LAHC post zoning planning.

With the exhibition for Waterloo South finalised in the first half of 2022 Land and Housing Corporation are starting the tendering process and planning for the early stages of the redevelopment of the Waterloo public housing estate. This includes contamination drilling on Waterloo South expected in August 2022 and planning for relocations and project delivery. LAHC are responsible during this stage of the redevelopment until contracts are entered into with a development consortium involving a developer, financing and a Community Housing Provider (CHP) that will run the new social housing. This section of the website deals with announcements and activities relating to this part of the redevelopment process.

LAHC statement on the Waterloo redevelopment post exhibition: In late June 2022 the Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) briefed Waterloo tenant representatives and agencies about LAHCs decision to proceed with the redevelopment. These briefings were not made public and more details will be released in the near future. On 30 June 2022, REDWatch requested a statement of what LAHC could say at that time to the wider community. This statement is below. A newsletter to all Waterloo tenants will advise the community in early July.
LAHC Submission to DPE PPA on Waterloo South: Mid 2022 the zoning for Waterloo had not been finalised. This submission for the Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) on the Waterloo Rezoning provides an insight into how LAHC view the exhibited proposal and the changes they would like to see made. While the zoning is expected to be finalised around the end of 2022 it would still be possible for LAHC to revisit the new controls and argue for changes at the Development Application stage.
LAHC Search for renewal partner for Waterloo Estate: Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) issues the following statement in their news section on 7 July 2022 announcing the launch of the EOI process for the redevelopment of Waterloo South and the option to redevelop the rest of the Waterloo Estate. The EOI is inviting interested parties, who must include a developer and a registered Tier 1 Community Housing Provider but may also include non-CHP members such as builders or investors. The tender summary says "LAHC is also seeking excellence in the long-term management of social housing residents and assets, including the provision of wrap around services to residents that improves their social and economic wellbeing. In addition, LAHC is focused on ensuring that the needs and ambitions of the Waterloo Aboriginal community are specifically addressed and advanced through the Waterloo Renewal Project". The tender documents are not assessible to the public and tenants, only to potential tenders under a confidentiality agreement.
Waterloo Renewal Project Update Newsletter - July 2022: This is a PDF copy of the Newsletter to public housing tenants distributed on 13 July 2022 advising tenants that LAHC is taking the next steps to the renewal of the Waterloo Estate. It sets out a timeframe and process for the appointment of a developer and Community Housing consortium to redevelop Waterloo South and potentially the balance of the estate. It also provides an indication on timeframes for relocations with currently none expected before 2024. This newsletter also has a section on DCJ Housing's approach to Anti-Social Behaviour an an details on Counterpoint and the Waterloo Redevelopment Group. File is 474 KB PDF.
LAHC "Moving to Delivery" presentation to REDWatch 4 August 2022: This presentation was made to a REDWatch meeting on 4 August 2022. It mirrors earlier LAHC presentations to the Waterloo Neighbourhood Advisory Board (NAB) the Waterloo Redevelopment Group (WRG) and Non Government Organisations. In affirms LAHC's decision to proceed with the Waterloo South Redevelopment as the first stage of the Waterloo Estate redevelopment. It sets out the areas that LAHC will be focusing on over the next year or two until a developer is in place and concrete development application (DA) plans for the Waterloo South precinct are ready for exhibition. The schedule includes refining precinct outcomes, relocation planning, human services and social sustainability, place making and outcomes for Aboriginal people and the procurement of of development partners.
LAHC focus areas for implementation of Waterloo redevelopment: This is one page from the LAHC presentation to REDWatch on "Moving to delivery" that sets out LAHCs focus now that the planning proposal rezoning exhibition has finished. The schedule includes refining precinct outcomes, relocation planning, human services and social sustainability, place making and outcomes for Aboriginal people and the procurement of of development partners.
Link to Waterloo Planning Controls: This website has a section dealing with the Planning Proposal / Rezoning application at www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/Waterloo/South/wsexhibit This link will take you to the proposed planning controls as modified after the exhibition
Simon Newport New Chief Executive of NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC): Simon Newport was named as the new Chief Executive of LAHC on 9 August 2022. The announcement was made by NSW Department of Planning and Environment Secretary Mick Cassel who up until is appointment of Department Secretary headed the Land and Housing Corporation. The text of the Departmental release is below.
Examining LAHC’s claims about the social objectives of estate renewal: As LAHC moves to implementing its decision to redevelop the Waterloo Estate, the social objectives claimed for the redevelopment and what is needed to deliver them becomes a focus. In this paper Dr Alistair Sisson, an academic in the field examines LAHC’s claims about the social objectives of estate renewal.
LAHC Briefing on "People and Place" framework for Waterloo: This presentation was given to REDWatch on 6 October 2022 by LAHC. The Presentation sets out the approach being taken by LAHC to community consultations about the "people" aspects of the Waterloo Estate redevelopment that LAHC want to provide to potential development partners including the CHP that will handle the social housing that will replace the existing DCJ Housing run public housing. The presentation a "deep dive" on the consultations four focus areas: Connecting with Country; Place Making; Human Services and Relocations and Support. The presentation also provides an expected time frame for the framework against the project procurement and relocations milestones.
Mirvac, Lendlease, Stockland, Frasers shortlisted for Waterloo South: Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) has announced the short list of four developer consortiums to be considered to redevelop the Waterloo Public Housing Estate. These developers will now submit proposals for the redevelopment next year before the list is reduced to two bidders before a final decision late in 2023.
Waterloo Planning Controls Finalised: The Department of Planning have approved the planning controls for Waterloo South following the rezoning exhibition. The details of the rezoning and approved controsl are in the post below. The approval was notified on November 10 2022.
Waterloo Renewal Project Update - December 2022: This update includes a LAHC update on the rezoning outcome, the shortlisting of consortiums for the waterloo Redevelopment, a project Planning timeline, the proposed infrastructure agreement between LAHC and Council, community consultations and support during relocations. It also includes a section from DCJ Housing about the introduction of the new Housing Practice Standards that are to guide DCJ Housing staff in their dealing with tenants.
Waterloo South Signed VPA with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) overlay: The Waterloo South Voluntary Planning Agreement released for the public exhibition was a scanned copy which means that it is not searchable. For a legal document that keeps referring to other parts of the document this is difficult to follow if you can't search the document. REDWatch has run an optical character recognition program across the document and made a searchable text overlay. This process is not perfect especially when the original document has scan marks so the text overlay may not be 100% accurate. If you are using this document you should check the underlying scan to be sure that the OCR text is correct.
Counterpoint Community Services Letter to Housing Minister Rose Jackson 13 April 2023: This is a copy of the letter sent by Counterpoint Community Services regarding the Waterloo redevelopment following the appointment of Minister Rose Jackson. In the letter Counterpoint deals with a number of issues they wish the Minister to consider about the redevelopment and put the view that "at this stage, we believe the Waterloo South plans should push forward under the current planning controls."
Groundswell Letter to Housing Minister Rose Jackson 13 April 2023: This is a copy of the letter sent by Groundswell regarding the Waterloo redevelopment following the appointment of Minister Rose Jackson. In the letter Groundswell offers to provide the Minister a background briefing from the NGO and community perspective and to discuss the plans for the Waterloo South Public Housing Estate redevelopment.
REDWatch Letter to Housing Minister Rose Jackson 21 April 2023: This is a copy of the letter sent by REDWatch regarding the Waterloo redevelopment following the appointment of Minister Rose Jackson. In the letter REDWatch has asked the Minister, to respect tenants and to deliver the news about Waterloo’s future to them before any media announcement. It also requests the Minister adopt the Compact proposed by Shelter NSW and the NSW Tenants Union to guide government interactions with public housing tenants around redevelopment of public housing.
Waterloo FAQs – 19 May 2023 Murawin and Land and Housing Corporation: On 19 May 2023 Murawin and Land and Housing Corporation held a consultation with the Aboriginal community about the waterloo redevelopment. Below is the FAQ provided for that event. It contains some additional information no previously said by LAHC.
Audio of REDWatch Federal Government’s Housing Policy Agenda Forum of 5 June 2023: At this REDWatch meeting on 5 June 2023, Tanya Plibersek, the Federal member for Sydney presents on the Federal Labor Government's housing policy. Responses and comments from both the NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson and the President of the Australian Local Government Association, Linda Scott follow. At the start of the Q&A session (25 minutes) Rose Jackson provides an update on the NSW government's approach to public housing redevelopment and Waterloo. The file is an audio m4a file that will need to be downloaded to play.
Comments by Housing Minister Rose Jackson relevant to Waterloo - 5 June 2023: At the 5 June 2023 REDWatch meeting, NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson, responded on the proposed Federal Government housing policy initiatives. She later provided an update on the NSW Governments approach to public housing redevelopments including Waterloo. In the transcript below the Minister says it will be another month or so before the process set by the previous government can be assessed under the principles the new government wishes to apply. Later in the meeting the Minister confirmed the government was implementing the 2022 Labor Conference motion and outlined that the current focus was on items they did not need to legislate.
Ron Hoenig letter about Waterloo to tenants 9 June 2023: This is a de-identified copy of a letter received by some tenants from the Member for Heffron, Mr Ron Hoenig MP. The letter makes reference to Mr Honig's speech in the Legislative Assembly on 25 May 2023 which can be seen at the following link - https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Hansard/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-1323879322-131169 . The letter reiterates the Housing Minister Rose Jackson's comments to REDWatch on 5 June that the Government expects to be in a position in about a month to better understand what they might be able to do to improve the Waterloo South proposal.
Homes NSW Consultation: On 20 July The Housing Minister held a consultation with invited organisations to get feedback on principles for the formation of Homes NSW. Further consultations are proposed. REDWatch is making available some of the details of the July consultation to encourage tenants, those on the waiting list and services to consider what they might want to say to the Minister about what should be stopped, what should be started and what should be continued. Below is what was supplied to participants at the 20 July Consultation.
Waterloo Redevelopment letter to tenants 19 Aug 2023: In this letter distributed to Waterloo Estate tenants on Saturday 19 August, Housing Minister Rose Jackson advised tenants that the Waterloo South LAHC redevelopment would now see 30% social and 20% affordable housing delivered. In addition a minimum of 15% of both kinds of housing would be dedicated to Aboriginal people. The relocations process has been delayed until mid-2024 with six months’ notice still being given for those initially required to move. The letter provided no details of how the government will fund the changes. REDWatch welcomes this letter being distributed to tenants before the media anouncement.
Action for Public Housing condemns Waterloo decision: Below is the text of the media release issued by Action for Public Housing, a grassroots collective of tenants and supporters who organise to defend and extend public housing, in response to the revised targets for the Waterloo South public housing redevelopment.
Waterloo South to proceed with new targets - updated REDWatch response: Below is an updated REDWatch response to the announcement of new social and affordable housing targets for Waterloo South announced publicly on 21 August 2023. Some changes have been made to the initial response to reference additional material and responses as well as to cover comments made at today's media conference.
Waterloo South social and affordable housing boosted to 50% - Media Release: This is the media release from The Premier, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Homelessness, Minister for Housing that was issued about the increased targets for the Waterloo South housing redevelopment.
Counterpoint Community Services on Waterloo Increase: Below is how Counterpoint Community Services advised their newsletter readers about the Government announcement to increase the quantity of social and affordable housing in Waterloo South on 21 August 2023.
Waterloo South – good, but still time for a better deal for social housing and to raise the bar on what Government can deliver: This is the Shelter NSW media release on the announcement to increase the social and affordable housing on Waterloo South.
REDWatch calculations based on August 2023 increase in social and affordable housing: REDWatch has undertaken an analysis of the numbers for different tenure types in Waterloo South. The figures used are the minimum figures from the rezoning, and ministerial announcements on 4 November 2022 and 21 August 2023. While all care has been taken it is possible the spreadsheet contains errors so please check yourself and advise if any errors are found. At the media conference today the Housing Minister dismissed the suggestion that there would only be a 53 unit increase in social housing. These figures substantiate the basis for that calculation.

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LAHC post zoning planning.

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