Minister hints at spreading Wagga public housing through private suburbs

Family and community services minister Brad Hazzard issued the warning at the official opening of the newly refurbished Tolland Neighbourhood Centre, which had been forced to shut its doors twice in the past five years due to funding shortfalls. 

It comes one month after an abandoned Tolland public housing property was left covered in rotting rubbish, estimated to cost tens of thousands of dollars and tens of man-hours to clean.

“Every now and then you get an individual who doesn't appreciate other taxpayers are supporting them to give them a leg up and they do damage,” Mr Hazzard said.

“We do everything possible to recover the money from them knowing every dollar wasted is a dollar that can't support other members of community who need support.”

The minister hinted Wagga public housing could be scattered throughout the city to prevent any one suburb becoming dilapidated.

“It’s much better to have people in social housing scattered through the community, not large estates,” he said.

The state government minister said the merits of giving Wagga police broader powers to take children off the streets after dark and deliver them home to their parents or halfway houses was a matter for Wagga. 

“I would never impose a view from outside, but I would say each community should work out what will work for them and the government will back them in whatever they think is appropriate,” he said. 

Wiradjuri elder Gail Maderson said the revamped centre would help subdue Wagga’s burgeoning youth crime rate.

“The community centre will keep kids off the streets,” Ms Maderson said.

“Youth crime is a symptom of home life, whether parents are on drugs or abusive or whether there’s lingering issues stemming from the Stolen Generation.

“A lot of youth crimes are motivated by drugs, but a lot are motivated by hunger.

“This way kids can come in after school an have something to eat, play sport and have a ball in a safe environment.”

Both Tolland and Kooringal community centres have been refurbished courtesy of a $2.5 million state grant.