An infamous housing commission complex is still facing a raft of issues despite residents pleading for help.
Torton Place in Penrith has become a notorious street that has been plagued with issues and problems for years.
Resident of 11 years Margaret Garvin has seen a steady decline in the quality of the maintenance and tenants of the units.
“There’s 83 units here with about 12 bins. Then they’ll dump the rubbish into this bin here [which piles up],” Garvin said.
“We used to sit out here all the time; you can’t sit out here anymore. Around there is an empty syringe on the ground and the smell is horrible.”
Garvin recently noticed the overflow bin has been stacking up for weeks and began emitting a strong smell, something she tried to get fixed.
“[I make complaints] but it falls on deaf ears… the last two or three years the rubbish build up has been really bad,” Garvin said.
Garvin shared she doesn’t have people visit her anymore as the quality of the complex has diminished.
“I don’t invite anybody here anymore,” Garvin said.
Photo: Emily Chate.
“I just want to live somewhere nice! I’m 87 this year. I’m on the downhill slide. I have a right to have a safe home, and a peaceful one.”
Another resident, Sandy Hughes, who has lived at Torton Place for the last few years, shared Garvin’s sentiment.
“I feel violated. It’s too embarrassing,” Hughes said.
A spokesperson for Homes NSW said the bin collection is a fortnightly occurrence, with the most recent bin collection taking place the day after the Weekender contacted Homes NSW for comment.
“Homes NSW has arranged for excess rubbish to be removed immediately which was completed 24 January 2025,” the spokesperson said.
“Homes NSW supports the Penrith City Council’s weekly bin service with extra fortnightly excess rubbish removal, the last of which occurred on 15 January 2025.
“Homes NSW will continue to work with tenants at the complex to address uses of rubbish dumping to prevent further instances from occurring.
“If any residents have maintenance concerns, they can call the Maintenance Hub on 1800 422 322 which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.”
Shane Turnbull, another resident at Torton Place who has previously raised issues with the Weekender about the state of the complex said the issues are continuing to occur.
“Shit, shit and shit.,” Turnbull said.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.