A group of derelict public housing properties in a western Sydney street have attracted the attention of frustrated residents, who claim they have been vacant for many months.
Almost 175,00 people are on the public housing waiting list across the country, yet residents in the Blacktown street claim multiple houses in their street are boarded up.
Resident Suzie said she received a letter from the government two years ago notifying her of plans to build units on the public housing land.
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“They sent us a picture of the units. Well that was two-and-a-half years ago … they haven’t started doing anything,” she said.
“And yet there are so many people destitute, without anywhere to live, these houses are all vacant and they’re coming in and boarding them up.”
She said the previous tenant of one of the homes ”took a lot of care of it”.
“She spent a lot of money on that house … she put floating floorboards down, inbuilt wardrobes in the bedrooms,” Suzie said.
It’s a mystery that development application records can’t help to explain.
A DA was lodged in 2015 for number 54 and another for number 63 in 2018.
But records show they’re no longer current.
Blacktown City Councillor Kathie Collins called the appearance of the boarded up houses and overgrown grass “a disgrace”.
“It’s not a derelict area, it’s just been made derelict by these houses,” she said.
“They’re showing complete disrespect for the neighbours who keep their places tidy, nice mowed lawns, and they’ve allowed this to happen in their midst.”
Resident Anne has lived on the street for 25 years but said she was nervous that social housing would knock on her door next.
“It’s a shame to see good houses go to wreck when other people could be moving in there who’ve got kids,” she said.
The housing minister said a builder was appointed for the properties last month, with construction set to start in November.
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