Patterson Lakes community fury after fire rips through abandoned retirement village ‘ghetto’

An abandoned Patterson Lakes retirement village dubbed as a ‘cesspool for crime’ is continuing to cause headaches, with police and firefighters called to the property twice in one weekend. Now angry neighbours say they’ve had enough.

Alex and David Butten and Barry and Val Roache have had enough of squatters causing trouble at the old Berkeley Living site. Picture: Hamish Blair

A retirement village turned squatter’s paradise in Melbourne’s southeast has continued to infuriate neighbours, with emergency services called to the ‘crime cesspool’ twice over one weekend.

And residents neighbouring the old Berkeley Living estate in Patterson Lakes say they’ve had “enough”, with some members of the Casuarina Villas unit community fearing for their children’s safety.

Victoria Police and CFA crews were again called to the troubled site on Gladesville Blvd on April 25 and 27, including an incident where a suspicious fire ripped through the dilapidated property.

It’s believed a group of vandals tore down boarding erected by Kingston Council and broke inside the property, which was abandoned in 2017 due to a bitter financial tiff with staff and residents’ families.

“It’s totally trashed, there are people breaking in there and causing mischief,” neighbour David Butten told the Leader.

“I am concerned for my son if he was to be wandering around at night.

“There was also an incident where one neighbour who abutts the property had someone climb onto her balcony.”

The old Berkeley Living retirement village has been dubbed a “ghetto” and “cesspool for crime” by neighbours.

The property has been abandoned since 2017.

Mr Butten called on the State Government to step in and help kickstart the reinvigoration of the rundown site, which is home to burnt out cars, smashed windows, drug paraphernalia and graffiti.

“There are complex legal issues involved but it has got to the point now where something has to be done by the government,” he said.

In a letter to the Casuarina Villas owners’ corporation, MP Sonya Kilkenny said she directed the Department to consider legislative changes that will enable consumer affairs to act on behalf of the former residents in their court fight against the Berkeley Living management to retrieve money they say is owed.

Ms Kilkenny was contacted for comment.

Kingston Council planning and development general manager Jonathan Guttman said the council had organised for boarding to be replaced at the site.

“Last year (the council) arranged for the site to be boarded up to be made safe … unfortunately, recently vandals and trespassers have again forced their way onto the site,” he said.

“(New) boarding was completed this week and included replacing damaged corrugated iron,

boarding up entry ways, repairing tiles that had been removed for access and securing

skylights.

“Council and the community alerted local police, who have attended the site on a number

of occasions.”

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Victoria Police confirmed they were investigating the fire on April 25.

“It is believed an abandoned building on Gladesville Parade caught fire on Saturday 25 April, about 4.30pm,” a spokeswoman said.

“Emergency services responded and extinguished the fire … no one was injured during the incident and the damage to the property was minor.”

Police are treating the fire as suspicious and urge anyone with information or who witnessed suspicious activity to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au