What do cars, scooters and office chairs have in common? They are on wheels, and so are the tiny homes the Surf Coast Council in Victoria want to trial to combat the housing shortage.
In a proposed two-year trial, set to kick off in 2023, the Surf Coast Shire Council will allow people to live in mobile tiny homes following local law consultation last year.
"We've been very active in the affordable accommodation space and we developed an action plan about a year ago," councillor Libby Stapleton said.
"This year we've been working very hard on instigating some of those actions in that plan and one of those was a tiny house trial."
At the moment tiny houses on wheels do not feature in the Surf Coast's planning scheme or camping provision because, by definition, they are not a caravan.
But the trial will provide a better understanding of how tiny houses on wheels might help resolve affordable housing and key worker shortages across the Shire.
"There's a raft of employment in the Surf Coast where people just can't find accommodation, from hospitality workers to school teachers," Cr Stapleton said.
"Tiny houses are suitable for really anyone, and I encourage anyone who wants to live or work on the Surf Coast to think of this as an option."
During the trial, the Council will also develop criteria, application, permit and monitoring process for people who want to live in the mobile homes.
Location, location, location
People have speculated on the success of this trial, asking where the tiny homes are likely to be located.
And Cr Stapleton said that the success of this trial really relies on the mobile homes being located in suitable places.
"I think there are some places in Torquay where it would work, and there's others where the density is probably too great and it won't work, but that's part of this trial process," she said.
Not only are tiny homes on wheels combating a worker shortage in the Surf Coast, but they're also a great way to support sustainable living.
"People are choosing tiny houses not just for their affordability, but as a more sustainable way of living," Cr Stapleton said.
"There are people who want to downsize and have less impact on the environment, and living in a tiny house certainly forces you to do that."
