Casey Council wants more power to clean up abandoned properties and hit owners with bigger fines
A dangerous and derelict Hampton Park shopping centre, which has been vacant for more than a year, has sparked an urgent call to give councils the power to take over “abandoned” properties.
South East
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Casey Council wants extra powers to force a property owner to clean up a dangerous and derelict retail strip.
Hampton Park Food Market has been vacant for more than a year, with its dilapidated buildings covered in graffiti and pavements littered with broken glass and rubbish.
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But the council says its hand are tied and it wants to be able to issue warnings and harsher penalties to “recalcitrant owners” of commercial buildings.
Currently the council can only pursue the owner of the Hallam Rd site for unsightly premises with a maximum penalty of $2000.
Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon said the council wanted State Government to increase its level of authority in relation to these issues.
“Council has asked that it be entitled to issue penalties in keeping with the community risk that these properties pose, temporarily confiscate the properties and undertake the remedial work necessary,” she said.
“Should reoffending occur, we’ve asked that Council can undertake further remedial works, with the penalties to double on each occasion to the same property.”
The Hampton Park Food Market which was marked for a $40 million redevelopment in 2016, has been abandoned since mid-2017.
Angry residents have been calling on the council to force the landowner to clean-up and secure the site.
Councillors Wayne Smith and Damien Rosario said the issue highlighted local government’s limited jurisdiction over privately owned properties.
“Council is acutely aware of the concerns raised in relation to the food market and our officers are currently working hard to investigate what methods council can take to help rectify the situation,” Cr Smith said.
“We will aim to address the amenity and safety concerns raised in relation to the building in any way we can and understand the affect that this eyesore is having on the Hampton Park and wider Casey community,” Cr Rosario said.
The property is owned by Karex Pty Ltd.
Spokeswoman Sandra Jones previously told the Leader that said they were still working on the redevelopment but “as the project requires injection of funds over $40 million, we would like to dot the i’s and cross the t’s”.
The State Government has been contacted for comment.
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