The plan, revealed this week, involves selling government land, redeveloping public housing and attempting to attract jobs to the area.

The government will establish the Redfern-Waterloo Authority to guide the redevelopment, which it has been claimed will have the power to override Sydney City Council planning regulations.

Indigenous groups, coming together under the name Redfern Organisation of Aboriginal Unity, today labelled the plan a "land grab" and attacked the Carr government for failing to consult them.

The organisation warned there would be "determined and unified resistance" to any government attempt to forcibly acquire land at Redfern owned by the Aboriginal Housing Company.

But it stressed any protests would be peaceful.

Indigenous leaders have planned a rally on Monday at Waterloo Green, adjacent to two public housing towers slated for redevelopment.

"We're appalled that the government has refused to rule out the forcible acquisition of Aboriginal land," indigenous representative Shane Phillips said.

"If they were to try and take our land we'd do what any other reasonable people would do. We'd adopt the tactics of Gandhi and Martin Luther King to try and stop them."

Mr Phillips said Aboriginal people were not against the Redfern-Waterloo Authority or development.

"We want Redfern and Waterloo to become secure and prosperous, but Aboriginal people should be able to share in this, not be pushed out.

Redfern was the site of a race riot this year sparked by the death of Aboriginal teenager Thomas "TJ" Hickey.

The NSW government said it would not compulsorily acquire land or force out public housing tenants.

A spokeswoman for Redfern-Waterloo Minister Frank Sartor said there would be no reduction in public housing in the area.

"There's no intention to push out any indigenous residents or public housing tenants," she said.

"There's no intention to use compulsory acquisition powers to resume the Block, and that seems to be one of the main concerns (of Aboriginal groups)."

She said Redfern-Waterloo was an "unusual" area with "unique problems" and the government believed "something's got to be done down there".

Mr Sartor had not made up his mind about how the redevelopment would proceed and wanted to consult widely to come up with the best plan.

AAP

December 2, 2004 SMH - AAP

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Redfern-plan/Aborigines-plan-protest-over-Redfern-land-grab/2004/12/02/1101923258347.html

The Babana group, an Aboriginal men's organisation devoted to improving the lives and futures of Indigenous men, called upon its brothers in the community to come together and speak freely and honestly about their personal experiences and doubts in regards to health and health institutions.

The men’s health information day began with a peaceful cruise out to the island and a heartfelt welcome from the Babana group, Shane Phillips of the Tribal Warrior declaring, “This is our day to talk about things, our way”.

Aboriginal health levels lag far behind those of mainstream society and Aboriginal men have the lowest life expectancy and poorest health rates of all Australians.

“Increasing men's awareness of health issues is fundamental to improving Aboriginal men’s health,” Babana chairman Mark Spinks said. "However, it is also important for Aboriginal men to have a say about the way in which health messages are delivered."

The testimonies of the men present varied from person to person, with men from all age groups and walks of life participating in the discussions.

Despite this, sentiments of being “left out” and “not being taken seriously” were concurrent with most of the men present as services and solutions to Aboriginal men’s health issues continue to be developed by government “without sufficient input from consultation with aboriginal men”.

"Culturally appropriate men's groups, men's spaces and healing centres are an important part of the solution,” Mr Spinks told the group. “Aboriginal communities need to be supported and the men in those communities need to be empowered and given opportunities to develop their own practical solutions to the issues affecting them, their families and their community.”

Speakers (including league players David Peachey and Albert Torrens …) addressed important health risks and spoke at length about the need for men to have primary health screening checks including blood pressure and blood sugar tests on a regular basis. Stalls also provided information on a range of health issues including: dietrary health, general health and wellbeing, prostate and other cancers, drug and alcohol use, sexual health, relaxation and meditation.

Photo: Jack Carnegie - Three generations of Aboriginal men on the way to the Men’s Health and Wellbeing Expo

Announcing the decision today, Planning Minister Kristina Keneally said it was an important day for the local Redfern community, which has long been wracked by drugs, unemployment and poverty.

"It's a step forward to creating a modern and a vibrant and a sustainable community," she said.

The plan, named the Pemulwuy Project after a renowned Aboriginal warrior, includes a gym, an elders' cultural centre, 500 metres of public open space and 62 new apartments that Aboriginal people will be able to buy.

Aboriginal Housing Company chief executive Mick Mundine says the approval is a step towards reconciliation for Redfern's Aboriginal community.

"Man, she's been a hard road," he said.

"A lot of people said we couldn't do it. You've got to have faith, be humble and stick to your principles.

"Our people have struggled and suffered so long in this community. It's a brand new day."

Construction is still some way off; the Aboriginal Housing Company has to submit detailed project plans and get financial backing.

Mr Mundine says he is confident of securing funding.

"People say, 'Where's the money coming from?' Hey, I don't know yet," he said. "But just have a bit of faith in life and the money will flow in."

But Opposition planning spokesman Brad Hazzard says it is a tough time to be seeking finance and the project should receive government assistance.

"Redfern and The Block mean a lot to Aboriginal people all across Australia," he said.

"They have fought this Government for 10 years to get a development approval. It is time that this Government came to the party in terms of supporting with funding."

The state and federal governments are refusing to say whether they will chip in.

Local community leader Shane Phillips says the decision is an opportunity for residents to take ownership of the area.

"The Block is the epitome for some time of what went wrong," he said. "We're going to turn that around. We're going to show people how we can solve it."

The area has made huge steps in cutting crime in recent days but long-time Block resident Margaret Blair has her doubts the project will go ahead.

"I've been here since I was a child and look at it," she said. "There's no change and there'll never be a change."

The State Government says the project will create 200 construction jobs, as well as 100 full-time positions once the redevelopment is complete.

Source: www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/02/2615114.htm?section=australia