The Australian Tiny House Association acknowledges the Shire of Esperance in Western Australia as making history, by being the first local council in Australia to approve a tiny house planning policy for permanent living.
President of the Australian Tiny House Association Janine Strachan says the Association acknowledges that the Council of the Shire of Esperance has shown incredible leadership in providing a way forward to accept tiny houses for permanent living and by voting unanimously to adopt a Tiny House Planning Policy.
“The tiny house sector has been waiting for that one Council to accept that tiny houses can play in providing a legitimate housing choice. We understand that other Councils are observing this action taken by the Shire of Esperance, and it will only be a matter of time for other local councils to follow in Western Australia and throughout other Australian States.
“Tiny houses on wheels are commonly treated as caravans, where periods of occupation are limited from a few days to a few months, but they are unlike caravans as they are designed and built with residential building materials and construction practices, yet connected to a trailer.
“We are delighted that the Shire of Esperance formulated their Tiny House Planning Policy from a Planning Policy template that the Association prepared and circulated to all Australian Local Governments at the start of 2020.
“The Association also wants to acknowledge the important work of the Council Staff who brought this Planning Policy to Council for their consideration and we look forward to seeing other Councils follow with similar announcements.
“At a time when the housing crisis spans all parts of Australia from regional to rural to urban landscapes, we need to explore and embrace alternative housing models so that housing for all can be realised.