There is disquiet after the public consultation for the NSW Government's review into the planning framework for caravan parks, camping grounds, manufactured home estates and moveable dwellings ended.
The exhibition package set out changes to:
- flooding standards
- installation of caravans, tents, and campervans outside of caravan parks and camping grounds
- installation of manufactured homes within caravan parks
- improvements to community map requirements
- updates to the standards for fire hydrants and hose reels
Over the past week, Terrigal MP Adam Crouch and Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Scott Farlow, have called for the NSW Government to consult with the caravan and manufactured homes industries before introducing any changes to the state’s housing policy.
They say that under the proposed changes to the Housing State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), prohibitive new size and location limits will be introduced for caravans located outside caravan parks which exceed 20sqm or are connected to electricity and water for more than six months.
“After visiting Van Homes, it is apparent yet again the Government has not consulted with communities and stakeholders before releasing rushed policy which will only make the housing crisis worse,” the Shadow Minister said.
“There are already significant delays in processing development applications through councils and Planning Minister Paul Scully is only seeking to add to the workload of councils therefore imposing delays on people seeking affordable housing solutions."
Coffs Harbour Labor President and a local councillor, Tony Judge, has mixed feelings about the proposed change to the rules governing installation of caravans on residential blocks.
“The rules are far more restrictive than current arrangements and may result in fewer cases where a caravan or mobile home can be deployed as temporary housing.” he said.
“If that is the case, it would be a terrible outcome in the current housing crisis.”
For more information, visit www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/manufactured-home-estates.
