By Alesha Capone
Derelict houses and neglected construction sites are causing concern for some Wyndham residents.
A Truganina resident said that she was fed up with the state of houses under construction in various locations in the suburb, including in Gilbee Road.
The woman said there was no temporary fencing in place at some of the sites, resulting in illegal dumping and overgrown weeds.
Snakes had been spotted at one construction site and children had been seen playing at one half-built property.
The resident said she had reported the construction sites – which appear to belong to the same company – to the company itself, Wyndham council, the Victorian Building Authority, WorkSafe and the Environment Protection Authority.
A man living in Aloma Avenue, Wyndham Vale, who asked to be known only as Brett, said a fire had occurred in an abandoned house in his street about five years ago. Since then the house kept “filling up with rubbish”.
Another resident, Scotty Mac, said there were two “trashed” houses near the intersection of Dohertys and Woods roads in Truganina.
When Star Weekly visited the two properties, there were piles of rubbish inside the houses and in the front yards, including mattresses, furniture, books, clothing, tyres and toys.
Wyndham city operations director Stephen Thorpe, said: “Wyndham City takes seriously its role in ensuring building sites are at an appropriate standard and will hold builders accountable to keeping their sites clean”.
“In relation to sites in the vicinity of Gilbee Road, enforcement action has been taken,” he said. “Should compliance not be met, council will take further action.
“As this matter is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Mr Thorpe said the council had issued the owners of the Aloma Avenue property with a compliance notification in relation to amenity concerns.
“The owners have assured us they will undertake the necessary works to ensure the property is well maintained and safe,” he said.
