Debate resumed from an earlier hour.
Ms LINDA BURNEY (Canterbury) [5.23 p.m.]: I speak on behalf of
the Opposition on the Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill 2011. The
proposed amendments to the Growth Centres (Development Corporations) Act
1974 are welcomed by the Opposition because they continue the strategy
and good work of the previous Labor Government in encouraging urban
renewal, including by way of transport reform. I know the member for
Heffron will address that point so I will not dwell on it. I do not make
a political point but this was commenced by the previous Government and
this bill continues that work.
The amendments deal with repealing the Redfern-Waterloo Authority Act
2004 and amending the Growth Centres Act to allow the transfer of
assets, rights, liabilities and certain functions of the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority to the Sydney Metropolitan Development
Authority. On 21 February 2010 the Labor Government announced the
setting up of the new Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority as part
of the wider Metropolitan Transport Plan: Connecting the City of Cities
reforms, which built on the success of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority
model.
I watched with great interest the creation and development of the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority, partly because it was such a new thing to do
and partly because it focused on particular urban areas in Sydney.
Redfern, which is an extraordinary part of Sydney, has a history of
industrialisation. Aboriginal communities settled there in the 1930s and
migrant people moved there when they arrived in Australia, particularly
post-World War I and World War II. Redfern has a colourful history for
many reasons. The Eveleigh Street railway yards are also located at
Redfern, and the redevelopment of that site under the Redfern-Waterloo
Authority has been wonderful to behold. It has added markets and
cultural developments in that part of the world and it has added
cultural developments for the whole city.
The authority has created a new precinct in a part of the city that was
not being used. When one goes down to the Eveleigh Street railway yards
and sees the magnificent way in which the railway yards are being used
to create urban spaces it makes one very proud. It was always our
intention in government to incorporate the Redfern-Waterloo Authority
within the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority to expand on its
capacity to deliver meaningful urban developments, particularly in the
area of transport. The Redfern-Waterloo Authority brings with it to the
Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority a number of key assets that
are of Sydney, regional and state-wide significance.
Those assets include the now iconic Australian Technology Park, which
continues to be a source of innovation excellence for the community and
business. The New South Wales Labor Opposition is watching Australian
Technology Park carefully to see how it progresses under the new
Government. The Australian Technology Park acts as a catalyst for the
development and funding of new intellectual property. This activity lies
at the very heart of long-term job creation momentum in New South Wales
by raising the growth potential of the economy. Indeed, as the global
financial crisis continues to linger into its fourth year the Australian
Technology Park remains crucial in supporting and creating new jobs and
business opportunities.
The Redfern-Waterloo Authority also maintains its jurisdiction over key
development sites at Redfern, Waterloo and the former Carlton United
Brewery site at Broadway. Driving down Broadway one can see the changing
of the brewery site and the development that is going on in that part
of Sydney. Those sites provide the potential to demonstrate the benefits
of medium- and high-density housing in solving Sydney's well-documented
housing supply problems. The Labor Opposition, which has taken into
account the early October Reserve Bank of Australia research paper on
urban structure, believes it is imperative for policy development to
take account of the strong linkages between the planning process, zoning
regulations and housing supply. Of course, that is one of the great
challenges in relation to planning and infrastructure development in New
South Wales, particularly in Sydney.
Without labouring the point, housing supply is a challenge that cannot
be solved by just popping more houses onto the outskirts of Sydney. A
discussion must be had about the culture of housing in our community.
The incorporation of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority into the Sydney
Metropolitan Development Authority importantly maintains key provisions
in relation to the Aboriginal Housing Company. This has been an ongoing
issue in the area known as The Block, but the Aboriginal Housing Company
in Redfern has a lot more stock than just that area; it provides
housing across the inner city. It is important that the key provisions
of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority are contained in the new arrangement
proposed by this bill. It is important for these amendments to ensure
that this body and other relevant representatives of the Aboriginal
community are consulted in all developments in the area bounded by
Eveleigh, Caroline, Lewis and Vine streets in Redfern.
The transfer of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority into the Sydney
Metropolitan Development Authority allows the positive innovation in
residential and cultural developments in the Redfern-Waterloo area to
promote similar advances in the Sydney area. This will allow the Sydney
Metropolitan Development Authority to further enhance its ability to
promote urban renewal through developments such as the remaining lots of
land at the iconic Australian Technology Park site. That will give this
innovative precinct greater critical mass. Against this background we
see the proposed amendments as endorsing and continuing the good work
and planning already put in place by the previous Labor Government.
We support the amendments of the Growth Centres (Development
Corporations) Act 1974 and the repeal of the existing Redfern-Waterloo
Authority Act 2004 to transfer its assets and the majority of its
functions to the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority. As I lead in
debate for the Opposition I reiterate that the Opposition supports this
bill. It is continuing the work that Labor began in government. It was
always our intention to move the Redfern-Waterloo Authority into the
Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority.
Mr BART BASSETT (Londonderry) [5.32 p.m.]: I support this bill
which will repeal the Redfern-Waterloo Authority Act 2004 and amend the
Growth Centres (Development Corporations) Act 1974 to transfer the
responsibilities and assets of the authority to the Sydney Metropolitan
Development Authority. As a former mayor, I have firsthand experience of
the Growth Centres (Development Corporations) Act and endorse the
provisions in that Act. During my time as the Mayor of Hawkesbury City
Council I sat on the local government advisory panel for the Northwest
Growth Centres Commission that was formed under the Act. While that
commission had a mandate different from the mandate for
Redfern-Waterloo—it dealt mainly with land planning issues and
greenfields sites—the fundamentals and planning mechanisms were the same
as the Redfern-Waterloo Authority that was established to guide urban
renewal of the precinct.
The Growth Centres Commission was a mixed bag that could be best
described as good in parts but an overall failure because it was only a
bandaid solution to a bigger and deeper problem—the planning framework
in New South Wales. The standalone statutory bodies were not properly
resourced and did not get the support and leadership from government and
the administrative instrumentalities through the different Acts and
regulations that were required to fulfil its mandate. It was a good idea
with some outcomes but, like most things, it ended up an overall
failure and was consigned to the planning reform graveyard.
The former Government set up the administrative architecture to
implement the metropolitan strategy. The North West Growth Centres
Commission and the South West Growth Centres Commission were established
as part of this structure, as well as the Sydney Metropolitan
Development Authority, which was established in 2010 and which started
to assume responsibility for the Redfern-Waterloo Authority. This was
meant to cut through the labyrinth of red tape and bring about a
coordinated approach between multiple stakeholders, government agencies,
local government, the development industry and landowners to ensure
that effective management, proper consultation and communications of the
strategy were done in a comprehensive yet timely and efficient manner
so new release areas could be rolled out in a realistic time frame. At
the time these reforms were seen as a step in the right direction. To be
fair, there were some improvements in coordination and communication
between the Department of Planning and stakeholders and progress was
made.
However, like anything without leadership—from the elected government
through to the responsible Ministers and a planning framework that
backed up reforms with the tools and resources needed to do the job
properly—the reforms ended up, like a lot of others that preceded it, as
nothing other than add-ons that got in the way and that defeated the
original charter and objectives by causing added delays. It was a case
of a good idea with poor implementation. The Redfern-Waterloo Authority
was established in 2004 by the former Minister Frank Sartor and reported
directly to the Minister. To be fair, in my opinion the idea was well
intentioned. It was intended to provide the leadership necessary to cut
through red tape and achieve a realistic outcome that allowed for
increased densities as part of the renewal of a historic precinct while
respecting and protecting the environment and heritage components in the
precinct.
Like the North West Growth Centres Commission and the South West Growth
Centres Commission, the Redfern-Waterloo Authority sounded like a good
idea that would achieve a balanced outcome in a realistic time frame. I
know from my experience with the north-west growth centres and from
dealing with applications that there is too much red tape, buck passing
and indecision that results in unnecessary delay and poor planning
outcomes that do not take key issues into consideration, such as
transport, infrastructure, open space and access. For new South Wales to
become the economic driver of Australia we must ensure there is a
proper rollout of new residential, industrial, commercial and employment
developments, and supporting infrastructure.
In creating bodies such as the Redfern-Waterloo Authority and the North
West Growth Centres Commission and South West Growth Centres Commission
the Government tried to bypass the malaise created by the existing
planning framework, but it did not work. The former Government had
already abolished those commissions. I endorse the action to abolish the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority and to transfer its responsibility to the
Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority. This action is necessary as
the new Government has embarked on a full and comprehensive review of
the planning framework, and all aspects should be considered as part of
this review. For the reasons that I have outlined, I congratulate the
Minister on his work and commend the bill to the House.
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY (Heffron) [5.36 p.m.]: I support the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill 2011. Unlike the member for
Londonderry, I have been to Redfern and Waterloo. In fact, I represent
that area in this Chamber. I will speak about this bill not only as the
local member but also as someone who has held the portfolio of Redfern
and Waterloo in Cabinet. It might seem a bit odd for a local member to
support a bill repealing an authority that was designed specifically to
provide services and urban renewal to an area within her electorate.
Indeed, in 2004 I spoke strongly in support of the Redfern-Waterloo
Authority Bill and I note that the bill received bipartisan support. But
we are now repealing this authority, as was always our intention. The
Redfern-Waterloo Authority was never intended to be a permanent
government bureaucracy. It was not set up to live forever; it was set up
to drive urban renewal, employment, education and environmental
planning for Redfern and Waterloo.
The Labor Government announced in February last year that it would
create the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority and it created that
body. It announced then that the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, which had
been a successful example of driving urban renewal in those two suburbs,
would be expanded to become the broader focused Sydney Metropolitan
Development Authority. The new authority was created and the new board
was established under the previous Labor Government. It was always
intended that the Redfern-Waterloo Authority would evolve and enlarge
into the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority. As was intended by
the previous Labor Government, and as will happen under this
legislation, the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority will continue
to play the key role of driving renewal within Redfern and Waterloo. A
number of projects that are extremely important for the area are still
on the boil.
I want to look back to 2004 and highlight some matters. At that time I
was the member for Heffron but the electorate only covered the suburb of
Waterloo; it expanded to cover the suburb of Redfern after the 2007
redistribution. In 2004 when I spoke in this Parliament 95 per cent of
public housing residents in Waterloo received income support from the
Government. That means 95 per cent of people did not get up and go to
work every day. Fifty-one per cent of households in Waterloo earned less
than $399 per week compared with 20 per cent for the rest of Sydney.
The unemployment rate in 2004 was 16.6 per cent, almost triple the
figure for the rest of Sydney at the time. Indeed, there were 2,000
units of public housing in Waterloo then, which represented 67 per cent
of dwellings in the suburb. Waterloo had been ranked in 2003 in the top 5
per cent of the most disadvantaged postcodes in New South Wales in a
report entitled "Communities of Advantage and Disadvantage" prepared by
Professor Tony Vinson.
In recounting those statistics I do not mean to portray Waterloo as a
difficult or indeed a dangerous place. There was a resilience and a
strong community spirit in that suburb. As someone who regularly visits
the high-rise public housing towers, stands on street corners holding
mobile offices and doorknocks the area I can say I have never felt
threatened; I have always felt welcomed. The people of Waterloo face
enormous daily challenges. In 2004 they wanted a healthier and safer
community and a better social mix. That indeed was what the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority was designed to deliver.
The authority was designed to promote the economic and social
development of its operational area. It was required to prepare and
implement a Redfern-Waterloo plan and it was specifically required to
promote and coordinate the orderly economic development and use of the
operational area, including the development and management of land,
provision of infrastructure and the establishment of public areas. It
was to provide and promote housing choices in Redfern and Waterloo as
well as provide and promote employment opportunities for local
residents. Importantly, it was to promote and coordinate cultural,
educational, commercial, recreational, entertainment and transport
activities and facilities in Redfern-Waterloo. It was also to have
development and management control over sites deemed to be of State
significance by the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning.
Having recounted those original aims of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority
Bill, I turn to some of the things that have occurred in Redfern and
Waterloo since 2004. Many members may have visited the Redfern and
Waterloo premier markets, the Eveleigh Farmers Market, which won the Sydney Morning Herald
2010 Foodies Guide Award for best markets in Sydney, having been
operating for only seven months at the time. Of course, at The Block the
Pemulwuy project received approval for its development in July 2009,
something I was proud to do as Minister for Planning. In March 2010 my
Government provided the Aboriginal Housing Company with a $2 million
grant to kick off the development of that project.
The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence was established at the
former Redfern Public School site. It is worth noting that one of the
first things that occurred under the previous Labor Government was the
closure of several schools in South Sydney and the establishment of the
Alexandria Park Community School, a K-12 school, which has seen
enrolment and attendance in education in South Sydney rise
significantly. There have been some remarkable outcomes from Alexandria
Park Community School. The Redfern Public School site was sold to the
Indigenous Land Corporation and the Natural Centre of Indigenous
Excellence opened there.
A specialist health centre for Redfern opened at the former courthouse
site. That was funded through the sale of the Rachel Forster Hospital.
That centre, which is run by Sydney South West Area Health Service,
provides a range of services including mental health, drug and alcohol,
HIV services and others to the local community. Channel 7 has relocated
to Eveleigh along with Pacific Publishing, bringing some 2,000 jobs to
the area. We have also seen movies being made at CarriageWorks as a
result of the work that has been done by the Redfern-Waterloo Authority,
again bringing job opportunities and economic activity.
I particularly mention two services—Yaama Dhiyaan, which is a
hospitality training course specialising in Indigenous food and culture,
which has had remarkable success. More than 129 graduates have gone
through that program, 79 graduates have been employed and another nine
have gone on to further education. That program, which is run by Aunty
Beryl Van-Oploo, does a remarkable job. Another service that has been
set up as a result of the work of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority and its
focus on employment is the Les Tobler apprentice centre, which is run
by Rowan Tobler, who has won a number of awards. Again, they have had a
remarkable success rate placing many Aboriginal apprentices in jobs.
By consent, General Business Notices of Motions (General Notices) postponed to permit the conclusion of the current debate.
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: The Les Tobler centre has had remarkable
success in placing Aboriginal construction apprentices in jobs,
particularly with the Channel 7 development and the redevelopment of
housing on Elizabeth Street, Redfern, which is providing 100 new units
of public housing. It is a beautiful housing development. I was there
recently to rename the community centre after Betty Makin, an elder who
is well known for her support of young people in the area. The
redevelopment of the Elizabeth Street site is another commitment by the
Government to the revitalisation of Redfern and Waterloo.
We also have seen a commitment to the Waterloo Green Neighbourhood
Project, which is a $12 million three-year program providing
concierge-style front desk staff, on-the-ground maintenance teams and
extra security measures for six Waterloo high-rise public housing
buildings. My constituents are quite pleased with the success of that
project. They are also very pleased that, through collaborative work
between the Redfern-Waterloo Authority and the Department of Housing, we
have been able to implement alcohol-free zones in public housing land
in Waterloo and tackle what has been a difficult problem for residents
for many years.
The Roll Up Redfern group, which brings together the City of Sydney—I
acknowledge the Lord Mayor is in the Chamber today—and the
Redfern-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, Redwatch and Souths Cares, an
organisation on whose board I sit, are doing terrific work to change the
perception of Redfern, launching Brand Redfern and working in
particular to ensure that Redfern sheds its reputation as a suburb where
the shutters come down at night. Anyone who has been on Redfern Street
or Regent Street at night knows what I mean. Indeed, if you go down
those streets now you see a much more vibrant Redfern.
The Heritage Taskforce that has been set up by the Redfern-Waterloo
Authority is looking in particular at protecting heritage in the
Eveleigh rail yards areas. I could go on and on talking about youth
services such as the wonderful South Sydney Youth Services, which does
excellent work and has run a number of successful programs, and the
midnight basketball program, which has worked well. The police have done
remarkable work particularly with Mundine's boxing gym. Last year we
saw a significant drop in crime in Redfern and Waterloo and a
significant rise in housing prices. Indeed, housing prices in the area
rose by 38 per cent between 2005 and 2009, having climbed by 12 per cent
in 2009 alone despite the global financial crisis.
I mentioned that the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority needs to
continue its work in Redfern and Waterloo, particularly around Redfern
town centre and the redevelopment of Redfern station, as well as its
long-term plans for the revitalisation and rezoning of public housing
estates in Redfern and Waterloo. I encourage the Government to maintain
the commitment made by the Labor Government to sustain the levels of
public, social, community and affordable housing in those two suburbs.
Significant work still needs to be done, and I look forward to that work
being done by the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority.
I commenced this speech by remarking that the Sydney Metropolitan
Development Authority is an initiative of the former Labor Government.
It was announced in February as part of the Metropolitan Transport Plan.
Subsequently it was incorporated into the Sydney Metropolitan Plan. The
Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority will assume the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority's functions and use that authority as a model
for all of Sydney. On this point I acknowledge that the Minister for
Planning, the Hon. Brad Hazzard, has taken up an initiative of the
Keneally Government, particularly when it comes to the development of
Sydney and urban planning. He has taken up that initiative in retaining
the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority, and maintaining the
successful model of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority and taking that
forward.
It should be acknowledge that the Minister has picked up and run with
the Labor Government's vision on how Sydney should be developed,
particularly in respect of urban renewal and transport-orientated
development. I look forward to seeing how the Sydney Metropolitan
Development Authority in particular incorporates the Premier's
commitment to a 50:50 split between infill and urban development, a move
away from the previous Labor Government's policy of 70 per cent infill
and 30 per cent greenfields. That will be a challenge for the Sydney
Metropolitan Development Authority, and I look forward to seeing how it
meets that challenge. I look forward also to the Minister visiting
Redfern and Waterloo. I know he did so in June 2011, because it was
breathlessly announced by the Factory Community Centre that the Minister
was given a tour of Redfern and Waterloo. It is both remarkable and
wonderful that the Minister has chosen to visit those suburbs. We look
forward to his coming back.
Mr MARK SPEAKMAN (Cronulla) [5.51 p.m.]: I support the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill 2011. The bill will repeal the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority Act 2004 and amend the Growth Centres
(Development Corporations) Act 1974. The Sydney Metropolitan Development
Authority was established last year to drive the development of
high-quality urban precincts, the initial precincts being
Redfern-Waterloo, which includes the Australian Technology Park, and
Granville. But, in the meantime, the Redfern-Waterloo Authority has
continued to carry out its functions. This continued operation has
disadvantages, including a requirement to perform duplicate
administrative functions, with overheads and reporting obligations.
This bill will dissolve the Redfern-Waterloo Authority. Its assets,
rights, liabilities and some of its functions will be transferred to the
Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority. Sole membership of
Australian Technology Park Sydney Limited will transfer from the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority to the Sydney Metropolitan Development
Authority, so the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority can
undertake immediate urban renewal on remaining development lots of the
Australian Technology Park. The Redfern-Waterloo Authority Fund will be
transferred to the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority. Provisions
of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority Act which relate to the levying of
development contributions for development at sites in Redfern and
Waterloo and at the former Carlton United Breweries site at Broadway
will continue.
The Aboriginal Housing Company and representatives of the Aboriginal
community will continue to be consulted in relation to the area known as
The Block. The bill will end the switching off of the Heritage Act
provisions within the Redfern-Waterloo area. The bill provides for
transitional arrangements for the Redfern-Waterloo Plan as an approved
scheme under the Growth Centres Act, and this will allow the Sydney
Metropolitan Development Authority to undertake the key renewal
strategies outlined in the plan. I commend the bill to the House.
Ms CLOVER MOORE (Sydney) [5.54 p.m.]: I will make a brief
contribution on the Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill 2011: a more
comprehensive contribution is not possible given the bill was introduced
only this afternoon. When the Redfern-Waterloo Authority legislation
was introduced in this House I represented Redfern, which was in the
electorate of Bligh. Both Redfern and Waterloo are in the City of Sydney
local government area. At the time I opposed the legislation because it
gave the Minister unfettered power to approve development with the
accountability and normal checks and balances that apply with local
government assessments removed. The local community was alarmed that the
legislation was only about ensuring land development and not about
urban renewal or addressing social issues in the Redfern-Waterloo area
or The Block.
There was widespread concern that the community would have little say in
how their neighbourhood was changed. The City of Sydney has long been
committed to working with the State Government to address the urban
renewal and social issues in Redfern-Waterloo. I welcome changes this
month that handed to the city approvals for developments valued at less
than $10 million. This will ensure that the majority of development
proposals will be subject to the city's rigorous assessment processes
and community consultation. Indeed, all development should be able to be
assessed by the city because the Central Sydney Planning Committee
deals with development worth over $50 million and has a greater number
of State government appointees than it does city appointees. I maintain
that developments above $10 million should go to the city instead of the
Minister for Planning.
The city's submission to the recent draft Built Environment Plan No. 2
broadly supported the latest proposed rezoning with the recommendation
that development only occur if a train station is built in Waterloo,
which of course would provide public transport for the proposed increase
in population that is possible given the route of the city to the
airport railway runs directly underneath. I understand that the Sydney
Metropolitan Development Authority will be required to report to the
Minister for Planning, who will determine what instrument is the most
appropriate for rezoning the area. Plan-making should be done through
the comprehensive City Plan process, which will assess the area
holistically as part of the entire inner city and with the city
consulting closely with the local community.
The Central Sydney Planning Committee has the capacity and expertise to
establish the most appropriate zoning for the inner city, and creating
new bodies to take on this role is wasteful duplication. I have long
opposed areas of the city being excised from the city, the creation of
qangos, and the divvying up of the City of Sydney to various bodies,
such as the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. There should be an
integrated and coordinated approach to the city, and I will make that
case to the Minister when the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority
provides a report for Redfern-Waterloo plan making. The city will
continue to work with the Minister and the Government on this very
important urban renewal area.
Mr CRAIG BAUMANN (Port Stephens—Parliamentary Secretary) [5.56
p.m.], in reply: I thank the members for Canterbury, Londonderry,
Cronulla and Sydney for their contributions. I particularly thank the
member for Heffron, who made her third contribution in this Parliament
and her second today. That is good because it enables the new
backbenchers to see the former Premier in action. As indicated, the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill is an important step in the
ongoing renewal of the Redfern-Waterloo area. Through this bill the
Government is ensuring the ongoing commitment to the renewal of this
important area of Sydney and New South Wales. The bill reflects the
ongoing reforms that this Government has introduced to the New South
Wales planning system. I commend the bill to the House.
Question—That this bill be now agreed to in principle—put and resolved in the affirmative.
Motion agreed to.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Bill declared passed and transmitted to the Legislative Council with a message seeking its concurrence in the bill.
Source: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20111018035?open&refNavID=HA8_1
See Minister Hazzards Speech: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20111018032?open&refNavID=HA8_1
During 2009 and 2010, Bernie Coates (HNSW) and Bruce Judd (UNSW) lead consultations with 45 key stakeholders in the Redfern and Waterloo areas to find out what people think about renewal and regeneration and how the community can best be engaged in the renewal process.
A list of those who were consulted is at Appendix 1 at the bottom of this page.
The key themes and issues emerging from the stakeholder consultations were:
Concern about residents’ safety and the impacts of anti social behaviour on residents’ amenity and community life. Stakeholders want better security, and coordinated agency action to improve safety. In particular, we were told:For more information: Contact Bernie Coates at Housing NSW on 92683487 October 2010
Participants:
| Organisation | Name |
| Aboriginal Housing Company | Mick Mundine Lani Tuitavake Richard Green |
| Chamber of Commerce | Mary-Lynne Pidcock |
| City of Sydney | Dominic Grenot John Maynard |
| City Councillor & tenant | Irene Doutney |
| Connect Redfern | Jo Fletcher |
| The Factory Community Centre | Patrick Russell Michael Shreenan Jose Perez |
| ICRCSD | David White Charmaine Jones Pam Marsh |
| Inner Sydney Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service | Phoenix van Dyke Jacqui Swinburne |
| National Centre of Indigenous Excellence | Jason Glanville |
| Mudgin-Gal | Dixie Link-Gordon |
| Ogden Lane Services | Jane Rogers – Community Transport John Geerligs - Food Distribution Rosemary Perkov - RICHES |
| REDWatch | Geoff Turnbull |
| Redfern Community Centre | Scott Elphinstone |
| Redfern NAB | Lindsay Dale Randall Johns Barbara Rhall Brian Parker Denny Powell Rita Maddren Darryl Dartnell |
| South Sydney Community Aide | Jhan Leach Helen Campbell |
| South Sydney Youth Services | Shane Brown |
| The Shop Women and Girls Centre | Susan Fowler Julie Packer Colleen Bradshaw |
| Tribal Warrior | Shane Phillips |
| Waterloo Tenants | Norah McGuire Ross Smith Simon Shabshay Marlene Newton Di Whitworth Lynne Stewart (former tenant)Mabel Chang |
| Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care | Millie Ingram |
| Yarn’n Aboriginal Employment Services | Deb Nelson |
A Council report about the LEP said: “After additional consultation with Housing NSW it has been clarified and accepted that Waterloo Redfern Urban Design Study has offered reasonable and appropriate LEP recommendations. Redfern Waterloo Authority Built Environment Plan – Stage 2, as advised by the Authority, will not be dissimilar to Council’s recommendations and strategy for this area.” If this is so then why do we need the BEP2 to propose alternative controls and why do we need both the BEP2 and the HNSW Master Plan to provide the finer grain for the plan? It is not plain what is wrong with Council’s LEP or why three different overlapping plans are necessary.
What is clear is that the NSW Government wants to redevelop the Redfern Waterloo housing estates. The model being considered is to decrease the concentration of public housing residents in the area by significantly increasing the number of private residents living in the area. The proposed increase is not yet public but based on the 2004 cabinet papers and HNSW’s usual mix, it is expected that there will be about two new residents in the estate area for every existing public tenant.
Central to the shape of the redevelopment is which buildings get redeveloped. Around half of the area’s public tenants live in the high rises. HNSW considers the high rises will not need replacing for quite some time. The question here is what work can be done to improve these buildings. Will they remain just for public tenants, or will some buildings become all private housing or possibly mixes of public and private tenants?
If the high rises remain, the main redevelopment will be focussed on the low rise walk-ups where the other half of public tenants live and where any increase in population would need to be housed. The REDWatch paper outlines a worst case scenario in which the high rises all stay public housing and the government redevelops the walk ups resulting in four out of five of the new homes going to the private market. The cash strapped NSW Government receives a windfall profit, a statistical dilution of the social problems, and is able to shelve the challenge of dealing with half the public housing stock for a future government.
But the issue is not just about renewing buildings. It is also about what Government terms “social mix”. The gentrification of surrounding private properties has coincided with Government changes to eligibility for public housing resulting in estates with concentrated disadvantage in what is becoming housing of last resort. The area has become more polarised. Governments want to break up the concentration they have created and spread the problems more evenly through the community. The “social mix” argument is that it is better for the disadvantaged to mix with the “better off”, but the research on the subject is not clearcut. A downside is that it may lead to less access to services and greater social isolation as the opportunity to mix does not address the issues that are increasingly the prerequisite to gain entry into public housing.
Complex multiple needs require integrated human service delivery and as people with higher needs have been concentrated in public housing the required human services and the integration between them has lagged. Tenants regularly complain about disruptive tenants and want them removed. Often the disruption stems from inadequately addressed psychiatric, drug and alcohol or other issues of the disruptive tenant.
REDWatch has argued strongly for many years that without significant improvement in integrated human service delivery there may be increased, not decreased, tensions post redevelopment. Private residents living in closer proximity to public tenants with multiple needs are unlikely to tolerate behaviour that HNSW currently expects its public tenants to tolerate. Improving human service delivery has to be a central element in addressing the future of public housing in the area.
Service delivery also has to cover how the housing and tenancies will be managed. HNSW currently has a policy of divesting its property to non-government housing providers, and this is likely in Redfern and Waterloo as part of the redevelopment. While there are issues with this divestment, the problem of management is not just about managing the buildings; it is most importantly about the people that live there. Do they feel safe in their building? If they report a problem will it be addressed? HNSW is spending a lot of money on a trial of a concierge program in Waterloo and such improved ways of managing property and high needs tenants need to be part of the redevelopment irrespective of the underlying property ownership.
The Government is saying all these problems are on the table and need to be addressed in its redevelopment plans. Tenants, however, argue that most of these problems already exist and question why they should believe they will be addressed as part of the redevelopment given the Government’s present inaction on the issues.
To address any of these problems requires money! Money to pay for proper human service support and accommodation for high needs tenants, money for property maintenance, money to make social mix more than a statistical dilution and money to properly manage the tenancies and the buildings. These are ongoing government costs for properly running high needs public housing. On top of this there is also the money needed to rebuild the community after the social dislocation from the redevelopment.
The proposed redevelopment of Redfern and Waterloo public housing dwarfs HNSW often mentioned Minto and Bonnyrigg projects. BEP2 and HNSW’s Master Plan will have to deal with inner-city issues like open space, affordable housing and community facilities. It also needs to find solutions to problems stemming from years of underfunding of public housing and human services if the promise of a brighter future for the public tenants of the future and their neighbours is to be delivered. SSH
More information can be found at www.redwatch.org.au/issues/public-housing
Source: South Sydney Herald December 2010 - www.southsydneyherald.com.au/pdf/SSHDEC10.pdf
]]>Housing Minister, Frank Terenzini recently announced Marrickville Community Training Centre (MTC) as the successful tenderer for the important role of managing and delivering Neighbourhood Link - the backbone of the Waterloo Green Neighbourhood Project.
“MTC will be required to provide training and employment opportunities for up to 12 social housing tenants each year of the three year contract,” said Mr Terenzini.
“By the time Neighbourhood Link is operating later this year, all six Waterloo high rises will have concierge style offices in their foyers staffed by specially trained social housing residents. The concierges will welcome visitors and provide information during the day.”
Mr Terenzini said another two tenders were being finalised for the Neighbourhood Security Service and the construction works to refurbish the foyers.
“The Security Service will be responsible for the concierge office at night, monitoring CCTV cameras 24 hours a day and patrolling the buildings and grounds.”
Mr Terenzini said the Neighbourhood Repair Service would work with Housing NSW contractors, Spotless, to carry out repairs at Housing NSW properties throughout the inner city.
Photo: Housing Minister, Frank Terenzini, centre, and Meghan Hibbert, Housing NS W’s Area Director with Waterloo Neighbourhood Advisory Board epresentatives Simon Shabshay, Larry Skelton and Mabel Chang.
Soon, a team of survey staff will be knocking on doors in the high rise buildings in Redfern and Waterloo to ask residents to take part in an important survey.
Housing NSW wants to know how you feel about your community and what is important to you. We want feedback from about 800 randomly selected residents to help us plan for the future of your area.
Sweeney Research, an independent research company, is conducting the baseline survey. Many residents have already taken part in a 20 minute phone survey.
If you agree to take part, your name will go into a prize draw to win a $150 Coles/Myer gift voucher, a $100 voucher, or one of five $50 vouchers.
Your feedback will be treated confidentially. The survey will be completed in coming weeks and all survey findings will be publicly available.
All Sweeney’s staff will be wearing identification.
For further information, please contact Tuyen Duong on 9268 3492 or email: tuyen.duong@housing.nsw.gov.au
Housing NSW has made changes to client service team boundaries and staffing, as part of a restructure. Tenancies in Waterloo are now managed as follows:
Rebecca HUNTSMAN is the Team Leader.
Michal 938 44102 149 Cope St (Marton) 249 George St (Banks)
Candice 938 44103 1 Phillip St (Turanga) 3 Phillip St (Matavai)
Michael 938 44104 Beaumont St Morehead St Brunswick St Phillip St Clarendon St Union St Douglas St Vescey St Elizabeth St Walker St Lenton Pde Wellington St
Sofie 938 44109 Cooper St Pitt St George St Raglan St
Mark 938 44108 Cope St 232 Pitt St (Drysdale) 33 John St (Dobell)
Luba 938 44106 180 Pitt St (Solander) 200 Pitt St (James Cook)
Nikhil 938 44107 John St Kellick St McEvoy St 240 Pitt St, Reeves St, (Madden Place) 74, 76 Wellington St, 1 Kellick St (Camelia Grove)
The queue telephone number is 9384 4166.
Photo: Waterloo team pictured here from left to right Candice, Jonathan, Luba, Michal, Sofie, Elyse, Mark with Nikhil seated.
The hall was filled to capacity, with more than 80 social housing residents eager for employment, at the first recruitment for the Neighbourhood Repairs Service at Redfern Town Hall on 5 July 2010.
Housing NSW has partnered with Fair Business and Spotless to deliver the repairs service, which will operate from a workshop in Waterloo, undertaking maintenance and repairs work on Housing NSW properties in the inner city.
“Twenty residents have been selected for employment with Neighbourhood Repairs in the first intake and further opportunities will be available over the coming months,” said Kathy Roil, General Manager, Central Sydney Housing Services, Housing NSW.
“People who cannot be offered employment at this time, will be provided with help to access Work Cover White Card training and accredited TAFE courses and to link in with a Job Services Australia provider.”
FEEDING PIGEONS LEADS TO
BED BUG, COCKROACH & RAT INFESTATION
FEWER NATIVE BIRDS
Housing NSW asks that residents dispose of their rubbish thoughtfully and NOT to feed the pigeons.
Redfern Update is published by: Housing NSW, Locked Bag 4001, Ashfield BC 1800 Tel: 1300 HOUSING (1 300 468 746)
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New community garden for Redfern
Roll Up Redfern campaign announced
Rabbitohs support Gambling Awareness Week
Make over for The Shop, Waterloo
NGO Forum to deliver better outcomes
Redfern-Waterloo volunteers recognised
CarriageWorks change in management
Gibbons Street car park exhibition held
Abercrombie and Cleveland St, Redfern application
Cafe at 8 Central Avenue, Australian Technology Park
South Sydney Herald Fundraiser 18 June
Playground in the Park 22 June
Aboriginal Women’s Corroboree 25 June
Family and Culture Day 26 June
Eveleigh Farmers’ Market – every Saturday 8am to 1pm
Artisans’ Market – 1st Sunday of the month, 10am to 3pm
A $12 million, three-year program, which includes "concierge" style front desk staff, on-the-ground maintenance teams, and extra security measures, especially at night will be trialled at six Waterloo high-rise public housing buildings to improve safety for their 1,500 residents. The project is modelled on similar plans run in New York and Melbourne, which have increased tenant support, and reduced vandalism and anti-social behaviour in public housing high rises. All parts of the plan will become operational between July and December 2010. For more information, please visit: www.housing.gov.au.
Local residents are being encouraged to manage a new community garden at James Street Reserve in Redfern as part of a network of community gardens throughout the city. Beds for growing flowers, fruit and nut trees - primarily for the production of food – will form part of the garden to give city residents a chance to build a sustainable area and to learn gardening skills. The community garden has received an $8,000 grant in the first round of the City of Sydney’s 2009/10 “Community Gardens and Greening the Village” Matching Grants Program. Local groups interested in getting involved should contact Annie Walker, Community Garden and Volunteer Coordinator on 02 9265 9333 or email anwalker@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.
Telling the world what a great place Redfern-Waterloo is to live, work and play is part of a new partnership to change the perception of Redfern. The Roll Up Redfern Group comprising of the City of Sydney, Redfern-Waterloo Authority (RWA), Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce (RWCC), REDWatch and Souths Rabbitohs, was formed in 2009 to work collaboratively on business and community development issues in the Redfern and Waterloo area. In consultation with residents, community groups and local businesses to identify and celebrate the key strengths of the Redfern-Waterloo, the results will shape the branding and communications strategy moving forward. The project is due to be completed in September 2010.
The Redfern-Waterloo Heritage Taskforce (RWHT) has received three formal nominations for heritage projects in the area from the Dictionary of Sydney, the Office of Rail Heritage and the Performance Space, with another project to enhance the understanding of the history of Eveleigh being considered. Mr Dillon Kombumerri, Senior Architect Indigenous Design with NSW Government Architect’s Office, has been appointed as the Indigenous community representative. In recognition of the importance of the Eveleigh area to Redfern-Waterloo, an Eveleigh Steering Committee has also been established with the first meeting held in May. For further information, please contact Juliet Suich at the Redfern-Waterloo Authority on 9202 9100 or email juliet.suich@rwa.nsw.gov.au.
Rabbitohs players joined the Hon. Kevin Greene Minister for Liquor Gaming and Racing and Sandra Bailey, CEO of the Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council (AH&MRC), for the Responsible Gambling Awareness Week Launch ‘Lets Talk Gambling’ on 17 May, 2010. The launch was held at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern in as a joint AH&MRC and Souths Cares initiative. The week was marked with a number of events and activities to promote responsible gambling practices. Find out more at: http://www.ahmrc.org.au/gambling.php.
CEOs transformed The Shop in Waterloo, a centre for women and children, as part of the ‘CEO Day of Caring’ event organised by United Way. A dozen CEOs, including Redfern-Waterloo Authority’s CEO Roy Wakelin-King, worked hard to improve the centre including decorating a playroom, painting a fence, and revitalising the garden.
The RWA in conjunction with the Inner Sydney Regional Council for Social Development hosted an NGO Forum on 20 May at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern. The Forum provided an opportunity for a positive discussion between NGO and Government agencies with the RWA outlining its key priorities for human service delivery. The key message was for organisations to work together to deliver better outcomes for the community.
At a special presentation hosted by The Factory Community Centre, volunteers from the Redfern-Waterloo area were recognised for their hard work and dedication to improve the community. Held on 27 May, the Volunteer Awards were presented by Roy Wakelin-King, CEO of Redfern-Waterloo Authority, and Councillor Irene Doutney from City of Sydney Council. Winners included South Sydney Multicultural Centre, the Food Distribution Network and REDWatch.
CarriageWorks has announced the resignation of its inaugural Chief Executive Sue Hunt. In a statement from Linda Gregoriou, Acting Chair of CarriageWorks’ Board, Ms Hunt has been appointed as Executive Director of The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation in Melbourne. Ms Hunt leaves CarriageWorks as an arts organisation that directs commercial revenues in the arts sector. By the end of 2010, around $4 million has been reinvested in to the small to medium sector in the first three years of operation.
The public exhibition for the Part 3A application for the redevelopment of the car park located at 7-9 Gibbons St, Redfern, concluded on 23 April 2010. The Department of Planning forwarded the submissions onto the applicant/proponent (Lawson Square Pty Ltd C/- Kass Hermes Urban Planning and Development). These are currently being reviewed.
The public exhibition of the Part 3A application for a four-storey mixed use development at 136-144 Abercrombie St and 157-161 Cleveland St, Redfern concluded on 21 May 2010. The Department will be forwarding on the submissions and any late submissions to the applicant/proponent (Robert Sargis) for review.
The development application for a cafe and associated fit-out and signage within 8 Central Avenue building at Australian Technology Park was notified and advertised from 19 May to 2 June 2010. The RWA will commence a detailed assessment of the application which will include consideration of any submissions received during the exhibition and notification period.
To view the full online listing of the What’s On Calendar for Redfern-Waterloo visit: http://www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/community_consultation/whats_on.htm.
Here are some of the highlights:
Join speaker and media personality Father Bob Maguire on 18 June at a special fundraiser ‘Poverty – What can be done?’ presented by The South Sydney Uniting Church and the South Sydney Herald. The event is hosted by Julie McCrossin and is being held at Buon Gusto Restaurant, Abercrombie St, Darlington. Contact Trevor Davies on 0400 008 338 for tickets.
Come and join the fun of Playgrounds in the Park on 22 June at Redfern Park with pony rides, an animal farm, a jumping castle, face painting, community info, and more for local families with a child under 5 years of age. A barbeque lunch is provided.
Join Aboriginal women making a stand against domestic violence and sexual assault on 25 June from 10.30am-2pm at the Aboriginal Women’s Corroboree at Alexandria Town Hall, 73 Garden St, Alexandria. There will be song and dance from Aboriginal women and children, an Elders tent, stalls, a free sausage sizzle and also speeches from various women.
Family and Culture Day, a grassroots community oriented event, is happening on 26 June at The Block in Redfern. The aim of this event, which takes place on the last Saturday of each month, is to bring families back to The Block and to show off the incredible talent within the Redfern Indigenous community. For the children there is a jumping castle, face painting and other entertainment.
Eveleigh Farmers’ Market is an undercover, traditional, authentic weekly Saturday Farmers’ Market held in the historic Blacksmith Workshop of the one-time Eveleigh Rail Yards on Wilson Street in Darlington. It is Sydney’s only ‘rain, hail, shine’ venue and an inspiring heritage backdrop. The Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday from 8am to 1pm. For more information please visit www.eveleighmarket.com.au.
Showcasing the best in Australian independent design, art and crafts, the Artisans’ market, hosted by Eveleigh Market, takes place on the first Sunday of the month from 10am-3pm under the heritage listed Blacksmith Workshop.
To include your event in the RWA What’s On Calendar, to be added to the RWA Update distribution list, to make comments, or to suggest a news item, please contact RWA’s Communications Officer Natalie Kikken on 9202 9112 or email natalie.kikken@rwa.nsw.gov.au.
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The project is modelled on similar plans run in New York and Melbourne, which have increased tenant support, and reduced vandalism and anti-social behaviour in public housing high rises.
I recently announced the Waterloo Green Neighbourhood Project along with the Housing Minister, David Borger.
The project has a three pronged approach and comprises:
The Waterloo Green Neighbourhood Project will build on the recent NSW Government success in reducing crime in the Redfern and Waterloo area. This is about making public housing safer for residents - particularly older people, people living on their own, and others who need support in their community.
Importantly, the project will also lead to extra services – and more jobs - and for social housing residents in community services, trade and security for public housing residents.
Following consultation with residents, tenders will be called for the management of the Neighbourhood Link service, the Neighbourhood Security service and the construction of the Neighbourhood Link offices.
All parts of the plan will become operational between July and December 2010.
Further information regarding the Waterloo Green Neighbourhood Project is available at www.housing.nsw.gov.au
Kristina Keneally MP
Member for Heffron
Shop 117, 747 Botany Road, Rosebery NSW 2018
Phone: (02) 9699 8166 Fax: (02) 9699 8222
Email: kristina.keneally@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Source: Advertisement South Sydney Herald May 2010 www.southsydneyherald.com.au
]]>The project is modelled on similar plans run in New York and Melbourne, which have increased tenant support, and reduced vandalism and antisocial behaviour.
The program will provide up to 120 jobs through paid traineeships in community services, trade and security for public housing residents.
It will also involve having a concierge information desk in every building on the green, swipe card access, the installation of 60 additional CCTV cameras and improved repairs, with a roving neighbourhood team of contractors from the company Spotless.
Premier Kristina Keneally and Housing Minister David Borger announced the Waterloo Green Neighbourhood Project, which will be brought online by December.
“This is about making public housing safer for residents - particularly older people, people living on their own, and others who need support in their community,” Ms Keneally said.
Residents who have been begging Housing NSW for improved safety measures for years welcomed the announcement.
But Sydney Greens Councillor Irene Doutney, herself a Waterloo Green resident called on Housing NSW to roll the upgrade out across all housing estates in NSW.
“I welcome any measures to curb crime and antisocial behaviour in public housing estates, as well as keeping residences in a livable condition” Cr Doutney said.
“However the sudden injection of funds to Waterloo Green brings into stark contrast the situation at a number of other public housing estates, such as Joanna O’Dea Court in Camperdown, where residents have been desperately crying out for security and adequate maintenance.”
“The pilot program we are announcing at Waterloo Green is based on international best practice,’’ Mr Borger said.
‘’If it works, the Government will roll it out to other appropriate locations.”
Source: http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/news/story/win-for-waterloo-public-housing-estate/
]]>The measures will also provide up to 120 jobs through paid traineeships in community services, trade and security for public housing residents.
Premier Kristina Keneally and Housing Minister, David Borger today announced the Waterloo Green Neighbourhood Project, which will be brought online by December 2010.
The project has a three pronged approach. It comprises:
• Neighbourhood Link – where offices will be constructed in the foyer of each building, staffed during business hours by information and orientation employees;
• Neighbourhood Security – where 60 additional CCTV cameras and swipe card access will be provided at each building. New security guards will staff the front office at night, on weekends and on public holidays; and
• Neighbourhood Repairs – under which a contractor, Spotless, will perform routine building maintenance, and offer employment and training opportunities for residents.
"This is about making public housing safer for residents - particularly older people, people living on their own, and others who need support in their community," Ms Keneally said.
"The Waterloo Green Neighbourhood Project will build on the recent NSW Government success in reducing crime in the Redfern and Waterloo area.
"The project will provide residents with a safer home, information about local services, and a means of alerting support agencies if there are concerns about a residents’ wellbeing."
To protect the privacy of residents, trainee Neighbourhood Link and Neighbourhood Security workers must live outside the buildings where the services are being provided.
Mr Borger said it was good news that today’s announcement will lead to extra services – and more jobs - and for social housing residents.
"A non government organisation will be contracted to deliver the welcome and information service, who will employ up to 12 social housing residents each year," Mr Borger said.
"The security company that provides services overnight, on weekends and on public holidays will also employ up to 12 social housing residents as trainees each year.
"And the maintenance contractor will employ up to 20 social housing residents as trainees or skilled tradespeople, to undertake maintenance under the Neighbourhood Repairs service."
"The pilot program we are announcing today is based on international best practice. If it works, the Government will roll it out to other appropriate locations."
Information sessions on the Waterloo Green Neighbourhood Project will be held for residents next week, as will consultation about the proposed works.
Following consultation with residents, tenders will be called for the management of the Neighbourhood Link service, the Neighbourhood Security service and the construction of the Neighbourhood Link offices.
All parts of the plan will become operational between July and December 2010.
Background notes
• The three year pilot project will be held in six high rises around Waterloo Green:
o Matavai;
o Turunga;
o Cook;
o Banks;
o Marton; and
o Solander.
• These buildings have a total of 1260 apartments, housing more than 1500 residents.
• Security improvements that will be included as part of the Waterloo Green Neighbourhood Project include:
o On site security staff outside of business hours, on weekends and public holidays;
o Sixty new CCTV across the six buildings, monitored 24 hours per day;
o A photo-identification security access system;
o Electronic control for fire doors; and
o Relocation of letter boxes to a more secured area of the foyer within each building so tenants can safely access their mail.
• Capital works will include:
o Refurbishment of foyers to create Neighbourhood Link offices and waiting areas;
o Installation of internal security doors to control access to lifts and resident areas;
o Installation of CCTV cameras; and
o Installation of fire doors and an improved security access system.
• The project will provide employment and training opportunities for approximately 120 social housing residents over the three year period:
o 12 per year in Neighbourhood Link
o 12 per year in Neighbourhood Security,
o Up to 20 per year in Neighbourhood Repairs.
• For privacy and safety reasons, trainee Neighbourhood Link and Neighbourhood Security workers cannot be residents of the buildings where the services are being provided.
• Residents of the Waterloo high rises participating in this trial can work in the Neighbourhood Repairs service, which will provide maintenance services over a broader geographic area.
For Information See: Waterloo Green Project General Information Sheet
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