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Preamble: Redfern-Waterloo: On the threshold of revitalisation

[This is the text from the above mentioned section of the RWA Draft Redfern-Waterloo Built Environment Plan (Stage One) February 2006. Links to maps and illustrations have been included and details of the file size of the link also added to allow for easy navigation. - REDWatch]

The New South Wales Government established the Redfern-Waterloo Authority (RWA) only one year ago, with the support of the major political parties. In doing so, the Government demonstrated an enhanced commitment to tackling the myriad of issues that are necessary to drive a successful program of urban renewal.

People familiar with Redfern-Waterloo are in little doubt about the need for social and economic revitalisation. Indeed, many residents believe it is long overdue. They are absolutely right.

With the release of the RWA’s draft Built Environment Plan, along with the Employment and Enterprise Plan and the Human Services Plan already in the public domain, the community of Redfern, Waterloo, Eveleigh and Darlington needs to debate and discuss the Government’s proposals from the starting point that urban renewal is critically important to the future of their families, their homes and their livelihoods.

Any community naturally aspires to becoming a better and safer place. In the Redfern-Waterloo context, this will only occur through appropriate and sustainable renewal of the built environment, employment and enterprise development and reform to the delivery and scope of human services – the three components which make up the RWA’s overall Redfern-Waterloo Plan.

It is imperative that the local community is a major beneficiary of the urban renewal program and all of the RWA’s planning is being directed to this end. This is particularly the case with the more disadvantaged sections of the community, where unemployment and welfare dependency are major factors. As the Employment and Enterprise Plan states:

The RWA’s employment and enterprise development strategy aims to directly challenge the area’s social and economic disadvantage by fostering jobs, educational and life opportunities and a higher standard of living. Wealth creation is seen as an antidote to welfare dependency.

Following community consultation, 2006 will witness the commencement of the Redfern-Waterloo Plan’s implementation as part of the Government’s ten year strategy. The Plan is being developed in stages as it is intended to be a living document which builds upon its earlier priorities and strategies, with community input as an ongoing feature. The Built Environment Plan component of the overall Redfern-Waterloo Plan represents part of Stage One of this process.

Redfern-Waterloo is a unique inner city area sited at the southern gateway of the Sydney Central Business District (CBD) with significant potential for revitalisation. Its physical attributes include its accessibility and infrastructure, proximity to educational and health facilities, central location within the Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD corridor and the availability of underutilised government land. The revitalisation of the area is consistent with meeting the objectives of the NSW Government’s Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney, particularly in relation to creating more jobs and housing to meet the increasing Sydney population.

The area is characterised by cultural and ethnic diversity. The traditional home of the Gadigal Clan of the Eora nation, Redfern is a centre of major significance to the Aboriginal community which has a strong association with the area.

Despite some gentrification over the past decade, Redfern-Waterloo is less socio-economically diverse than the rest of Sydney and is characterised by a disproportionately high level of unemployment, public housing and social welfare dependency. Job growth and investment in the area offers opportunities to redress imbalances evidenced by the local community.

This Stage One draft Built Environment Plan proposes a strategic planning framework to facilitate revitalisation of the Redfern-Waterloo area and guide future development on strategic sites by setting the parameters for future development. It is intended to provide a holistic response to redevelopment opportunities, deliver sustainable outcomes and to support a State Environmental Planning Policy which will provide a consolidated and consistent planning approach to the area.

The underlying concept for the draft Plan revolves around the creation of a town centre with an economic and civic heart focused around Redfern Railway Station and which is connected through pedestrian linkages to residential and business hubs at the Australian Technology Park, North Eveleigh, and Redfern and Regent Streets.

Fundamentally the draft Plan is aimed at ensuring that benefits gained from redevelopment and economic prosperity are shared by the whole community, especially local residents and businesses by facilitating:

• the provision of about 18,000 jobs

• the construction of around 2,000 new dwellings which will provide greater housing choice, demographic and socio-economic mix and is supported by an affordable housing program

• an upgraded Redfern Railway Station, civic square and public domain improvements promoting better amenity, safety and surveillance

• the establishment of cultural and community facilities

• improved opportunities for the establishment of Aboriginal enterprises and cultural facilities

• high quality urban design and architecture.