Neighbours terrorised as Brisbane TAFE site overrun by trespassers

An abandoned Tafe building at the centre of a spat between Brisbane City Council and a developer is becoming a haven for youth crime, neighbours say.

An abandoned Tafe building at the centre of a spat between Brisbane City Council and a developer is becoming a haven for youth crime, with neighbouring streets terrorised by break-ins.

The Courier-Mail has obtained vision of a man climbing on the roof of the old Seven Hills TAFE site, with the Queensland Police Service saying officers had made several arrests at the facility over the past year.

A person climbing on the roof of the abandoned site.

Developer Heran defended security at the site.

The block, along Griffith Place, is the site of a contentious proposed seven-storey tower with a full-line supermarket, which council has refused to approve.

Pictures show the facility sitting largely unfenced, with neighbours saying there’s been an uptick in crime, but both Brisbane City Council and developer Heran have deemed the site well protected.

One neighbouring resident, who wished only to be known as Tamara, said police were at the site once a week and she feared someone would be eventually hurt within the derelict facility.

She said the gate for the abandoned building had been left open and there was no fencing around the back of the premises.

“There is fencing up, but they always leave the gate opened up. There’s no indication that you can’t go in there,” she said.

Pictures of the abandoned TAFE site show graffiti and that it's largely unfenced. Picture: Supplied

Another nearby resident, Monique, said her car was stolen in June.

“(The) first time they broke into the house while we were asleep. They came in, they collected every single key … and then yes took the Lexus and the Amarok,” Monique said.

“My car ended up being a write-off, they ended up putting it in a ditch.”

Monique described fencing around the building as “pathetic” and urged for more to be done to resolve trespassing before someone gets hurt, while developer Heran and Brisbane City Council resolved differences over a proposed development over the former TAFE site.

“Our house is now like Fort Knox,” Monique said.

“You just don’t sleep at night … it’s not a way to live.”

The block, along Griffith Place, is the site of a contentious proposed seven-storey tower.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman told The Courier-Mail that youths and adults had been arrested for trespassing and the nearby Morningside station had received reports of people climbing on the roof the facility.

A Heran Building Group spokeswoman however defended the derelict building’s security.

“We have extensive security measures in place at the old TAFE site including fencing, barricaded and locked windows and doors and 24 hour video surveillance,” the spokeswoman said.

“We currently have a development application in with council for this site which is going through the development approval process. The demolition of the old TAFE building is pending the outcome/approval of the current application.”

Neighbours say police are at the site weekly. Picture: Supplied

A Brisbane City Council spokesman said it was working with Heran to address issues around the “size and style” of the current proposal.

“Council has only received one complaint about safety and security at the property this year,” the spokesman said.

“The property owner has placed safety fencing at the site and it is considered safe.”