Housing Commission residents in Rosemeadow are facing serious maintenance issues such as holes in fences, leaking roofs and other general maintenance.
Some of the required repairs have been left outstanding for several years, due to the massive $330 million backlog of maintenance work for public housing in NSW, says Greg Warren, the Member for Campbelltown.
He and Shadow Minister for Social Housing Tania Mihailuk this week joined local residents to inspect some of the affected properties in Rosemeadow.
Afterwards, Mr Warren and Ms Mihailuk called on the NSW Government to fulfil its obligations and ensure that all properties are reasonably maintained.
“The maintenance issues that residents in Rosemeadow face are the human cost of the Liberal Government’s $37 million cut to public housing maintenance in 2013,” Mr Warren said.
“Like any other landlord, the NSW Government must ensure that its properties are up to scratch, and don’t have massive backlogs of maintenance issues.
“Whether it’s leaking roofs, holes in walls or any other maintenance issues, the residents of Rosemeadow and other public housing residents in Campbelltown are sick of waiting for urgent repairs while the Baird Government banks billions of dollars in surpluses.”
Ms Mihailuk said that “the residents of Rosemeadow are trying to build up pride in their community, but this Liberal Government is letting them all down.
“Responsible social housing tenants who pay their rent every week should not bear the burden for maintaining fences, keeping amenities tidy and other common areas that are subject to ordinary wear and tear over the course of several years,” Ms Mihailuk said.
“The Baird Government must fulfil its maintenance obligations and ensure that the vulnerable members of our community who are living in social housing and struggling to make ends meet are not also lumped with the burden of paying the government’s maintenance bills.”
