Shellharbour Council is taking the next step toward a two-year trial of mobile tiny homes, aiming
to give locals more affordable rental options.
To allow the trial to proceed, Council will prepare a Planning Proposal to change the
Shellharbour Local Environmental Plan 2013.
The change would allow mobile tiny homes to be installed on existing residential properties without a development application, subject to strict conditions.
“We’re in a housing crisis right now and all levels of government have to come on board with this”, Shellharbour Mayor Chris Homer said.
“Shellharbour local government is doing some heavy lifting here, but what we’ve done is we’re going to submit a planning proposal for gateway determination with the state government”
The Planning Proposal must be approved by the New South Wales Government, including a gateway
determination from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. The process is expected to take up to six months.
“It’s going to be the first its kind in New South Wales,” Homer added.
“We’re looking forward to moving forward and getting solutions to the housing crisis. These small, moveable dwellings are built on trailers and can be registered like a vehicle under
the Road Transport Act 2013.”
Once approved, the Planning Proposal will be put on public exhibition so the community can
have their say.
After the two-year trial, Council will review how it went and decide whether to continue, change or
stop the program.
