Walkerville Council to investigate how safety can be improved at a Gilberton Housing SA complex
A murder at a Housing SA-owned block of flats in Gilberton has prompted Walkerville Council to investigate how it can improve safety for nearby residents, who have for years complained about anti-social behaviour.
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Walkerville Council will investigate how it can improve safety for residents living near the Mellor Court SA Housing complex, following a murder at the site last month.
The council agreed at its last meeting 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”.
Residents of the inner northeastern suburb have for years complained about anti-social behaviour at the James St complex, which was the site of another murder in 2017.
Cr Rob Ashby, who pushed for the investigation, said the council had a role to ensure the safety of all residents.
“I think we need to show support for those residents who are enduring a pretty torrid time down there,” Cr Ashby told the meeting.
“They are acutely aware that at some stage in the future there will be another incident and probably a coroner’s inquiry.”
However, Walkerville Council Mayor Elizabeth Fricker said since the units were State Government owned, anything the council did would have little impact.
A group of Gilberton residents have been working with SA Police, the council, Housing SA and Adelaide MP Rachel Sanderson on ways to improve safety in the area.
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A Gilberton resident, who did not want to give their name, saidthey contacted Premier Steven Marshall last month about the anti-social behaviour, but was yet to receive a response.
“We still live in fear and keep looking over our shoulders continually at all times of the day when we leave our homes,” the resident wrote to Mr Marshall.
Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink said security had been “significantly increased on-site”, as part of a $2.5 million upgrade of the block of flats.
She said this had included upgrades to CCTVcameras, an on-site Housing SA office, security screens on doors and windows and the demolition of external laundries that were identified as a security risk.
An SA Police spokeswoman said: “Eastern District patrols continue to liaise with Housing SA to identify unlawful behaviour within the site and take appropriate action.”