Housing Action Now: Suspend the 28 Day Local Law.
The Maleny Housing
Working Group (MHWG) have been busy this past year requesting a key immediate action in response to the housing crisis on the Sunshine Coast to be addressed: suspending the 28 Day (4 week) Local Law. This local law only allows people living in a temporary home without a permit to stay on private land for a maximum of 4 weeks in a 52 week period. This is an additional barrier for people facing housing stress and homelessness.
Recent updates on the campaign are as follows:
• Councillors have unanimously
voted to remove the permit fee for those experiencing financial stress until 30 June 2023.
• Councillor Dickson and
Councillor Law have asked;
o That we find a way to view these ‘temporary’ housing choices as permanent choices.
o To complete community consultation to explore how the new town plan can accommodate them.
This outcome is welcomed; however, a lot more can be done to reduce the barriers beyond removing the permit fee for a few months. MHWG contributor Helen Andrew has been doing a lot of leg work and has sent additional letters to
the councillors for consideration. As next steps, we would like to ask you all as housing advocates and concerned community leaders to please:
1. Send a personal message to your local councillor to go beyond the temporary
removal of permit fees.
2. Share this out to your networks to also do the same.
