Premier Carr Announces 10-year Redfern-Waterloo Plan

The Premier of NSW, Mr Bob Carr, today announced a powerful new Redfern Waterloo Authority would be established as part of a 10-year plan for community renewal and to upgrade infrastructure in the area.

"This is a radical plan for an area that has entrenched, complex social problems," Mr Carr said.

“It is designed to shake-up the area and provide a plan to renew the last part of the city fringe.

"There are a myriad of services and programs in the Redfern-Waterloo area.

"We need one Minister and one Authority responsible for them," he said.

The Minister for Energy and Utilities, Science and Medical Research, Mr Frank Sartor, will have responsibility for the new Authority, which will be similar to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.

The Redfern Waterloo Authority will administer a Redfern Waterloo Fund and manage public infrastructure, land and properties in the area.

It will consist of a Board, a CEO and staff. The Minister will nominate members of the Board.

The Authority will pursue public-private partnerships, which will help with community renewal in the area.

Areas deemed to be of state significance will be called in under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.        ,

The Minister responsible for the Redfern-Waterloo Authority will coordinate all State Government funding within the area.

The Australian Technology Park (ATP) will be transferred from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority to the new Redfern-Waterloo Authority. The ATP is already home to the NSW Cancer Institute. Mr Sartor will develop the ATP into a biotechnology hub.

Mr Carr said we need a co-ordinated government approach to this area. "We will work with the local community to achieve this, and build on the work already done."

"The Redfern-Waterloo Plan is comprehensive approach that will provide a package of initiatives, ranging from infrastructure, social services and community renewal," Mr Carr said.

“More details will be released in the near future.

Mr Carr said Mr Sartor's science and medical research responsibilities, local knowledge and skills in local government mean he is ideally suited to running this Authority.

Mr Sartor said community renewal of the area is critical.

"This has to be achieved through prosperity and community building," he said. Mr Sartor will discuss potential opportunities for the site known as the Block with various community groups.

The Redfern-Waterloo Plan will see:

• The major redevelopment of the Redfern Railway Station, including the development of a significant town centre, with commercial and retail activity within a railway concourse;

• A new pedestrian bridge across the southern arterial roads of Gibbons and Regent Streets at Redfern;

• A new pedestrian and bicycle bridge to link the Australian Technology Park with North Eveleigh;

• Extending the entry requirements for the Australian Technology Park to encourage further commercial activity;

• Optimising use of Government land;

• Increasing rental or home ownership housing opportunities;

• Investigating the renewal of public housing estates;

• Developing a cultural strategy to support economic and urban regeneration; and

• Working with the City of Sydney Council and the Commonwealth Government on community renewal.

Legislation establishing the new Redfern-Waterloo Authority will be introduced into NSW Parliament this session. The Authority will be up and running in the new year.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics rates Redfern as the fifth poorest suburb of Sydney's 526 suburbs. Nearly 60 per cent of Waterloo's residents are unemployed and are benefit dependent. In Redfern 12 per cent of its households in 2001 survive on less than $200 a week.