Whitsunday Regional Council are undertaking consultation on the Whitsunday Planning Scheme Short-term Accommodation (STA) Major amendment from 11 June – 20 July 2025.
The intent of the amendment is to identify precincts within low density residential zones where short-term accommodation may be supported, to the exclusion of all other low density residential zoned areas which are to be residential ‘dormitory’ areas.
Short-term accommodation is where a whole house or unit is rented out, with the owner not present. If the owner is present and is renting out a room short-term, this is defined as a ‘home based business’ and is supported in all zones (subject to meeting requirements) without the need development application or local law application
The amendment applies to development applications. Once a development application is approved, an annual local law licence is required to operate short-term accommodation, which governs the operation, property management and includes three-strike rule that allows Council to rescind ability to operate after bad behaviour.
As part of consultation, Council held an in-person interview with members of the Whitsundays Chamber Board, Advisory Group and Sub-committees on 9 July 2025 to capture feedback on the Amendment.
Meeting highlights included:
- Support for precinct-based STA management: Strong backing for defining STA precincts to prevent spread into residential ‘dormitory’ areas, protect housing availability, and maintain residential character.
- Housing prioritised over STA: Consensus that addressing housing shortages for staff is critical, with suggestions to revoke STA licenses in residential ‘dormitory’ suburbs and promote higher density housing options like townhouses and units.
- STA role in Olympics accommodation: Recognition of future demand for STA to support sailing teams and visitors before and during the 2032 Olympics, alongside calls for more hotels and strategies to manage accommodation supply.
- Improved property management and compliance: Support for local law property management rules (for example, the 3-strike policy), desire for increased compliance resources, and advocacy for a statewide STA register to ensure better control and data collection.
Underpinning these highlights were the following discussions:
Current Landscape
- Supports identification of precincts where Council may support STA, limiting the proliferation of STA into dormitory residential areas to preserve housing and residential character.
- Significant challenges in finding housing appropriate for staff.
- Some attendees historically affected by STA and poor property management.
Proposed Low density Residential Zone Precincts
- Supportive of proposed precincts to find appropriate balance in visitor accommodation and housing supply.
- It will provide clarity to industry or owners interested in embarking on the process to convert their premises to STA.
- Identification of historic ‘party house’ issues with STA in low density residential zones, such as Eshelby Drive. Identified that agreement with owner and improved property management have mostly rectified ‘party house’ issues.
Housing vs STA
- Consensus that housing is a priority over visitor accommodation, with many businesses having issues trying to find places for staff to live. Some considering purchasing house to accommodate staff.
- Suggest Council consider rescinding local law licenses to operate STA’s in dormitory residential suburbs, outside of proposed STA precincts, to encourage return to residential character and more permanent rentals.
- Strong support for Council to encourage more housing creation, considering potential for incentives to remove barriers that may improve viability of higher density residential development, such as town houses and unit blocks.
- Concern about proliferation of small lot subdivisions as form of ‘affordable housing’ that don’t align with our lifestyle and risk creating ghettos – would rather see townhouse and unit developments in suitable locations, which are also more appropriate for staff who don’t want to maintain a yard.
- Discussion of development opportunities for units and town houses within low-medium residential zoned land along Shute Harbour Road, between Valley Dr and Tropic Rd.
Role of STA & Olympics Visitation
- Significant visitation increases anticipated both pre and post Olympics.
- Identified that STA (dwelling) may be preferred form of accommodation for Olympics sailing teams;
- Sailing teams may visit to familiarise with conditions from 2 – 5 years before 2032 Olympics
- Anticipate up to 5000 support staff and 10k – 15,000 visitation for 2032 Olympics – significant shortfall of visitor accommodation to support this
- In lead up to Olympics, consider EOI for a house booking system to identify potential for visitor accommodation to be absorbed within interested resident’s vacant rooms
- Desire to see more Hotels being built to accommodate increasing visitation – query about how STA proliferation may delay hotel construction and factors that are preventing construction of approved Port of Airlie developments.
Property Management & Approvals Process
- Concerns that larger houses are more often a problem, hosting larger groups and more often treated for parties.
- Support for local law property management system and 3 strike rule as method to control ‘party houses’.
- Consider increasing resourcing to improve compliance and make sure all get licenced, to ensure that property management is in place and poorly performing properties are shut down.
- Some frustrations that many running for a long time and not being property managed under Council’s licence system.
- Support for advocacy to State Government to form relationship with AirBnB to create statewide register to assist in compliance and data collection leading into Olympics.
Summary notes kindly provided by Jonathan Cutting, Council’s Coordinator Engagement and Place.
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