City of Bunbury council shuts two popular Perth hostels due to major asbestos health risk

Two popular hostels in Western Australia have closed after asbestos was found in the buildings, leaving dozens of travelers homeless.

The City of Bunbury council ordered Dolphin Retreat and Wander Inn, 170km south of Perth, to close its doors after an inspection in late January found the presence of asbestos.

Many backpackers who remain in the area are currently facing homelessness; This situation is exacerbated by the severe housing crisis in the region.

Owners of the buildings were notified but the council claimed they had received “no evidence” of asbestos risks and that “other compliance issues” were being addressed.

The council then decided to close the facility on February 6 to protect the health and safety of residents.

“This left the City with no option but to officially close,” 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 stated that property owners were provided with eligibility information to return the premises to occupation.

The hostels have 3.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor, with many backpackers sharing their “great” experiences.

“Clean, comfortable and a short walk to both the beach and the city center. The rooms are comfortable and cleaned daily,” one user wrote.

Although homes in Bunbury are on the affordable side, the area faces a serious housing crisis with extremely low vacancy rates.

Some backpackers are being told to leave their hostel accommodation at the beginning of March.

As a result, many people struggle to find accommodation with caravan parks filled to capacity and residential facilities at capacity.