Media Release — Short stay restrictions could delay regional NSW infrastructure projects, operator warns

Tim Mortimer from BNB Made Easy speaking at NSW Parliament House.

Applying short-term rental accommodation (STRA) stay caps or other restrictions across regional NSW would negatively impact infrastructure development in the state’s west, says Tim Mortimer, Founder and CEO of BNB Made Easy.

Mr Mortimer manages more than 230 short-term rentals across the Central West and Riverina, servicing key regional hubs such as Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga where he says demand from infrastructure workers is outstripping demand.

“There’s so much work out here and not enough accommodation, so if stay restrictions were to apply it would impact the workforce for major infrastructure projects.”

These include solar and wind projects in the Orana Region, Australia’s first Renewal Energy Zone, major Defence Force infrastructure upgrades in the Riverina, construction of the $5bn HumeLink 500kV transmission line in southern NSW and work on the Inland Rail.

“They need operators like us out here to be opening up properties that are currently empty because the owners don’t want long-term renters in there or just use it as an occasional holiday home,” Mortimer says.

He says 60 per cent of all bookings with BNB Made Easy are made by key workers providing crucial revenue to local economies at a time when tourism in the regions is flagging due to cost of living pressures. In Dubbo and Wagga Wagga worker bookings are highest at 68 per cent. 

“Short term rentals are playing a vital role in ensuring there’s enough accommodation in these regional towns to allow this development to happen.”

Mr Mortimer made the comments at the launch in NSW Parliament House of independent research commissioned by the Australia and New Zealand Short Term Rental Association (ASTRA) into the impact of 60-day caps in Byron Shire.

The report by JWS Research shows the caps, introduced by Byron Shire Council, are damaging the visitor economy, impacting jobs and failing in its core objective of increasing affordable and long-term rental supply.

ASTRA Chairman Yoav Tourel says these findings have national implications and clearly do not work by unfairly targeting just one section of the accommodation industry without consideration of the overall impact.

The NSW Government has been undertaking a review of the short-term rental policy framework in the state since March last year and is expected to make an announcement on its findings within the next three months.

Further information:

Martin Kelly
MJKpr for ASTRA
(0414) 774 978