June 20th, 2022Your Say/Letters

I read with great interest, the article published in The Local (Issue 254, May 23, 2022) regarding the significant problems associated with guests staying at short term accommodation sites in the Hepburn Shire.
I have a situation in Hepburn Springs where on each of my neighbouring boundaries are short-term holiday accommodation sites. I am literally surrounded. Approximately 50 per cent of the dwellings in the once quiet street, are short term accommodation holiday rental sites.
Over a period of many years, I have had all the issues short-term holiday accommodation brings – noise, abuse, trespass, rubbish, illegal and unruly behaviours, blatant disrespect, straying animals, compromised privacy from overlooking and loss of amenity. Consistently, more people are staying at these sites than is allowed, which creates congestion and parking issues within the neighbourhood street. Irresponsible guests and their careless actions during the fire season pose a significant risk.
Every time I contact the booking agencies to represent my concerns – I am met with total disregard.
Hepburn Shire Council should absolutely mandate a policy similar to those of the Yarra Ranges and the Mornington Peninsula councils to control and apportion accountability for loss of amenity to the local neighbourhood, and to also penalise these irresponsible and ignorant accommodation property owners.
Hepburn Shire Council has granted planning permission for these dwellings to be constructed, with no declared consideration for the preservation of the local neighbourhood amenity. Applicants for these planning permits should declare to the council their immediate intention for the proposed purpose of the dwellings – a private residence or holiday accommodation – before any planning permit is issued.
At the moment there are no such council controls. Local neighborhood residents have no combative power or recourse to these council decisions. No-one listens, no-one cares – residents are completely ignored.
The owners of both these short-term holiday accommodation sites adjacent to my property are out of town Melbourne people – so no direct financial gain is felt by the town. The accommodation property owners and booking agencies just take the money. Any issues represented and preventative measures recommended to be taken are simply ignored.
Immediate and strong actions are now required by the council, accommodation property owners and booking agencies to restore lost amenity and to strictly control guest behaviours at short-term holiday accommodation sites throughout the Hepburn Shire.

• Dave McLachlan, Hepburn Springs

Letters to the editor are always welcome. Email donna@tlnews.com.au