Bayside Council say they’re powerless to stop druggies and vandals using vacant Highett house
LONG-suffering neighbours of a dilapidated Highett house that has been vacant for at least a decade and is now a squatter-infested drug den, desperately want it knocked down.
Inner South
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AN ABANDONED Highett house doubling as a squatter-infested drug den should be knocked down immediately concerned neighbours have said.
The Highett Rd property — believed to have been empty for at least ten years — is causing angst among locals who believe the property is a “major safety risk”.
Neighbour Robert Cuskelly is calling for the house to be demolished “immediately”.
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He said he contacted the council about the property but was told they couldn’t do anything.
“I really want the council to knock it down because I’m constantly worrying about someone burning it down and putting my home at risk,” he said.
“It’s not well secured so anybody can get in.”
Mr Cuskelly said he bought what he thought was his “dream retirement home” back in February, after raising concerns with his real estate agent about the “eyesore squalor” next door.
“I was assured there was a plan to knock the house down ‘shortly’ which I thought reasonably soon but it’s been six months and as you can see the house is still there,” Mr Cuskelly said.
Mr Cuskelly said he hadn’t noticed anyone inside the property but often heard “strange noises at night”.
However, another neighbour who lived close to the property but wished to remain anonymous said squatters and drug users had returned to the property.
“They were cleared out a year or so ago but they’re back now,” the neighbour said.
“Everyone in Highett knows the house, and we just continue to wait for the council to do something.”
Bayside City Planning and Community Services director Dr Hamish Reid said the council was limited in what action it could take.
“(The) council has successfully enforced the unsightly land provisions of Bayside’s Local Law at the property,” he said.
“This resulted in the property’s grass being cut and rubbish removed.
“Unfortunately, (the) council’s Local Law does not provide (the) council with controls to manage dilapidated buildings that are unoccupied, unfit for occupation or normal use, or not occupied most of the time.”
Dr Reid added “questions relating to the property’s use should be referred to the owners”.
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