In December 2022 Esperance Shire adopted an Australia-first policy allowing tiny houses on wheels. Photo: Shire of Esperance
Esperance Shire is obliged to revoke its Tiny Homes planning policy due to changes in WA Government legislation.
Shire president Ron Chambers expressed frustration at having to alter the Shire’s policy which had been an Australia-first.
“Our policy outlined what a tiny home was, but the State Government have now rolled the description of a tiny home to be the same as a caravan which makes our policy no longer valid,” he said.
“We don’t have the ability to distinguish between a caravan and a tiny home.”
Mr Chambers described the changes as “a bit sad”.
“I think having the distinction between the two was better,” he said.
“A caravan, where it its water point? Where is its dump point? Caravans are not designed to live in long term.”
He said under the old legislation, people could camp in a caravan for up to a month in an area other than caravan park or camping ground with Shire approval, and up to a year with ministerial approval.
Mr Chambers said the new State legislation allowed people to camp 28 days with Shire approval and up to 24 months with this new approval.
“Then you can reapply after 24 months, for (another) 24 months, it could become a permanent thing,” he said.
“I don’t think it will solve the housing problem, it will create a bigger problem around amenity.”
The changes also allow local governments to revoke approvals in the event of a breach of permit conditions.
Councillors will vote on the matter this Tuesday.
