Abandoned house at Buchanan Grove, Reynella East pose safety risk, MP says

Locals are fed up with this abandoned house in the southern suburbs – but still nothing can be done about it and it’s posing a safety risk, according to a local MP.

Local MP Nat Cook at the abandoned house at Buchanan Grove, Reynella East. Picture: Nat Cook

A Reynella East property left abandoned for years is posing a safety risk to the community, a local MP says.

The privately-owned Buchanan Grove house has been vacant for a number of years and has been a constant target of vandals.

Labor member for Hurtle Vale Nat Cook said the community has had enough of the state of the property.

“This Reynella East house has been a safety issue and an eyesore for several decades in spite of various attempts to resolve it via the legal mechanisms that are available,” she said.

“I’ve spoken with Onkaparinga Council and the Minister for Human Services and apart from some remedial work, the problem is still there.”

A Housing Safety Authority spokeswoman said the property was securely fenced and did not pose an immediate safety risk.

The property is in a state of disrepair after being left abandoned and targeted by vandals for years.

The pool at the property was drained by Onkaparinga Council in February.

“Engineers have inspected the privately-owned property at Reynella East and it is assessed as structurally sound and does not pose an immediate safety risk,” she said.

“The Housing Safety Authority is monitoring the property for any structural deterioration that may pose a risk in the future, and orders have been placed on the property that it remain vacant and that the property must be improved before anyone can live in it.”

An Onkaparinga Council spokesman confirmed the council was monitoring the property and had undertaken a clean up at the property in February after the owner failed to take action.

“During the clean-up, council drained the pool and removed items including, but not limited to, furniture, car parts and other household items,” he said.

“The garage was emptied of materials and vegetation was cleared from the rear yard to prevent the potential harbourage of vermin and pests.

“The front yard was cleared of building materials left behind after the carport collapsed, and excess vegetation was removed to improve the appearance of the property.

“Advice recently sought by council confirms that any order requiring demolition of the

dwelling would be a disproportionate response to the current state of the property and

likely to be successfully challenged by the landowner.”

Costs related to the clean up were forwarded onto the property owner in the form of debt.

Ms Cook will host a street corner meeting at 11.45am on Saturday October 24 at Kimberley Fountain Reserve to discuss the property with the community.