Notorious St Kilda boarding house The Regal to shut down

RADIO host Kate Langbroek has told of her relief at the closure of the notorious St Kilda boarding house at the centre of a recent crime wave, but wants more security until the “repository for any kind of broken person” officially shuts.

Garbage men have refused to enter a St Kilda laneway as violence and drug use spirals out of control. Picture: Penny Stephens

• Langbroek injured in ‘crazed’ attack at home
• Gatwick Hotel’s toxic past unearthed
• Last days inside derelict hotel
• Could Gatwick closure spark street revival?

RADIO host Kate Langbroek has spoken of her relief at the closure of the notorious Regal boarding house but has called for 24-hour security to guard the entrance until it officially shuts.

Housing Minister and Albert Park state MP Martin Foley today announced in Parliament the rooming house in Little Grey St, where abuse, open drug use and prostitution has become rife, will be closed and turned into a women’s refuge.

Yesterday, Langbroek — who was injured in a “crazed, violent, terrifying attack” at her house last week — said the rooming house had become a haven for “every hideous, vile manifestation of humanity that’s abandoned itself” since the Gatwick closed.

Kate Langbroek was bruised after she was attacked at her St Kilda home on March 2.

A St Kilda man, 38, has been charged and remanded in custody in connection with the attack.

Speaking to Leader today, Langbroek said the rooming house had become a “repository for any kind of broken person”.

“You can’t just dump people in the middle of people like that and call it a community - call them vulnerable, then go away wiping your hands and think it’s going to be okay,” she said.

“(Politicians) are so removed from the concept that they work for us so ... if we have to make our electorate a swing seat so we get results we will do that.

“But in the meantime I’m so relieved politicians have listened and acted and I’m heartened by what they’re capable of doing when they do listen.”

The Regal boarding house. Picture: Penny Stephens

Mr Foley said “antisocial activity” had been an issue for months.

He said 24 of the boarding house’s 48 rooms had already closed.

The remainder will be closed within two weeks, and remodelled to single units for disadvantaged women over 55, the fastest growing group of people in need of social housing, Mr Foley said.

Surveillance cameras will also be ramped up along Fitzroy St, he said.

Port Phillip Inspector Jason Kelly said police had increased patrols around Little Grey St in recent months as crime and anti-social behaviour hit crisis point.

“Operation Little Grey aims to provide both a visible and covert police presence and enhanced response to issues in the area,” he said.

A number of arrests had already been made in and around the Regal as part of the operation and patrols would continue, Insp Kelly said.

“We will work closely with the Port Phillip Housing Association, Department of Health and Human Services and City of Port Phillip and other stakeholders during the rehousing process to ensure the safety of residents and the broader community,” he said.

Port Phillip Inspector Jason Kelly says police have upped patrols in the area. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Southern Metropolitan Region state Liberal MP Margaret Fitzherbert backed Langbroek’s call for more security until the house shut.

“We need guards now to keep everyone safe until the closure happens,” she said.

Ms Fitzherbert said it shouldn’t have taken pressure from Leader and Langbroek to get a result when residents had repeatedly asked for help.

“People have been living in fear and dealing with violent crime on a daily basis because Martin Foley took so long to act,” she said.

The Friends of St Kilda Hill’s Darren Robinson spoke of his group’s relief in the wake of the news today.

“St Kilda is an awesome place to live and it’s a real community that is inclusive of all who want be part of it. We won’t stand by and watch people destroy what we have built,” Mr Robinson said.

The Leader reported in February violence, abuse, open drug use and prostitution had become rife around the Regal rooming house since the closure of the Gatwick.

Garbage men had refused to service the street where violence from the rooming house has spiralled out of control.

A bin maintenance contractor this week confirmed he pulled the plug on his agreement with the body corporate of a Dalgety St apartment block over concerns for his staff’s safety.

The contractor, who did not want to be named, said his company had been putting the bins out for collection in Little Grey St for 10 years.

“I’ve seen almost every little back nook and cranny around the city during my job but I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.

A woman allegedly threatened to “squirt blood” on someone.

“The violence is really troubling and my drivers feel physically unsafe there.”

He pulled the pin after staff were verbally abused by “a nutter running up and down with a syringe in his arm”.

“That was just the last straw,” he said.

“We do a lot of work in and around the city ... but we’ve never had an issue, ever — but we did in Little Grey St.

“They’re just off their nut and running out of control.”

He said in the weeks before he canned services in December, trouble in the laneway had been “worse than anything I’ve ever seen”.

He said he continued to do other contracts around St Kilda but Little Grey St was now a no-go zone.

Port Phillip Mayor Bernadene Voss said its contractors cleaned syringes from Little Grey St and neighbouring streets twice a week, and a community safety audit would be done to pinpoint ways to improve the area.

Council cleaners had removed 36 used syringes from the area in January.

“I want to assure residents that council is taking their concerns very seriously,” Cr Voss said.

“There are complex social issues involved and local housing associations are increasing security at their premises.”

Residents have reported an increase in crime, drug use, assaults and thefts since the Gatwick closed. Picture: Penny Stephens

Mr Robinson said law-abiding residents had been given “no relief” from daily exposure to violence and drugs.

And the group’s dossier of unsavoury behaviour had continued to grow, with new incidents added daily.

One resident reported being told “I’ll squirt blood on you” when she told a drug addict injecting herself in the ankle to move on.

Mr Robinson said immediate measures were needed to bolster security.

“There are all these longer term actions (planned) but nothing to manage what is happening now,” he said.

“There has been no implementation on the bleeding obvious — (Port Phillip Housing Assocation) is not controlling the front door.

“The whole community is losing, including the residents of The Regal and (Housing Minister and Albert Park State Labor MP)

Mr Foley earlier this week told the Leader he was “working hard to resolve these issues”.

“We are working with the City of Port Phillip, Victoria Police, Port Phillip Housing Association and service providers to tackle problems at Little Grey St as a matter of priority,” he said.

“We won’t tolerate anti-social behaviour on our streets — that’s why we’re conducting the biggest roll-out of new police in Victoria’s history, including 13 additional officers in the area.”

Port Phillip Housing Association has been contacted for comment.