Members statement: Prahran public housing
The government must improve living conditions at our local public housing estates in the Prahran electorate. My office continues to hear from countless residents about the substandard conditions in both high-rise apartments and walk-ups. At 2 Simmons Street, South Yarra, the first two floors were renovated 10 years ago, with the government promising to complete the remaining floors. A decade later those residents are still waiting for very basic, minimal upgrades to bring their living conditions up to standard. The problem of pigeon infestation continues. Elderly residents are reporting that existing health conditions are being exacerbated by feathers and pigeon crap that covers buildings and grounds. At our Inkerman Street estate windows are so caked in dirt, pigeon poo and feathers that residents can barely see out of them. Requests to clean the windows have gone unheeded because, we have been advised, the cost is too prohibitive and could better be spent elsewhere. Well, it is hard to see where that is actually being spent.
We have been advised that there are options for tenants to report unsatisfactory conditions to the housing call centre. Well, I am being advised by tenants that calls to the housing call centre regularly go unanswered and unreturned. Residents have been waiting over a year for basic maintenance to be carried out. The problem has been made even worse by the fact that housing officers are now seen by appointment only. Our public housing residents deserve better.