By Callum Ludwig
Both the cost of living and affordability of housing are key issues for Yarra Ranges residents and with the November State election coming up, Yarra Ranges Council has taken steps to advocate for changes to support the housing market in the region.
Social housing has been identified as a key advocacy priority to put forward to the region’s candidates and was discussed at Council’s advocacy breakfast on Tuesday 11 October while Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Jim Child has also recently proposed motions to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) to help manage short-stay accommodation, a hot topic among the community.
Cr Child said while Councils are limited in the ways they can require new housing to be affordable, Yarra Ranges Council recognises the need for more affordable housing options, particularly in regional areas.
“As a member of the Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance (EAHA), Council supports knowledge sharing across Councils and advocates for further State Government action and investment.
This includes identifying pilot zoning for affordable housing in appropriate developments, working with EAHA, partnering Council’s and housing stakeholders to identify and develop appropriate state-owned land across the region, and delivering a minimum of 11,7000 new social housing dwellings in Melbourne’s eastern region by 2032,” he said.
“Council’s inclusion of social housing concerns in our Health and Wellbeing plan 2021-2025, acknowledges the impacts of the gap in housing affordability in our region and the importance of our role as a Council to advocate for reforms to State planning policy to require inclusion of affordable housing in new large-scale developments.”
Yarra Ranges Councillors endorsed the motion at the September 13 Council meeting to be put forward to MAV, which was done at MAV’s Annual Conference and Dinner on Friday 13 October.
Belgrave South resident Adam Cornell started a change.org petition earlier this year regarding how many neighbouring houses are being disturbed by tenants in short-stay accommodation.
Cr Child said Yarra Ranges Council has put forward a request for the MAV to advocate to the State Government to establish a state-wide short-stay accommodation or rental registry, and further define a residential rental agreement to include short-stay accommodation.
“This registry would allow us to, as we do with many other businesses, monitor impact, understand the extent of how many short stays are operating and better plan and support our community into the future,” he said.
“We know our region is changing and as we continue to go through these changes, we will require a range of housing types, tenures and price points together with rental accommodation for lower-income households, and quality social and public housing across our neighbourhoods; to encourage people to stay connected to their communities.”
Currently, under the Residential Tenancies Act many short-stay accommodations are exempt from registration. CR Child’s motions were carried and unopposed by the MAV State Council delegates.
“A registry would be a simple and effective first step in understanding the extent and influence of short-stay accommodation on our region and will give us visibility over what properties are being used for short term rental accommodation and for how many nights per year, while also ensuring that community health and safety standards are being complied with,” said Cr Child.
