By Floss Adams,Isla Evans

Copyright abc

Charlie Steinbacher knows how his town changes in winter, when crowds of avid snow goers flock to the ski slopes.

“Winter versus summer is like chalk and cheese,” the born-and-raised Jindabyne resident said.

Jindabyne is the base town of the New South Wales ski resorts.

It has a population of about 4,000 people but explodes with tourists during winter.

More than 380,000 people travelled to the Snowy Mountains region between July and September in 2024 alone, according to Destination NSW.

About one-quarter of Jindabyne’s 2,900 homes are short-term rental accommodation.

Mr Steinbacher, who runs an indoor rock-climbing business in Jindabyne, said he had been priced out of town.

“Everyone would love to own a home in Jindabyne where we all grew up, but it’s just not really viable,” he said.

Locals priced out

Mr Steinbacher moved to Berridale, 30 minutes away, last year, joining a cohort of young locals.

The average house in Jindabyne is on the market for more than $1.1 million and median unit rents have increased by nearly 85 per cent in the past five years.

The median house price has increased by $300,000 since 2020 and is now double that of 15 years ago, according to housing data analysts Cotality.

Unit prices have nearly tripled since 2010.

Nancy Gant-Thompson owns her home but hosts a ski instructor as a boarder each winter to afford heating.

“It’s either a choice of downsizing … or sharing your accommodation and your home with people.”

Ms Gant-Thompson said she knew of many older people who moved to Canberra because of Jindabyne’s high prices.

It is a regular source of conversation at Country Women’s Association meetings.

“There’s not a lot of places available for rent,” member Dale Whitfield said.

The NSW government announced in 2019 that it would create the Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct, a 40-year plan to grow year-round tourism and housing stock in the region.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development told the ABC the government acquired land in Jindabyne near the Southern Connector Road corridor in 2024 that could “offer an additional 500 dwellings” over the next 20 years.

It said the “masterplan” for the future of Jindabyne would aim “to increase the variety of housing available” and improve supply and affordability.

Short-term rental review

The state government is reviewing short-term rental accommodation.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council made a submission to the review, raising concerns about the impacts of short-term rentals on housing affordability but noting tourism benefits.

“It is essential for the continued growth and vitality of the town that Jindabyne continues to provide tourist accommodation,” the council submission read.

The government said it was investigating the submissions ahead of proposing sector reforms.

It comes a year after it implemented a 60-day cap on short-term rentals in Byron Bay to increase the supply of long-term rentals.

Property manager and real estate agent Joan Bird said she did not think the cap system would work in Jindabyne, as owners used the properties as holiday homes themselves.

“They want to be able to use those properties themselves, be it summer or winter, and the way to help up-front those costs is on short-term rentals,” she said.

‘Location, location, location”

Ms Bird called on the nearby snow resorts to develop more worker accommodation to alleviate pressure on the rental market.

The resorts combined bring in thousands of workers each winter season, many of whom stay in Jindabyne.

Thredbo Resort told the ABC it hired 900 seasonal staff for the winter period and leased 270 beds in Jindabyne “which are sourced both privately and through local real estate agencies”.

It purchased a property within the resort to expand staff housing in 2023, adding 60 beds to its stock.

Perisher said it offered staff accommodation on the mountain, at dedicated staff accommodation in Jindabyne, and “in limited volumes of private accommodation” in the region.

The company did not disclose specific staffing or property details or figures.

Mr Steinbacher said despite being priced out of Jindabyne, his business kept him committed to the area.