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Candlelight vigil to support Aboriginal people to save The Block

The Aboriginal Housing Company, members of a local ALP branch and local community groups such as REDWatch are asking Sydney residents to attend a candlelight vigil at the historic Sydney Aboriginal precinct known as The Block on Thursday 10th August. The vigil, which starts at 6.30pm, is being held in protest in response to Minister for Planning Frank Sartor’s controversial assumption of re-development control of The Block reports Ben Falkenmirein the South Sydney Herald August 2006.

The Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC), which owns most of the houses on The Block, had initial responsibility for its redevelopment under the guise of the Redfern Waterloo Partnership (RWP). Partnership members included the City of Sydney Council and representatives from the NSW Government.

The AHC led a distinguished coalition of Indigenous leaders, community activists and internationally respected urban and social planners over the past six years in the development of the Pemulwuy Project, a $27 million AHC-funded redevelopment proposal for The Block.

The Pemulwuy Project proposal was driven by an award winning social plan for the area and features 62 residential properties, affordable family homes, a public civic space and commercial area, artist markets, a student hostel, a sports facility and an Indigenous business college.

With the introduction of the RWA Act, Minister Sartor assumed control of the re-development, causing a political and media uproar and igniting objections from the community, fellow ALP members, Liberal party leaders such as Peter Debnam, and prominent radio personality, Alan Jones.

Sartor plans to rezone The Block for business and mixed-use purposes, including only 30 residential properties - plans which favour development over Aboriginal housing, and plans that seemingly ignore his colleagues’ prior approval of the Pemulwuy Project and AHC and Indigenous rights for self determination.

The Block is a culturally significant site for Aboriginal people since they began migrating to the area in1889.

After then it has played a symbolic role in the development of Aboriginal and Government relations with both the Whitlam and Hawke/Keating governments extending support and funding for the area.

Aboriginal Housing Candle Light Vigil
Come and support Aboriginal people’s rights to develop The Block
Thursday 10 August 6.30pm, TNT towers Next to Redfern Station

[South Sydney Herald August 2006]