On 4 June the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Railcorp is considering resuming and demolishing a block of historic houses in North Newtown to make way for a controversial new CityRail ''relief line''. We have confirmed that this is a real and imminent threat involving all of Leamington Ave and several properties at the bottom of Pine and Holdsworth Streets. Up to 34 families face the heartache of losing their homes and the amenity of the adjoining streets would be destroyed. Leamington Ave, along with Pine, Randle and Holdsworth Streets, forms part of the historic Pines Estate Heritage Conservation Area.
Transport NSW will decide on its 'preferred rail alignment' in the coming months. We have a narrow window of opportunity to defeat this proposal.
Please join us for a meeting with:
REDWatch has previously had a presentation about Jim's work in Seatlle and how it might apply to Redfern Waterloo from Councillor Marcelle Hoff as a result of earlier work done by Jim with the City of Sydney. Jim has also previously spoken at a CoS session for Community Groups in the City of Sydney and there was considerable support for trying some of the initiative he used in Seatlle.
]]>Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority - This organisation was announced in February 2010 by Premier Keneally Keneally Creates Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority as a part of the implementation of the Metropolitan Strategy and the Metropolitan Transport Plan. As part of a consultation discussion paper the community was asked about the nature of the proposed Authority. On 23 September The Minister for Planning announced the establishment of the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority and part of the announcement was RWA assumed by new Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority. Subsequently there has been an RWA Statement on Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority in which the The CEO of the RWA advised that the work of the RWA will continue as per the current plans and that the Australian Technology Park will remain part of the RWA and will ultimately be transferred to the SMDA.
Help promote the meeting by putting up the this flyer - REDWatch flyer October 2010 - RICHSS & RWA
]]>We have also asked that in addition to the update that we start to get into some of the issues. As the Shelter Conference speakers identified some of the problems that have resulted from mixed housing regeneration in other places we thought this would be a good place to start. We have asked HNSW start off looking at the issues that have been identified elsewhere that will need to be addressed in Redfern Waterloo if such shortcomings are not to be repeated here. This will hopefully focus people on some of the challenges that will need to be addressed. David Lilley is collecting the research evidence relating to the project and is following the debates about social mix within HNSW.
Ross Smith has pulled together some extracts from the Shelter Conference and some other material including some of his Rimfire Review contributions and we have add these to a new section on the REDWatch website called Social Mix - Will it solve the problems? at www.redwatch.org.au/issues/public-housing/redevelopment/mix. If you have other suggestions as to material that should be added then please let me know. Please have try and have a quick look at some of the material prior to the REDWatch meeting so you are aware of some of the issues to be discussed.
We have also had a bit of a reorganisation of the public housing section of the REDWatch site and there is now a tab on the top of the REDWatch website that leads to at www.redwatch.org.au/issues/public-housing. It is not our intention to cover everything to do with public housing but we do want to focus on Redfern & Waterloo and the issues that need to be addressed in our area. If you want all things public housing I suggest you add yourself to Garry Mallards Tenant Support Network email list and watch your email box fill up. Garry can be contacted at TSN@thenexus.org.au.
Given the interest of the RWA in the public housing issue through BEP2 RWA CEO Roy Wakelin-King may also be in attendance. He is also happy to answer any questions about the Redfern Waterloo Branding Project being undertaken by Roll Up Redfern. The REDWatch Co-ord Group have requested a community statement be issued that explains what the Branding is about.
I hope to see you at the meeting at The Factory Community Centre 67 Raglan Street Waterloo at 6pm Thursday 5 August 2010.
Regards,
Geoffrey Turnbull
Spokesperson
REDWatch
]]>Neighbourhood Repairs Workers will be local social housing residents with an interest in undertaking a traineeship, gaining a trade qualification or using their existing qualification while receiving paid work. TAFE NSW will provide educational support and accredited training courses.
The project will operate from premises in Waterloo and will undertake routine maintenance work to public housing properties in the Inner City of Sydney.
Representatives from Housing NSW, Fair Business and Spotless will provide an overview of the service, discuss its success in Greater Western Sydney Division and advise you how to assist social housing residents who are interested in becoming a Neighbourhood Repairs worker.
We look forward to meeting with you to discuss the
project and recruitment processes.
Please
contact Alison Little on 9266 3914 to confirm your attendance or with any
queries you may have.
Sarah Elliott l Principal
Policy Analyst
Project Manager, Waterloo Green Neighbourhood
Project
Central Sydney Housing Services Division
Housing
NSW
(Office 02 9268 3461 Mobile 0412 270
375 Facsimile 02
9268 3580
* Email: sarah.elliott@housing.nsw.gov.au
The day includes presentations from two community renewal experts, one international and one local.
Jim Diers (Neighbour Power: building community the Seattle way - http://home.comcast.net/~jimdiers/index.html) is an expert on community working with Government to achieve renewal. His work in Seattle (USA) over many years is now being replicated across many cities in the world. Jim will bring his toolbox of techniques and inspiration to Redfern and Waterloo for this one off special event.
Jim’s presentation is sponsored by Housing NSW and the Redfern Waterloo Authority with the support of Redwatch.
Bruce Judd (UNSW) Following lunch, a well known Sydney urban planner, Bruce Judd will present Urban Design and Masterplanning 101. He has worked with Housing NSW on several of its major renewal projects – Bonnyrigg, Minto and Airds – and has a long history of working with the Redfern and Waterloo communities on renewal and community development.
Future Community Renewal Research: You will also be presented with an overview of contemporary community renewal research, including research being conducted by Housing NSW. This will be followed by a discussion in which you will be asked to help shape a research program for Redfern and Waterloo.
The discussions of contemporary and future community renewal research will be facilitated by Bernie Coates and David Lilley of the Strategic Projects Division, Housing NSW.
9:15 am – 3:30 pm Geddes Room, Salvation Army Sydney Congress Hall, 140 Elizabeth Street, Sydney Lunch provided.
DOWNLOAD POSTER FROM - HNSW Communities Renewal Forum with Jim Diers - Poster
Other Housing NSW special events about community and urban renewal for residents and local organisations in Redfern and Waterloo in June include:
Please support your Chamber, by joining us
Date: Wednesday 26th May 2010
Location: Woolpack Hotel, 229 Chalmers Street, Redfern.
Time: 5.30 pm to 7.30pm
Cost: Free for members, $60.00 for non-members
(includes membership to June 2011) Food provided Cash bar
RSVP: cob Friday 21st May (essential for catering purposes)
]]>REDWatch held two public forums in April. The first was on Public Transport at which RailCorp talked about Redfern Station and South Sydney Community Transport addressed a range of community transport issues. The other meeting was with the VC of Sydney University and the Darlington Community about improving the neighbour relationship. I also participated in a meeting organised by Sydney Uni with the Lord Mayor about North Eveleigh. The University has now set up a local community page on its website at www.usyd.edu.au/visitors_community/local/index.shtml and has gone away to work on some of the issues raised. The latest South Sydney Herald has an article about the meeting, an add from the University and some comments from the RWA about North Eveleigh. You can download the latest SSH (4MB PDF) from www.southsydneyherald.com.au/pdf/SSH_MAY10.pdf . We need to evaluate these events and decide on any follow up events.
One of REDWatch’s ongoing concerns has been what is happening regarding Human Services. While the RWA denies there have been any shortcomings, it is encouraging that they have re-appointed a Director for Human Services. Melissa Gibson has been moving around talking to services and now the Inner Sydney Regional Council and the RWA are holding a forum for NGO’s and residents with the RWA on Thursday, 20th May at 3.30pm at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence. Please spread the word about this meeting (flyer attached) and try and get along for a discussion about Human Services. Please note that the timing is designed to encourage involvement by services and we realise that this time will not suit many residents. Residents can however come along to the report back by the RWA CEO at the REDWatch Meeting on 3 June and ask their questions.
]]>The Forum is aimed at bringing all NGOs and interested residents located in the Redfern/Waterloo area together to hear what is happening in our area, what is planned for the area and, most importantly, to provide input and ideas for future planning and to discuss and try to resolve any problems or concerns that may be raised.
This is an opportunity to meet with the Chief Executive Officer and the staff of the RWA and to share your knowledge and ideas for our area.
Refreshments will be served.
For catering purposes please let us know if you are able to attend
Contact: Mahlia Phone: 9698 7690 Email: admin@innersydneyrcsd.org.au
3:30 Welcome – MC – Pam Marsh Executive officer Inner Sydney Regional Council
3:40 Welcome to Country/Acknowledgements
3.45 Roy Wakelin- King CEO RWA
4:10 Questions from forum members
5:00 Break – tea coffee muffins
5:15 Agency Presentations:
5: 35 Questions
6 :00 Close
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