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Resolution Must be Found for Derelict Buildings

Member for Morwell Russell Northe is throwing his support behind local communities in their endeavours to have abandoned and derelict buildings cleaned up.

Support and outrage from local communities to clean up abandoned and derelict buildings is rising.

By Portal Admin - 13th October 2019 - Back to News

Member for Morwell Russell Northe is throwing his support behind local communities in their endeavours to have abandoned and/or derelict buildings cleaned up.

Mr Northe has been contacted by local residents across several communities including the Traralgon Community Development Association (TCDA) who feel very strongly about this issue.

The TCDA and indeed other community organisations have identified properties within their townships that should either be demolished or cleaned up appropriately, but it appears adequate enforcement is not being applied in many instances.

Mr Northe has also continually highlighted the old United Service Station in Churchill as a classic case of an eyesore building being left to rot despite the community seeking its demolition for years and years.

"People have great pride in their towns, but the ongoing neglect of derelict buildings does nothing to enhance the image of our towns or our region," Mr Northe said.

"When you drive into any town you shouldn’t have to observe some of the disgusting eyesores that currently exist in some of our local townships," Mr Northe said.

Mr Northe said that he had previously written to the Minister for Local Government on these same matters and subsequently sought a resolution to the perceived lack of powers that exist for relevant authorities to apply in such cases.

"The Minister in response noted that The Local Government Act 1989 enables Councils to make local laws on matters for which they have functions and powers, and which can address local circumstances" added Mr Northe.

"Whilst I understand that in some cases Council has applied a differential rate to the owners of properties with unsightly buildings, it’s obvious this course of action is not working." Said Mr Northe.

Mr Northe and local community groups are asking the State Government and Latrobe City Council to come up with an effective course of action that not only holds property owners to account but sees some of the eyesore buildings in our community finally cleaned up.

If we truly want locals and visitors to be proud of the region in which we live, then taking real action on the owners of derelict properties is a good start.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: support@gippsland.com