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The latest news from REDWatch
Changes to NSW Tenancy Laws – Tenants Union @ REDWatch 3rd July 2025
The Tenant’s Union have been leading the push for these changes so come along to the REDWatch meeting on Thursday 3rd July to hear from the Tenants' Union NSW and learn more about these changes that impact both private and social housing tenants. Everyone welcome and bring your tenancy questions.
REDWatch Meeting on Change of Tenancy Laws with Tenants Union - 3 July 2025
This is the flyer for the above meeting
REDWatch Refresher on the Waterloo South Planning Proposal - 18 June 2025
At the 5 June 2025 REDWatch meeting with Homes NSW and Stockland, REDWatch provided a quick presentation on "Waterloo South Redevelopment: What is already in place". This presentation was updated for the 18 June Waterloo Redevelopment Group. This is a PDF of that presentation that reminds people of what was put in place in November 2022 when the Planning Proposal was approved as well as what has changed since that time. This is a starting point for assessing what happens next with Homes NSW and Stockland.
Homes NSW and Stockland Presentation to REDWatch 5 June 2025
This is a PDF of the presentation made by Homes NSW and Stockland to the REDWatch meeting on 5th June 2025. While 8 weeks had lapsed since the signing of the agreement, many logistics remained to be worked out between Stockland and Homes NSW. As a result the presentation lacked the detail REDWatch had hoped for but it did enable initial conversations to occur between Stockland and informed Waterloo community members.
Waterloo Estate From Rezoning to Consortium appointment 2022-2025
For information about the 2022-2025 period preceding the commencement of relocations for Stage 1 and the appointment of the Consortium see LAHC / Waterloo Estate post zoning planning.
Some background for the community and the consortium on the Waterloo Redevelopment
On 5th June 2025 REDWatch organised a meeting around the next steps in the Waterloo redevelopment. We invited the consortium to brief the community and encouraged the community to bring their questions. The material below was circulated in the REDWatch email update before the meeting to provide the local community and the Consortium with some background prior to the meeting.
Initial Questions for Homes NSW Portfolio and Consortium Partners – Waterloo South Redevelopment May 2025
These questions were prepared by REDWatch following a call out for what people wanted to know now the Consortium agreement has been finalised with Homes NSW. These questions are being circulated prior to the proposed REDWatch Meeting on June 5th 2025 where Homes NSW and the Consortium partners have been invited to brief the community on the proposal and the approach agreed between Homes NSW and the Consortium.
What should planners, architects and development professionals learn from Redfern-Waterloo?
REDWatch Spokesperson, Geoff Turnbull, was asked to join a panel for the Australian Architecture Conference 2025 in May. The panel was titled “Shaping Perspectives: How Architects Lead Public Opinion” and included Emma Williamson, Government Architect Western Australia; UTS A/Prof H.Y. William Chan ex City of Sydney Councillor; Jocelyn Chiew former Director City Design at City of Melbourne; and Michelle Tabet from Left Bankj Co. Below is Geoff’s 5 minute input to the panel based on his experience in Redfern-Waterloo.
Confirmed Waterloo South Consortium delivers homes from 2031
The article below was produced for the South Sydney Herald and it sets out what has been learnt about the Waterloo South Redevelopment now that the Consortium and Homes NSW have finalised their redevelopment agreement. On 3rd June 2025 it is hoped that more information will become available when the Consortium presents to a REDWatch public meeting.
Retain Repair Reinvest Waterloo high-rise refurbishment and infill draft proposal
This is a draft proposal from OFFICE that was shown to people on 5th April at the BBQ held by OFFICE of how the Waterloo high-rises could be refurbished and in-fill buildings included around them to meet the Waterloo redevelopment goals stated for Central and Northern areas of Waterloo Estate. You can provide feedback on this proposal to hello@OFFICE.org.au - The RRR project is independent from Homes NSW and separate to the redevelopment plans for Waterloo South. Homes NSW say that it will be many years before they develop this area and 10 years before people have to relocate.
Waterloo renewal reaches new milestone to deliver Australia’s largest social housing project - Media Release
The following media statement was released to announce the signing of the of contracts for the redevelopment of Waterloo South on 10 April 2025
Waterloo Relocations start in south west of estate
Waterloo South tenants living in the two block surrounded by John, Cope, McEvoy, and Mead Street to the South of the estate were hand delivered relocation notices on 27 February advising them that they will be relocated within the next six months.
Waterloo South Stage 1
On 27 February 2025 tenants in the first stage of the Waterloo South Public Housing Estate Redevelopment received their relocation notices. On 10 April 2025, Homes NSW announced that they had finalised contracts with the Stockland Consortium to undertake the redevelopment. These events marked the the introduction of the consortium to the community and the commencement the next stage in the planning of the redevelopment. This section of the site covers events since February 2025. For information covering Waterloo Estate from 2022 to this point see http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/Waterloo/lahc22-23
Some background for the community and the consortium on the Waterloo Redevelopment
On 5th June 2025 REDWatch organised a meeting around the next steps in the Waterloo redevelopment. We invited the consortium to brief the community and encouraged the community to bring their questions. The material below was circulated in the REDWatch email update before the meeting to provide the local community and the Consortium with some background prior to the meeting.
REDWatch Meeting with Homes NSW and the Consortium – Thursday 5th June 2025
Homes NSW and the Consortium partners are invited to update the community about their agreement and plans for Waterloo South. REDWatch has collected some of the questions looking for answers on our website. All welcome to bring your own questions.
Initial Questions for Homes NSW Portfolio and Consortium Partners – Waterloo South Redevelopment May 2025
These questions were prepared by REDWatch following a call out for what people wanted to know now the Consortium agreement has been finalised with Homes NSW. These questions are being circulated prior to the proposed REDWatch Meeting on June 5th 2025 where Homes NSW and the Consortium partners have been invited to brief the community on the proposal and the approach agreed between Homes NSW and the Consortium.
What should planners, architects and development professionals learn from Redfern-Waterloo?
REDWatch Spokesperson, Geoff Turnbull, was asked to join a panel for the Australian Architecture Conference 2025 in May. The panel was titled “Shaping Perspectives: How Architects Lead Public Opinion” and included Emma Williamson, Government Architect Western Australia; UTS A/Prof H.Y. William Chan ex City of Sydney Councillor; Jocelyn Chiew former Director City Design at City of Melbourne; and Michelle Tabet from Left Bankj Co. Below is Geoff’s 5 minute input to the panel based on his experience in Redfern-Waterloo.
Landcom's Stakeholder Consultation Workbook 0905
You will see references to this report online but the report itself disappeared in late 2015 so we have put it up for easy access. In the Inner Sydney Voice of Summer 2015/16, Wendy Sarkissian, an experienced engagement practitioner and Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), said “For practitioners like me, that Workbook provided direction and reassurance and it is definitely a good starting point.” She suggested the workbook be updated and went on to make some suggestions on how UrbanGrowth NSW could improve their community consultation. UrbanGrowth NSW, who controlled Landcom at the time, did not take kindly to advice and the workbook was removed within days from their website, last being mentioned in the 2016 UrbanGrowth NSW Annual Report.
Federal Election 2025 - Statement on lack of Candidate's Forum
For the 2025 Federal election REDWatch along with Alexandria Residents Action Group (ARAG) and Friends of Erskineville (FOE) attempted to organise their regular candidates forum. The forum in the end had to be cancelled as it was not possible to get participation from the local member. This statement explains some of the difficulties of organising local candidate's forums in safe seats like Sydney and calls for all political players in future to work with local community groups to facilitate local candidate forums.
Confirmed Waterloo South Consortium delivers homes from 2031
The article below was produced for the South Sydney Herald and it sets out what has been learnt about the Waterloo South Redevelopment now that the Consortium and Homes NSW have finalised their redevelopment agreement. On 3rd June 2025 it is hoped that more information will become available when the Consortium presents to a REDWatch public meeting.
Retain Repair Reinvest Waterloo high-rise refurbishment and infill draft proposal
This is a draft proposal from OFFICE that was shown to people on 5th April at the BBQ held by OFFICE of how the Waterloo high-rises could be refurbished and in-fill buildings included around them to meet the Waterloo redevelopment goals stated for Central and Northern areas of Waterloo Estate. You can provide feedback on this proposal to hello@OFFICE.org.au - The RRR project is independent from Homes NSW and separate to the redevelopment plans for Waterloo South. Homes NSW say that it will be many years before they develop this area and 10 years before people have to relocate.
Waterloo renewal reaches new milestone to deliver Australia’s largest social housing project - Media Release
The following media statement was released to announce the signing of the of contracts for the redevelopment of Waterloo South on 10 April 2025
REDWatch Meeting on Waterloo Metro’s new plans – 27 March 6pm
REDWatch has had to move its April meeting forward a week so we can get the relevant people from Mirvac / John Holland to present on their new plans for the Waterloo Metro Over Station Development. These plans will increase overshadowing over the Waterloo Park to the east of the Metro.
REDWatch submission on amendments to Sydney LEP and Sydney DCP including return of some RWA areas.
This is the REDWatch Submission of 14 March 2025 on the Amendments to Sydney Local Environmental Plan and Sydney Development Control Plan. This submission includes issues related to Heritage issues on the Former Eveleigh Railway Workshops including the exclusion of important heritage items from the map and a request for the former yards to be covered by a Heritage Conservation Zone. The submission also objects to the exclusion of Rachel Forster site from the Heritage map, the exclusion of Gibbons Street reserve coming to the LEP and concerns about the 2007 late night trading areas between the Pemulwuy Project and Cleveland Street being retained.
Waterloo Relocations start in south west of estate
Waterloo South tenants living in the two block surrounded by John, Cope, McEvoy, and Mead Street to the South of the estate were hand delivered relocation notices on 27 February advising them that they will be relocated within the next six months.
Waterloo Metro - Developer goes for fourth tower
With only the Southern portion of the Waterloo Metro Over-Station development in construction WL Developer Pty Ltd, the Mirvac and John Holland venture, applied in December 2024 for planning requirements to change the rest of the development.
REDWatch Submission on Homes NSW Discussion Paper - January 2025
This is a copy of the REDWatch submission in January 2025 in response to the Homes NSW Discussion Paper to inform the Homes for NSW Plan. With input cutting off in February for both a Homes NSW Homelessness Strategy paper and an Audit Office enquiry into Homelessness and Social Housing, this submission may assist some people interested in making submissions on this topic. It was not possible for REDWatch to hold a public meeting for this submission as a result of Homes calling for feedback in December and then requiring feedback by mid-January.
Community Tributes
These tributes record the story of key people in the life of REDWatch and the community that have died.
2004-2012 Statements
The Redfern Waterloo Authority operated until 2011-12 when it was taken over by the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority. Here we have captured some of that history as it happened in Redfern Waterloo Issue Updates and statements from REDWatch and Government.
