Source : Perth Now news
Two popular hostels in Western Australia have been shut after the discovery of asbestos in the buildings, leaving dozens of travellers without a home.
The City of Bunbury council ordered the Dolphin Retreat and the Wander Inn – located 170km south of Perth – to shut their doors after an inspection in late January detected the presence of asbestos.
Multiple backpackers staying at the sites are now facing homelessness – exacerbated by a severe housing crisis in the region.
The owners of the buildings were notified but the council claimed they had received “no evidence” the asbestos risks and “other compliance issues” had been addressed.
The council then made the decision to shut the premises on February 6 to protect the health and safety of residents.
“This left the City with no option but to serve formal closure,” the council said in a statement.
“The City’s priority remains the health and safety of all residents and visitors to our community. We will not compromise on safety.”
The City of Bunbury noted that the owners have been provided with compliance information to bring the premises back to being occupied.
The hostels have a 3.5/5 star on TripAdvisor with many backpackers sharing their “great” experience.
“It’s clean, cozy, and just a short walk from both the beach and the town centre. The rooms are comfortable and cleaned daily,” one user wrote.
While houses in Bunbury are on the affordable side, the region is facing a severe housing crisis with extremely low vacancy rates.
Some backpackers are being told to leave the their accommodation at the hostel by the start of March.
As a result, many are left struggling to find accommodation with caravan parks packed to the brim and housing facilities at full capacity.
