Court to decide property's future

A Withers house at the centre of a major drug operation two years ago could finally have its future determined next week.

Police have been locked in a legal battle to take possession of the Devonshire Street house, since it was raided as part of Operation Tyria in January 2014.

On Tuesday, the Department of the Attorney General’s Public Trustee — under supervision from police — was boarding up the derelict property and cleaning it.

A bulldozer went through the front of the property to clean up mounds of trash and was due to go through the backyard yesterday.

During the operation in 2014, South West police raided several houses and seized thousands of dollars worth of drugs and weapons.

The house has been frozen under proceeds of crime legislation, but the matter has been going through court proceedings for months.

South West police Supt Peter Hatch said the house was in the hands of the Public Trustee and was still going through the confiscation process.

“But it is pleasing to see, through this process, the Public Trustee has been able to clean this property up, ” Supt Hatch said.

“It should bring it up to an acceptable standard for the neighbours in Withers, until the next process begins.

“It has been a long road and I am looking forward to the outcome of the next court hearing.”

The house’s fate is set to be decided in the Supreme Court of Western Australia on January 19.

Residents have been frustrated with the lack of progress to the seizure over the past two years.

Neighbours have voiced their concern, saying the house is a danger and eyesore for the area.

Ken Warnes has been living in Devonshire Street for more than 20 years and said while there appeared to be some progress at the house, he would not get his hopes up.

He said the matter had been going on far too long.

“I’m bemused that it’s taken so long to get solved, but that’s the law I guess, ” he said.

“I’ll believe it’s going to come down when I see the truck there pulling it down.”