By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A CASEY councillor is calling for a clean-up of derelict and empty properties scattered throughout the municipality.
At Tuesday’s council meeting Cr Rosalie Crestani put forward a notice of motion suggesting council write to the Victorian Government seeking a review of the state’s building regulations in order to curb the prevalence of derelict properties.
As part of the review Cr Crestani called for an investigation of building permit lapses and the provision of increased powers to enforce the completion of building works.
Cr Crestani referred to concerns she had received from a resident who lived near an empty and vandalised property to illustrate her motion.
“I wonder if this was next to my house, what activity would it attract? How would my property depreciate?” she said.
“How would I expect the general feeling of the neighbourhood to be impacted?
“So what this motion seeks to address is closing the loophole in allowing this practice to occur, leaving local laws with little in the way of enforcement for compliance with general standards.”
She said her motion was not meant to make situations difficult for “struggling families”, but rather encourage properties to be occupied.
“This concerned me that this motion may seek to enforce harsh compliance issues on already struggling families,” Cr Crestani said.
“The difference in this case is a newly-built house to obtain occupancy, as opposed to a house that has just fallen into disrepair from failure to maintain it.
“It is my understanding that this proposed change to planning law seeks to parallel that of a similar law in the UK, which has proven to be a great success in enforcing this issue.
“I believe there would be numerous examples of this right across the state.”
