Neighbourhood hell: 'You can smell the drug lab from here'

Residents in Buddina and Currimundi are "living in fear” at the mercy of housing commission neighbours from hell.

Terry Edwards lives near a housing commission complex in Currimundi and is sick of the unruly behaviour that affects the street. Picture: John McCutcheon

RESIDENTS in Buddina and Currimundi are "living in fear" at the mercy of housing commission neighbours from hell.

Blocks of units, designed for domestic violence victims or single parents in dire straits, have been overrun by "criminal" residents.

Despite the overwhelming number of police call outs - for domestic disturbances, drug deals, brawls and break-ins - the residents' cry for help to the Department of Housing has fallen on deaf ears.

Under the department's current guidelines, even if offenders are locked up, their dwelling can remain vacant for a maximum five month period.

Terry Edwards has lived in Currimundi for six years.

The grandfather-of-six has had enough.

"They are people who are bringing crime to our quiet suburb," Mr Edwards said.

"On any given day or time, you can go out the front and police could be around.

"I've seen bikies rock up, cars impounded, drug deals going on. People have been broken into, one woman woke up with a man in her bedroom.

"I've seen a fight on the middle of the street, one bloke was severely assaulted.

"It's getting out of control."

Dumped trolleys outside a housing commission block. Picture: John McCutcheon

The surrounding residents claim to have observed almost 100 police call outs in the past two years.

Kids aren't allowed to play in the street. Neighbours are now themselves taking the extreme step of purchasing CCTV cameras to ensure their homes and children are safe.

Gary and Joanne Franke moved into their home in 2011, seeking the "lovely" area as it was once known.

But for the past four years, it's been anything but.

"It's been very difficult," Mr Franke said. They're just ferals.

"There's been an unbelievable amount of arrests, the street has been ruined in four years.

"You can smell the drug lab from our house. It's over the top. A lot of people out there need a roof over their head and deserve welfare. This is just a terrible waste of tax payer money."

Mr Franke has tabled a "half-inch" thick file on complaints he has made to the Department of Housing, which has gone unanswered.

Residents in one street in Buddina - men and women too scared to be named - have put up with one nightmare tenant for three years.

The only respite they had, was the three months he was behind bars.

"It used to be a three strikes and you're out policy. But he has kept his place, people need housing," one said.

"Even my older kids are scared to go near him. He is definitely intimidating. I couldn't trust him at all.

"He has broken into cars, houses, pissed on cars, he rides his skateboard up and down the street at ungodly hours.

"The department aren't interested, they just sit on their hands."

Another resident said the system was broken.

"I understand a lot of people have mental health issues, if this is at play, they need help," the resident said.

"You just have to look out the front at the shopping trolleys and rubbish out the front. If you or I were renting, we'd be kicked out.

" I just feel sorry for the other tenants in the actual complex who have to put up with him. God only knows what goes on in there.

"Mums and dads are begging for beachside houses and they're law-abiding. Yet this guy continues to get away with being a menace. It doesn't sit right."

The Department of Housing said it was committed to ensuring all social housing tenants abided by their responsibilities.

"We recognise that many social housing tenants are among the most in need in our society," a spokeswoman said.

"We do not discriminate against people in need, provide the right to natural justice for tenants, and do not place any greater obligation on public housing tenants than private market tenants.

"The department refers tenants who are addicted to illicit substances to support services that can assist with rehabilitation or support for managing and reducing their addiction.

"Criminal behaviour is never acceptable and is investigated by the police."

Originally published as Neighbourhood hell: 'You can smell the drug lab from here'