Williamstown’s high-rise public housing estate remains a place where welfare volunteers fear to tread, with two men stabbed and security cameras and lights smashed in the past week.
As reported by this newspaper in June last year, St Vincent de Paul Society banned its volunteers from visiting Nelson Heights due to unacceptable risk of being “assaulted, robbed or threatened with violence”.
Twelve months later, they have not returned.
Early last Saturday morning, an Altona North man, 25, was stabbed in the groin and a Yarraville man, 21, was knifed in the stomach inside one of the flats. They walked to Williamstown Hospital and were later transferred to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Police found the scene by following a blood trail. Investigations continue.
Last Wednesday, a 32-year-old resident at the flats was charged with criminal damage after allegedly smashing light fittings and cameras with a rolling pin.
Department of Human Services spokeswoman Ruth Ward said some tenants at the flats had complained that cameras breached their privacy.
“Concerns have been raised about privacy of tenants with regard to the placement of additional CCTV cameras and the department is working to address those concerns,” she said.
“The department understands that Victoria Police advised St Vincent de Paul that to be consistent with standard practice, they review their procedures as part of their own risk management work process.
“Housing Department staff continue to undertake regular walks of the estate and daily police patrols continue.”
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan said he was greatly troubled by ongoing problems at the estate.
“It’s difficult to determine where progress has been made. Local police are doing their best, but they’re struggling to cope.”
Williamstown’s Sergeant Dean Howard said police had advised St Vincent de Paul that because of the age of its volunteers, it would be dangerous for them to work at Nelson Heights.
