Debbie Johns is sick of seeing ruined publicly owned houses around Cobram neglected and becoming dumping grounds.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
Known for her compassion and generous nature, Debbie Johns has dedicated her life to helping those less fortunate than her.
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But one issue has her fired up.
As Victoria grapples with a social housing shortage, Mrs Johns is part of a group of residents fed up with the neglect of several social housing blocks in Cobram, which have become dumping grounds for human waste since being destroyed by fire.
Standing beside the remains of a house on Blackwood Cres, Mrs Johns said locals were desperate for the Victorian Government to demolish the ruined houses and clean up the mess.
“It’s disgusting,” she said.
“People have to look at this daily, and it’s just getting worse day by day.”
When it rained, Mrs Johns said, there was a terrible smell.
Since burning down in April, the publicly owned house on Blackwood Cres has become a dumping ground.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
“My concerns are health. There are kids in this area,” she said.
“What an absolute waste of taxpayers’ money. This is just getting ridiculous.”
Like many social houses in the area of Cobram colloquially named ‘The Bronx’, the property on Blackwood Cres is managed by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing through its agency Homes Victoria.
Not too far away, at the end of Cedar Crt, the charred shell of another home looms over a children’s playground.
A growing pile of rubbish encircles the former house on Blackwood Cres.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
It comes as over 30,000 Victorians continue to wait for social housing, according to the latest census data.
A recent report from the Victorian Housing Peaks Alliance called Growing Social Housing found that Victoria would need to build at least 80,000 social homes over the next decade to meet demand.
Mrs Johns said at least seven publicly owned houses had gone up in flames in the past five years, including one more recently on Campbell Rd and Hay Ave.
“Are these houses really safe?” she said.
The ruined house on Cedar Crt adjoins a public park, whose playground is well loved by young families who live nearby.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
She couldn’t believe it when she discovered an electrical box had been placed on the charred brick wall of a Hay Ave apartment, after it was gutted by fire on Anzac Day.
A spokesperson for Homes Victoria said qualified electricians had determined that it was safe for power mains to run under Hay Ave to supply power to neighbouring units.
“The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing works hard to ensure vacant properties are tenanted as soon as possible, including undertaking the necessary inspection, safety checks and repairs in line with the Residential Tenancies Act before the property is deemed safe and secure for renters,” the spokesperson said.
“Homes Victoria is committed to providing housing that meets the needs of the community and increasing the number of social and affordable homes for Victorians.
“Through the Big Housing Build and Regional Housing Fund, Homes Victoria is delivering more than 13,300 social and affordable homes across the state — with more than 10,800 homes already complete or under way.
“In the Moira LGA, more than $3 million has been invested through our social housing programs, with 20 new homes built in the region.”
The spokesperson said that the social housing units at Campbell Rd and Blackwood Cres were no longer habitable and would require demolition, but did not provide a timeline.
Rectification works are planned to bring the fire-affected units at Hay Ave back up to tenantable standard as soon as possible.
The office of the Minister for Housing and Building was contacted for comment.
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