Proposed changes could put Coast businesses at risk

Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch and Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Scott Farlow are calling on the NSW Government to consult with the caravan and manufactured homes industries before introducing changes to the state’s housing policy.

They say that under proposed changes to the Housing State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), prohibitive new size and location limits will be introduced for caravans located outside caravan parks which exceed 20sqm or are connected to electricity and water for more than six months.

Crouch and Farlow recently visited Van Homes, a Central Coast business providing affordable housing solutions built on a chassis with wheels, which has recently relocated to new premises due to increased demand.

“After visiting Van Homes, it is apparent yet again the Government has not consulted with communities and stakeholders before releasing rushed policy which will only make the housing crisis worse,” Farlow said.

“There are already significant delays in processing development applications through councils and Planning Minister Paul Scully is only seeking to add to the workload of councils therefore imposing delays on people seeking affordable housing solutions.

“Improvements to safety are always important and will be achieved by consulting with industry rather than telling them to ‘get out of the way’.

“Businesses are leading the way producing homes to help alleviate the housing crisis and the only response of the Planning Minister is to pile on new costs and delay.”

Crouch said Van Homes, employing hundreds of Central Coast locals, was now facing a threat to its existence thanks to “appalling mismanagement” by the Government.

“Yet again, our local Labor MPs are nowhere to be seen, refusing to stand up to support and protect our local businesses who should be flourishing and not facing cutbacks and closures thanks to the Minns Government’s addiction to red tape on small businesses,” he said.

“The fact that Minister Scully refused to meet with the owners of Van Homes to discuss the proposed changes to the Housing SEPP on not one, but two, occasions shows Labor just don’t care about our community.”