Clare Court apartment complex to be demolished

Homeswest's apartment complex, Clare Court, is to be demolished under a State Government strategy designed to address problems caused by poor planning and building design in the 1960s and early 1970s. 

Housing Minister Jim McGinty said Clare Court had failed to meet the needs of its tenants and four of the five apartment blocks in the Bradley Way complex would be pulled down. 

"This is an extreme case, however, Clare Court has been experiencing long-term problems with vandalism, theft and the congregation of people involved in substance abuse," Mr McGinty said. 

"The decision to demolish has only been reached after all other options were considered." 

Mr McGinty said the fifth apartment block of 16 units, which was currently used for seniors' accommodation, would be retained. 

"Following demolition, the land will be subdivided into lots of various sizes for sale to first homebuyers. 

"The sale of the land is part of Homeswest's program to reduce its presence in suburbs like Lockridge, where the department has a big percentage of rental properties. 

"The end result will be more stability and a better mix of private owners and Homeswest tenants." 

Mr McGinty said the future of Clare Court had been a long-running issue and he paid tribute to the Labor candidate for Morley, Clive Brown, who had taken a keen interest in the matter and had been a strong advocate for demolition. 

"Like Clive, I believe action had to be taken to remedy the problem at Clare Court - the tenants there had suffered due to the mistakes made more than 20 years ago. 

"It was important that these errors were not allowed to continue," Mr McGinty said.