HNSW - What the Community told us during 2009-10 in Redfern & Waterloo

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. Below is the Report on Key Stakeholders Consultation compiled by HNSW and supplied on 18 November 2010.

What the community told us

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:

People want agencies to work together to solve problems, not ‘pass the buck’.
Better solutions are needed for the public drinking. Many fear leaving their home after dark.

Stakeholders say that a small number of residents cause most of the problems and many want improved security, tougher action on breaches of tenancy agreements, more careful allocations and agencies to work more closely with each other to ensure better support for high need clients. In particular, we were told:

Housing needs to tackle sub letting and unauthorised occupants.
People want the maintenance response to be improved and contractors better monitored.
Many liked the old ‘live-in’ managers in the high rise buildings. Most welcomed the new Neighbourhood Link (concierge) project in the 6 Waterloo high rises and believed it could make a big difference.
Some clients just need a bit of support with daily living. Others, need solid support from a lead agency at the start of a tenancy and then from time to time.

Most residents however love their area and value their diverse, tolerant community. They do not want this community spirit lost as the area undergoes renewal. In particular, we were told:

Some fear that renewal may result in public housing residents losing valued connections and neighbourly assistance.
Some private owners can be less understanding or tolerant, but may be more likely to put pressure on to get local problems fixed.
There was concern that disadvantaged and high need tenants will no longer feel welcome in their area, if it is dominated by private people and home owners.

Many, though not all, believe a more socially mixed community could be safer and provide better amenity for residents. Some residents were concerned however that public housing residents would lose out if poorly conceived social mix policies were applied. In particular, we were told:

People favour a mix of public and private housing in every street block and some people thought there should be a mix within buildings.
People do not want a mix of the very rich and the very poor. Many agreed affordable housing needed to be an important part of the mix.
More specialisation in buildings should be considered – seniors only buildings for example or places like ‘common ground’ with services onsite.
Local businesses would welcome more people and a more mixed community, so they can expand the range of goods and services they can offer.

Many accepted that the walk up flats were ageing and agreed that their replacement over time with new apartments with modern facilities, lift access, balconies and internal laundries would be welcomed by many tenants. Stakeholders wanted sensitive relocation practice that supported people, particularly the vulnerable, to cope with change. In particular, we were told:

People wanted good quality new development.
People did not favour more high rise, and pointed out that buildings like Purcell (up to 7 storeys) could be better managed and create more of a sense of community.
Many tenants, especially the aged, feared being moved to another area without friends, family or supports. Valued communities and networks need to be maintained when people move. Some felt the very old would not cope with moving.
Some people wanted to grow their own food – in community gardens or rooftop gardens, or on balconies that are big enough for pots.
New construction provides an opportunity for tenant employment.
The walk ups need some improvements while they wait for redevelopment.

There was concern that increased housing densities may result in parking and traffic problems, a loss of open space and pressure on community facilities. But many valued their existing high rise living and the shopping and services denser living gave access to. In particular, we were told:

New public domain needs to be well managed.
People wanted high environmental standards for new buildings and adequate green spaces for all age groups. The design of the parks and public spaces can assist social interactions.
People want adequate services for the population mix.

Stakeholders provided a wealth of advice about how to engage the communities. They sought a genuine and transparent approach, adoption of a set of guiding principles for engagement and strategies that encouraged and supported all groups in the community to participate. In particular, we were told:

Tenants need to be regularly consulted about proposed improvements to make sure they are going to work.
People will participate, if the engagement process is genuine. Give regular feedback on what changed as a result of residents input.
It is a challenge to get people to focus on the future, when the day to day issues are not resolved.
Tenants won’t come to meetings if it is the same old issues and the same people dominating.
Use existing trusted agencies and familiar venues for consultation. Use language workers, ethnic radio, a website and provide transport for the less mobile. Use plain English and provide food.
Take people on site visits to see good examples of new development and teach people about urban design.

For more information: Contact Bernie Coates at Housing NSW on 92683487 October 2010

APPENDIX 1

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

Personal tools

Sections

HNSW - What the Community told us during 2009-10 in Redfern & Waterloo

What the community told us

APPENDIX 1

If you find this website of value please consider contributing to the work of REDWatch.