Residents get action over ‘dumping, drugs and danger’ in government’s abandoned Camden Park unit block

UPDATE: A DERELICT government-owned unit block is be cleaned up within days — images of the squalid building were published on this site last Thursday.

RENEWAL SA has vowed to begin cleaning up a derelict Government-owned Anzac Highway unit block this week following reports the site is attracting squatters, vandals and drug dealers.

The 24-unit former Housing Trust block at 411 Anzac Highway, Camden Park, has been mostly unoccupied for about a year.

The building’s windows have been smashed, mattresses, carpets and couches litter its yard and there are signs of fire and squatting.

The Guardian Messenger reported residents’ concerns on advertiser.com.au last week.

Renewal SA strategy manager Fairlie Delbridge said late on Friday the block had been earmarked for demolition and redevelopment.

“We expect that work to begin soon,” she said.

“In the meantime, Renewal SA is organising for the site to be cleaned up and resecured.”

Ms Delbridge said there would be regular inspections of the property and anyone with concerns about the site’s security should call Renewal SA.

A neighbour, who asked not to be identified, last week told the Guardian Messenger the block was an eyesore.

“It’s turned into a neighbourhood dump,” he said.

“There’s periodically squatters — the bums take up residence there and it’s pretty disconcerting to live near.”

He said it was not only unsightly, but a fire risk and likely to attract vermin.

Another neighbour, who also asked to remain anonymous, said she had witnessed theft from the property.

“It’s attracting a lot of unwanted people around here,” she said.

“People are doing drug deals and all sorts of things. It needs to be sorted out.”

The concerned woman said copper piping had been stolen from the site and a fire was started last year.

“The Housing Trust people are losing a lot of money because of this,” she said.

“They don’t seem to be sending security people around just checking on it. If they did it once a week or something it would slow down the amount of people coming in and squatting.

“To think that you’ve got strangers walking in and out and maybe surveilling our property is not good.”

West Torrens councillor George Demetriou backed calls for the property to be cleaned up.

“It’s been a problem for quite some time and the sooner they do something about it the better,” he said.

“We’ve tried our utmost to get them to clean it.”

The State Government last week announced a plan to renew all Housing Trust properties built before 1968 by 2020.

Sturt Police Chief Inspector Dennis Lock said most of the issues surrounding the property were a matter for the owners.

Chief-Insp Lock urged any witnesses to criminal or suspicious behaviour at the property to call police on 131 444.

For concerns about security at the site call Renewal SA on 8207 0858.