NEIGHBOURS of a vacant house in Hoppers Crossing want Wyndham Council to order its demolition after a fire tore through the property.
A demolition permit for the property was granted in August 2011, after the council approved an application to build units on the site.
The property has been vacant since before then and in recent months has been broken into by youths.
Neighbours have asked the council to secure the site or order that the house be knocked down, fearing it would catch fire.
Their fears were realised on January 25, with a blaze almost spreading to a neighbouring property.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said he had been living in fear.
“We are very concerned about kids getting into it. The balcony is falling down and we believe spot fires are being lit in it.
“We were worried about there being a fire and on [January 25] our worst fears were realised. If something is not done, kids breaking in are going to get hurt because the house could collapse, or a neighbour’s house is going to catch fire.”
Another neighbour, who also did not want to be named, said it was time the council or developer had the house knocked down. “You have to question the council’s processes that have allowed this to happen. The house should never have been sitting vacant this long.”
Council chief executive Kerry Thompson said the owners had last week been ordered to either remove the first floor of the building and install shutters to prevent unauthorised access, or demolish the entire building within 21 days.
