Mehrtens concerned about short-term accommodation
Cr Richard Mehrtens says he has been approached by residents in villas on the Peninsula about problems with bed and breakfast accommodation.
"I've been approached by residents of villas in Woy Woy that have an AirBnB next door,'' Cr Mehrtens said.
"They say that every weekend there is a new group of people having parties and loud events.
"The worrying part is that these are complying developments and only come to council attention when two complaints are made, then a DA has to be submitted.
"It's not so easy as to just enforce residential zoning, as this is included in the residential zoning.
"I think there is a serious risk that we lose control of the problem if this isn't regulated.
"As with so many things in the modern era, the activity is well ahead of the regulation, and councils need guidance on how this is supposed to work in communities around the state, not just here.
"Until then, I have major concerns about how this will affect our suburbs moving forward and will critically analyse every DA that we get to the chamber on these matters."
Cr Chris Holstein said he had more complaints from peninsula residents about strata title issues.
He said having a full time tenant in a house was much more attractive and consistent than the ups and downs of bed and breakfast accommodation.
Party houses were different to the idea of bed and breakfasts where the owners were on-site.
He said AirBnb issues would come up during the drafting of council's new Local Environment Plan but it was still up in the air as to which government body - State or local - would be in control of any new regulations.
Earlier this year, the councillors debated a development application for an AirBnB in Norah Head and knocked back the application citing residential amenity, visual and acoustic privacy and because it wasn't in the public interest.
Cr Troy Marquart and Cr Bruce McLachlan voted against refusal.
Cr Mehrtens said: "As I said during the debate when the DA for the AirBnB in Norah Head came up, that as we are a popular tourist location, home owners will see it as a great opportunity to make some extra money by renting out their homes or investment properties on AirBnB.
"While there has always been the holiday market in the beach side suburbs, technology is now making it easier for people to do this year-round with little consequence for them, but some dire issues for their neighbours and the local community spirit.
"Similarly, we already have a housing affordability crisis on the Coast, and if landlords can instead make twice as much money by only doing short term rental over summer or during school holidays, then long term renting will become even more unaffordable and precarious for local renters.
"We'll end up with suburbs becoming party house central, or being completely dead because no one actually lives there full time any more, and just comes for a few days or weeks then the house lies empty until the next people come in for their short stay.
"We are pulling out the rug from existing residents who chose to live in a residential suburb, not next to a club or hotel.''
A quick search on AirBnB asking for a place in Woy Woy comes up with more than 300 options.
SOURCE
Media statement, 8 May 2019
Cr Richard Mehrtens, Central Coast Council
Media Statement, 9 May 2019
Cr Chris Holstein, Central Coast Council