Frasers/CUB site in Chippendale – some movement

Public housing in the inner city continues to be sold off

A night with Gordon and Elaine in Wilson Street uncovers real local talent

Some advice for Hillsong

The RWA has a new Boss

Farewell Angelina

Frasers/CUB site in Chippendale – some movement

The Premier made a rare appearance in the inner city when last month he and the Minister for Planning, at a media conference at the old CUB site (now called Frasers), announced the approval of the modified Concept Plan for Frasers Broadway. 

Frasers says in its media release that “Broadway will be the largest urban development in Australia to introduce on-site tri-generation (known as ‘green transformers’) for power, heating and cooling. Tri-generation is natural gas-powered, a clean fuel alternative to coal power. Together with other sustainability initiatives (including design efficiency, green rooftops, smart metering and solar powered lighting in public spaces), this will achieve substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and Frasers is pro-actively investigating all available technologies and techniques to target zero net carbon. 100% of non-potable water will be supplied through on-site rainwater capture and waste water recycling. Mains water will only be supplied for potable uses.”

Frasers then went on to say that it is “committed to creating a place for people with a distinctive personality, an animated and creative community of residents, workers and visitors. Our social sustainability strategy will include recruitment of local community and institutional partners, such as UTS, an arts and cultural strategy, a local economic development strategy.”

We will have a full report next month.

Public housing in the inner city continues to be sold off

In 1990 the National Trust proposed that the entire area of Millers Point be added to the National Estate for World Heritage listing. Prime Minister Bob Hawke said he was “actively pursuing the matter”. In 2002 a Housing Department Draft Report on Millers Point actively canvassed ways to retain public housing and a conservation agenda.
This trust has been betrayed. Houses are slowly being emptied and run-down, thereby generating the pretext to relocate tenants. Running parallel to conservation history is the development agenda.
In 2005 the Housing Minister Joe Tripodi introduced an aggressive sales campaign for Millers Point. Ideas and debate on ways of keeping and conserving public housing and encouraging mixed-income communities in the inner city were ignored. The next minister, Cherie Burton, undertook to “only” sell-off 16 more heritage properties.
In November 2008 a large terrace at 59 Lower Fort Street was sold for $1.5 million. The new Minister, David Borger, said that the proceeds would go to “five affordable housing properties in the inner-west”. In the future this boarding house accommodating six people on fixed incomes will become a luxury private residence. What else can be done to keep these houses in public hands?

Housing in Waterloo was also sold.

If you’re concerned you should attend

Round Table Discussion on Public Housing in Millers Point & Opening
Venue: Abraham Mott Hall

Friday 20 March 2009 at 6.00pm

A night with Gordon and Elaine in Wilson Street uncovers real local talent
On the eve of the anniversary of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008, a group gathered in Redfern to commemorate the one-year anniversary of this historic occasion. It was also the eve of an approaching eviction for Gordon and Elaine Syron, who live in a shed in Redfern alongside one of the most precious and unique collections of Indigenous contemporary art.

On Thursday the February 12, Gordon and Elaine had a party and invited their friends. It seemed like the whole suburb was there, but the highlight for me was the performance of Nadeena Dixon when she sang ‘Aboriginal Land’ accompanied by her young family who danced. What talent! Remember the name Nadeena Dixon and, if you have a chance to hear her sing, don’t miss out.

Read our report on Gordon and Elaine Syron in this issue of the SSH (page 6).

Some advice for Hillsong

Last month Central magazine reported that the Hillsong Church’s Rosebery battle was possibly starting up again, with Hillsong Pastor Brian Houston announcing on its website that it is determined to build in Rosebery. The SSH has reported before on Hillsong activities. Just a couple of years ago, REDWatch organised a community meeting at the Factory in Waterloo and Hillsong came to meet its critics. There were some critics there, but it seemed that Hillsong had tried a good Labor party tactic and stacked the meeting. We all sat around and heard Leigh Coleman answer some difficult questions. For some of those questions, Leigh wasn’t given a chance to answer. It was the Hillsong media spokesperson who jumped up and answered before Leigh had a chance to do so.

Fast News was involved in organising that meeting and we tried to get the mysterious Brian Houston to attend. He wouldn’t accept our invitation. Instead it was Leigh and their media spokesperson who attended. My advice to Hillsong is that, if the campaign for Rosebery is on again, be more up front with the community. Brian Houston is the Pastor. The community wants to hear from him directly, not just on a website.

The RWA has a new Boss

Robert Domm has gone. Peter Valletta was appointed and suddenly he also has gone. Last month the minister for Redfern Waterloo, Kristina Keneally, announced the appointment of Roy Wakelin-King as the new CEO of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority. Mr Wakelin-King, says the Minister, “has extensive experience across Government, having worked on the Olympics, in Transport, and at the Department of Commerce. More recently I worked with Roy during his time as CEO of the World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority, where he again proved his ability to plan and then deliver.”

We hope to have a profile on the new CEO next month.

Farewell Angelina

It is with some sadness that we farewell Angelina Mojsovski from the Commonwealth Bank in Redfern. Several locals have shared with Fast News how much they have appreciated Angelina’s expertise and care over the past two-and-a-half years. We wish her every success in her new ventures! Thank you, Angelina!

Source: South Sydney Herald March 2009 www.southsydneyherald.com.au