An online platform described as “like Airbnb for the outdoors” is looking to boost its Illawarra and South Coast presence.
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Landsharing website Youcamp enables landholders, including farmers seeking extra income, to hosts guests on their properties.
Co-founder of Youcamp.com, James Woodford, said landholders and farmers can take advantage of a provision in NSW that allows property owners to welcome camping guests onto their land without approval from council, as long as they abide by certain conditions.
According to NSW government planning regulations, there are circumstances in which camping in caravans, campervans or tents “elsewhere than in a caravan park or camping ground” does not require council approval under the Local Government Act.
According to the document, council approval is not required for the installation of “up to two caravans, campervans or tents on any land (with the landowner’s permission), provided they are not occupied for more than two days at a time and are not occupied for more than 60 days (in total) in any 12 month period”.
Mr Woodford said Youcamp is “like Airbnb for the outdoors”.
He said one of the areas Youcamp is most prioritising for new private property listings is the Illawarra.
“At Christmas existing campgrounds in the regions are pushed to bursting point and illegal camping becomes a real problem in parks, rest areas and beach side reserves,” he said.
“This is a way to solve that problem and for private landowners to earn much-needed income - like Airbnb, but for your backyard or paddock.”
Mr Woodford, a former Fairfax journalist said using the NSW exemption means that a property owner can welcome guests without putting in any infrastructure.
“Many travelers are fully self-contained with toilets and showers in their caravan or camper,” he said.
“They just want a nice safe place to park away from the crowds. Also, insurance is automatically attached to every booking for eligible properties.”
Under the planning exemptions, council approval is also not required for the installation of a caravan or campervan on agricultural land, provided the caravan or campervan is occupied by “seasonal workers” on the land.
However, the Youcamp platform has been the subject of some controversy.
In 2016, Fairfax Media reported that Shoalhaven City Council had been seeking to prevent people from renting out camping spots on their private farms, and had sent one Kangaroo Valley farm owner multiple cease and desist orders from using Youcamp.