Stabbing pain

By Lia Bichel
THE stabbing of a young man in Berwick has renewed calls from Casey Council to review units owned by the Department of Human Services and managed by WAYYS.
But WAYSS CEO Kim Stowe said the stabbing was the only incident at the units and there would be changes in security following a review of the violent altercation last month.
On 26 September, a man received emergency surgery after he was stabbed three times in one of the Bellevue Drive units.
Senior Detective Stephen Boyle said the stabbing was a result of an argument between three men.
“A young man received three stab wounds – two to the stomach and one to the back. He drove himself to Casey hospital and was transported by ambulance to The Alfred hospital for emergency surgery,” Sen Det Boyle said.
“He is very luck to be alive.”
Sen Det Boyle said one man was arrested and released pending summons.
Two of the three people involved in the altercation were visitors and the one resident has been relocated.
Cr Sam Aziz said the incident scared many of the neighbors who found blood splattered on their driveways and police at the units, which houses up to 10 people aged between 17 and 21.
Cr Aziz said the residential area was not an appropriate location for the units and wanted them “shut down or relocated.”
He asked the council to write to Minister for Housing Wendy Lovell and Minister for Community Service Mary Wooldridge seeking a review of the units.
“I raised a number of objections to the accommodations when they were proposed in 2009. I didn’t think it was appropriate for that residential street,” Cr Aziz said.
“We sought assurance that there would be security to monitor the area and make sure neighboring residents are protected. Now there is no visible sign of security.
“Clearly this is not appropriate activity on a residential street.”
Department of Human Services spokesperson Mike Griffin said the location was chosen because it was close to public transport, shops and community services.
He said the units had security cameras and was staffed seven days a week and overnight on Friday and Saturday nights by WAYSS, a non-profit organisation specialising in affordable housing and support services.
“This facility is well managed and this is the only incident that has occurred since it opened in April 2010,” Mr Griffin said.
“There have been no other complaints made to the department, WAYSS or the police since the facility opened.”
Mr Griffin said the department has relocated the tenant who was involved in the incident and DHS and WAYSS were reviewing the factors that led to the incident to put any necessary improvements in place.