House of notoriety !

Many people must be bemused at the regular appearance on news channels of a house in Sydney's prime suburb of Bondi.  It would be fair to describe it as a " House of notoriety " !

This modest suburban home almost disappears behind a wall of shoulder high rubbish.  It is piled high on the verandah, covers all the garden area and towers over the front fence - and on a hot summer day the smell is powerful from the rotting food and vegetation in the mix.  Rueful neighbours claim that it harbours vermin such as rats, fleas and cockroaches - and it simply defies logic !

Over the years this scene has attracted the media on many occasions when the council has served clean-up orders - and sent in their troops to load the rubbish on trucks and clear it away.  So far, this has cost the council over $ 340,000 in charges - and there is no end in sight.

The house is owned by a woman and her two daughters, and the moment the area is clear they commence to collect rubbish and rebuild the pile.  They are simply hoarders - and there is no distinction in the type of rubbish they collect. It is a matter of all and any - and some would consider that this is a medical compulsion rather than a choice of habit.

There is no doubt that this is a health risk and it clearly falls within the powers of council to order it's removal. This time action will be delayed because the women have taken the matter to the Supreme court and are challenging the validity of the serving of the clean-up order, but eventually the work will proceed - and the cost tally will again mount even higher.

The council has bent over backwards to be compassionate and try and mitigate a situation that must be oppressive to other residents of the entire street - and which must have a detrimental effect on house prices. It is evident that this relentless collecting of rubbish will continue because the pattern has been set. Other people will expect that the council will use it's powers to find a permanent remedy.

The logical course of action would be for council to seek to recover past clean-up costs by way of court action - which would probably result in the home being auctioned.   This unsightly mess and danger to health has existed for many years.   It requires hard decisions and prompt action to bring it to an end !