HNSW Redfern Update August 2010

Redfern Community Safety Audit

Over 50 Redfern residents joined staff from NSW Police, the City of Sydney, the Factory Community Centre and Housing NSW to conduct safety audits in seven precincts of the Redfern public housing area over the last eight weeks.

The audits covered the McKell, Purcell, Lawson, Gilmore and Kendall buildings, all walk up blocks east of Redfern Park and the Redfern Street precincts.

Several issues were identified including the need for improved lighting, tree/shrub removal and pruning, better signage, fencing, inaccessible paths, maintenance of common areas and support for vulnerable residents. The findings will be developed into a Safety Improvement Plan, with priorities, so that available funds can be applied over the next few years.

The key findings from the audit were presented to the community at an area forum held on 11 August at the Redfern Oval Community Room. The prize for a $100 voucher was won by a McKell Building resident who took part in the safety audit.

One early outcome from the audits is a series of resident safety workshops run by NSW Police with the support of Housing NSW. The workshops have been held in the Purcell and McKell buildings, as well as one session for Russian seniors, supported by Jewish Care, at the Factory Community Centre. More are being planned for the Poet’s Corner complex.

Photo: The team conduct the safety audit at the Purcell Building in Redfern.

Please do NOT feed the pigeons!

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.

New Housing NSW Team for Redfern

Photo: Team 104 pictured here from left to right: Julie-Ann, Elizabeth, Daniel, Jennifer and Gabrielle.

Housing NSW has made changes to client service team boundaries and staffing, as part of a restructure. Tenancies in Redfern are now managed by Team 104 which is based at 234 Sussex Street, near Town Hall Station on phone 9268 3444.

Weekly outreach services will be available from the Gilmore building at Poet’s Corner every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 9.30am – 12.30pm.

The new team leader is Jenny Speakman and the five Client Service Officers for Redfern are:

Mylee: 32-40 Morehead St 55 Morehead St Walker St (even numbers)

Elizabeth:        584-614 Elizabeth St 168-580 Elizabeth St 41-43 Morehead St

Jenny:  Kettle St 44-52 Morehead St 57 Morehead St Redfern St Walker St (odd numbers)

Julie-Ann:        55-80 Walker St

Gabrielle:         Baptist St Chalmers St Cooper St Douglas St East St George St Gibbons St Marriot St Renwick St Wells St William St Young St

The team is managed by Shannon who is a very experienced Senior Client Service Officer.

Community Survey - a chance to win!

Soon, representatives of a research company, Sweeney Research 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 most 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 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 and the results will not identify you. Housing NSW will not be able to track the responses you provide. The survey will be completed in coming weeks and all survey findings will be publicly available. All Sweeney Research staff will be wearing identification.

If you have questions or want further information, please contact Tuyen Duong on 9268 3492 or email: tuyen.duong@housing.nsw.gov.au

A new NAB for Redfern by Charmaine Jones

The Redfern Neighbourhood Advisory Board (NAB) recently held elections for tenant precinct representatives. There was an unprecedented amount of interest and the NAB now has over 18 tenant representatives covering 10 precincts.

The NAB is made up of tenant representatives, the City of Sydney, NSW Police, Housing NSW and other government and community organisations. It meets 6 times a year to discuss issues facing Redfern. The NAB process encourages tenant participation in decision making to address their issues and concerns.

Photo: Some of the members of the Redfern NAB

Redfern Update is published by: Housing NSW, Locked Bag 4001, Ashfield BC 1800 Tel: 1300 HOUSING (1 300 468 746)