Hoarding on the rise across Geelong, WorkOK owner Greg Bale says

A Geelong specialist cleaning company is tackling faeces, asbestos, drugs and more, as neighbours of chronic hoarders say they “fear” the health risks.

A team of professional hoarding cleaners at WorkOK in Geelong.

Geelong’s hoarding problem is reaching crisis point according to the owner of a hoarding and squalor specialists company.

WorkOK founder Greg Bale, who is based in Fyansford, has been confronted with syringes, human and animal faeces, asbestos and other hazards during his eight years on the job.

“We do all the deep cleaning, the squalor cleaning, so full on that the average cleaner would just walk away or wouldn’t understand the dangers involved,” he said.

He said the health risks involved were numerous and because of this they wore protective gear when cleaning.

Chronic hoarding poses significant health risks to homeowners, neighbours and those cleaning the properties. Picture: supplied

“If we’re working inside and you get a collection of faeces, dead animals, rats, mice, etc. then you need to careful because they’re going to build up dangerous gases around them,” Mr Bale said.

“So we use air monitors to test the air quality as we go through the house.

Aside from the health issues, the clean-up comes at a significant financial cost.

It’s $20,000 to clear and decontaminate an average hoarder’s house.

A hoarder’s house cleaned by WorkOK.

The Geelong Advertiser’s report into a Batesford home owned by Henry Hey, where decades of hoarded vehicles, machinery and household goods fill a two-acre block, prompted fed-up neighbours of other properties in Bannockburn and a house Corio (with a different owner) to contact the Addy over their own health and safety concerns.

Bannockburn resident Shannon Robinson said locals were increasingly worried junk on a Warrak Drive property, which also belongs to Mr Hey, was posing a fire risk to the area.

A Corio home where the owner is allegedly hoarding.

Mr Bale said he was not surprised by the extent of the hoarding seen on the Bannockburn block, which he had driven past before.

A Golden Plains Shire spokesman said they were aware of the matter but due to privacy concerns couldn’t comment.

“Hoarding is not a major issues in Golden Plains Shire and currently affects approximately 10 properties,” he said.

“Council is not responsible for the clean-up of properties like this. Such operations are often costly and not feasible within our budget and resources.

“Hoarding poses a significant risk to the property owner, tenant and neighbours, including fire hazards, vermin attraction and obstruction of access for emergency services,” the spokesman said.

Mr Bale said hoarding was becoming much worse in the region, adding that Geelong, Golden Plains and Surf Coast councils had all hired his team.

The cleaning expert said he’s even had to call the SES to help clear a path so a homeowner could get out of bed.

“As far as the extreme hoarder stuff goes, it’s probably one that comes up every six weeks,” he said.

“The rest might have a couple of rooms built up – a shed, a garage – where they’ve got a lot of stuff.

“Getting in at that time is ideal because you’ve still got time to get counselling for the homeowner or family member hoarding.”

Mr Bale said he found there was “not much point” helping clean up a house unless the owner received help for the root cause of the problem, as often the team would be called back a few years later when the situation was far worse than before.

Originally published as Hoarding on the rise across Geelong, WorkOK owner Greg Bale says