The Alpine Shire community is being asked to share their stories, experiences and opinions on short stay rental properties to help Alpine Shire Council develop a new local law.
In December 2022, Council resolved to engage with the community to develop a Short Stay Rental Accommodation Local Law - one outcome of Council's Affordable Housing Analysis and Action Plan project.
The aim of the Local Law will be to ensure there is an appropriate standard of management of Short Stay Rental Accommodation to help preserve neighbourhood amenity.
Alpine Shire Mayor, John Forsyth, said housing affordability and availability has deteriorated in the Shire over the past five years for a variety of reasons, including the increase in the number of properties being turned from long-term into short-term accommodation.
"With the support of the community through engagement and feedback, we are developing a draft Local Law that will help regulate the Short Stay Rental Accommodation industry in the Alpine Shire – an industry that is currently unregulated," he said.
"A new Local Law can help minimise the risk of guests staying at short stay accommodation affecting the peace and quiet enjoyment of neighbours, and potentially implement a registration and renewal system to support the regulation of this industry within the Shire."
While Cr Forsyth acknowledged that a local law wouldn't be able to limit the number of Short Stay Rental properties within the Shire or necessarily see properties returned to the long-term rental market, but it is important to put some measures in place to help manage the industry.
"The impact that housing affordability and availability has on our community is significant, and we need to keep the health and wellbeing of our community at the forefront of what we do," he said.
"If this Local Law is able to lessen the impact of holiday accommodation guests on the amenity of those who live around them, we're heading in the right direction - to do this, however, we need to know exactly what the impacts of Short Stay Rental Accommodation is having on our community.
"We encourage all community members and property owners to provide input by filling out our survey, or coming along to one of our market pop-ups or community drop-in sessions to have a chat to one of our Councillors or team members."
You can find more information about upcoming community information sessions and the survey online at www.engage.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/ssra-local-law, or pick up a printed copy from our libraries in Bright, Mount Beauty and Myrtleford, or Council's Customer Service Centre in Bright.
Community engagement for this project will close on Wednesday, 31 January 2024.