Gold Coast Airnbnb neighbours snubbed by state government
The Queensland government has brought in measures to combat problems created with the rise of short-term letting websites such as Airbnb and Homeaway on the Gold Coast.
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones has announced a code of conduct which will be be central to the Government’s response to short-term letting issues, affecting more than 900 apartments listed on Airbnb and Homeaway in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach — and the owners of neighbouring apartments.
This comes after four industry reference group “round table” meetings with about 20 stakeholders.
But Unit Owners Association of Queensland president Wayne Stevens says his group has been iced out.
He says his association, which represents the people who live next door to the short-term rentals, which target the tourism market, should have been invited to join the discussions.
He says his group has 5000 members and it is the only voice for the 480,000 unit owners in Queensland, including those on the Gold Coast.
“These are the people who will have to live next door to Airbnb,” Mr Stevens told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“We have heard the expression of balancing the interest of tourism and whatever, but they aren’t balancing that with our interest.”
The Government’s industry reference group included delegates from about 20 associations representing the short-term accommodation industry, traditional accommodation providers, landowners, local government officials and academics.
The proposed code of conduct gives operators a limited number of strikes. It allows for them to be declared “out’’ if they or their tenants caused trouble.
The government is also looking to set up a data-sharing system for the short-term accommodation sector to allow councils to identify anyone letting property as a business.
But Mr Stevens says that instead of new regulations, the government needs to enforce existing legislation. According to his association, short-term accommodation in residential buildings is illegal under current planning regulations.
18th July 2018
