Fears Heathmont becoming a ‘slum’ with abandoned properties damaged and covered in graffiti
It is known for its village feel – but residents of a leafy suburb in Melbourne’s outer east fear it has lost its charm due to a rise in ugly and vandalised abandoned properties.
Outer East
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Abandoned development sites littered with vandalised and graffiti-covered buildings are turning Heathmont into a ‘slum’.
The western entrance to the suburb’s main shopping precinct is blighted with a vandalised former church, a damaged abandoned restaurant and a graffiti-riddled former car wash.
Members of the Meanwhile In Heathmont Facebook page spoke out about the state of Heathmont Village after Maroondah Council rejected plans to revamp a church site.
The council refused the proposed 139-space childcare centre at 203-205 Canterbury Rd on November 4, eight months after the application was submitted.
Maroondah Leader featured the state of the abandoned church on October 31, which some people believe has been used by squatters.
According to the council’s notice of refusal, a permit was not granted as the proposed centre failed to respect neighbourhood character and the amount of childcare spaces was “excessive” for the location.
The council also said it would lead to “unreasonable amenity effects” including increased traffic and parking in Viviani Crescent and surrounding streets.
The manager of the Meanwhile In Heathmont page, who declined to be named, said they feared “Squatter Day Care” would continue at the church due to the decision.
“Heathmont is looking s**t with all these slums awaiting development,” they wrote.
“Car wash, the pizza place, church, old pool shop site, the median strip …”
Other page members also expressed their concerns with Fleur Farrington fearing the village area was “turning into a ghetto” and Roz Blain saying it was “in disrepair”.
MORE: APARTMENTS PLANNED AT DESTROYED PIZZA SHOP
HEATHMONT’S BARCLAYS CAFE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN
NEIGHBOURS ANGRY ABOUT ABANDONED HOUSE
But Mayor Mike Symon wants the owners of the abandoned sites to pay double the rates to force them to kickstart development.
He said the council introduced a policy 18 months ago where it could double annual rates for owners of disused and abandoned properties.
Cr Symon said he would speak to corporate services director Marianne Di Giallonardo and request an assessment of abandoned properties in the Heathmont Village precinct.
“Heathmont is ripe for a better quality than what is there now and having run down and abandoned buildings serves no one,” he said.
“Having buildings like the old car wash sitting there year on year, it does make the area look run down, and revitalising that end of Heathmont is something to look at and to get on with it.”
“I really look forward to when we can get facilities in place which the public can use that suit the area and make the area look better.”