They may have been operating without council approval, but they planted a marvellous garden around their AirBnB. In the last ordinary meeting of the SDRC council, Cr Cynthia McDonald and Cr Morwenna Harslett had a few things to say about a recommendation to approve short term accommodation on a property owned by Paula and Damian Giuffrida in Stanthorpe.
The application, for Hale Haven Drive, will now be allowed to legally host up to 10 guests. However, according to the report tabled, the owners have been operating the premises as an Airbnb for the past three years “without the requisite planning approval.” Indeed, Council has tried to resolve the matter on several occasions since January 2022.
Cr McDonald was not pleased.
“Mayor, I highlight once again – when you look at the background of this situation, we’ve got the cart before the horse again. I just wonder at times if we are being strong enough in these types of situations. You’re coming to us after the fact, and as a council I would like to see us proactively involved” in confronting residents ask for council approvals when facts are already on the ground.
“We have people building buildings wherever they want, and operating short term accommodation, and they’ve been doing that for three years without the approvals. I think we need to start looking at these processes.”
The Mayor explained that approvals for short term accommodation and camping in the region is being “regularised”, a process which causes these types of incidents to occur. But she does not necessarily disagree with Cr McDonald that there might be a case made for monetary penalties for doing so.
“In the budget process we can look at implications for that…that’s the place to ensure that we have the ability for recourse because we can’t do it on a case-by-case basis; we need to have it embedded in our fees and charges.”
Cr McDonald thanked the Mayor as Cr Harslett raised her hand. Apparently, one of the submissions on the application for short term accommodation at the premises complained of the landscaping not meeting the current landscaping code. Having a wealth of knowledge in that area, Cr Harslett visited the site and completely disagrees.
My prediction is that in five years’ time, this will be one of the showcase gardens of the Granite Belt. The landscaping is absolutely top notch, the plantings that have been chosen are brilliant for our climate, for bushfire reduction, and it’s going to be an incredible garden. So, I think we need to be very mindful when we’re criticizing landscaping that people are putting such effort into doing such a well thought out job and I’m pleased to see that our planning staff have done that.”
Cr Richters acknowledged those who made responses to the application. “There were some people who objected to parts of this application and those issues have been addressed.”
My prediction is that in five years’ time, this will be one of the showcase gardens of the Granite Belt. The landscaping is absolutely top notch, the plantings that have been chosen are brilliant for our climate, for bushfire reduction, and it’s going to be an incredible garden. So, I think we need to be very mindful when we’re criticizing landscaping that people are putting such effort into doing such a well thought out job and I’m pleased to see that our planning staff have done that.”
Cr Richters acknowledged those who made responses to the application. “There were some people who objected to parts of this application and those issues have been addressed.”
