Embarrassed neighbours want dilapidated City of Whitehorse gateway site rebuilt

Embarrassed neighbours want an abandoned industrial building at the entrance to a booming eastern municipality, which is an eyesore and magnet for squatters and troublemakers, knocked down. But the council says there’s no quick fix.

The building has been empty for at least six years. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Calls are growing for one of Whitehorse’s greatest eyesores — and it a major gateway to the city — to be overhauled.

For years the abandoned industrial building on the corner of Whitehorse and Heatherdale roads has been the first thing motorists’ see as they drive in from the east.

Located next to a ‘Welcome to Whitehorse’ sign, the prominent site, which is constantly smothered in graffiti and litter, stands as the unofficial gateway to Whitehorse.

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It’s been the site for a number of plans which have never got off the ground.

Currently there’s a permit for the construction of a two-storey childcare centre, which was issued last October.

The abandoned building stands next to the ‘City of Whitehorse’ entry sign. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Previously there was a permit for a four-storey development consisting of a medical centre and 61 apartments issued by VCAT — against the wishes of nearby residents and Whitehorse Council — in April 2013.

Council city development Jeff Green said construction could not begin on the 128-place centre until the developer had met all the requirements and had the plans endorsed by the council.

And if it doesn’t get built within two years, the permit will lapse.

But while the dilapidated building remains, it’s not a gateway neighbours are proud of.

Readers responded to a Whitehorse Leader’s Facebook post sharing their dissatisfaction with the “eyesore”.

Multiple people called for a park or garden to be developed at the site, saying greenery would be much better suited to welcome people to Whitehorse — a municipality known for its bush precincts.

There are also, more troublesome issues at the site.

Adelaide Costello, who has lived near 762-764 Whitehorse Rd for more than 10 years, said locals had been disturbed by people using the site as “the local hangout spot” on a regular basis for as long as she could remember.

She said people gathered on the property at all hours, sometimes breaking inside the boarded up building, making noise and trouble.

She said people living in nearby streets regularly had to go over and tell the occupants to leave, and police had to be called on a series of occasions.

“They actually set alight the back of our cubby house one night,” she said.

Just the other week her neighbour had to go over and tell a couple to stop having sex “in broad daylight” beside the building because his young children could see it from their backyard.

Ms Costello said she no longer allowed her children to walk near the site because they had seen needles and condoms among the rubbish.

She said the area desperately needed to be properly lit to deter certain behaviours.

“It really needs to be developed into something as soon as possible, but parkland is just asking for more trouble,” she said.

Whitehorse Leader believes the site has been left idle for more than seven years.