City of Sydney supports public tenants

Mr Grenot told The South Sydney Herald that he will soon create opportunities for the public to meet and comment on the plan.

“Using some of the processes and ideas from my time with the Northcott community in Surry Hills, I hope to play my part in public housing tenants and communities adding to the richness and diversity of inner-city life,” Mr Grenot said.

The position of Public Housing Liaison Officer was created in early 2007. Mr Grenot began in this role in July.

It is a completely new position. “I am not aware of any similar position like this one in Local Government,” he said.

“The position came out of the City’s Safety Strategy and acknowledges the amount of State Government-managed public housing dwellings within the City’s LGA (Local Government Area). “There are nearly 10,000 public housing dwellings in this area – arguably the most for any LGA in Australia.” Mr Grenot said most public housing within the City’s LGA is in concentrations, where there are complex problems and needs, as well as a range of issues around safety and crime. “The significant estates/communities are in Millers Point, Woolloomooloo, Glebe, Redfern, Waterloo, Surry Hills and Erskineville but there are dwellings in just about every suburb within the LGA.

“Having spent the past decade with the NSW Department of Housing, all in the inner city, in a variety of support, problem-solving and capacity-building roles, and the previous 25 years working with communities and individuals, I believe this new role is not only needed but has the potential to create strong and sustainable interventions with all stakeholders,” he said.

Mr Grenot sees the roles as essentially about two things: managing risks and potential risks, as well as supporting and empowering communities including individuals and groups.

He said the first aspect is about helping address safety and crime concerns, listening to tenants and community concerns and needs in addition to partnering and acting with all who work closely in public housing communities.

The second aspect is about creating and supporting community development opportunities as well as building individual and collective skills and capacity. Mr Grenot went on to say there is much planned for Woolloomooloo in the years ahead. “The Woolloomooloo improvement plan

will address a number of public domain, safety, and amenity issues as well as looking at the human capital and needs. Dominic Grenot can be contacted on 9265 9954 or dgrenot@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.

Source: South Sydney Herald February 2008 - www.southsydneyherald.com.au