Time to act on those ‘who don’t give a rats’

NEWS

Long-serving city councillor David Hinchliffe believes Fortitude Valley locals are “reaching boiling point” over property owners who have let their premises run down. He’s also expressed his frustration over the apparent inability of authorities at various levels of government to bring these owners to task.

In an email to Brisbane Lifestyle Committee chairperson Geraldine Knapp, Cr Hinchliffe wrote: “I think everyone in the Valley is reaching boiling point over the state of a number of premises and the apparent inability that authorities have to take strong, decisive and if necessary punitive action to deal with ‘difficult’ property owners who frankly don't give a ‘rat’s’ about the state of their properties.
“I take it you’ve been briefed about the on-going efforts to try to clean up certain properties owned by ‘recalcitrant’ owners who keep resisting the efforts of the council, the Valley Chamber of Commerce, myself, the media and the public to clean up their premises.
“The issue referred to in the email below from Greg Scroope is the state of the property which for many arriving in the Valley is their introduction to area. It is the arcade from the Valley Metro train stations through the building and across the air-bridge to McWhirters. It is an utter disgrace and it has been getting progressively worse over the last six months. I encourage you to visit and see for yourself.
“Of course, it is also a privately owned space, so the issue arises what powers council has to take action.
“I have been asking council for a ruling on whether council does have the power to make property owners in the Valley clean up filthy premises. That power exists for the front of properties fronting the malls and that power is applied where it is needed. But the question arises whether the power exists elsewhere. Through Grace Grace MP, I’ve received advice from the State Government that the council does have such power. However, officers have been telling me that that is not the case either under the Building or Public Health legislation. I have raised this at the recent Valley Malls Committee meeting and asked for confirmation. We do need clarity about this.
“Can you please obtain advice whether such power is available to council to fine owners who do not clean up filthy premises? If council does not have the power, then we need to ask the state to change the legislation. I have put this proposal forward before. When will there be an answer please?”