Water and housing: Labor and Greens go toe to toe

State government plans revealed that the 9 km pipeline needed to connect the city water tunnel with the new desalination plant will extend almost 1 km under Ashmore Street in Erskineville.

This has caused concern for residents, including those at the Erskineville Housing Estate, which is bordered on one side by Ashmore Street. 82-year old Hal Alexander, a tenant of 12 years, said he is suspicious of what the government is promising for Ashmore Street, especially after the unsuccessful attempt to build private housing on the estate in 2002.

Ms Keneally reacted to the claims in the Telegraph by door knocking along Ashmore Street to assure people that “the worst case scenario would be some disruption to parking on Ashmore Street.” In a visit to the Erskineville Housing Estate she especially assured Mr Alexander and 24-year tenant, Veronica Jones, that the estate wouldn’t be turned into a pumping station or threatened in any way.

However, Greens candidate for Heffron, Ben Spies-Butcher, told the SSH that “residents are overwhelmingly concerned, not only over the local implications over the pipe, but also the environmental implications of a desalination plant.” He has called for a public meeting to discuss the desalination plant, and says the Greens favour a “combination of stormwater harvesting, stronger water efficiency standards, increased rebates for water tanks and tighter water restrictions.”

The State government has hedged its election bid on the desal plant, despite approving it originally in 2005 and then going back on its decision to build it last year. Ms Keneally said that they “definitely will” build it if they win, despite its potential to provide only about 9 per cent of Sydney’s water supply. The opposition is officially opposed to a desalination plant and is running on pumping recycled water back into the water supply for all purposes, including drinking.

Spies-Butcher also had another challenge to Keneally. Whether he can win the seat or not, he wants to at least raise the issues. Last month he held a media conference in Waterloo.

Among others present were Greens Upper House Member, Sylvia Hale, and local public housing tenant, Irene Doutney. Ms Doutney said to the Herald that “public housing residents in Redfern and Waterloo need to be told the truth. Despite the Redfern-Waterloo Authority announcing its intention to redevelop public housing in the area two years ago, we are yet to see the plans. It is intolerable that residents are not being told what will happen to their homes.” Irene Doutney supports the call for certainty. “To live in public housing is to live in fear and insecurity with constant rumours of building sales and relocation. Since the establishment of the RWA, with its much publicised redevelopment plans, these fears have greatly increased,” she said.

The local Member for Heffron, Kristina Keneally, has responded to this call by the Greens for the Government to come clean. Her response was strong and passionate. “The Greens are in a sorry state if they have to resort to baseless claims designed to scare public housing tenants. This is usual Greens claptrap in South Sydney – to scaremonger, to make up wild fantasies and to be opposed to policies that seek to help economically vulnerable people access education, training, skills and jobs.”

“If Sylvia Hale or the Greens candidate in Heffron spent any time with public housing tenants or on the estates in Redfern and Waterloo, they would know that the Government’s commitment to public housing in this community is strong and clear: all public housing tenancies in Redfern and Waterloo are secure. We will not decrease the number of tenants or dwellings,” she said.

Ms Keneally went on to point out that “the Iemma Government has invested over $20 million in public housing, either upgrades or new stock, and over $13 million in affordable housing in Heffron over the last 4 years. If Sylvia Hale or the Greens candidate in Heffron spent any time reading the Redfern-Waterloo Authority’s plans for the area, or participating in consultation on these plans, they would know the facts.

The RWA’s Built Environment Plan

–          which was publicly exhibited and underwent extensive consultation

–          does not seek to redevelop any public housing.”

Source: South Sydney Herald March 2007