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In this eye-opening episode, we delve into the groundbreaking decision by Mount Alexander Shire Council to legalise tiny houses on wheels. Featuring a detailed interview with Councillor Rosie Annear, who was Mayor at the time of the law change, we explore:

• The journey from initial proposal to successful implementation
• Challenges faced in navigating planning schemes and local laws
• How community engagement played a crucial role in the process
• The council's approach to balancing safety concerns with housing needs
• The impact of the decision on local housing options and affordability

Key highlights:

- Insight into the council's decision-making process and risk assessment
- Discussion of the planning scheme complexities and how they were overcome
- The unprecedented level of community support (91% in favour)
- Reflection on the broader implications for housing solutions in Victoria

Whether you're a tiny house enthusiast, interested in local government processes, or concerned about housing affordability, this episode offers valuable insights into how innovative policy changes can address pressing community needs.

Don't miss our special announcement at the end of the episode!

Listen now to discover how one council's brave decision is paving the way for alternative housing solutions across the country.

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Tiny House & Land Offers Mount Alexander Shire Database
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Music by Scott Buckley

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This is season 2 of Candid Tiny House where we peek behind the scenes of the successful campaign to change tiny house laws in Central Victoria, to show you how you can campaign to replicate the changes in your home town.

Kaz Neilson is key to this second attempt at changing tiny house laws. She is the coordinator for My Home Network, the driving force behind the new campaign.

Kathryn McGoldrick is a tiny house dweller and advocate, who solved her homelessness through building a tiny house on wheels.

They share the steps they took to campaign for change that they needed to see happen, and inspire and educate along the way.

Music by Scott Buckley

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This is Candid Tiny House, hosted by Shannon Schultz from Fred’s Tiny Houses. Usually this is a podcast interviewing people about their tiny house builds. This season, Season 2, we are doing something different.

Last June, in 2023, the local shire here in central Victoria, Mount Alexander Shire did something extraordinary. They passed a local law that allowed for living in a tiny house on wheels on private property without a permit or a time limit. They removed the biggest barrier to living in a tiny house on wheels that there is: council regulations.

It was huge, we got national media attention, a lot of happy community members and a whole new option for affordable housing in our region. We also got a lot of people from other councils, in other states, around Australia, calling up and asking how did you do this? We want to do that here! How did you make that possible?

So this podcast is in answer to that question. We talk to all the key players involved in the change - what they did, what were the factors for success, what were the obstacles they faced and how did they overcome or avert them? And most importantly, what are the list of things that you can do to replicate the same progress in your home town?

This episode we take a trip down memory lane, to 2020 and the lead up to the local law review, when Fred Schultz led a campaign to legalise tiny house living. We hear about what steps we took, here at Fred's Tiny Houses to create a friendly law, present it to council and generate public support for the idea.

Councillor Christine Henderson was a fan of the proposed tiny house law change, and pushed very hard inside council to get the progressive laws over the line. Hear all about their efforts, the obstacles they faced, and how you can use their experience to overcome obstacles in your home-grown campaign.

Music by Scott Buckley

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This is Candid Tiny House. I'm your host, Shannon Schultz from Fred’s Tiny Houses.

You might have heard that last year, our local government, Mount Alexander Shire here in Central Victoria, changed their local laws to essentially legalize tiny house living.
You can now live in a tiny house on wheels on private property where there’s a dwelling, without a permit or a time limit.

It’s great! It removes the biggest obstacle to tiny house living - council regulations - and as such, it’s a significant step towards increasing affordable housing options in our area.

It took 2 campaigns, 2 revisions of the same local law, much community in-put and a lot of research and head-scratching by all involved.

As you can imagine, this law change sparked a lot of interest from other communities and local councils all calling up asking "How did you do this? How can we do that here?!"
 
So this season of Candid Tiny House, we are answering that question.

We hear from key players in the two different campaigns, Councillors, the Mayor, tiny house dwellers and advocates, and from people in the community who are now offering land to tiny house owners,  because of the law change.

It’s a case study of initial disappointment, new strategies, internal council insights, overcoming obstacles and working together for a better outcome.

And the best part? It's not just about this town. It's a playbook for anyone, anywhere, itching to make a difference in their own backyard.

So grab your headphones and buckle up. The Advocacy Season of Candid Tiny House is about to drop, and you won't want to miss a minute. 

First episode is out on June 14th, and each Friday following.

Music by Scott Buckley

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Michael Bartz built his tiny house on wheels in Canada. He built the trailer too.  It took him four years and now he lives in it with his partner and their three cats. 

This is a bonus episode where we compare notes between building a tiny house in Canada and in Australia. The weight limits, regulations and seasons are all so different that it can lead to really different tiny house designs. But there are also lots of things in common… as we find out! 

Hear about how:

• To assess tiny house projects that you see in Canada or North America and how they might differ from a successful design here in Australia. 
• Michael felt when designing, building and living in a tiny house on wheels. 
• Michael approached the stress of living illegally in a tiny house on wheels. 
• This tiny house project sits within a greater project for Michael of reducing his carbon footprint and how he is now continuing that work through his podcast: In Over My Head. 

Helpful links from this episode:

• In Over My Head Podcast: https://www.inovermyheadpodcast.com/
• Be UNCLUTTERED interview with Michael Bartz - hear about how he found a place to put the tiny house, and myth busting for tiny house living: https://www.beuncluttered.com.au/episodesBU/Tiny-Home-living-with-Michael-Bartz 
• Fred’s Tiny Houses: https://www.fredstinyhouses.com.au/ 
• Tiny House University - How To Build A Tiny House: The Australian Online Course

Music for Candid Tiny House is by Scott Buckley. 
Shannon Schultz 2022 ©

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Jim wanted to be able to stand up in his bedroom loft, so he commissioned Fred’s Tiny Houses to come up with a design that included a pop-up roof that can be elevated when his tiny house is parked; and lowered when it is being transported. Inspired by a tiny house that he saw in Byron Bay, Jim engaged a local registered builder to undertake this project on a 7.2 meter Flat Top Trailer.  

In this interview Jim talks about:

• His decision to choose a tiny house on wheels as a single person.
• Off-grid living and the lack of bills.
• Internet access in a tiny house on wheels.
• How he found the property that he lives on. 
• Working with a builder to make his tiny house idea into a reality.
• His removable awning and deck.

Helpful links from this episode:

• Blog article with photos and video tour of Jim's house. 
• Builder: Tim Allen Construction 
• Nature’s Head composting toilet.
• Construction Plans for Jim's tiny house. 
• Fred's Tiny Houses Trailer 7.2meter Flat Top Option C
• Tiny House University - How To Build A Tiny House: The Australian Online Course.

Music for Candid Tiny House is by Scott Buckley. 
Shannon Schultz 2021 ©

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Anna & Rowan built their tiny house on wheels in Canberra and moved it up to Newcastle where they now live. They built on a 7.8 meter Protruding Wheels Guard trailer and have recently added a deck and verandah that more than doubles the living area available in their tiny house. 

Hear about their:

• Concerns in getting their tiny house insured as DIY builders;
• The formal valuation of their tiny house - compared to how much they spent;
• Transporting their tiny house through a tight spot;
• The best and worst aspects of DIY building a tiny house;
• Maintaining their relationship throughout the stressors of building and managing decision-fatigue;  and 
• The problem with getting ‘help’ on a build-site, as well as much much more. 

Helpful links from this episode:

• Blog article with photos of Anna & Rowan’s tiny house on wheels.
• Video tour of their tiny house on wheels. 
• CIL Insurance.
• Kaboodle Kitchen.
• Tiny Towing. 
• Fred's Tiny Houses Trailer 7.8meter Protruding Wheel Guard. 
• Tiny House University - How To Build A Tiny House: The Australian Online Course.

Music for Candid Tiny House is by Scott Buckley. 
Shannon Schultz 2021 ©

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Lou built her 7.2m long tiny house on a Fred’s Tiny Houses flat top trailer in the Northern Rivers area in NSW with the help of her partner and a retired tradie friend. An award-winning travel writer, Lou had no prior experience building, designing or using power tools. That all changed when she set about creating her dream tiny house on wheels. 

Hear about her:

• Experience designing on paper & building for the first time;
• Choice of materials and making changes to her design along the way;
• Designing the lighting and window choices;
• Financial budget breakdown of all the big-ticket items in her tiny house;
• Advice she would give to anyone embarking on their own tiny house journey. 

Helpful links from this episode:

• Blog article with photos of Lou and her tiny house on wheels.
• Video tour of Lou’s tiny house on wheels.
• Follow Lou on Facebook: @noimpactgirl & her blog: www.noimpactgirl.com
• Windows Supplier: https://midcoastwindows.com.au/
• Kaboodle Kitchen: https://www.kaboodle.com.au/
• Acacia bench tops from Bunnings.
• Joiner who made the staircase: Matt @ http://www.esotericxs.com/
• Wood list:
  • Western Red Cedar external cladding
  • White Gum bench top and handrail
  • Recycled Blackbutt floorboards
  • Merbau vaneer 
  • Birch ply stairs
  • Poplar ply ceilings 
  • Falcata plywood
• Fred's Tiny Houses Trailer 7.2m Flat Top, 2400mm wide 
• Tiny House University - How To Build A Tiny House: The Australian Online Course.

Music for Candid Tiny House is by Scott Buckley. 
Shannon Schultz 2021 ©

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Bree and Lucas DIY built their beautiful, fully-equipped 7.8m long tiny house in Bree’s parents’ back yard on weekends over a two year period, while they both worked full time.  

Hear about their:

• Experience using the light-weight wood paulownia as exterior cladding;
• Creation of a design that reflected their values and met their (sometimes divergent) needs;
• Overcame significant building setbacks;
• Outsourced some aspects of the building;
• Financial budget for the tiny house. 

Helpful links from this episode:

• Blog article with photos of Bree and Lucas and their tiny house on wheels.
• Video tour of their tiny house on wheels.
• Follow Bree & Lucas on Instagram @Dream.Plan.Do.Repeat
• Rangehood design and installation: https://www.custominstallations.com.au/
• Gaps for sealing exterior cladding.
• Oil for bench-tops. 
• Spoonflower wallpaper.
• David Linton - carpenter in Maleny.
• Paulownia and the materials density list.
• Fred's Tiny Houses Trailer 7.8m Protruding Wheel Guard. 
• Tiny House University - How To Build A Tiny House: The Australian Online Course.

Music for Candid Tiny House is by Scott Buckley. 
Shannon Schultz 2021 ©

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Deon and Marine DIY built their 7.2m long tiny surf house in Northern Beaches, NSW. Keen to build a tiny house on wheels that supports their surfing lifestyle and their eco values, Deon and Marine learnt on the job and adapted to their changing circumstances.  

Hear about their:

• Experience building their tiny house while off-grid and outside;
• Finding a place to build and live in their tiny house;
• Sourcing custom fittings to suit their unique dimensions;
• Insurance hurdle jumping;
• Injuries sustained;
• Design considerations, and
• Financial and weight budgets and calculations. 

Helpful links from this episode:

• Blog article with photos of Deon & Marine and their tiny house on wheels.
• Video tour of their tiny house on wheels.
• Follow Deon & Marine on Instagram: @tinysurfhouse & @hang10distillery 
• CIL Insurance
• Youi Insurance
• VSB1 
• Over-height 4.6 meter route guidance map.  
• Fred's Tiny Houses Trailer 7.2m Flat Top. 
• Tiny House University - How To Build A Tiny House: The Australian Online Course.

Music for Candid Tiny House is by Scott Buckley. 
Shannon Schultz 2021 ©