Shire of Plantagenet modernises tourist and short-stay accommodation policies

The Shire of Plantagenet is revising its policy on tourist accommodation to reflect changes in the tourism industry and attract a younger demographic to live and stay in the area.

The review aims to bring the policy in line with other shire policies, updating the language to reflect current definitions and meet community expectations.

A draft policy was presented to the Shire council at a meeting on March 28.

Town Planning Policy 14 Rural Tourist Accommodation and Additional Houses was adopted in 2006.

Since that time, there has been a significant change in the tourism industry.

Holidaymakers are moving away from traditional caravan parks and bed-and-breakfasts to homestays like those seen on Airbnb and nature-based tourism parks.

According to the minutes of the March 28 meeting, the officer’s report said the policy was no longer suitable for tourism development and needed updating to attract more people to the area, especially a younger demographic, by promoting the Shire’s “liveability and natural tourism”.

Updates included updates to fire ratings and adjustments to reflect the changing tourism landscape of Airbnbs and short-stay accommodation.

Shire president Chris Pavlovich said the Shire encouraged tourism-type accommodation to meet the lower Great Southern’s “huge tourism demand” as well as the accommodation needs of developments.

“The new windfarm which will be erected 30km south-east of Kojonup has booked out Mt Barker for I believe six to nine 9 months because there is not enough accommodation for some of these bigger projects in the region,” he said.