Draft Waterloo South People and Place Plan | For feedback until 31 May 2024
Forgot your password?
24 February 2005
Follow the links to go direct to the story of interest
Government Responds to Inquiry into Redfern Waterloo Inquiry
Community Health Centre at 120 Lawson Street
RWPP Human Services Implementation Group
Clover Moore Declines Place on RWA Board
REDWatch Meeting Sunday February 27th at 2pm
Impending Redfern Local Court Closure
Proposal for a Redfern-Waterloo Indigenous Justice Campaign
Government Responds to Inquiry into Redfern Waterloo Inquiry
The Government has tabled its response to the Interim and Final Reports of the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues “Inquiry into issues relating to Redfern and Waterloo”. The 12 page response was tabled by The Hon John Della Bosca on 22rd February. The Government reiterates announcements it has made during the Inquiry in its response, including the announcement “Enhanced Policing in Redfern 2004” and the decisions regarding the RWA, the RWPP and the reform of human services arising from the Human Services Review. The Response confirms that the RWPP will be incorporated into the RWA at the end of June 2005. It also updates information on Governments activities in a number of areas as well as provides commitments to improved communications with the community. The Government response can be downloaded from the Parliamentary Web site at the following link 22/02/2005, Government Response .
Community Health Centre at 120 Lawson Street
The Government response to the Legislative Council Inquiry has confirmed that the new Community Health Centre will be at 120 Lawson Street Redfern. The response states that the centre will have no entrance in Caroline Lane and that the service will provide a “continuum of services for the whole community, both indigenous and non-indigenous”. After listing the range of services that will be provided by the Health Service the response states that “the RWPP will facilitate community consultation on the services to be provided by the community health facility in April 2005”! The creation of the community health facility will be complimented by a community based education campaign on the rationale for harm minimization. Further details can be found on page 11 & 12 of the 22/02/2005, Government Response
RWPP Human Services Implementation Group
There is still nothing official from the RWPP maybe because all names are still not firmed up. We have heard from a couple of appointees and understand that the first meeting is scheduled for March 3rd and that on the non-government side there will be six representatives (3 from the human service agencies and 3 from residents / service users). The three agency representatives are Garry Moore from NCOSS (who will co-chair), Helen Campbell from the Redfern Legal Service and an Aboriginal representative from the Organisation of Aboriginal Unity. Resident / service user representatives are Lynette Stewart from public housing in Waterloo and Shirley Lomas from the Aboriginal community. It is understood that the co-chairs are looking to find a suitable representative from the Russian Community for the committee but that initially Mabel Chung who has been on the RWPP Community Council may occupy the third position. The Government half of the committee will cover the three tiers of government but the membership is not yet known.
The Government response to the Legislative Inquiry advises that a “CEO’s Steering Committee of NSW Government agencies will also be set up to: identify and implement a new way of funding organisations, including a virtual pool of funds for human services delivery; to develop common monitoring and reporting for government and non-government organisations, and; to develop a process for funding prioritization. In undertaking its work, the Steering committee will act on the findings of the Grants Administration Review and work with Commonwealth and Local Governments to “pool” funding where appropriate”.
Clover Moore Declines Place on RWA Board
In case you missed the newspaper story earlier this week in the SMH Council wary of Redfern revamp Clover Moore took her invitation to join the RWA Board back to City of Sydney Council. One of her major concerns was that she would be unable to criticize the RWA without running the risk of substantial fines under the RWA Act. The mayoral minute prepared by Clover Moore can be viewed on the web at http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/pdf/council/cosc_cm_mc2_council_210205_item3a.pdf as can her Media Statement issued following the Council meting.
Council resolved to recommend to Government the establishment of Joint Working Group between Council and the Redfern-Waterloo Authority to share information and co-ordinate responsibly. With the decision by the Government to roll the RWPP into the RWA, any pretence of the RWPP being a partnership involving the City of Sydney Council will finally be laid to rest. The Councils involvement in delivering services into Redfern Waterloo and in managing that part of the area that will not come under Minister Sartor requires mechanisms such as the proposed working group to ensure close dialogue and co-ordination of Council and RWA activities. Such arrangements are in the interest of residents and would have been necessary irrespective of Clover Moore’s decision regarding the RWA Board. It will probably further benefit the community if Minister Sartor and Mayor Moore can work out a mechanism for dialogue with each other which is separate from what might happen at an officer level between the council and the RWA.
REDWatch Meeting Sunday February 27th at 2pm
REDWatch has its regular meeting on Sunday February 27th at 2pm at the Redfern Community Centre. The first part of the meeting will be an update on what is happening with the RWA and Redfern Waterloo with RWA CEO Robert Domm. The second part of the meeting will look at how REDWatch monitors and responds to the issues raised by the RWA.
Impending Redfern Local Court Closure
The latest information is that the Local Court will definitely be closing, at the latest when the Police move into the new station in the TNT building, now apparently to be in May this year. This is extremely disappointing for local residents, many of whom welcome the familiar and small scale court house as someplace they can get things done. The Downing Centre and Central Local Court on the other hand means a trip into the city and coping with larger and less personal court houses. It is feared, for many people, this will means that justice is even less accessible than it is already.
It seems an extraordinary decision, coming upon the pronouncements about the aim of the Redfern Waterloo Authority to build a vibrant town hub in for an increasing population and while there are discussions about having focal points for human services. An opportunity to assist in achieving both aspects is being missed. The existing Courthouse is not without some issues but, if there was a will, there is most likely a way they could be addressed. Alternatively, the Government could make a commitment to building or renovating an appropriate new Courthouse.
There is still some negotiation going on about keeping at least the Registry aspect of the Court open in Redfern. This has been done in other areas such as Mt Druitt and we now understand a new court is being built. Please campaign to support the continuation of services for the residents of this area.
If you would like further information about this issue contact Elizabeth Morley Principal Solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre 73 Pitt St Redfern Ph: 02 9698 7277 email elizabeth@rlc.org.au .
Prince Alfred Park is an important recreation facility, especially for the large number of Department of Housing tenants in Surry Hills and Redfern. For years, it has been in limbo as it was located in the City of Sydney but most users were from the South Sydney area. This has meant that upgrading this important park was not a priority for the City of Sydney under earlier administrations. Prince Alfred Park has also figured in discussions about the lack of open space in Chippendale as it is the closest park to the east but difficult to access which could be solved by a footbridge across the railway lines. In January Sydney Morning Herald ran an opinion article Redfern would bloom, if only you could find a park suggesting the railway corridor to Central could be covered over to create a new large public space paid for by the sale of the existing park. Following the council amalgamation it is now possible to address the years of neglect of this important park and bring together some ideas the community can agree upon.
There was a consultation meeting about Prince Alfred Park on 22nd February which we neglected to mention in our last email. There will be a further meeting from 6.30 to 8.30pm 8 March 2005 at Redfern Town Hall, Pitt Street to discuss the preliminary Master Plan proposals for the park. Following these workshops, the City proposes to place the Draft Plan of Management and Concept Master Plan on public exhibition. For further information, contact Laurie Johnson, City of Sydney, on phone 9265 9333, fax 9265 9660, or email ljohnson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au .
Just a reminder that the Freedom Ride 2005 returns to the block on Saturday for a welcome back function at the Redfern Community Centre from 2pm-5.30pm where they will report back on their visit to 13 communities. For more information on ReconciliACTION and the Freedom Ride 2005 visit http://www.reconciliaction.org.au/ .
Proposal for a Redfern-Waterloo Indigenous Justice Campaign
Arising from the Public Meeting and the Rally organized by the Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA) and the Socialist Alliance an open organising committee meeting has been called for 7:00pm Friday 25th February at "The Settlement" community centre, 17 Edward St, Darlington to plan an ongoing campaign around the call to reopen the Inquest and other Aboriginal and Redfern Waterloo Issues. A yahoo group has been set up to circulate news articles and other information at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Redfern-Waterloo/ where you can see past postings and get details on how to subscribe to the group.
The BBC has been running an email discussion between Warren Mundine Senior Vice-President of the ALP and Rob Welsh is chairman of the Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council. The Metro land Council have sent us the link for those interested in seeing the interchange http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4270669.stm
Community grants from the City of Sydney close April 1st for information see http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/catz_community_grants.asp . There are also Road Safety grants available from the NRMA which may suit some community groups with traffic solutions http://www.mynrma.com.au/safety_grants.asp
Redfern Community Centre celebrates its first birthday in March with a special exhibition about its first year and a number of special activities. For more information contact the centre on 9288 5173 or drop in and pick up a copy of their brochure for March.
TfNSW proposal to reverse Little Eveleigh Street - until Sept 10th 2023
