour, with four formal complaints sent to council.

There were concerns that the remote nature of their suburb would mean residents would be left on their own if something went wrong, with owners not on site to make sure rules were followed.

Shute Harbour resident Mal Priday told councillors in his letter that there were already 10 short term rentals out of the 57 houses in the Shute Harbour area, which meant almost one in five were already STAs.

Shute Harbour resident Mal Priday has opposed a council decision to accept a short term accommodation application in his suburb.

“That trend is contrary to the Low-Density zoning, and is ridiculous in what was formerly and is supposed to be a tranquil neighbourhood,” Mr Priday said.

WRC Regional Strategy and Planning director Neil McGaffin told councillors the applications did not go against the planning scheme as there was currently no benchmark on the percentage of STAs allowed in these residential zones.

Councillor Clay Bauman said the planning scheme was not addressing residents’ concerns properly as it used “undefined terms” to put limits to the STAs.

Whitsunday councillor Clay Bauman. Picture: Whitsunday Regional Council

He also urged other councillors not to accept the applications on the basis that it would harm the renting market further.

“We have 18000 residential properties — how do we have a housing crisis — it’s because they are not available,” he said.

Councillor Jan Clifford, who was the other councillor opposing the applications, agreed on the need to put a cap on STAs, to make sure “there is a limit and no more”.

The motion was approved by councillors John Collins, Michelle Wright, Gary Simpson, John Finlay and mayor Ry Collins.

Councillors Clay Bauman and Jan Clifford voted against.

Originally published as Whitsunday Regional Council approves short term accommodation as residents fight change