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RWPP FAQ's on the RED Strategy

This is the text of the RWPP website Frequently Asked Questions on the RED Strategy

THE RED (REDFERN, EVELEIGH, DARLINGTON) STRATEGY

 

What is the RED Strategy?

The RED Strategy is one initiative of the RWPP. When finalised it will provide the ground plan and guidelines for revitalising Redfern, Eveleigh, Darlington, and Waterloo and strengthening the local economy to offer new opportunities for residents and workers. The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, a partner with the RWPP, is facilitating the Strategy's preparation. Redevelopment of The Block is an important part of the Strategy and the RWPP is working with the Aboriginal Housing Company and the Aboriginal community to achieve this.

 

What are the aims of the RED Strategy?

The Strategy aims to rejuvenate business and shopping areas, improve public amenities, create jobs for local people, expand housing choice and improve public transport facilities, including redevelopment of Redfern railway station.

 

How has the community been consulted?

Residents, including public and private tenants, ratepayers, the Aboriginal community and other linguistic and cultural community groups; workers and visitors to the area; local businesses and corporate stakeholders; and public representatives, such as Members of Parliament and Councillors, have been consulted.

A Community Engagement Strategy has been running since early 2003 and to ensure planning will be practical and feasible, consultation has been specifically directed at people's needs and interests.

Ideas and focuses for the Strategy were publicly exhibited on 11-12 June, 2003 at three specifically directed sessions, one near The Block at Yellowmundee Park for the Aboriginal community and two at Redfern Town Hall for the general community and business operators. On 25 June, 2003 another Community Information and Feedback session was held.

Further consultations have involved community organisations, peak representative groups and the broader community at various venues throughout the area. The consultative process is an important and integral component of the project and is scheduled to continue throughout.

 

What are the RED Strategy's proposals so far?

No proposals have been prepared as yet because the Strategy is in the early public consultation stage. Draft principles for the Strategy have been tested with community members to enable the planning consultants, Cox Richardson, to identify ideas with broad community support and areas where more detailed analysis and consultation are required.

The second round of consultation on 25 June, 2003 provided a process map and clearly identified that no draft plan could be developed until the guiding principles had been finalised. It is envisaged this will occur in August 2003.

 

What kind of development will there be?

No decisions about development have been made and no planning or development controls have been prepared. The Draft Strategy cannot be prepared until the principles are agreed, probably in August.

 

Won't the RED Strategy lead to overcrowding?

In 1921 more than 50,000 people lived in Redfern, Eveleigh and Darlington. In 1947 it had nearly 43,000 people-but these days less than 20,000 people live there. Attractive, well-designed development will raise the population above this and will be a major factor in bringing new opportunities to present residents, such as wider housing choice, improved facilities and job opportunities.

 

Will there be affordable housing?

The provision of affordable housing is a critical issue under the RED Strategy. Both the Strategy and the RWPP are committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing in the area.

 

What employment will be created?

One of the key elements of the RED Strategy is to increase the availability of jobs for the Redfern area. Redfern could become a major employment destination, delivering up to 20,000 jobs within 400 metres of the station, but it is too early to quantify the employment opportunities that will be created as a result of revitalising the area. If fully developed, sites immediately around Redfern station could provide around 5,000 jobs and the development of air rights above the station, another 5,000.

The Government-owned Australian Technology Park site is another important potential job source. The RWPP has set up a Training and Employment Taskforce to identify ways of increasing employment opportunities for people living in Redfern and Waterloo. The Taskforce aims to secure a proportion of any new jobs created through redevelopment for local residents, particularly young people, long term unemployed, people with disabilities and Indigenous people.

 

How will heritage be preserved?

Conservation of Redfern's heritage is a stated priority. The celebration of the area's cultural heritage is intrinsic to achieving a vibrant and unique area of Sydney. Proposals to address heritage issues will be included in the Draft Strategy.

 

Will there be good public transport?

One of the key principles of the RWPP is to provide access to efficient and affordable public transport for the local community for recreation, health, education, retail and cultural facilities and to regional jobs and facilities. Community feedback on the public exhibition proposals indicated little interest in, or desire for, light rail.

The community has voiced strong support for the development of local transport solutions that meet the needs of locals. A priority of the transport plan is the role of pedestrian and bicycle activity in a sustainable and comprehensive transport strategy. The RWPP is seeking to improve access between Redfern station and the surrounding area.

 

Will open space be increased?

The RED Strategy is investigating opportunities for additional open space both within and adjacent to the area. There will be other public open space within the Town Centre, designed to create an attractive and friendly urban setting for the community. Streetscaping and landscaping improvements to generally 'green' the area will be carried out widely as part of the area's regeneration.

The Strategy will also ensure better connections to nearby regional open space and to the scattered local parks and open space, making them more accessible for walkers and cyclists and ensuring all public areas are user-friendly, pleasant and safe for everyone.

 

What about the long-term use of public land?

No decisions will be made until the RED Strategy is finalised, following further public consultation. The RWPP intends that the whole of the renewal project will operate for long-term public benefit and promote community well-being.

 

When will services be in place?

Final plans for services are currently being determined and will depend on issues such as future population needs. The RED Strategy is working in partnership with South Sydney City Council and other agencies to define service requirements, both current and future.

 

What else is the RWPP doing?

As a prelude to the RED Strategy and lead up to the systematic improvement of services, the RWPP is working with Police, State Rail, South Sydney City Council and the community on better services and social improvements. Achievements to date include:

The Redfern Waterloo Anti-Drug Strategy, which began in November 2002, focuses

on Redfern station and has resulted in over 47 arrests, greater police visibility and a decline in drug-related crime;

  • The Mobile Needle and Syringe Van has been moved from residential areas to the corner of Abercrombie and Hudson Streets, a more industrial area, from 3-5pm;
  • Changes to lighting and streetscapes in Lawson, Eveleigh and Caroline Streets have brought a more attractive and safer environment for residents;
  • Better surveillance and elimination of unauthorised entry to Redfern station has improved public safety;
  • The Redfern Waterloo Street Team, a partnership of Police, DoCs, Centrelink and Housing, works with children and young people aged up to 18. Team members hang out on the street, in parks and public places for on-the-spot contact and help with finding safe places to stay, with school problems and by liaising with Police, Docs, Centrelink and Housing;
  • A new family support service, provided by Barnardos Australia at 174 Redfern Street, has a team of skilled Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff to help families with problems and provides meeting rooms;
  • Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Women's Corporation is funded by the RWPP to provide practical support to Aboriginal families such as life skills training, diet and nutrition information, parent education and help in dealing with schools;
  • Centacare offers culturally sensitive counselling and support services to families from a wide range of backgrounds;
  • A Sports Director has been employed at Alexandria Park Community School to coordinate after-school and weekend activities.

 

How will the RED Strategy fit in with all that?

The RED Strategy, when finalised, will provide the groundwork for systematic improvements to the urban environment. It will ensure future development meets the NSW Government's goals of sustainable benefits for people through integrated planning for services, infrastructure and development.

 

What happens next?

The RED Strategy is being developed within a six-stage process. We are in Stage One and its focus is on working with the community to identify opportunities for the area. Central to the approach has been the development of a set of guiding principles for the Draft Strategy.

 

Following community agreement on the principles, envisaged for August, a Draft Strategy will be presented to the community for consideration. The Draft Strategy will be reviewed to ensure it is practical and feasible. Further public consultation will follow prior to the draft Strategy being publicly exhibited by South Sydney City Council for people's comments. These comments will be taken into consideration when the draft is finalised.

 

Taken from http://www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/FAQ.htm 10/5/2004