By Jenel Hunt
The Southern Downs Regional Council has given the green light for small houses to be built in the region following a decision to rescind the minimum size requirements for dwellings.
Previously the council had a ruling that the minimum size of a primary dwelling was 35 square metres.
An additional application and associated fee that was imposed on small homes is also being removed.
The unrelenting housing crisis has led the council down this path, with the urgent need for more affordable housing for residents of the region. At the meeting on 21 August, councillors also eased requirements on house amenity and aesthetics, leaving the way open for shed houses. This brought the SDRC in line with other councils and simplified the approval process.
A ruling about shipping containers not being allowed on small lots in rural zones was deleted.
Councillor Joel Richters, whose portfolio includes housing and planning and development, said the decision went directly towards helping with the housing crisis and achieving some of the aims of the housing action plan.
He described the Small House Survey, recently run by the council within the region, as ‘effective community consultation with a stunning result’. He said that with nearly 500 respondents, it showed that people were willing to engage with the council on ‘this really, really important issue’.
“It was very clear from the survey results that 68 per cent of respondents specifically were happy with having a house that looks like a shed for a home,” he said.
“There were some comments that people didn’t particularly like the idea but there was a larger portion of people who supported a home being something that looked like a shed.
“The results of the survey clearly demonstrate there is a willingness of the community right now to do everything that is in our power to support and enable housing options in this region.“
Cr Cynthia McDonald said she was quite comfortable with the changes that would occur in the region from the decision.
“With the living crisis and housing crisis that we are in, people are looking for serious alternatives. I haven’t seen a crisis like this before where people are living in caravans, tents and cars. It’s frightening. If this change can make a difference to assist families in putting a roof over their heads, then I’m certainly going to be all for it.”
Angela O’Mara, SDRC manager of planning and development, reminded councillors that building requirements would remain in place.
“So they would still need to meet energy efficiency and all the other requirements and get an approval for a shed to be used for a Class 1 building,” she said.
She also pointed out that the changes also meant the possibility of a shed being inhabited in the middle of a new residential subdivision.
Cr Ross Bartley said it was difficult for a public survey process to provide detailed background of housing demographics or include all stakeholders.
“Previous directors of planning have always said you run the risk of changing the way your community grows if you do certain things like this and allow certain styles of dwellings. You end up with interesting outcomes, believe me.”
Cr Richters claimed the right of reply, saying, “I think that the community through this survey is asking us to be leaders and make a change.”
The resolution to rescind the previous decision on minimum dwelling size and to delete reference to Class 1 buildings resembling a shed or garage as having an adverse effect on the amenity of the locality was carried, with Cr Bartley and Cr Wantling voting against.
