Council officers will inspect a hoarder’s house in Orange where rubbish is continuing to be piled up.
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Desperate residents have pleaded with Orange City Council to find a solution to the health and safety hazards created at the Windred Street house.
The smell that comes from the house really knocks you out.
- Brian Lobley
Council spokesman Nick Redmond said the inspection was likely to take place in the next week.
“We will reinspect the site,” he said.
“Council has been on site to clean up the area in the past.
“There is a lengthy process involved in this.
“Council powers have limits and deal with issues of environmental health such as the presence of vermin.”
The house is inhabitable after being damaged by fire two years ago but locals said the owner was living in a caravan in the driveway.
Nearby resident Brian Lobley said he understood there was no electricity, water or sewerage services at the property.
“It’s disgusting,” he said.
“It is an eyesore.
“The smell that comes from the house really knocks you out.
“This has been going on for years, nothing seems to be getting done.”
Another resident Jeanette Pieszko said she was concerned there were wild cats, rats, spiders and dead birds in the messy backyard.
She said the amount of rubbish at the front of the house was increasing.
Ms Pieszko said she was worried that if there was another fire or an emergency at the house the responding crews would face a hazardous time trying to get into the house.
“It needs to be cleaned up,” she said.
“It is ridiculous that council seems to be turning a blind eye.
“All she [the owner] is doing is filling it up with junk.
“It’s not just that it doesn’t look good, it’s a health hazard.”
Orange mayor Reg Kidd said he raised the matter with council just before Christmas in a bid to try to get something done.
“It’s absolutely disgusting,” he said.
“There is a caravan on the site. There is no running water or toilet there.”
Cr Kidd said council had looked at ways to solve the problem for several years including organising a clean up but more rubbish had since been added.
He said that it would also be hitting property values for neighbours.
“It depreciates the value of your place,” he said.
David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
