LAWS to tame behaviour at rowdy party houses on the Mornington Peninsula may be a Victorian first.
The clampdown comes after the shire last week adopted a Short Stay Rental Accommodation Local Law.
The new law includes a registration system that identifies the owner of a property who must nominate an agent to respond within two hours of complaints by neighbours.
A code of conduct aims to counter issues which have ruined neighbours’ nights, including rowdy drinking sessions, abusive guests, thumping music late into the night, car parking congestion and inadequate rubbish disposal.
Penalties will apply for breaches of the local law and the code of conduct.
The mayor Cr Bryan Payne thanked members of the community, short term rental accommodation operators, police and industry representatives who had input into this process.
“The proposed local law has received nearly 300 submissions,” he said.
“To meet both the needs of the community, as well as short term rental accommodation operators and users, the shire has made slight amendments … to achieve a balanced result.”
These included changing the curfew from 10pm to 11pm-7am, softening the curfew to allow for quiet use of outdoor seating areas, and removing the need for signs at properties to reduce the risk of burglary.
“We believe these amendments address anti-social behaviour, while also taking into consideration the importance of the short stay rental accommodation market for tourism on the Mornington Peninsula,” Cr Payne said.
“Frequent anti-social and rowdy behaviour from short stay rental accommodation is not acceptable in residential areas.
“The registration process and code of conduct will ensure respect for neighbouring properties.”
The council will advertise the new law in the Victorian Government Gazette and, once adopted, will forward it and the code of conduct to the state government and local MPs.
First published in the Mornington News – 1 May 2018
