Rats the size of cats take over Camperdown social housing estate

Rats the size of cats have taken over a social housing estate in Camperdown, with residents forced to take matters into their own hands.

There is a rat infestation in the Johanna O'Dea Court Department of Housing complex on Bridge Road, Camperdown. Picture: John Appleyard

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Rats the size of cats have taken over a social housing estate in Camperdown, with residents forced to take matters into their own hands.

Residents of the Johanna O’Dea Court housing estate, on Pyrmont Bridge Rd, said the rats were everywhere and forced them to live in filth.

The infestation, which has gone on for months is so bad, rats have died within walls of units and started to rot.

A rat lies dying near a rat bait in one of the walkways on the ground level of the Johanna O'Dea Court in Camperdown. Picture: John Appleyard

They contacted State Labor candidate for Balmain Elly Howse who said their calls for help were ignored by the Department of Housing.

Ms Howse said the rat infestation has been an issue for months — and it’s now spreading.

“They are huge, they are the size of a small cat,” she said.

A flyer has been posted around the property encouraging residents to make homemade rat repellent using vinegar or a mothball spray, costing residents only $4.

Camperdown Common Ground issued residents with a how-to guide to keeping rats away.

The guide encourages residents to just use vinegar or mothball spray.

“Housing have said, you need to clean up your rubbish and put up your own bait,” she said.

Ms Howse said some rats had died within the walls of units, leaving residents to put up with the smell of putrefying animals.

“You can smell it when you go into people’s units,” she said.

The cleaners were out in force, hosing down the garbage room and emptying garbage bins, when Central Sydney Magazine paid a visit to the estate on Wednesday morning.

A dying rat and a dead rat were located on the ground floor of the estate during our inspection.

Central Sydney Magazine paid a visit to the housing estate on Wednesday morning. Picture: John Appleyard

Signs of rat infestation were everywhere — several rat holes were also identified around the property where baits had been placed.

Gunther Goldmann, who has been living at Johanna O’Dea Court since 1990, said residents throw rubbish into the garden in between the two buildings.

A fenced off courtyard on the ground level of the Johanna O'Dea Court in Camperdown where some residents drop their rubbish. Picture: John Appleyard

He believes this is attracting the vermin.

“There’s dozens of them, big rats,” he said.

“It’s just a s***t house, that’s what it is.”

Mr Goldmann said those with dogs and cats were lucky to avoid having rats enter their units and said the only one happy with the infestation was the ground floor cat, who appeared to be well fed.

Resident Gunther Goldmann said the rubbish is attracting the vermin. Picture: John Appleyard

Another resident said the rats were “All over the place, everywhere.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Family and Community Services said they were aware that there has been an increase in rodent activity around the Johanna O’Dea Court complex and has contractors doing extra work to deal with the problem.

“FACS inspects the complex regularly and its contractors bait and remove rodents on a regular basis,” the spokesperson said.

“This program has been increased to a weekly rodent eradication program.

“FACS will continue the rodent eradication program that is in place at the complex.

Ms Howse suspects the vermin infestation congregate around the garbage rooms on the ground floor. She is urging the Department of Housing to send in a team to remove the dead vermin and conduct a pest spray immediately.

“They need to send in a proper pest spray team to really fix it,” she said.

“They will need to go into some of these units and take out the dead vermin that have crawled up in there and died.

Cleaning staff hosing out one of the bin bays on the ground level of the Johanna O'Dea Court in Camperdown. The cleaning takes place monthly. Picture: John Appleyard

“It’s an issue that has been neglected, the housing residents feel like no one is listening to them.

“There is a clear role for the State Housing to really put some serious money and attention behind it.”

A rat bait on the ground level of the Johanna O'Dea Court in Camperdown. Picture: John Appleyard

“The city of Sydney has received complaints regarding pests within Johanna O’Dea Court,’ Council documents said.

A rat bait in one of the walkways on the ground level of the Johanna O'Dea Court in Camperdown. Picture: John Appleyard

The report said residents have been referred to the Department of Community and Family Services.

“The Department of Community and Family Services is responsible for pest control within

their properties,” the report said.

Holes in the ground. Picture: John Appleyard

“Cleansing and Waste’s current schedule for Camperdown includes streetscape

cleansing on a minimum of three days per week and there have not been any reported

issues with the servicing in this area, including Johanna O’Dea Court.
One staff member at Campderdown’s Common Ground which is located next door to the housing estate, said the rat infestation has also spread to their premises.

“We have tried to do things over the fence, but the problem is bigger than what we can handle by ourselves,” she said.

“We have discussed it with FACS before.

‘I think the ball has been dropped with FACS and us, and we have taken it into our own hands.”

If tenants have further concerns, they can contact the Housing Contact Centre on 1800 422 322.