Mayor’s Message

By Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Michael Whelan

So much of what council does is about balancing the competing demands of a modern, growing population – but one where we want to hold on dearly to what made us all fall in love with Bass Coast in the first place.

One of those hot issues, which I know from talking to lots of residents, is short-term rental accommodation.

It’s a vexed issue. On the one hand our tourism economy is critical to our local businesses and local jobs. To cater for the growing number of tourists – 1.85 million visitors each year – short term accommodation plays an absolutely critical role.

On the other hand, residents love their peaceful little pocket of heaven and complain that tourists staying in short term rentals interrupt their bliss.

Bass Coast Shire is not alone in trying to find an appropriate balance. This plays out across regional Victoria, nationally, and globally in sought after tourism locations.

To create a better outcome, many other councils have already introduced annual registration fees and standards and Bass Coast Shire has followed their lead having learnt from their experience about the best way to implement the system.

Under the new Local Law No.1 Neighbourhood Amenity 2022, adopted by Council last year, short stay rental accommodation providers must now pay an annual fee of $300 and abide by several standards.

There are two main reasons for the introduction of this Local Law: one is to help ensure that owners of short-term accommodation take responsibility for occupant behaviour, including having a designated contact person who is available 24-7 and can attend the property within two hours, if required.

And the second important reason is that it will help us to strike a balance between accommodating more visitors who choose to spend their holidays and weekends in Bass Coast, and ensuring our local residents are able to continue to enjoy everything they love about living here without added disruption.

To streamline the registration process, Council has set up a new online portal to administer applications and approvals for short stay rental accommodation providers in Bass Coast. It came into effect on September 1.

The online portal will better manage short stay rental accommodation provider applications, approvals and maintain efficient, effective communication with applicants.