Residents are calling for the demolition of an abandoned and derelict Kurunjang house which has become a local haunt for young people.
The house was gutted by fire almost three years ago and the owner has never returned.
Melton council has since temporarily fenced off the shell of the house, with its shattered windows, collapsed roof and crumbling plasterboard held up by a blackened frame.
A neighbour, who asked to be identified only as Marie, said she had contacted the council numerous times since January to get the abandoned Manfred Place house torn down.
She said she and others in the neighbourhood felt unsafe.
“The house burned down about three years ago and the fire was said to have been caused by an air-conditioning fault,” she said.
“The man who lived here left the house shortly after the fire and never returned.
“Melton council have told us the house can be demolished only if they find squatters living in it.”
Marie said residents had also called the police a number of times to complain about noise at the house.
“About 15 or 20 youths turn up every evening and use it as a party house,” Marie said.
“There’s often a smell of marijuana coming from it and there are always cars in and out of the driveway.
“The place has been trashed and people come and take building materials from it.
“It’s not stable and it’s not safe for people to be in there. Someone could be seriously injured or killed.”
Melton police sergeant Cameron Scott said he was not aware of complaints about unusual activity at Manfred Place.
He said any future activity of concern should be reported to Melton police immediately.
Melton council compliance manager Ian Stewart said the council had received ongoing complaints from residents about the property.
“We have made numerous attempts to contact the owner of the property, without success,” he said.
“From a building perspective, the property is not suitable for occupation. But there are no criteria or requirements under the Building Act to classify a house as abandoned, and council would need to obtain a court order for the house to be demolished.”
