‘NIMBY thinking’: Fury over plans for Sydney ‘mega-hostel’

Plans for a $13 million build in a Sydney suburb has left locals horrified, with neighbours vowing to “go to war” over the project.

EXCLUSIVE

Plans to build the world’s largest backpackers hostel in the heart of Sydney have angered local residents, who say they are readying to “go to war” over the $13 million project.

The five-storey hostel is set to house 1058 beds across 164 rooms and will be developed at the Sydney University end of Broadway in Chippendale.

Designs for the planned hostel. Picture: City of Sydney

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The hostel will be called “The Broadway” and will take over the Telstra Building Exchange at 184-200 Broadway.

The site was purchased by Sydney-based Tricon Group - headed by developer Rino Criola - for $67.6 million last year alongside the next-door building which currently houses the Lansdowne Hotel.

The hostel is set to take over the Telstra Building Exchange at 184-200 Broadway. Picture: City of Sydney

If approved, the hostel will overtake Copenhagen’s 1020-bed Danhostel as the largest in the world.

The City of Sydney opened the development application up to feedback until February 4.

The project has been met with strong opposition from residents, who have demanded a meeting with the developers.

Local resident Michael Mobbs, who started the Friends of Chippendale group in response to the application, said the group is “shocked” the community has not yet been consulted.

“We are not a bunch of whingers. We are a group of writers, doctors, marketing people,” he said the group of about 300 residents.

“We are all shocked they haven’t talked to us. So let’s talk.”

In a submission to the council, the group wrote they believe the hostel will negatively affect the area and is a cash grab in the middle of a housing crisis.

The site sits just behind the Lansdowne Hotel. Picture: City of Sydney

“We say with confidence there is no “NIMBY” thinking in the objections, rather fact-based responses,” their submission states.

“This ongoing inaction further highlights the failure of urban planning in Chippendale, where essential community needs are consistently sidelined in favour of large-scale private developments.”

Mr Mobbs said he feared the hostel would ruin the community spirit of Chippendale.

“[The backpackers] are completely self-centred, they have no reason to connect to the community,” he said.

“We will go to war over this.”

Designs for the hostel bedrooms. Picture: City of Sydney

The hostel will be the biggest in the world if approved. Picture: City of Sydney

The group is also eager to meet with YIMBY Sydney - who are campaigning in favour of the hostel due to the belief it will assist the housing crisis.

“This DA does not contribute to a real housing solution—instead, it packs 1,058 beds into

overcrowded, substandard conditions, creating an urban slum,” the Friends of Chippendale wrote in response to YIMBY Sydney.

“The simplest way to improve affordability and access to housing in Sydney is to build more of it, but this development fails to achieve that goal.”

In planning documents seen by news.com.au, the hostel plans to house 4, 6 and 8-person bedrooms along with 100 bike parking spaces.

The site will also include a rooftop terrace, swimming pool and sunbathing decks, as well as an on-site bar and cafe.

The developers say the hostel will be used mostly for two to three night stays with guests able to stay a maximum 28 days in line with City of Sydney legislation.

“The site is directly opposite Broadway Shopping Centre, Victoria Park and is in close proximity to The University of Sydney, making it an ideal location for backpacker accommodation,” the development application states.

Originally published as ‘NIMBY thinking’: Fury over plans for Sydney ‘mega-hostel’