Griffith Council orders closure of hostel
Up to 60 people could be affected by the order to close Griffith's International Backpackers Hostel.
Griffith City Council has ordered the closure of the facility, one of three in the city, by the end of the month after a number of complaints.
It found the hostel is run down, unclean and has a number of fire safety issues.
Compliance and Health Director Neil Southorn says the council is working to minimise the impact of the closure.
"We're working closely with the operator to make improvements, some of those need to be made very quickly, so we've given a list of improvements that need to be made," he said.
"And yes we have put a bit of timeline on when we hope those to be done.
"I might add that the operator is hoping to move into new premises shortly and we are working with the operator to get those new premises ready and ease the accommodation burden for the backpackers themselves."
The hostel's manager has not been available for interview but told ABC News yesterday the premises were built in the 1940s, repairs have begun and the hostel would like to continue trading if possible.
Mr Southorn says not all the changes that are needed can be done by January the 31st.
"We've given them a bit of time so that the existing residents have time to find alternative accommodation and indeed we're working with the backpacker's themselves and the operator to find alternative accommodation," he said.
"Hopefully that won't be too hard on the residents."
Mr Southorn says it is a busy time of year for backpackers, but action had to be taken.
"We have taken the opportunity to check all three backpacker hostels operating in Griffith, at least the ones we know about," he said.
"The other two are operating at a satisfactory level.
"Griffith has a lot of backpackers, they take home with them and sing through their networks an impression of Griffith.
"So we're pretty keen that the backpacker movement take home a good impression of Griffith."
Source: ABC News, 17 January 2013
