Council welcomes NSW Govt support for tighter controls on STRA

Published on 27 September 2023

Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, has welcomed the NSW Government’s decision to endorse Council’s proposal to cap un-hosted short term rental accommodation (STRA) to 60 days a year across most parts of the Shire.

“This announcement by Planning Minster, Paul Scully, broadly aligns with a couple of the key recommendations put forward by the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) earlier this year,” Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, said.

“Council’s original proposal to the NSW Government and the IPC, was for a 90-day cap on STRA in most parts of Byron Shire, with some 365-day precincts, while the IPC recommended a 60-day cap be applied across the Shire, but with a development pathway for 365-days,” Mayor Lyon said.

“Minister Scully’s decision incorporates parts of both Council and the IPC’s positions.

“The Planning Minister has acknowledged the shortage of permanent housing supply in the Byron Shire and the impact STRA is having on people’s ability to find stable, long-term accommodation,” Mayor Lyon said.

“The announcement this week is part of a broad government response to our planning proposal, and we now need to take some time to review and digest this information and start planning for the implementation of the changes which will take effect from September 2024,” Mayor Lyon said.

“We have always said that regulating STRA will not solve the housing crisis in our Shire, but it will increase the pool of long-term rental accommodation which is so vital for people, especially key workers and those on lower incomes,” Mayor Lyon said.

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