Media Response |

From City of Ballarat Director Infrastructure and Environment Terry Demeo and Director of Community Development Neville Ivey

The City of Ballarat is supportive of alternative approaches to housing people, including through increasing density across the city in appropriate locations and where appropriate utilising existing buildings which are under-utilised.

Terry Demeo, Director Infrastructure and Environment, says people need to be aware that the form of construction, known to some as ‘tiny houses’, are simply very compact dwellings.  To this end, they require a permit and there are no exceptions under the Building Act or Building Regulations.

If to be used as a house as the title alludes, being a class 1 building, the structure is required to comply with all the normal requirements for a house (dwelling) under the Building Act, Regulations and National Construction Code.

“The Planning Scheme doesn’t recognise the difference between a ‘tiny house’ and any other house. Under the Planning Scheme, all houses are referred to as dwellings. Dwellings are generally permitted across the city (sometimes subject to a planning permit) but normally not in industrial areas.” he said.

Neville Ivey, Director of Community Development said the City was in the process of developing an Affordable Housing background paper to identify the current supply and demand of affordable housing across the City of Ballarat.

Mr Ivey said the City of Ballarat was conscious of the demand for affordable housing and would be developing an Affordable Housing Strategy to investigate the opportunities to address some of these challenges.   

Anyone considering any alternate housing option, is advised to contact the City’s Building Services team.