Fresh pressure is being placed on Bega Valley Shire Council to change it’s stance on allowing people to live in Tiny Homes on Wheels.
A physical petition has been distributed throughout the District seeking support for urgent reforms.
Roz Hansen from the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast says as Housing Minister Rose Jackson made quite clear recently on this radio station, there are options for the council on this issue.
“The petition is seeking the council to implement, as a matter of urgency, a fast track development approval process that would allow tiny homes on wheels to be used as long-term rental accommodation for anyone in need of a home on land with an existing house,” Ms Hansen said.
“Shellharbour City Council has recently adopted a two year mobile tiny homes pilot program and they’ve adopted a customised local approval policy,” she said.
“That policy effectively means that if you meet the criteria in the policy, you don’t need a development approval.
“This is a definitely an option for them and certainly Shellharbour City Council have pursued that pathway. We are seeking Bega Valley Shire Council, also adopt a similar approach.
“The councillors would have to adopt the local approval policy for mobile tiny homes, but the staff would be involved in actually preparing that policy, and it would probably go out for public exhibition and comment.”
So why is the petition in paper form rather than online?
“We have to meet the council’s requirements in terms of accepting petitions,” she said.
“This petition is being distributed throughout the shire at various businesses and organisations that are prepared to allow people to sign it.”
