Box Hill neighbourhood house going broke due to construction next-door

A NEIGHBOURHOOD house that’s been running for 31 years is going broke, because its neighbour isn’t being a good neighbour.

Heather Eadon, Trevor Eddy and Sue Dunn work at the neighbourhood house. Photo: James Ross

BOX Hill’s neighbourhood house is going broke, because its neighbour isn’t being a good neighbour.

Participation rates for Clota Cottage Neighbourhood House’s services have plummeted since 2016 when work began on a nearby retirement village with cranes blocking parking and tradies taking carparks.

House secretary Trevor Eddy said he contacted Whitehorse Leader “as a last resort” to try to help the suffering not-for-profit organisation that has been running for more than 31 years.

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“We’re going to go broke,” he said.

“We are in a loss-making situation.

“Our childcare facility which has traditionally and consistently filled out 27 childcare places has reduced to a take up rate of only five places this year.”

Heather Eadon, Trevor Eddy and Sue Dunn work at the neighbourhood house. Photo: James Ross

Mr Eddy said the house’s average weekly participation rate was at 130 people in 2016 — it is now down to 20.

The organisation has had to reduce its staffing levels and sell computer equipment to remain solvent.

Mr Eddy said the drop in participation had been mainly caused by the inability of people, including staff, to access the house due to construction vehicles blocking the avenue and tradies’ vehicles taking up nearby carparks.

A crane rendered the house’s carpark unusable on Tuesday, July 31. Photo: supplied.

Whitehorse Council gave the house five temporary parking permits for Clota Ave in response to its calls for help.

But Mr Eddy said while he was thankful, the permits were “absolutely useless unless staff and participants got to the house by 6.30am each day to beat the tradies”.

Last Tuesday, all classes were cancelled because a crane was taking up the house’s carpark, which Mr Eddy said had happened on multiple occasions.

After Whitehorse Leader made inquiries with the council and Buxton Construction, which is building the Blue Cross Facility, council officers issued infringements at the construction site.

A truck blocks the driveway to the neighbourhood house. Photo: supplied.

Mr Eddy said Buxton Construction then offered to discuss compensation for the day — Tuesday, July 31 — after ignoring previous attempts to discuss the house’s qualms, which also include the noise, dust and alleged profanities coming from the site.

Mr Eddy said one day of compensation would “absolutely” not help the house survive.

“It’s a bloody injustice,” he said.

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Whitehorse acting general manager human services Debbie Seddon said the council was “considering installing bollards at the entrance to the neighbourhood house to ensure access is available to staff and patrons”.

Buxton Construction did not respond to Whitehorse Leader’s requests for comment.