Filthy barbecue facilities, a blocked water fountain, dead verges and leaf build-up are just a few issues that have been plaguing residents for the last 12 months at a reserve in Harrisdale.
Resident Michael Flatman has overlooked Benalla Reserve for the past 12 years and said the reserve is now the worst he has ever seen it.
“I have lost count at how many times I have complained,” he said.
“Things are just not being maintained and when you question why, it is the same old answer that the responsibility lies with the developer, even though it was handed over to the city in 2009.”
Despite complaining numerous times to the city, Mr Flatman said it wasn’t until he posted some photographs of the estate on social media that some action occurred.
“It shouldn’t have to be that way,” he said.
“The City of Armadale have maintenance programs for their own facilities but it is not reverberating down the line to the residents that are living in these estates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We are paying just over $3000 a year in rates and there is also a Specified Area Rates levy, which is close to $300 a year, which is responsible for maintenance over and above standard city maintenance.
“We have all got a job to do … if you were in your job and you weren’t performing, what would happen?”
Fellow resident Glen England also questioned where the resident’s money was going.
“We used to come over and have a barbecue and we were always mucking around with the grandchildren in the park but we can’t use the barbecue now in the state it had been,” he said.
“I would say that they have definitely slackened off.”
City of Armadale coordinator of parks operations Greg Miller has since met with Mr Flatman to discuss the various issues and to date the barbecue facilities and drink fountain have been cleaned and fixed.
Other issues such as the trimming of the trees surrounding the pole lights, control of termites and repairs to the timber decking were also requested and confirmed to be arranged in a letter from the City of Armadale to Mr Flatman.
The City of Armadale were contacted for comment but did not respond before deadline.
