Property owner is counting cost of explosions

THE owner of the Clay St home at the centre of the West Ipswich home-made bomb incident this week faces a damage bill of more than $10,000.

BLAST: Home owner and landlord Rick Hyde at his Clay St, West Ipswich house where police are in their sixth day of bomb drama. Picture: Sarah Harvey

THE owner of the Clay St home at the centre of the West Ipswich home-made bomb incident this week faces a damage bill of more than $10,000.

The police bomb squad carried out controlled detonation on beams under the home and in the kitchen, but Rick Hyde believes the home can be renovated and leased again.

"I believe it's structurally sound, even though there have been a quite a few detonations in the past few days," he said.

He first heard of the unfolding incident on the radio.

Mr Hyde has owned the property for 20 years and arrived at the home yesterday.

He said the 37-year-old man currently in hospital leased the property and a friend of that man, Glen Charles Dell was staying at the home temporarily.

Mr Hyde said after learning of the explosion last week his first concern was with the injured man.

"My main concern is with the tenants, the neighbours, the police the bomb squad. Everybody here, I'm concerned about their wellbeing."

Mr Hyde met the 37-year-old man once and said he seemed to be a "nice enough guy".

He said the explosion last week was totally unexpected.

Mr Hyde said the home will be made safe.

Originally published as Property owner is counting cost of explosions