All residents living in unsafe government-owned Batemans Bay motel ‘assisted’ to find alternative housing

Twenty low-income residents who were living in an unsafe NSW Government-owned Batemans Bay motel hit by fire and vandals have been “assisted” to find alternative accommodation, says Transport for NSW.

The longstanding Bay Waters motel premises was bought by the NSW Government for $4 million in 2018 to be run as an ongoing motel business as part of the Batemans Bay bridge works. The property was acquired to facilitate roadworks while a private operator continued to run the accommodation service.

The chronic rental shortage in Batemans Bay meant that some 20 residents were living in the building permanently.

But after the motel was damaged by fire in June 2023 and then targeted by vandals, it gradually became unsafe to live in, meaning the tenants had to be evicted.

“Serious safety concerns were identified during an inspection of a property owned by Transport for NSW in Batemans Bay,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.

“After Transport for NSW received advice that the structure of a building had been compromised, a decision was made to end a month-to-month lease arrangement with a third-party operator who was leasing the site. The decision to reduce serious risk and to ensure safety was always our top priority.

“The third-party operator made the decision to give the remaining occupants notice to vacate the property on Sunday 24 November 2024. We recognise this was disruptive.

“People living at this motel needed safe housing. Homes NSW, in collaboration with specialist services, assisted around 20 residents to find alternative accommodation.

“There are now no remaining residents at the Bay Waters motel in Batemans Bay.

“Working with Homes NSW, we took steps to ensure people residing at the property had sufficient time to find safer alternate accommodation.”

Transport for NSW did not answer a question from Region on whether these residents all actually found permanent alternative housing in a town where the rental vacancy rate is less than one per cent. It also declined to answer our question on why the NSW Government allowed its own asset to deteriorate to the point it became unsafe for its tenants.

The Tenants’ Union of NSW Policy and Advocacy Manager, Eloise Parrab, said the NSW Government had a responsibility to make sure all the former residents found proper homes.

“The NSW Government needs to ensure that all tenants that need to be relocated from the former Bay Waters motel have access to safe, secure, stable and affordable housing. Housing is an essential service and no one should be made homeless as a result of the closure. The Tenants’ Union advocates for the government to invest in more genuinely affordable housing in regional NSW,” she said.

The private operator is understood to still be in possession of the property and is completing end of lease work required ahead of handing it back to Transport for NSW.

The NSW state MP for Bega Dr Michael Holland, who represents the Batemans Bay area, said he helped out with the process of relocating tenants.

“I understand all residents have now been supported to find alternative accommodation,” he said.

“Throughout this process I have remained in close contact with my parliamentary colleagues The Hon. Jenny Aitchison and The Hon. Rose Jackson as well as Transport for NSW and Homes NSW.

“Together we monitored the situation and ensured that all residents received appropriate support, including information about housing options and outreach from Legal Aid, Anglicare, Campbell Page and The Family Place.”

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