12 May 2005

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RWA Signs Agreement with the CFMEU to Help Create Local Indigenous Jobs

Clover calls for DA on Lawson Street to be withdrawn and for Department of Health to hold Consultation into the most appropriate location

Minto Visit to Redfern Waterloo Public Housing The Factory Thursday 19^th May 2005 11.30am - 1.30pm

Remembering Minto - More than bricks and mortar Parliament House Theatrette 12.30pm – 2pm Tuesday 24 May 2005

Clover Moore Letter to Morris Iemma

RWA Signs Agreement with the CFMEU to Help Create Local Indigenous Jobs

The RWA has today announced an agreement with the CFMEU for all construction on state-owned land in Redfern Waterloo to include provisions aimed at increasing on-site training opportunities for local residence see the ABC story Govt initiative to create Indigenous jobs. We understand from the CFMEU that Minister Sartor has issued a media release on which the ABC news story is based and when we get a copy we will send it out.

We have been earlier advised by Minister Sartor’s office that we are not eligible to receive media releases because we are not part of the main stream media! Naively we thought the idea of media statements was to get the details of Ministerial announcements out to the community rather than for the community to just to hear those stories that ran in the statewide media. When the RWA gets its web site set up we hope that media statements and other announcements will be available for all to see as they are from the bulk of other Ministers.

Clover calls for DA on Lawson Street to be withdrawn and for Department of Health to hold Consultation into the most appropriate location

Clover Moore has written to Minister for Health Morris Iemma saying “I ask that you withdraw the current development application pending full detailed public consultation into the most appropriate location for this facility” She has also requested a meeting with Minister Iemma to discuss the matter. The copy of Ms Moore’s letter is at the foot of this email.

In other developments a website at www.redalert.net.au has been set up to publicise the campaign to stop the Lawson Street Medical Centre / Needle exchange. The Australian newspaper carried an editorial on Thursday in support of moves to stop the centre titled “Selling out the people of Redfern” http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,15256835%255E7583,00.html.

We understand that Minister’s Sartor’s office is claiming that as the announcement of the Lawson Street Health Centre predates the establishment of the RWA that the matter is the responsibility of the Department of Health. This would seem to fly in the face of the Governments subsequent announcement that Minister Sartor would “be the single spokesperson for the NSW Government on all matters and issues relating to Redfern and Waterloo. He will also have final approval in relation to all NSW Government funding that is allocated within Redfern and Waterloo under the ten-year Plan”. Such a view also does not mesh with the construction of the Redfern Waterloo Human Services Plan including for Health which is supposed to deliver an integrated plan for government and non-government health services in the area which should include the funding allocated for the new services where ever they end up.

Minto Visit to Redfern Waterloo Public Housing The Factory Thursday 19^th May 2005 11.30am - 1.30pm

A reminder that some Minto public tenants and people associated with the 'More than Bricks and Mortar' Conference report on Minto will also visit Redfern to meet with REDWatch and Redfern-Waterloo public Housing tenants on Thursday 19^th May 2005. After a tour around the area the Minto people will meet with people from Redfern and Waterloo from 11.30-1.30 and exchange information about their experience with the redevelopment of public housing in the hope this might be of use to Redfern Waterloo tenants and help to build links between the two communities. For more information contact Mark Podolski mpodolski@iprimus.com.au or Chris Bath hcap@iinet.net.au.

Remembering Minto - More than bricks and mortar Parliament House Theatrette 12.30pm – 2pm Tuesday 24 May 2005

This function will clash with the delivery of the NSW State budget but we have checked and it will definitely be going ahead at this time. This is another chance to hear directly from residents of the Minto public housing estate about their experiences of urban renewal in Sydney’s West. Much is in the news about public housing and social impacts.  Here is an opportunity to hear directly, from those most affected, about the social impacts of re-developing public housing estates.  Hear experiences of community renewal in Minto, South Western Sydney. Local residents will give voice to their own stories and research. Speakers first presented at the 'More than Bricks and Mortar' Conference in March 2004 and were featured in the 'Australian', commercial and ABC TV and radio.  The conference was attended by 300 community members, NGOs and decision makers. The Forum is at Parliament House Theatrette Macquarie St, Sydney 12.30pm - 2pm Tuesday 24 May 2005 RSVP 9230 3030. The forum is hosted by Sylvia Hale, Greens MLC, John Ryan, Liberal MLC and Graham West, Labor MP.

Also available is the research report "Leaving Minto: A Study of the Social and Economic Impacts of Public Housing Estate Redevelopment."   Commissioned by the Resident Action Group Minto, and undertaken by Dr Judy Stubbs, Social Justice Research Centre, UWS - the report looks at the social and economic impacts on residents in estates being redeveloped. It is essential reading for policy makers, academics and community workers alike the report reminds us that redevelopment of estates must start with placing resident’s views at the Centre of policy considerations.

Clover Moore Letter to Morris Iemma

12 May 2005

The Hon. Morris Iemma MP

Minister for Health

Level 30 Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
SYDNEY NSW 2000

Dear Minister

Proposed Redfern Community Health Facility

120-122 Lawson Street, Redfern

I am writing to seek an urgent meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss the proposed Redfern Community Health Facility at 120-122 Lawson Street, Redfern.

I am concerned that the proposal has been submitted to the City of Sydney without promised public consultation.  Both my Bligh Electoral Office and the Office of the Lord Mayor have received numerous letters of objection to the proposal due to apprehension over the locality of the proposal, and the lack of information that has been made available to the public.

I ask that you withdraw the current development application pending full detailed public consultation into the most appropriate location for this facility. 

I look forward to meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss these issues.

Yours sincerely

Clover Moore MP

Lord Mayor of Sydney