Bega Valley Shire Council has rejected a call by a planning expert to develop a policy for tiny homes on wheels.
Respected 30 year urban and rural planner Roz Hansen accused council staff of misreading State Government regulations and not understanding the difference between a secondary dwelling and a tiny home.
But council’s Planning Director Emily Harrison told this week’s ordinary meeting there is already a planning pathway available for moveable dwellings in NSW.
“It generally requires a DA for land use and then an improvement under the Local Government Act for installation as a dwelling,” she said.
“The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act requires consent for use of land and importantly and as explained in the report a local approval policy can’t override that requirement under that Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.”
The discussion in the chamber came as the council voted against proceeding with a draft policy for moveable dwellings to provide crisis accommodation.
The recommendation from council staff follows the tabling of a draft by Labor Councillor Simon Daly in December last year.
A report to this week’s council meeting cited advice the council had received from the Department of Planning.
Councillor Daly told the meeting…it’s a disappointing outcome.
