Holiday home owners on Victoria's Bass Coast are urging their council to reconsider higher short-stay registration fees, as the council defends the charges as a way to cover local costs. Fresh ABC reporting describes opposition from owners and tourism representatives who fear the increase could discourage properties from being offered to visitors.
The council's current registration guidance lists a $600 annual fee for properties with one to four bedrooms and $900 for those with five or more bedrooms in 2026/27. The ABC reports that the earlier annual fee was $324. Registration lasts 12 months unless cancelled, applies to the individual property and cannot be transferred to another owner.
Bass Coast Shire mayor Brett Tessari told the ABC the council had not previously been recovering enough to meet the costs associated with short-stay accommodation. He pointed to waste and rubbish, as well as permanent residents' concerns about disruptive behaviour. The council says the extra fees are needed to deal with the demands created by holiday rentals.
A holiday home owner identified by the ABC only as Lisa is organising a petition against the increase. The ABC reported that the petition had drawn 550 responses. Lisa said some owners would keep using their properties themselves rather than continuing to offer them for short stays, leaving homes vacant for longer instead of making them available to visitors.
Inverloch Tourism Association president Glenn Morris told the ABC he was concerned the charges could make short-term letting unviable for some owners. He described strong demand during the summer holiday period and said the area already lacked enough accommodation at peak times. Those concerns are the tourism representatives' assessment, rather than evidence that properties have already been withdrawn.
The council fee is separate from Victoria's statewide short-stay levy. The ABC reports that the state levy began in 2025 at 7.5 per cent, with the money directed towards social housing investment rather than meeting local council costs. The two charges therefore sit alongside each other, with the council defending its registration fee on the basis of local service demands.
Alongside registration, the council's neighbours' factsheet sets out how properties are expected to be managed. Owners must nominate a designated contact who can respond to neighbour concerns within two hours, at any time of day or night. The contact details must be supplied in writing to adjoining neighbours, including a property directly across the road.
The management requirements also cover parking and rubbish. Owners must provide adequate off-street parking and garbage bins, tell occupants about waste disposal arrangements and remove excess waste within 24 hours of departure. These obligations form part of the council's broader approach to managing short-stay accommodation while protecting neighbours' ability to enjoy their homes.
