Outrage sparks as caravan reforms roll out Down Under
- Replies 18
The Australian dream of hitting the open road with a caravan in tow could be facing a significant detour.
Proposed reforms in one Australian state have sparked a heated debate across the nation, with many fearing the changes could have far-reaching implications for those seeking an alternative housing solution or a nomadic lifestyle.
The New South Wales government is reportedly pushing for new regulations involving individuals living in caravans.
Under the proposed regulations, they will be required to obtain council approval if their caravan on a private property exceeds 20 square metres, or if it's connected to utilities such as electricity and water for more than six months.
This is a stark contrast to the current legislation, which permits indefinite caravan residency on private property if used by someone within the main household.
For Eryn Norris, a 23-year-old residing in a caravan on her parents' property in Kariong, these changes could upend her living situation.
‘It would be drastic for so many people, not just people my age, but also say like my grandparents' sort of age. It would be detrimental to so many people's ability to have a house that's safe,’ Ms Norris asserted.
‘I looked into renting, and renting was just way out of the picture while I was at university. It's way too expensive, so we looked into different sorts of living situations, something that would work for us and this—without council approval—just changed everything.’
‘We would all eventually like to own our own homes, but to be able to even think about doing that you'd have to earn over $100,000 a year which... coming out of university is next to impossible,’ she added.
She also expressed her fear of never being able to possess her own home, and hoped for her and her three sisters to reside together in the caravan as they grew up.
Vito Russo, CEO of VanHomes, voiced his concerns, stating that there is no need for this change, especially amidst a housing crisis.
‘We are not against updating legislation, but definitely a lot more work needs to be done,’ he stated.
‘As the current proposal is, it will exacerbate the housing crisis.’
‘It is almost contradictory to be announcing all these initiatives to provide more housing, more affordable housing, then on the other hand... change the legislation,’ he added.
The impact of these reforms could extend beyond individual living arrangements.
A significant portion of VanHomes's clientele includes young savers, grandparents, individuals with mental health challenges, and survivors of domestic violence.
For these groups, the flexibility and affordability of caravan living are not just conveniences, but also necessities.
‘Some councils still want you to go through a development application process, and once you go through that… you could be looking at an up to 12-month delay and another $25,000, $30,000 to the cost,’ Mr Russo explained.
Minister for Planning, Paul Scully, defended the reforms, stating that they aim to ensure greater safety with installations.
‘It's been 30 years since the current regulation for regulations around caravan parks, manufactured home estates, and movable dwellings were reviewed,’ he pointed out.
‘A lot of the industry has changed, some good, and some bad. We're wanting to focus on what's working well and build on it.’
‘In a time where we are increasingly seeing tiny homes and movable dwellings becoming permanent secondary residencies, we also want to provide our councils with peace of mind when planning for local amenities and infrastructure,’ he added.
Individuals affected by natural disasters would receive specific permission to reside in a caravan set up in a backyard, without requiring council approval, for a maximum duration of two years.
Additional reforms are reportedly slated for review later in the year.
This is not the first change that was proposed for caravans.
Recently, experts called for a change in rules involving drivers towing caravans due to a concerning trend.
Are you or someone you know concerned by these potential reforms? What are your thoughts on their impact on the caravan lifestyle? Share your stories and join the conversation in the comments below.
Proposed reforms in one Australian state have sparked a heated debate across the nation, with many fearing the changes could have far-reaching implications for those seeking an alternative housing solution or a nomadic lifestyle.
The New South Wales government is reportedly pushing for new regulations involving individuals living in caravans.
Under the proposed regulations, they will be required to obtain council approval if their caravan on a private property exceeds 20 square metres, or if it's connected to utilities such as electricity and water for more than six months.
This is a stark contrast to the current legislation, which permits indefinite caravan residency on private property if used by someone within the main household.
The NSW government’s proposed reforms were criticised by caravan dwellers and other stakeholders. Credits: Shutterstock
For Eryn Norris, a 23-year-old residing in a caravan on her parents' property in Kariong, these changes could upend her living situation.
‘It would be drastic for so many people, not just people my age, but also say like my grandparents' sort of age. It would be detrimental to so many people's ability to have a house that's safe,’ Ms Norris asserted.
‘I looked into renting, and renting was just way out of the picture while I was at university. It's way too expensive, so we looked into different sorts of living situations, something that would work for us and this—without council approval—just changed everything.’
‘We would all eventually like to own our own homes, but to be able to even think about doing that you'd have to earn over $100,000 a year which... coming out of university is next to impossible,’ she added.
She also expressed her fear of never being able to possess her own home, and hoped for her and her three sisters to reside together in the caravan as they grew up.
Vito Russo, CEO of VanHomes, voiced his concerns, stating that there is no need for this change, especially amidst a housing crisis.
‘We are not against updating legislation, but definitely a lot more work needs to be done,’ he stated.
‘As the current proposal is, it will exacerbate the housing crisis.’
‘It is almost contradictory to be announcing all these initiatives to provide more housing, more affordable housing, then on the other hand... change the legislation,’ he added.
The impact of these reforms could extend beyond individual living arrangements.
A significant portion of VanHomes's clientele includes young savers, grandparents, individuals with mental health challenges, and survivors of domestic violence.
For these groups, the flexibility and affordability of caravan living are not just conveniences, but also necessities.
‘Some councils still want you to go through a development application process, and once you go through that… you could be looking at an up to 12-month delay and another $25,000, $30,000 to the cost,’ Mr Russo explained.
Minister for Planning, Paul Scully, defended the reforms, stating that they aim to ensure greater safety with installations.
‘It's been 30 years since the current regulation for regulations around caravan parks, manufactured home estates, and movable dwellings were reviewed,’ he pointed out.
‘A lot of the industry has changed, some good, and some bad. We're wanting to focus on what's working well and build on it.’
‘In a time where we are increasingly seeing tiny homes and movable dwellings becoming permanent secondary residencies, we also want to provide our councils with peace of mind when planning for local amenities and infrastructure,’ he added.
Individuals affected by natural disasters would receive specific permission to reside in a caravan set up in a backyard, without requiring council approval, for a maximum duration of two years.
Additional reforms are reportedly slated for review later in the year.
This is not the first change that was proposed for caravans.
Recently, experts called for a change in rules involving drivers towing caravans due to a concerning trend.
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