Arabic version: مالكو العقارات في باس كوست يطالبون بإعادة النظر في رسوم الإقامة القصيرة

According to ABC News, short-stay holiday home owners in Victoria’s Bass Coast Shire are calling on the council to reverse a rise in annual registration fees, arguing the increase could discourage owners from renting their properties to visitors.

Bass Coast Shire Council earlier this year lifted the annual registration fee for short-stay providers from $324 to $600. Homes with more than five bedrooms face a $900 fee. The shire, which includes Phillip Island and other holiday destinations on Victoria’s south-east coast, has had a short-stay registration process since 2023 and now has the state’s highest local fees.

Phillip Island holiday home owner Lisa, who did not want her surname published, rents her property online at a base rate of about $220 a night. She said she and her partner bought the home two years ago and planned eventually to move there full time. Lisa has organised a petition against the increase, which had received 550 responses.

Mayor Brett Tessari said the higher fee was intended to address costs and issues linked to short-stay accommodation, including waste, rubbish and complaints from permanent residents about disruptive behaviour. University of Sydney housing expert Nicole Gurran said holiday population surges can create added costs for regional councils, including waste collection and management of beaches, parks and public spaces.

Victoria introduced a statewide 7.5 per cent short-stay booking levy in 2025, raising $85.8 million that year for social housing investment. Some providers have criticised the continuation of local charges as double-dipping, while the council says the state levy does not cover its local costs. More than 1,000 short-stay properties are registered in Bass Coast, although AirDNA identified more than 2,300 Airbnb and Stayz listings in August. Tourism representatives warn fewer rentals could leave more holiday homes vacant and reduce accommodation options during peak periods.