Breakthrough for rural landowners as NSW inquiry launched

OWNERS of rural properties across NSW are celebrating a major breakthrough with the establishment of an Upper House inquiry to simplify the rules around building second dwellings on rural land.

The reform push was initiated by Port Macquarie-Hastings councillor Mark Hornshaw, who successfully moved a motion at the June council meeting to liberalise the rules.

The motion passed 6–2, with only councillors Lauren Edwards and Rachel Sheppard opposed.

The matter was later taken up at state level by Libertarian MLC John Ruddick, who presented the government with an alternative model that gives landowners greater flexibility.

Councillor Hornshaw is also a member of the Libertarian Party.

The NSW Legislative Council has since voted unanimously to establish the inquiry, which Mr Ruddick will chair.

In a rare show of unity, Labor, Liberal, Greens and Cannabis Party members all spoke in favour of reforming rules that many consider outdated and restrictive for farming families.

Councillor Hornshaw welcomed the move.

“There are around 250,000 rural properties across NSW including thousands in the Port Macquarie-Hastings,” he said.

“I have had many people tell me they want to build a second house, either for grown children, elderly parents, farm workers or rental income.

“Allowing them the flexibility to do so will help to keep farming families on their land. It will also help to ease the housing crisis without costing the government a cent.”

He criticised the current regulations as being unnecessarily complex.

“If you want to build a dual occupancy in PMHC without subdividing the land, it has to be attached to the existing house, which is not always possible or desirable.

“If you want to build a secondary dwelling elsewhere on the property, it must be within 100 metres of the current house, and it can only be 60 square metres or 33 percent of the size of the primary dwelling.

“Or, if you can afford it, you can build something three times the size of the old house, but not the same size.

“People are baffled by these rules.

“Older houses were often built right up near the road and power lines, but today many people want to build off grid, taking advantage of solar, wind and views.

“I cannot see any good reason to stop them.

“We just need to get the government out of the way.

“It is exciting to see a PMHC initiative like this receiving such enthusiastic support from both government and opposition.”

For Comboyne residents Tony and Josie Makin, who are still actively farming cattle in their mid-80s, the reform could not come soon enough.

They share their 127ha property with their daughter Adelle and her husband John, who also grows garlic on the farm.

John and Adelle have five young adult children, including two daughters studying horticulture.

“With the younger ones studying horticulture, we would love to see them taking up farming and carrying on the work,” Mrs Makin said.

“But the biggest issue will be housing for them,” she said.

“Housing affordability is a huge problem, and even if they could afford something, there are very few houses available in Comboyne.

“Why should they have to live 45 minutes away when we have this beautiful land all around us?

“If we had the flexibility to build an additional house without having to subdivide, we could keep the family close but not living on top of each other.

“When Councillor Hornshaw told us about this proposal we were immediately thrilled, as it is something we have dreamed of for a long time as a family.”

The select committee will seek feedback from landowners across NSW in the coming months and is expected to deliver its report in February.

By Luke HADFIELD