Patricia Gill, Denmark Bulletin

The Shire of Denmark can approve the use of caravans and small houses for accommodation for up to two years on private property from September 1.

The changes announced last week on Sal and Justin Bellanger’s Nornalup property aim to ease the housing shortage for seasonal workers and homeless people, and give an option while a house was being built or renovated.

Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley announced the changes which also include camping on private property raised from three to five days without approval.

The Bellangers’ custom-built wheel-mounted ‘tiny’ house, Sanctuary Train, was designed to tell the story of the Denmark-Nornalup Railway line.

The 68ha property on Station Road is near the old Nornalup Railway Station.

Sal Bellanger said the nearby Nornalup Homestead on the property told the story of the family’s ancestor Pierre Bellanger and his family’s journey from France about 120 years ago.

At the outset of the project, Ms Bellanger found that any carriages for sale were in poor condition and it would have been difficult to meet the building code and make them warm and comfortable.

The Class 1A house can be moved in an hour, for example, in the event of a bushfire.

“This would involve disconnecting the power, water, septic, unbuckling its anchors and jacking it off its blocks and back onto its wheels and towing it away,” Ms Bellanger said.

“Technically, we could travel around Australia in it, move it to another spot on the farm or remove it or sell it, but we have no plans to do any of those things at the moment.”

The newly-opened house is listed for short-term accommodation but has approval from the Shire of Denmark for long-term rental and permanent living.

Ms Bellanger anticipated that the Sanctuary Train would be used for long-term purposes as family needs changed over the next several decades.

“Sanctuary Train could be used to house a housekeeper, farm worker, an artist or writer in residence or a family member,” she said.

Nornalup Homestead has been used for short-term accommodation since December 2020.

It has hosted seasonal workers, including jetty maintenance workers, satellite testing engineers and mountain bike track builders, as well as holiday makers.

“We also stay at Nornalup Homestead and Sanctuary Train to complete maintenance on the property and host family celebrations and just spend time on our own property,” Ms Bellanger said.

The State Government changes aim to reduce red tape, and caravans and tiny house approvals beyond 24 months can be renewed.

Applicants must meet health and safety requirements, and local governments may establish policies to guide their consideration of approvals.

Special approval is required for more than one caravan on a single lot.

The Local Government Minister can issue approvals in some circumstances, for example, if a local government does not deal with an application in reasonable time.

Fines for unauthorised camping will increase from $100 to $200 to deter unlawful campers, staying longer than five days.

The Shires of Denmark, Manjimup, and Margaret River assisted in advocating for the changes.

A Shire spokesperson said that subject to a Shire planning policy, the changes would provide a pathway for the construction and approval of tiny homes on wheels where they cannot meet the Building Code.

Illegal camping was an ongoing problem and the increase in fines was welcomed to deter people from doing the wrong thing and support local accommodation providers instead. 

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 29 August 2024.