As Airbnb operators continue to multiply across the city, Bathurst Regional Council has moved to support the home hire operators.

Currently, there are 96 Bathurst properties listed with the Airbnb website, which allows home owners to list a room, or their whole property, for rent. While Airbnb charge a small fee for each rental, the accommodation site remains largely unregulated.

In a submission to the 2015 NSW Government’s Inquiry into the Adequacy of the Regulation of Short Term Holiday Letting in NSW, Bathurst Regional Council said tighter regulation of this sector would have a “serious economic impact on racing activities at Mount Panorama”. 

The letter, dated November 6, 2015, from environmental planning and building services acting director Janet Bingham, said short-term home hire was critical for the annual Bathurst 1000 and Bathurst 12 Hour races.

“It is estimated up to some 400 privates homes are sublet by their permanent residents to visitors during motor racing events,” she wrote. “The existing arrangements work well with no regulation (approval process) by local government.

“Any proposal to increase regulation of home hire activities, and in particular to introduce a requirement to see development consent from council, is not supported.”

The NSW government inquiry is investigating under what circumstances councils should be required to regulate home hire activities and if so, what planning controls should be in place.

Council’s destination development manager Lucy White said the development of tourism and visitor accommodation is central to the ongoing development of Bathurst’s visitor economy.

“To date there have been no major issues or concerns in relation to Airbnb or other internet based providers,” she said.

Reaction from Bathurst’s hoteliers to the Airbnb growth has been mixed, with some concerned the online accommodation site could impact on their bookings, while others were concerned by the lack of regulation.

Bathurst Motor Inn manager Mitchell Meredith said he had not noticed a difference in bookings since Airbnb was launched.

“We’re mainly corporate [booking] and come weekends it’s mainly booked out with sport and weddings,” he said.

While Mr Meredith’s mother Kim, who runs Charlotte Apartment said she was concerned there were so many properties listed in Bathurst.

“Of course [Airbnb listings] could become a problem, that’s rooms that people are going to that aren’t being filled here,” she said.

But, Airbnb property owner Matthew Press said he has the potential to earn more letting out his Piper Street property online than through a traditional real estate agent.

“Everyone probably has their own story, but I haven’t had any problems,” he said.