REDWatch Comments on RWA & RWP Anouncement

REDWatch Comments on

The Proposed Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) and Plan (RWP)

The Premier has announced a Redfern Waterloo Authority to be modelled on the Sydney Harbour Foreshores Authority. The Authority is to be headed by NSW Minister Frank Sartor and will manage and potentially develop all NSW Government land in Redfern, Eveleigh, Darlington and Waterloo. It will also implement a broader Redfern Waterloo Plan for the NSW Government.

REDwatch, a group of residents drawn from the area covered by the Redfern Waterloo Authority, have a number of concerns about the announcements and have adopted the following points, which need to be accepted by the government if the RWA is to service the interest of the local community.

Structure

1.            There should be one integrated stakeholder managed entity driving the social, environmental and social agenda of the RWA. Successful overseas models should form the basis for the RWA structure

2.            If the human Services and social agenda is to operate separately from infrastructure component then:

a)      there must be mechanisms for maximum community participation in both operations,

b)      The social agenda must form the basis of the infrastructure development

c)      There must be complementarity of effort and close co-ordination between both bodies.

3.            Effective equitable social development outcomes must be equally as important in the RWA’s core work as economic and environmental objectives. This should be reflected in the RWA charter, focus, work processes, membership and behaviour.

Board Make Up

4.            The government should appoint representatives from nominations made by established community organisations operating in the area to the RWA and the RWPP if it operates separately.

5.            There should be representatives on the board(s) from the broader community and human services sector including public housing and the aboriginal community

Residential Developments / Housing

6.            Retain housing mix in order to ensure the diversity of the community by:

a.       Mandatory affordable housing targets in private developments

b.      Guaranteed levels of aboriginal housing

c.       No net loss of public housing.

Mechanisms

7.            Real partnerships between State, Federal and Local Government with residents, service providers and business are essential in tackling Redfern Waterloos challenges.

8.            There must be comprehensive community information, engagement and consultation strategies and these must be implemented.

9.            A Redfern Waterloo Community Council must have a genuine role in monitoring the activities of the RWA and RWPP and ensuring community involvement in the processes.

10.        Government to develop alternatives to public-private partnerships. Alternatives to include use of government debt financing and incentives for superannuation fund investment for infrastructure developments.

11.        Any funding arrangements, concessions and arrangements to recompense a private party for the provision of infrastructure or services for the RWA are to be fully disclosed to the community and this disclosure subject to independent audit. Disclosures to include all building concessions, incentives and disincentives provided by any party and to include externalized impacts where the community suffers loss of amenity to provide concessions for the developer.

12.        The government should establish the RWA so that the potential conflicts of interests between its roles as infrastructure planner, regulator, land manager, land seller, financier and social planner are identified, disclosed and addressed from the outset.

13.        The consent authority function should be subject to public notification, public objection and independent appeal such as to the Administrative Decisions Tribunal.

14.        Social Impact Assessments should be undertaken prior to all developments.

15.        The Redfern Waterloo Plan should undergo similar community consultation to that promised to the community for the draft RED strategy which the Plan now replaces.

Human Services

16.        The Human Services Review to be made available to the public, agencies and the City of Sydney Council to inform the opinions and programmes.

17.        Any proposed introduction of pooled funding, locality based priorities or other significant changes in service delivery should not be introduced without extensive consultation with service recipients, government and non-government service providers and the broader community.

Legislation

18.        The details of the proposed RWA and the enabling legislation should be made available for public discussion prior to its introduction to parliament and its implementation.

19.        Legislation to be reviewed after 12 months operation of the Authority to determine if any amendments are required to the Act.

20.        The Authority to produce an annual report to the community.

 P

Public Land

21.        There should be no net permanent alienation of public land managed by the Authority and the maximum public benefit should be derived from the use of public land.

For more information contact:
Geoff Turnbull  Ph: 9318 0824        Fax: 9310 2746     email: turnbullfamily@stassen.com.au
Ben Spies-Butcher        Ph: 0414 744 758

REDwatch meets monthly at the Redfern Community Centre on the 4^th Sunday at 2pm
Postal Address: c/- Geoff Turnbull, PO Box 1567, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012

03 November 2004