Initial Questions for Homes NSW Portfolio and Consortium Partners – Waterloo South Redevelopment May 2025

Section 1: Consortium Proposal

• At what point will the community see the Consortium’s accepted proposal?
• What are the key differences between the accepted Consortium proposal and the approved planning proposal?
• Does the Consortium have any concerns about the Final Design Guide – Waterloo Estate (South) and does it plan to develop in accordance with it?
• The LAHC website indicates an increase of approximately 100 social housing units, bringing the total to around 3,100. How will these additional units be delivered? Will this involve:
• Smaller unit sizes?
• Increased density within the existing planning envelope?
• An expansion of the planning envelope?
• What elements have been finalised in the Homes NSW-Consortium agreement, and what aspects remain open to community influence?
• Will the Consortium share and consult on its current redevelopment plans before the Stage 1 (concept) development application SEARs application is submitted?

Section 2: Housing – social infrastructure Details

• Will the affordable housing be held in perpetuity?
• Who will own the affordable housing?
• Who will own the social housing?
• What is the duration of the contract for CHPs managing the social housing?
• Is any build-to-rent private housing included in the proposal?
• Will the redevelopment include:
• Community centre for the existing provider? (Counterpoint)
• Has the well-documented concern about the location of the community centre been considered?
• Student housing?
• Aged care facilities?
• A school?
• Childcare services?
• A facility for Sydney Local Health Development (SLHD) e.g. a Health One as proposed in the Human Services Action Plan?
• Temporary/supported accommodations?
• How will the Consortium support new amenities for low-income residents?
• Will there be a provision for low-income child-care like at Poets Corner?
• How will increased human service need from increased population be funded with DCJ not increasing funding in line with population increases?
• Who is going to fund the staffing and operation of the new community hub?

Section 3: Staging of development across the site

• What is the schedule for development of Stage 1?
• Will the first buildings in Stage 1 be social, affordable, or private housing?
• When will the complete staging plan be made public?
• How many stages are planned?
• When will people know the location of Stage 2?
• How long before Stage 2 relocations are expected to start?
• Will Stage 2 residents be able to relocate into Stage 1 housing?
• At what stage will residents begin moving into Consortium-delivered housing?
• Will Elizabeth Street be completed in time to accommodate Stage 2 relocations?
• Will Link Wentworth or Bridge Housing manage the Elizabeth Street properties?
• Can there be more information made available to tenants who do not have a relocations officer about relocation policy to help ease concerns?

Section 4: Empty Housing

• How will Homes NSW ensure the safety of remaining residents surrounded by vacant units?
• Can vacant properties be used for emergency housing prior to demolition?

Section 5: Planning and Construction

• When is the SEARs application for the Stage 1 (concept) development application expected to be lodged?
• Will the Relocations Stage 1 area SEARs application be submitted with the Stage 1 (concept) development application?
• Will Consortium partners begin attending community meetings to hear concerns directly?
• Do Consortium partners have a strategy for training staff to work with residents with complex needs and to collaborate with local agencies?
• How will construction parking impacts be mitigated? Will measures such as green travel plans or tool lockers be implemented?
• What mechanisms are in place for managing and responding to noise complaints?
• Will there be respite opportunities for people and pets impacted by the redevelopment?
• What plans are in place to manage vermin and dust during redevelopment?
• What environmental sustainability measures are being incorporated into the redevelopment?
• How will the redevelopment reflect and support the cultural diversity of Waterloo?
• Will there be employment or training opportunities for local residents during and after construction?

Section 6: Community Consultation

• What insights did the Consortium gain from reviewing previous Waterloo planning and consultations?
• Will Consortium partners attend local meetings and events to listen to the community, or will Homes NSW act as the sole liaison?
• Will Consortium partners engage directly with local agencies and NGO mechanisms like Groundswell?
• What mechanisms will be available for residents to raise issues directly with the Consortium?
• Will the Consortium partners join the Waterloo Redevelopment Group?
• Is there a plan to establish a dedicated redevelopment reference group?
• Will community consultations occur before the first SEARs application is submitted?
• Will the community be able to contribute to technical studies and talk to the consultants?
• Will the community be involved in the Social Impact Assessment so community concerns are also addressed?
• Will the Consortium take on board Health Impact Assessment (HIA) concerns from SLHD and the community lead HIA when completed.
• Will the Consortium support community capacity-building ahead of DA submissions?
• Will there be robust pre-DA exhibition community consultation?
• Will Birribee consult with local Aboriginal communities regarding housing aspirations?

Section 7: Tenant Participation

• Soon, some tenants will transition to Link Wentworth social housing at Waterloo Metro. Will these tenants:
• Continue to be represented in NAB, WWSAG, WRG, etc.?
• Be also represented in Link Wentworth’s Tenant Advisory Group (TAG)?
• Receive Waterloo Estate Homes NSW newsletters and event updates?

Section 8: Place Management and Human Services

• How will Homes NSW and the Consortium address current and future precinct-wide issues?
• What will be the governance structure as we advance for both Waterloo South and the wider Waterloo public and social housing area?
• Will there be an estate management plan covering all Waterloo social housing?
• When will the community see an updated People and Place Plan, and when will discussions on the issues covered by the plan resume with the community?
• Were any elements of the draft People and Place Plan included in the Consortium agreement? If so what has been pre-emptively decided?
• Will there be an integrated Waterloo Human Service Plan bringing together current, development impacts and future handling of human service supports?
• Will Link Wentworth join the Human Services Collaborative and share its experience?
• Will Birribee, City West and Stockland participate in the Human Services Collaborative?
• Will CHPs take on human service responsibilities? How will they collaborate, support and integrate with current trusted local services?
• How will social and affordable housing be maintained to match the quality of private housing?

Section 9: Transparency & Accountability

• Can the community be informed about what has already been agreed between Homes NSW and the Consortium?
• Will the Consortium commit to being transparent with the community about its plans and work so everyone has an opportunity to be informed and involved?
• Will there be a public dashboard or regular reporting mechanism to track progress, milestones and community commitments?
• How will the Consortium be held accountable if agreed-upon community benefits or timelines are not met?
• Will the Consortium sign the Waterloo Renewal Principles (Waterloo Compact), which was agreed with Homes NSW?
• Will the Consortium also act in accordance with the findings of the Shelter NSW and Tenant Union (NSW) A Compact for Renewal: What tenants want from Renewal

Source: These questions were prepared by REDWatch following a call out for what people wanted to know now the Consortium agreement has been finalised. We received input from our members, tenants, interested individuals and services. We have grouped the questions to try and bring like areas together recognising that what might be a question for some might not be a question of concern to everyone.

These questions are being circulated prior to the proposed REDWatch Meeting on June 5^th 2025 where Homes NSW and the Consortium partners have been invited to brief the community on the proposal and approach agreed between Homes NSW and the Consortium.

REDWatch 23 May 2025