I have forwarded a letter to Gingin Shire raising my concerns over the TPS9 changes to “holiday Home Accommodation” terminology.
Looking beyond the fact that we have holiday homes available for use all year round. We also have an investment that we do not want to see go down the gurgler either, so we as owners and the management of our homes is taken seriously. Do we not want affordable holiday homes in the Shire of Gingin? Can a Chalet, Cabin and B&B house as many people as they want? Could these restrictions make our guests look elsewhere for accommodation or simply bypass the Shire of Gingin altogether. Please note, that my property is a rural farm stay group booking specialist and we are excluded from these restrictions, however, speaking with owners directly and knowing the details, maintenance and care from behind the scenes, I feel I need to have a voice with them.

My letter of concern emailed on 15 Nov 2011 :
Lisa Edwards –Executive Manager of Town Planning and Development
Mr. Mike Aspinall and Councillor Team,

Gingin Shire TPS9 Proposal Objections and clarifications required at the Gingin Shire Meeting Tuesday 15/11/11.

1) I believe the Gingin Shire is discriminatory on the issue of the term dwelling to limiting the holiday house/home market to 6 -12 persons, when there are ZERO people’s restrictions on any other forms of accommodation dwellings, namely Bed and Breakfast, cabin, chalet, guesthouse, therefore I would like to see the person limitation removed from the TPS9.

2) Clarification of the term “holiday home/house”

3) I want to encourage the Gingin Shire to register all short term accommodation providers.

I am a farm stay in Caraban on rural premises.
I adhere to Australian Tax Office Guidelines
I adhere to DOCEP guidelines
I adhere to our insurance guidelines
I am on rural land but for marketing purposes I call myself a holiday home, but I am on a farm, so I am actually a farm stay, therefore the person restrictions excludes my dwelling.

I want to see registration of short term accommodation, so some of us can become accredited with the Tourism Council of WA, create a network of providers and to promote the affordable accommodation as an alternative to not having national branded accommodation companies. Registration is a positive move forward for growth and consistency in the Shire of Gingin.
I do not want to see the shire management of short term accommodation providers for the estimated 25% peak periods we have, made up with an uneven playing field of clauses to the detriment of what building they offer TPS9 proposal. Most of these TPS9 changes do not affect my property, but I feel I need to voice concern over discriminatory dwelling clarification used to decide the proposed accommodation in the TPS9.

EXAMPLE: Bed and Breakfasts who supply food in non commercial kitchens are currently restricted to 6 persons for accommodation. New TSP9 has zero restrictions of persons. They now can act as a holiday home disguised under the B&B banner. The Gingin Shire TSP9 proposal is going to divide tourism based businesses in accommodation and create an untrustworthy partnership amongst us all that we are trying so hard to build well through networking.
An example of networking: My property was booked out. I gave Sandy Lake Farm a quick call to see if they had a vacancy. They did. Through networking we managed to still secure that person to stay in the Shire of Gingin. They are a B&B, but can still provide similar services to what my property can offer. Now, in the TPS9 proposal, Sandy Lake Farm has zero person restriction and can easily be that same holiday home that I am running, and now the coastal houses on non rural properties can be restricted to 6.

Who deems it a “holiday accommodation” because in my case: we cater for school groups and excursions, special needs children, NAVY recreational trainings courses, sporting groups, visiting friends and family, family reunions as well as holiday accommodation. Therefore you may need to make it clear as short term accommodation facilities and not just refer to it as holiday accommodation.

0–Bed and Breakfasts who supply food in non commercial kitchens are currently restricted to 6 persons for accommodation. New TSP9 has zero restrictions of persons.

0–A Chalet has limited facilities. New TSP9 has zero restrictions of persons.

0–A Cabin self-contained unit similar to chalet but may lack ensuite facilities. New TSP9 has zero restrictions of persons.
0–“Eco-tourist facility” means a form of tourist accommodation that is designed, constructed, operated and of a scale so as not to destroy the natural resources and qualities that attract tourists to the location. The development should utilise sustainable power, have a low energy demand through incorporation of passive solar design, and provide for low water consumption, ecologically sensitive waste processing and disposal with low pollutant product.

0–“Farm stay” means a residential building, bed and breakfast, chalet or similar accommodation unit used to accommodate short-stay guests on a farm or rural property and where occupation by any person is limited to a maximum of three months in any 12-month period. New TSP9 has zero restrictions of persons.

0–“Guesthouse” means integrated premises for short-stay guests comprising serviced accommodation units and on-site tourism facilities such as reception, centralised dining and management, and where occupation by any person is limited to a maximum of three months in any 12-month period. New TSP9 has zero restrictions of persons.

6–“Holiday home/house” means a single house (excluding Ancillary Accommodation), which might also be used from time to time for short stay accommodation for no more than six (6) people (but does not include a ‘Bed and Breakfast’, ‘Guesthouse’, ‘Chalet’ and ‘Short Stay Accommodation Unit’). New TSP9 has 6 person restrictions.
Example: Holiday Homes in Guilderton mostly cater for 6 persons to 14 persons. We assess each individual’s requirement and pass them around to the most suitable accommodation venue.

6–“Holiday Home/House (large)” means premises conforming to the definition of ‘Holiday Home/House’ with the exception that the premises provide short stay accommodation for more than six (6) people but not more than twelve (12) at any one time.
There are 12 weeks school holidays, 11 days Public Holidays=26% peak period booking potential. The coast has 95% holiday homes, therefore this maximum 6 person holiday home clause will affect 100% of the coastal accommodation and 95% of the accommodation providers in the Shire of Gingin. The affordable accommodation, one hour north of Perth, that we are known for will be bypassing us as a whole and open the market to Dandaragan operators. The Indian Ocean Drive has had some downturn effect on operators in Shire of Gingin; this TSP9 restriction will no doubt cause a further decrease in visitors to our attractions and activities which our activities and attractions are all inland with the exception of Moore River Tours.
A Shire Example I have reviewed: You have until 1 January 2012 to complete your registration. We have put together a pack to provide you with more information and an explanation of what is required if you rent your dwelling as short term accommodation or a self contained premise. If you would like to have a pack sent out to you, please fill in the form below, or contact our Environmental Health team. Busselton Tourism Group is the registered organisation for tourism. If you are booking short-term accommodation then you should consider choosing an accredited holiday accommodation provider. Can we not over rule on short term accommodation providers in one area for the sake of the minority, who spoil it for us. We do want to look after our investment and feel like locals at the same time. Can we work together with registration and networking capabilities and create progressive partnerships with the TPS9 rule proposal?
I do not want a reply from you, just a progressive partnership with non discriminatory rules with the Shire of Gingin
Thank you Rona Chiera
PO Box 1626
Osborne Park WA 6916
Mobile: 0419 909 167
Moore River Holidays
Short term accommodation provider in the Shire of Gingin