Urban Housing Minister Kate Worden promises 24/7 security for notorious Shiers St public housing complex

URBAN Housing Minister Kate Worden has promised to introduce 24/7 security at a notorious public housing complex in The Narrows

Urban Housing Minister Kate Worden has promised to introduce 24/7 security at a notorious public housing complex in The Narrows from next week. Picture: Che Chorley

URBAN Housing Minister Kate Worden has promised to introduce 24/7 security at a notorious public housing complex in The Narrows from next week in response to intense community concern about anti-social behaviour at the site.

Ms Worden made the commitment at a community meeting about issues at the Shiers St public housing complex yesterday, which was attended by about 40 concerned residents of The Narrows.

Member for Fong Lim Mark Monaghan, who made redeveloping the complex one of his election commitments last year, also attended.

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Emotions ran high at the meeting as numerous residents detailed how recurring instances of heavy drinking, violent assaults and late-night parties meant they rarely got a full night’s sleep or didn’t feel safe being outside at night, even to put out their bins.

Several people said the behaviour was so bad, they typically called police several times a night.

After residents called for short-term protection, Ms Worden said her office would introduce around-the-clock security at the complex.

“What we’ve agreed in the short-term is that we will get some security there, 24 hours a day … that we can look at from next week,” she said.

One concerned resident who lives across from the complex, who did not want to be named, said she was relieved to hear there would soon be constant security.

“We got recognition and an improved understanding of the problems, and I have some hope that there will be some short-term action,” she said.

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Ms Worden and Mr Monaghan also outlined long-term options for the redevelopment of the ageing complex, including converting it into seniors housing, establishing a mix of public and private housing, selling it to a private developer or redeveloping it for a different community use.

They said in the meantime, vacant units would not refilled.

Yesterday’s meeting marked the first stage of community consultation on plans to redevelop the complex, after years of anti-social behaviour problems at the site.

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