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Joanne Leszko says drug users who frequent the abandoned property next to her house have left her ‘vulnerable and shaky’. Picture: Lawrence Pinder
media_cameraJoanne Leszko says drug users who frequent the abandoned property next to her house have left her ‘vulnerable and shaky’. Picture: Lawrence Pinder
Outer East

Ringwood widow says drug den next door has forced her to put house on the market

Emma-Jayne Schenk, Maroondah Leader

ANXIOUS neighbours of a makeshift Ringwood drug den are moving elsewhere and hiding in their homes, saying they can no longer live beside erratic junkies.

Widow Joanne Leszko, 66, says she has been forced to put her house on the market and is now banding with fellow residents to call for the immediate demolition of the Pitt St house that’s sat vacant for eight years.

The derelict house attracts homeless people and drug users, with police patrolling it every night and often asking people to move on.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Should the authorities do more about this problem? Tell us below

Maroondah Council chief executive Steve Kozlowski said officers regularly inspected the property and ensured the owner maintained secure fencing “without the need for compliance action”.

But Ms Leszko says “druggies” were getting into the property every day and some had even become threatening and shouted they would “cut her dog’s throat if it didn’t shut up”.

media_cameraThe house next to Ms Leszko’s has been abandoned for eight years. Picture: Lawrence Pinder
media_cameraShe says it is full of rats, rubbish and syringes. Picture: Lawrence Pinder
media_cameraThe property sold for $420,000 three years ago, and for an undisclosed amount last April. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Problems escalated further when she was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 months ago and lost her husband two weeks later.

“I’ve been trying to sell my house for 12 weeks because I feel too unsafe and alone but whoever comes to look notices the place and walks away,” Ms Leszko said.

“They’re getting inside every day and all hours of the night using drugs, it’s littered with syringes and rats and we’re just sick of calling the police.

“They need to be forced to demolish it so it’s gone for good.”

Fellow neighbours Tiffany Naumann and Wayne Grandemange hold similar concerns, with Ms Naumann saying she feared for her two young children’s safety.

media_cameraMs Leszko on her back veranda with her beloved Bella. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

“It’s getting worse and I don’t want my children out there. Drug addicts are very unpredictable — no one wants that here,” she said.

Ringwood Sergeant Michael Stuebner said there were definitely issues on site.

“It’s a daily tasking and we come and talk to (the squatters) but they’re back within minutes,” he said.

“We can’t really do much about it and it comes back to the council and the owner of the property.”

The three-bedroom house sold in April, with the new owners approaching neighbours to say work would start soon.

Mr Kozlowski said the owners remained compliant with council requests and any illegal activities, including trespass, were the responsibility of the police.

Leader has attempted to contact the owner.

It comes as three derelict houses subject to arson in nearby Oliver St, Ringwood, were demolished in April following several clean-up notices being issued (Leader, April 5).

The council has also been forced into a courtroom battle to bulldoze a house at 35 Jackson St, Croydon, left untouched since it burnt down 12 years ago.