Contributed by Richard Bruinsma
A GROUP of hinterland individuals is leading a community response to the growing housing affordability crisis – starting with rewriting the Sunshine Coast Council local law that oversees tiny homes.
The Tiny Community Living Campaign group is pushing for council to support a modified local law that will make it legal to permanently allow tiny homes on local private properties, with conditions.
Campaigner Helen Andrew (pictured), who has rewritten the ‘Establishment and Occupation of a Temporary Home’ local law, said the changes would allow one tiny home on a property of 800 square metres, with a sliding scale depending on property size, up to five tiny homes allowed on properties of 10 acres and larger.
Currently, the local law allows only one ‘temporary’ house – that is, anything on wheels – for a maximum of four weeks in a 52-week period, unless the occupant has a permit, with conditions and for a $514 fee, that extends that to a maximum 18 months – rules leftover from when the law was meant for those living in temporary accommodation on their properties while having a house built.
Housing affordability was raised repeatedly by the community in the recent local government elections.
The group notes that evictions from tiny homes on private properties fails to recognise the current national housing crisis, fails to support the most vulnerable in the community, and simply shifts the ‘problem’ to different locations.
Local organisations like Maleny Neighbourhood Centre has noted an increase in homeless people looking for support.
Some homeless residents camp at local parks – including at Conondale, Landsborough, and the Maleny Showgrounds for the allowable 72 hours, before being required to leave, by police or council officers, effectively forcing them to move between the locations every few days.
“Everybody wants this. All the community want it, the people want it – we’re just waiting for the council to literally tick a box and sign on the dotted line, that’s all it’s going to take. We’ve even written the law for them,” Ms Andrew said.