Estate home faces bulldozer
STEVE HODDER
Wednesday, 26 January 2005
Another Department of Housing (DOH) home in Catherine Drive may have to be demolished after being deliberately set alight yesterday.
Police are currently investigating the cause of the fire, which was brought to the attention of Dubbo and Delroy fire brigades about 1.10am.
While mopping up the Catherine Drive blaze firefighters were called to a rubbish fire in nearby Linda Drive.
Dubbo fire station commander Bill Clifford said one of the trucks was pelted with objects when responding to the Linda Drive fire.
He said the rubbish fire was not in danger of spreading so the officers left the area to avoid being struck by missiles.
DOH southern and western NSW regional manager Ken Bone has expressed his disappointment with the destruction of the Catherine Drive home, and his anger at those responsible.
"We will assist the police in any way we can to help them catch the people responsible so they can be made to face justice for what they have done," Mr Bone said.
"This isn't a victimless crime - when the department loses a home like this, it means a needy family has to wait longer for somewhere to live.
"It also means money is wasted having to demolish it."
Mr Bone called on the community to provide police with information about the fire to ensure the perpetrators are made to bear the responsibility of their actions.
The DOH residence was the 22nd house in Catherine Drive to be destroyed by fire and vandalism.
As many as 30 others have been destroyed throughout
the Gordon Estate in recent years.
Crime in the area has escalated in recent weeks with numerous houses being set alight, stolen cars dumped and residents bashed.
A whole-of-government meeting is to take place in Dubbo on Friday to develop strategies to deal with the array of social issues affecting the area.
The hastily convened government meeting comes in the wake of a crisis meeting called by residents of the estate last week.