Mt Druitt eyesores: Community supports idea to reuse forgotten buildings as shelters

The Mt Druitt community is backing Blacktown mayor Stephen Bali’s idea to turn abandoned buildings into shelters for the needy.

Residents are all for Blacktown mayor Stephen Bali’s idea to transform abandoned buildings, such as the former medical facility on Luxford Rd, Mt Druitt, into community shelters.

• Turn building wrecks into refuge
• Residents envision bright future

The Mt Druitt community is backing Blacktown mayor Stephen Bali’s idea to turn abandoned buildings into shelters for the needy.

The Standard’s story received an overwhelmingly positive response when published online on Saturday.

“This is an amazing idea,” Elise Fowler said. “I’d love to see it come to fruition.”

Amy Leigh Ridsdale said it was “one of the best things I’ve heard in a while”.

Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali is passionate about deterring vandals in the region. He is pictured at the old McDonald’s at Emerton, which is abandoned.

Joanne Lowles said: “As we approach the cooler time of the year, we all would appreciate a warm place to sleep, a hot shower, a place to wash our clothes ... Yes, let’s use the buildings of ­yesterday for a better community.”

Residents also suggested the neglected sites could be used as soup kitchens and tradies could help make them habitable.

Cr Bali said in the short term, owners of shabby buildings should consider handing them over to charities for refuges for the homeless and possibly domestic violence victims.

However, he said there was no legislation giving council staff powers to force building owners to clean up sites or hand them over.

“We will see what we can do with amendments to the state laws to have a more effective say in dealing with vacant properties and delivering it to the community,” he said.

“There’s no reason in a country like Australia (that) people should be homeless. If there are vacant rooms they should be used.”

Craig Arkley with mum Claire outside the old corner shop in Mt Druitt which has been vacant for years. It has bedrooms inside but the site is derelict and overgrown. Picture: Carmela Roche

Cr Bali said it was “great to hear the endorsement of the community”.

“It gives us more enthusiasm to take this back to council,” he said, adding that the topic would be discussed at the council meeting next Wednesday.

Cr Bali encouraged residents to attend and join in the discussion.