Perth Voice Interactive

FOR two weeks, 90-year-old Jim Grace has been showering with a bucket and been unable to use his gas stove.

He is one of more than 100 Maylands tenants affected by gas being cut off following the detection of leaks in their Tenth Avenue strata complex.

Mr Grace and his neighbours have been told by the complex’s strata manager it could take another four weeks for a budget to be allocated to repairs and upgrades, plus more time to fix the system.

“I mostly feed myself with toasted sandwiches and a lot of microwave meals. It’s the only way you can eat,” he told the Voice.

ATCO set up 16 portable showers in the nearby Kennedy Street carpark, but Mr Grace says he has already fallen down the stairs five times trying to exit his building, and broke his leg in January, so he is unwilling to risk the daily trips to the outdoor showers.

He says no maintenance or cleaning has been done on the portable units and they are filthy.

“A lot of the people have two or three children. They have to shower, then mum and dad have to have a shower. So, I said no, I can’t shower like that.”

He is disappointed the complex has been allowed to deteriorate, saying the Sydney-based owners have visited the place once in 20 years.

“It’s not just one item. What I’m talking about is deterioration over the years,” he says.

He says wiring is also poor, and he has nearly electrocuted himself twice.

Local MP Lisa Baker says the situation is unacceptable.

by MARTA PASCUAL JUANOLA