Social Impact Scoping and Assessment for Redfern Waterloo - Focus Group Information Sheet Text

Social Impact Scoping and Assessment for Redfern Waterloo - Focus Group Information Sheet January 2012

Redfern Waterloo is changing and we want to hear your ideas about how to make it a great place for everyone to live.

The Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA) is undertaking a Social Impact Scoping and Assessment to understand the potential social impacts of the revitalisation of Redfern Waterloo. GHD Australia is undertaking this work on behalf of SMDA.

Community input is an important component of this project and GHD is hosting a series of focus groups with public housing tenants, community members and key stakeholders to identify the potential social impacts of the revitalisation and discuss opportunities to address these impacts. The information gathered will inform the Social Impact Scoping and Assessment which is currently being undertaken by SMDA. This project is a preliminary assessment, and will inform more detailed and ongoing social impact assessment and master planning work into the future.

Background

The Redfern Waterloo area has been identified by the NSW Government as a priority area for revitalisation and redevelopment to accommodate the rapidly growing need for housing and employment in Sydney. Redfern Waterloo has been identified for a number of reasons, including its close proximity to the CBD, public transport links and amount of government owned land and assets.

SMDA is the agency responsible for driving housing and employment opportunities in Redfern Waterloo, working in partnership with other government agencies and key stakeholders to implement urban renewal initiatives.

The Draft Built Environment Plan Stage Two (BEP2) provides options to revitalise existing Housing NSW sites in Redfern, Waterloo and South Eveleigh to increase density and improve social mix. Currently the Redfern Waterloo sites accommodate 3,500 public housing dwellings, with 100 public housing dwellings on the South Eveleigh site. Draft BEP2 proposes a mix of 2,800 public dwellings, 700 affordable homes and 3,500 private dwellings for Redfern Waterloo and an additional 200 in South Eveleigh over the next 25 years.

Your ideas and participation is important for this project

Focus Groups

The purpose of the focus groups is to assist in identifying potential social impacts that could result from the redevelopment of the Housing NSW sites in Redfern, Waterloo and South Eveleigh. The focus groups will also work collaboratively to identify ways to address and manage these potential impacts to ensure that positive social outcomes are achieved for all current and future residents of Redfern Waterloo.

A series of focus groups will be held in early February 2012 with the following key community and stakeholder groups:

• Social housing tenants
• Indigenous residents
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse residents
• Private residents
• Local businesses
• Non-government organisations
• Government agencies
• Affordable and other housing organisations

The information gathered from these focus groups will directly inform the Social Impact Scoping and Assessment as well as future assessments of redevelopment plans for these Housing NSW sites, anticipated to be undertaken progressively over an extended time period. Participants will be provided with a brief report on the outcomes of the focus groups following completion of the project in mid 2012. SMDA is committed to working collaboratively with public housing tenants, community members and key stakeholders to ensure they are informed and consulted throughout the project.

More Information

For further information on the redevelopment of Redfern Waterloo can be found on the SMDA’s website at www.smda.nsw.gov.au
For more information about the Social Impact Scoping and Assessment contact:

Julie Parsons
Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority
(02) 9202 9117
julie.parsons@smda.nsw.gov.au

Lauren Harding
GHD
(02) 9239 7142
lauren.harding@ghd.com

Source:  Social Impact Scoping and Assessment for Redfern Waterloo - Focus Group Information Sheet PDF 490 KB PDF