Canberra Liberals claim 'maggots falling from the ceiling' at Reid housing complex

ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee has claimed there are serious issues at the Kanangra Court complex, including dead birds in the roof cavities and maggots falling from the ceiling.

However, a spokeswoman for Housing Minister Yvette Berry said no requests for maintenance had been raised for these issues.

Ms Lee wrote to Housing Services Minister Rebecca Vassarotti in February requesting the issues be dealt with. But she said four months later the "unliveable conditions" had not been fixed.

"Long-term residents of Kanangra Court have been raising these issues with Housing ACT for three years, and while they are being told that it is being dealt with, there is no action being taken to bring these houses up to a safe standard of living," Ms Lee said.

Ms Lee's letter was re-directed to Housing Minister Yvette Berry, who responded to the Opposition Leader in March.

In her response, Ms Berry said she had asked Housing ACT to investigate the maintenance issues.

However, Ms Lee said the issues remained and she wrote to Ms Berry again last month. Ms Lee did not receive a response until Tuesday morning, her office said.

Ms Berry's response, seen by The Canberra Times is dated June 4. In the letter, the Housing Minister asked Ms Lee to provide further information.

"If you are aware of specific unit numbers or areas where these issues are being experienced, it would be helpful to provide this information to better assist the investigations," Ms Berry's letter said.

"Work orders can then be raised to help identify the source of the concerns and get them addressed. Housing ACT is working to carry out inspections at the complex to identify where works are required."

While there were no requests for maintenance had been raised for the issues claimed by Ms Lee, Ms Berry's spokeswoman said there was an issue with pigeons at the complex.

"Housing ACT is aware of the ongoing presence of pigeons at the complex and as a result, ongoing maintenance including pest control measures such as pigeon eradication is conducted on an annual basis," she said.

"Tenants are encouraged to raise any maintenance issues with Programmed. Housing ACT seeks to work directly with tenants to resolve any maintenance issues."

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Opposition spokesman for housing Mark Parton said there were serious issues affecting countless public housing properties across the ACT.

"These are some of our most vulnerable Canberrans, and they cannot continue to be left behind by this government," he said.

Mr Parton criticised the ACT government for knocking back a motion in April which would have required them to take stock of every public housing dwelling in the territory and make necessary repairs.

"Once again I call on the government to ensure all significant public housing maintenance requests, including those for health and safety defects be resolved as quickly as possible," he said.

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