SA Housing to boot anti-social residents from Mellor Court, Gilberton
A notorious SA Housing complex in a blue-chip suburb is set to get new, “better” tenants as part of a push to improve safety in the area, following an alleged murder two months ago.
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SA Housing will boot problem residents from one of its Gilberton complexes as it pushes for “a better tenancy mix” to improve safety in the area.
At a presentation to Walkerville Council about anti-social behaviour at Mellor Court – the location of an alleged murder in June – SA Housing representatives said they were trying to get the “right cohort” to create a better community atmosphere.
SA Housing has identified tenants it wants to keep in the complex, whereas tenants that engage in anti-social behaviour would be transferred elsewhere or evicted.
Gilberton residents have for years complained about anti-social behaviour at the James St complex, which was the site of another murder in 2017.
SA Housing representative Andrew Ciechanowicz told the meeting he “had seen a decline in customer base at the complex”, so work had started on getting a better tenant mix.
“We want people of different age groups, not just one particular cohort which I think at the moment is a single male of a certain age group with a certain background,” Mr Ciechanowicz said.
“We want to break that cycle (of anti-social tenants) and move forward with a better community atmosphere.”
SA Housing planned on starting a partnership with the University of Adelaide as part of a plan to get more students into the complex.
Anglicare and crime prevention agency OARS will no longer manage properties at the site.
SAPOL chief inspector Matt Nairn said police have worked with residents to get an understanding of issues in the area.
After the meeting, SA Housing Authority chief executive Michael Buchan said getting a better tenant mix would “reduce a high number of complex tenants in one place”.
Mellor Court, which currently undergoing a $2.5 million revamp, is the second SA Housing complex in the state to have CCTV cameras installed.
In June, the council agreed to look into whether it could “have a greater level of involvement” with inspections and compliance at the units, to help “quell the anxiety and risk to residents”.
A report that came back to the council that said it did not have the authority or ability to play more of a role.
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