Duke St residents slam 90+ bed hostel planning application approve by Stonnington Council

Residents near one of Melbourne’s busiest strips have slammed a local council for approving a 90+ bed hostel, calling it a “disaster waiting to happen”.

Duke St residents in Windsor have slammed Stonnington City Council for a planning approval of a 90-bed hostel to be developed inside a commercially zoned building at 7 Duke St. Picture: supplied.

Residents near one of Melbourne’s busiest shopping and party strips have slammed a local council for approving a plan to turn an office space into a 90-bed hostel.

Stonnington City Council has come under fire for the approval of a planning application to redevelop a former menswear outlet on Duke St — off Chapel St — into accommodation for backpackers.

Both residential and commercial residents told the Herald Sun they were not consulted nor informed of the council decision, leaving them “alarmed”.

Sarah Barton — a nearly three decade resident of Windsor — said weekends were already “completely bonkers”.

Duke St residents fear the 90-bed hostel would hostel would result in an increase in anti-social behaviour. Picture: supplied.

“Legally, (council) don’t have to (consult residents) because it’s a commercial zone, but this is our street, it’s the place we have loved and the place we live in,” she said.

“We only found out through the grapevine, there was no opportunity to ask questions or petition the decision.”

Ms Barton said a 90-bed hostel would “bring the hubbub of Chapel St” further into the “quiet one way” community.

“It’s possible to live in the street and for it to feel like a residential area, but this will bring people who have no connection to neighbourhood,” she said.

“We are all a little bit alarmed by it.

“We already have to be constantly vigilant about what’s going on in the neighbourhood, we’ve just been blindsided by this.”

The hostel has been proposed for close to Chapel St. Picture: supplied.

In a planning application seen by the Herald Sun, the hostel planned to host nearly 100 guests who would be left unattended between 8pm and 8am.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said Chapel St had been “deteriorating on the weekends” and feared the lack of regulation planned for the hostel would result in an increase in anti-social behaviour.

“(Chapel St) is becoming a zoo – you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see what kind of behaviour will go on there,” they said.

“There’s four bottle shops within 100m of the premises and the door step on one of the best party strips in the country.

“It’s a disaster waiting to happen on a residential street.”

Council Watch’s Dean Hurlston said the council should be “leading the process with extensive community consultation”.

“Regardless of how the application is assessed, the council’s role is to advocate for the community,” he said.

“It creates a perfect storm for crime and social problems, and residents are the victims.”

Despite push back from residents, the local traders association took a positive stance towards the potential for a hostel.

Chapel Street Precinct Association general manager Matt Lanigan said “the business community are always supportive of good development that encourages more business to the precinct”.

A Stonnington spokeswoman said the council was only required to undertake community consultation if “the new premise was to be used as an adult sex shop, gambling premises, bottle shop, hotel, nightclub or bar”.

“We have had a written dialogue with concerned residents and will continue to liaise with all residents of Windsor,” she said.