How does YHA operate and manage its hostels?

YHA is aware of the potential for impacts on residential neighbours and independently implements Management Plans for the appropriate management of guests.

There are over 140 YHA youth hostels in Australia. Between them, they cater for over one million guest-nights each year. YHA operates six major YHAs within NSW providing accommodation for 1450 people. The Sydney Harbour YHA is owned and operated by YHA. Staff will be employed by YHA NSW and be under the direction of the NSW state office at Kent Street.

YHA, as a community conscious organisation, has a concern for proper management of its facilities, a desire for appropriately trained staff, a desire for a safe and neighbour-friendly environment and a desire for a well-managed and well-maintained facility as a long-term investment. YHA’s Operational Management Plan includes:

• Security, inclusive of on-site 24 hour staffing, swipe pass access, contracted security guards and in-house closed circuit security television to protect tenants and nearby properties.
• Behaviour standards for guests and appropriate actions required to maintain amenity levels.
• Fire safety procedures, both in emergency situations and general maintenance.
• Training measures for staff in security, fire situations, emergency services and customer/guest control.
• Maintenance measures for all operations of the hostel.

Has YHA considered and dealt with possible noise impacts on surrounding neighbours?

Acoustic consultants, Acoustic Logic Consultancy, assessed noise impacts found that appropriate measures can be taken to ensure minimal noise impacts on surrounding neighbours. In addition, YHA employs the following methods to prevent noise impacting on neighbours:

• The Level 1 terrace is closed at 10pm.
• The Level 3 terrace is closed at 10pm. The balustrade around the terrace is 1 metre high and imperforate (eg glass/Perspex) to reduce noise.
• Hostel management supervises use of the terraces to prevent noisy behaviour.
• Bottle/garbage collection will be done on Cumberland Street.

Does the YHA generate extra traffic and parking?

Guests staying at YHAs are typically visitors to Sydney who use public transport. Individuals largely arrive at the YHA on foot having caught a train, bus or airport shuttle to Circular Quay, while school groups use chartered coaches.

A Traffic and Parking Implications Report prepared by Terraffic Pty Ltd recommended some changes to ensure reasonable preservation of local amenity and include:

• Five additional parking spaces on Gloucester Street just south of the site.
• An 18m long No Parking Zone – Buses Excepted (15 minute limit) on Cumberland Street. This zone facilitates access to the Education Centre for school groups that arrive by coach and serve as a drop-off/pick-up point for guests travelling by taxi. This type of No Parking Zone is found throughout The Rocks area and generally serves local hotels such as the Shangri-La Hotel, Quay West Apartments and the Four Seasons Hotel. 
• A further 13m No Parking Zone – Buses Excepted (15 minute limit) on Cumberland Street between 7am and 6pm, reverting to 1 hour parking outside those hours.
• A kerb re-alignment in the vicinity of the proposed stairs connecting the hostel to the Cumberland Street footpath. 
• Retention of 2 x 4 hour parking zone. 
• A 12m long loading zone in Cumberland Street located adjacent to the garbage/service area in the north-western corner of the site. The proposed Loading Zone will apply between 7.00am and 10.00pm, Monday to Saturday and can accommodate 1 x heavy rigid vehicle or 2 x small rigid vehicles/vans. 
• A kerb re-alignment in the vicinity of the stairs connecting the hostel to the Gloucester Street footpath. 
• The kerb re-alignments and parking restrictions reduce the on-street parking capacity by a total of 3 car spaces – loss of 6 on Cumberland Street but a gain of 3 on Gloucester Street.