'Nervous' residents on edge as vandals target vacant government homes
About 50 condemned houses on the Sunshine Coast are sitting abandoned, as police step up patrols to protect residents after vandals trashed one property.
Resident tensions rise on Sunshine Coast as vandals strike vacant homes set for demolition. Dozens of vacant rental properties, targeted for removal to make way for a new public transport system ahead of the 2032 Olympics, have seen a rash of vandalism and trespassing incidents. With tenants set to leave next week, concerns about safety have grown among remaining residents.
Over 50 homes on the Mooloolah River in Mountain Creek will be demolished as the government races to complete the infrastructure before the Olympic Games. The state government acquired most of the properties a decade ago and recently ordered all tenants to vacate by August 31. Some residents have already moved out, leaving nervous tenants worried about their safety.
Police have responded to multiple calls, with one luxury house recently vandalized, leaving shattered windows and broken walls. Concerned residents have taken steps to secure their homes, such as installing security lights, but remain uneasy, fearing a "free-for-all" once the remaining residents depart. The Department of Transport has funded security patrols in the area at night, and police have increased patrols in the neighborhood.
Despite these measures, residents remain uneasy and are actively seeking new homes, despite challenges in the Sunshine Coast's tight rental market.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
