Housing SA home in Semaphore Park left vacant and trashed for months

It’s been vacant for months, but this Housing SA home has been left strewn with piles of rubbish right next to a popular walking trail.

Rubbish is strewn outside the Semaphore Park Housing SA property. Picture: Caleb Bond

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A vacant housing trust property in Semaphore Park that backs on to an oval and walking trail has been left strewn with rubbish for months despite pleas to clean up the pigsty.

Suitcases, old chairs, cardboard boxes and toys are piled up outside the unit, in full view of the Semaphore Park Community Garden, Trust Reserve and a popular walking path.

It is understood to have been vacant for at least three months – as thousands of people sit on

Housing SA’s waiting list.

The Semaphore Park housing trust unit that has been vacant for months with rubbish piled up out the front. Picture: Caleb Bond

Piles of rubbish at the Semaphore Park property. Picture: Caleb Bond

Multiple complaints have been made about the state of the house and other nearby illegal dumping to Charles Sturt Council.

A council spokeswoman said Charles Sturt had attempted to contact Housing SA in October, December and this month to request the property be cleaned up without any luck.

The yard was still piled up with junk when The Advertiser visited on Wednesday afternoon, but contractors finally attended the property on Thursday morning after media inquiries.

Huge amounts of rubbish and litter outside the Semaphore Park housing trust unit, which hasbeen vacant for months. Picture: Caleb Bond

The trash and debris outside the Semaphore Park housing trust unit is now being cleared up after The Messenger’s inquiries. Picture: Caleb Bond

A member of the Semaphore Park Community Garden, who asked not to be named, said the trashed home was an eyesore for garden volunteers and visitors.

“The mayor was actually up at the garden because we had an open day and she saw it,” the woman said.

“I had certainly reported it to the council a couple of times.

“There would have been an awful lot of people who have seen that and there are other housing trust residents in there who are decent people who are impacted, too.”

In a statement, Housing SA said the council would be contacted following the cleanup.

“Maintenance needs to be undertaken before the property is tenanted again,” the statement read.

“Housing SA will monitor the site on an on-going basis so that the issue does not recur.”

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