Departments urged to work together
MINISTER for State Development, Local Government and Planning, Steven Miles MP has formally acknowledged a locally launched E-petition calling for the permanent use of tiny homes on wheels. In a letter dated November 9, the Deputy Premier outlined an initial response to the petition that saw nearly 5400 signatures call for change. While acknowledging the popularity of tiny homes as a possible solution to the state’s growing housing challenge, the Minister said it was ultimately at the discretion of council to “make decisions that it considers appropriate for the needs of its community.” The Minister highlighted a recent suite of planning framework amendments around secondary dwellings and affordable and social housing. However, he reiterated the Government had limited power in regards to Council planning and local laws. He said he would direct relevant department areas to collaborate. “I have asked both the Planning and Local Government areas of my department to work together to consider recent innovations in Tiny Homes,” Minister Miles said.
Lead petitioner and member of the Maleny Housing Working Group, Helen Andrews, said she was pleased to see State Government acknowledge the Sunshine Coast was in a housing crisis. She said the voice of 5373 petitioners had made the issue relevant for meaningful consideration, however, there was still much to be done. Ms Andrews said local campaigners had been working continuously over the last six months to engage local support and push for changes to local planning law to enable tiny homes on wheels, busses, and caravans recognised as permanent housing options, and for rural landowners to host several tiny housing types on private land as a matter of urgency.
“We believe the existing law does not provide residents who camp, live in cars, caravans, tiny homes and caravans housing security. The community has gathered and are proposing a new local law that will give all residents (including families and children) housing security during this growing polycrisis, we also ask that the amended local law allow for more than one temporary dwelling based on the size of the private land,” Ms Andrews said.
Ms. Andrews said despite discussions to the contrary, Council had complete power to change the existing local law and she said the more the community petitioned and gathered together, the louder the public voice and the more likely change would happen. For more details on the local campaign visit www.regensunshinecoast.au
