CELEBRATING REDFERN'S SESQUICENTENARY

Redfern's early history is full of ambitious progress. The historic Town Hall opened in 1870 and the municipality received an electricity supply twelve years before the City Council area.

However, by the time I was elected Redfern Ward Alderman in 1980, the area was bleak and treeless, with asphalted parks surrounded by chain wire fences topped by barbed wire and locked at night. Every street had fast moving through traffic and Redfern Park was neglected.

Over the following six years, after South Sydney Council including Redfern was amalgamated into the City, road closures that calmed traffic and landscaping that softened the environment, were achieved.

Further improvements had to wait until my Independent Team took the reigns at Town Hall in 2004.

We have completed a $20 million upgrade of Redfern and Regent Streets, including footpath widening, new paving, new street furniture and lighting, as well as special lighting for some of Redfern's historic buildings. Redfern Park has had a $30 million renewal that includes a stunning new grandstand, state-of-the-art oval and Indigenous-themed public art, which has a practical and popular use for children's water play.

We've upgraded seven local parks and playgrounds, planted 189 trees and have "Living Colour" floral displays each spring and summer. We've built a fabulous skate park at Waterloo and later this year the adjacent youth facility will be upgrade. Work is starting on Prince Alfred Park and pool, as well as Charles Kiernan Reserve in Darlington.

We support local businesses and recently adopted a business precinct study that could lead to exciting public art on the oppressive roller shutters in Redfern Street. We run programs for young and old at the Redfern Community Centre, used by more than 40,000 people each year.

Over the last twelve months we have awarded 82 community grants that directly benefit the local community and we work with Police, residents and business to increase community safety. I hold regular open meetings where public housing tenants ask questions and give feedback to from senior management, the City, Housing NSW and Police.