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3 April 2007

Election Wash Up for Redfern Waterloo / Congratulations Catherine Burn – NSW Woman of the Year / ILC Responds to Open Day at Former Redfern School / Exodus Tutorial Centre Redfern underway / Redfern Community Health Centre – Initial Plans / RWA at Large / Heritage Rail Operators trying to avoid Eveleigh upset Chippendale / Chippendale Resident takes CUB Site approval to Court / Redfern Street Public Art needs creative input – 4th & 5th March 6pm / Redfern Street Public Art needs RWA DA Approval – Exhibition until April 20th 2007 / Redfern Station Options not to go to Community / Update on Black Theatre Site / Council Provides Owner’s consent for Pemulwuy Project Application / DoH Policy on Relocating Tenants for Management Purposes / Update on Community Safety Plan – Wednesday 4th April 6pm / RWA Contributions Plans Exhibition – until 5 April 2007 / Connect Redfern Term Two Information by 11th April 2007 / ANTaR Campaign to Stop Child Abuse / Black Fellas Dreaming Museum looking for Support / Marton Gardens / Waterloo Green mosaic plans on display / Aborigines in Redfern – My Concrete Country / Rock the Block Continues on 5th May 2007 / Yaama Dhinawan Hospitality Training Now Enrolling / Get Redfern Waterloo Update Information Earlier / News Round Up / South Sydney Herald – March 2007

In This Update

Election Wash Up for Redfern Waterloo

Congratulations Catherine Burn – NSW Woman of the Year

ILC Responds to Open Day at Former Redfern School

Exodus Tutorial Centre Redfern underway

Redfern Community Health Centre – Initial Plans

RWA at Large

Heritage Rail Operators trying to avoid Eveleigh upset Chippendale

Chippendale Resident takes CUB Site approval to Court

Redfern Street Public Art needs creative input – 4th & 5th April 6pm

Redfern Street Public Art needs RWA DA Approval – Exhibition until April 20th 2007

Redfern Station Options not to go to Community

Update on Black Theatre Site

Council Provides Owner’s consent for Pemulwuy Project Application

DoH Policy on Relocating Tenants for Management Purposes

Update on Community Safety Plan – Wednesday 4th April 6pm

RWA Contributions Plans Exhibition – until 5 April 2007

Connect Redfern Term Two Information by 11th April 2007

ANTaR Campaign to Stop Child Abuse

Black Fellas Dreaming Museum looking for Support

Marton Gardens / Waterloo Green mosaic plans on display

Aborigines in Redfern – My Concrete Country

Rock the Block Continues on 5th May 2007

Yaama Dhinawan Hospitality Training Now Enrolling

Get Redfern Waterloo Update Information Earlier

News Round Up

South Sydney Herald – March 2007

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

Coming Events (entered on the REDWatch website)

 

Election Wash Up for Redfern Waterloo

Frank Sartor has retained both his Planning and Redfern Waterloo Ministries and has also been given the Arts portfolio. As a result the new CarriageWorks theatre at North Eveleigh now comes under his ministerial umbrellas in Redfern Waterloo. According to ABC News “the Property Council says leaving Frank Sartor in the job of Planning Minister will help with long-term strategy.”

In the lead up to the election REDWatch prepared An Agenda for Redfern Waterloo Changes in 2007 - State Election Issues and some associated Questions for Candidates for March 24th 2007 NSW Election. Responses were made to the questions by the Greens, The Socialist Alliance, The Socialist Equality Party, the Climate Change Coalition and the ALP. These same parties along with the Democrats were involved in the candidate’s forums and their involvement was greatly appreciated. It says a lot about the State Liberal Party’s lack of interest in Redfern Waterloo that neither of their candidates attended the candidate’s forum or responded to the REDWatch questions.

As the ALP established the RWA and had the two candidates likely to be returned in the new government their responses to the REDWatch questions were keenly awaited. The ALP response to the questions did not arrive until March 20th, just four days before the polls and after the two REDWatch candidate’s forums where people could have questioned them about their responses. The joint response from Kristina Keneally and Carmel Tebbutt, which can be seen at ALP Response to REDWatch questionnaire, failed to answer the REDWatch questions and instead provided a compendium of RWA statements to reiterate what a great job the government and RWA has been doing for the area. We especially liked the reference in the ALP document to “quarterly community forums” as a current RWA activity, when one of the REDwatch questions asked why no forums have been held!

With the ALP candidates ignoring the REDWatch questions and the Premier deciding to reappoint Mr Sartor as the Minister for Redfern Waterloo, it looks like the Iemma government plans to continue to try to fast track development in Redfern Waterloo disregarding  community concerns about the lack of participation of local people in the process.

Human Services funding for the RWA is nearing its end. With Phase One of the RWA Human Services Plan in place the Premier’s “promise to the people of NSW to deliver real improvements in the services” may be one of the few bright spots for Redfern Waterloo, provided the creation of a number of specialist human services ministers does not lead to a discontinuity in the provision of services rather than better integration which is needed.

We congratulate all the new Ministers, especially Kristina Keneally, Linda Burney and Verity Firth who have all had involvement in Redfern Waterloo in some way over the years. Given their new ministerial responsibilities we hope to see that experience produce better outcomes for the people of Redfern Waterloo as well as the broader state in the new parliamentary term. The full list of ministers as announced can be seen on the REDWatch site at Iemma names ten new faces for cabinet .

Congratulations Catherine Burn – NSW Woman of the Year

Assistant Police Commissioner Catherine Burn who was the Redfern Local Area Commander until December 2006 has been named the NSW Woman of the Year. Catherine was nominated by The Minister for Police, Michael Mundine from the Aboriginal Housing Company and Heffron MP Kristina Keneally. We congratulate Catherine on her much deserved award for her work in Redfern. You can read a couple of the media stories about the award in the ABC’s Police officer named NSW Woman of the Year and the SMH’s Policewoman named NSW Woman of the Year.

ILC Responds to Open Day at Former Redfern School

Following the Indigenous Land Corporation’s open day at the old school site the ILC has issued a written response to many of the issues raised on the day. This can be found on the REDWatch website at ILC - National Indigenous Development Centre - Open House Q & A's. The questions asked by locals included: removal of trees; parking and traffic flows; security; the design and potential noise from Murrawina, PCYC and other activities. Issues of community involvement, access to open space and employment are addressed as well as questions about how the NIDC will operate, be owned and managed. A range of other issues were also raised and responded to in the ILC response. The ILC through its consultants Twyford Consulting would welcome any feed back or further questions. They can be contacted by email at Twyford@twyford.com.au; Phone 1800 11 00 55; or post at PO Box 6004 Wollongong NSW 2500.

Exodus Tutorial Centre Redfern underway

On March 11th 2007, in the presence of Federal Minister Brendan Nelson and Minister for Redfern Waterloo Frank Sartor, the Exodus Tutorial Centre Redfern was launched. The Rev. Bill Crews has made arrangements with the South Sydney Uniting Church Parish to use one of their properties near Alexandria Park Community School to operate the tutorial centre until the ILC has completed work on the former Redfern School site. Initial financial support has been provided by the state and federal governments and sponsorship is being sought to fund the ongoing programme. The intensive tutorial programme will draw Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children that are falling behind in literacy from the local schools on the basis of need. Miranda Devine from the Sun Herald visited the centre in the week before the opening and wrote the article Sick of burying kids, Crews learns how best to save them. Other material handed out at the opening can be found on the REDWatch website at Exodus Tutorial Centre Redfern .

Redfern Community Health Centre – Initial Plans

The Health Administration Corporation for the Department of Health has made their Major Project application (MP 07_0011) for the Redfern Community Health Centre at the old court and police station. In the process of the application for Director General’s Requirements the Health Administration Corporation have provided information about what is proposed. These documents are now available on the Department of Planning website: Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PDF 168KB); Heritage Redfern Courthouse Revision (PDF 2,329KB); Redfern Final Drawings (PDF 350KB); Traffic Report (PDF 989KB); DGRs (PDF 1,030 KB) and Major Project Application (PDF 1,265KB). Any inquiries about the major project application should be addressed to Sri Soerono (02) 9228 6585 at the Department of Planning.

The Redfern Health Centre is being paid for by the sale and development of the old Rachel Forster hospital. An application has been lodged with the Department of Planning for the Rachel Forster site but so far the concept plan has not appeared on the Department of Planning’s Major Project Register.

REDWatch has included links to all Major Projects on the Department of Planning’s website within each of the Redfern Waterloo State Significant site sections at http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/statesignificant/ . Any new information concerning each of the sites will be posted there and will also show up in the Recent Changes section of the website.

RWA at Large

On 29th March 2007 RWA CEO Robert Domm and his senior planning and project staff went for a walk through the Large Erecting Shop (LES) at Eveleigh. Regrettably 3801 Ltd had not been advised of the visit and no discussions took place between the current occupants of the LES and the RWA senior staff undertaking the inspection. The identities of the visitors only became known after the event when the names were noticed in the visitor’s book.

The visit follows clarification from RailCorp that the cost to make repairs to the LES to ensure its adequacy was likely to be in the $3-5million range rather than an earlier indicated $12million. This compares with figure in the independent report commissioned by 3801 Ltd of $2.9million over 5 years to deal with the work required on the LES.

In an email on 8th March Robert Domm said “the RWA has not undertaken any detailed work on the LES and the only verbal advice received has been from RailCorp … Our position is simply that a commercial solution will need to be found if the building is to be adaptively re-used or restored.”

There are a number of people who are keen to see an active heritage / tourism outcome at the LES. A renovation cost that is less than the cost of the pedestrian bridge to link the North and South Eveleigh seems a small cost to preserve such a historic building. The challenge will be to see if a heritage solution can be developed that will satisfy the RWA.

Heritage Rail Operators trying to avoid Eveleigh upset Chippendale

One of the operational problems for RTM in running steam trips out of Sydney with 3801 is how to have the engine ready to go in the morning when it has to travel from Thirlmere when RailCorp and RTM are trying to avoid using Eveleigh. Currently 3801 is coming down the afternoon before the trip and is being kept over-night at Mortuary Station. This is now creating problems for those who live in units around the old Mortuary Station. We received an email recently advising that Chippendale residents are unhappy with overnight parking of Steam Trains at Mortuary Station. The Friends of Eveleigh have come out in support of Chippendale residents saying that the Eveleigh Railway Complex must be used to Overnight Heritage Trains. We hear that consideration is being given to turn the Mortuary Station into a regular holding area and that water and de-ashing is being considered for the site. Chippendale residents are not amused.

Maitland residents are also not amused that their annual Steamfest might be in jeopardy as a result of the change in ownership of locomotive 3801. In the lead up to the state election the government bailed out the Steamfest for this year but the future is uncertain. The Friends of Eveleigh responded to a local media story about the problem with their media release Maitland Steamfest Victim of 3801 Change of Operator?.

Chippendale Resident takes CUB Site approval to Court

Recently legal action was taken by a local resident challenging the Minister’s decision on the CUB site. This is being done to get a more acceptable environmental outcome and given the Anvill Hill precedent legal opinion is that there is a better than 50% chance of success. In a recent article Courts the new battleground in war against nature Elizabeth Farrelly makes reference to the challenge.

The issue is being taken up by the Friends of the Carlton United Site (FoCUS) which is a single issue community group, formed specifically to get a better outcome both socially and environmentally for the CUB site. A committee is being formed to concentrate on the legal challenge.  Their role will be to keep the broader community informed and involved, to arrange community meetings and communicate to the media as well as organise activities to assist in funding the legal challenge. FoCUS recognises not everyone has the time or resources to actively support this campaign, but they are looking for broad community support at community meetings and fund raisers which are essential to the eventual success of the legal challenge. If you are able to support this campaign, in any capacity please contact focus@pacific.net.au.

Redfern Street Public Art needs creative input – 4th & 5th April 6pm

The City of Sydney is holding two workshops to obtain community input into the “Regent Bower” Sculpture proposed for the Jack Floyd Reserve as part of the Redfern St upgrade. The Milne and Stonehouse’s sculpture is inspired by the bower bird which borrows blue objects such as pegs and bottle tops to attract females during his courtship dance. The sculpture will borrow its treasures from the experiences and stories of the Redfern community. The Redfern community is invited to come to workshops with their favourite objects. These objects will be photographed and the corresponding story recorded. Those objects that best lend themselves to the purpose will be represented by a custom shaped glass tile and set in the Redfern St footpath. The workshops will be held at the Redfern Community Centre, 29-53 Hugo Street, Redfern, on 4th & 5th April at 6 - 8pm. More information is available on the CoS website at Redfern Public Sculpture Workshop.

Redfern Street Public Art needs RWA DA Approval – Exhibition until April 20th 2007

The City of Sydney has discovered that part of the Jack Floyd Reserve, where the “Regent Bower” Sculpture is proposed, is actually within the area under RWA control. As a result the City has had to lodge a DA with the RWA and this is currently on exhibition until 20th April 2007. The proposal can be seen on the RWA site at RWA DAs on Exhibition.

Technically this means that some of the work already done on Jack Floyd Reserve was done without proper approval. This will not be the first DA anomaly under the RWA as we are told that the ILC put up fencing around the old Redfern School prior to the approval of their DA.

This may not be the only boundary anomaly in the RWA State Significant areas either. We have been told that, while many people thought the old Allena Centre in Lawson Street was within the RWA State Significant zoning, the maps show it is outside the RWA area. If this is so, the property which was purchased by the Department of Health for the Lawson Street Community Health Centre will not benefit from RWA rezoning when the Health Department resell the property.

Redfern Station Options not to go to Community

We understand that options for Redfern station are nearing completion and that these will not come to the community until they have been assessed by the relevant ministers and cabinet. Any suggestion when the Built Environment Plan was released that the options would come back to the community following the initial work is no longer on the table. The community is now likely to only see the final proposal when it goes on exhibition following cabinet approval.

Update on Black Theatre Site

One of the sites that the ILC is involved with is the old Black Theatre site. The following information has been supplied to a local resident by the ILC and we have been asked us to pass it on to the community. This updates some of what we ran on 25th October 2006 when the Black Theatre site proposal was on exhibition with City of Sydney. A photomontage of what is proposed can be seen at www.redwatch.org.au/links/070315bt/image_view_fullscreen

“The ILC are developing the historic Black Theatre Site located at 27-31 Cope Street Redfern. The property has been vacant for about 20 years. It had previously been used for a variety of purposes but most widely remembered as the first Aboriginal theatre in the Sydney area. The property was transferred to the ILC following the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission by Ministerial Declaration in March 2005. The ILC undertook community consultation on the proposed future use of the site in March 2006 and this resulted in the Project Architects, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, coming up with a design of a mixed commercial development that provided benefits to the local Aboriginal community. The new three storey building will provide for retail use on the ground floor, office accommodation on the second, and a purpose-built radio station and recording studios for Gadigal Information Services (local broadcaster Koori Radio) on the third.”

“The Development Application for the proposed building was submitted to City of Sydney Council in September 2006 and is expected to be approved by mid-March. The ILC is working closely with the Redfern-Waterloo Authority to ensure Aboriginal training and employment opportunities are created through the construction of the new building and have identified 7 positions in various trades for a development of this size. The ILC hopes to commence construction at the old Black Theatre Site by May 2007 and aims for a completion date of March 2008.”

Council Provides Owner’s consent for Pemulwuy Project Application

As the City of Sydney owns Pemulwuy Park and laneways covered by the AHC’s proposed Pemulwuy Project the City of Sydney Council has to provide owners consent before the AHC application can proceed to the next stage. The council officers have prepared a report for the Council’s Finance, Properties and Tenders Committee Monday 26 March. The AHC met on Monday April 2nd with Councillors and clarified a number of issues that were raised in the officer’s report. The amount of public space in the AHC proposal was clarified as were issues relating to FSRs and Heights and how these operate under Part 3A of the EPA Act. Council agreed to the officer’s recommendation on April 2 with an amendment which gave council greater flexibility in deciding the terms of any disposal of council land. The Council consent allows the AHC to submit their Concept Plans for the site and any decisions about disposal of council land, land swaps etc will be negotiated at a later stage of the process.

DoH Policy on Relocating Tenants for Management Purposes

Desperate Houso (DoH's Ungood New Policy: Relocating Tenants for Fun and Profit) has alerted us to a new Department of Housing Policy which appeared on the DoH website a week out from the election which is creating concern for some DoH tenants. The policy Relocating Tenants for Management Purposes - +EST0038A, seems to give the department increased ability to move DoH tenants at the department’s discretion. The policy also applies to Aboriginal Housing Office tenants living in properties managed by the Department of Housing. It is just as well that the NSW government has given Redfern and Waterloo tenants concrete assurances that their tenancies are secure.

Update on Community Safety Plan – Wednesday 4th April 6pm

The Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Program commenced in the area in 2002. Since then Council has chaired, co-ordinated and developed the Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Taskforce which has involved a number of residents, government and non-government  agencies, community organisations and local businesses working together to develop the Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan. The plan is the first of its kind for the area and has been implemented and monitored over the last three years (2003-2006) by the Safety Taskforce. The Taskforce was one of five committees established by the Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Project and remains the only such forum to have developed a plan for the area and is the only committee established from that time which continues to meet and implement its objectives. Although in its infancy, the Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Program has made significant progress over the last three years. Several innovative projects have been developed which have not only had some positive impact in terms of reducing crime, but have been beneficial in terms of building and strengthening the local community.

John Maynard who is the Council’s Community Safety Officer will talk about what the Community Safety Plan has achieved at the REDWatch meeting on Wednesday 4th April 2007 at 6pm at the Factory Community Centre.

RWA Contributions Plans Exhibition – until 5 April 2007

In the last update we advised that the RWA was re-exhibiting amended drafts of both the RWA Contributions Plan and the Affordable Housing Contributions Plan. Submissions close on 5 April 2007. The RWA has undertaken an analysis of how their proposed Plan compares with surrounding Plan however the figures have not yet been publicly released. The RWA say that their figures compare favourably with the old South Sydney Section 94 contributions and that, unlike the new City of Sydney proposed contributions, the RWA does not have to buy land for open space as they are making allowance for open space in their Built Environment Plan. Given the concerns about the RWA Contributions Plan being too low it would have been helpful if the RWA had released their working figures prior to the close of the re-exhibition. In short however the questions of adequacy of the contributions plans have already been dismissed by the Minister and the only changes being contemplated are those included in the plan on re-exhibition.

The RWA will now have to start work on putting together an Affordable Housing Programme outlining how the affordable housing contributions will be spent and hopefully also how it can be leveraged to provide the maximum affordable housing possible in the area. We noticed in the press an article Equity trade-off for bigger home loans about a new type of equity mortgage being launched which may provide some idea of how the affordable housing purchase options mentioned by the RWA might work.

Connect Redfern Term Two Information by 11th April 2007

Making Connections Term Two is being prepared so please send any Term 2 info, changes, and additions to current details to Jo Fletcher at connectredfern@yahoo.com.au no later than April 11th 2007.

ANTaR Campaign to Stop Child Abuse

In a letter to their supporters ANTaR has called for a campaign to Please help stop child abuse in NSW Aboriginal communities. In the letter Gary Highland ANRaR’s National Director says:

“As you may be aware, the New South Wales Government and Opposition have so far refused to fund a major new program to tackle child abuse in Aboriginal communities. The program was developed in response to Breaking the Silence, a 300 page report commissioned by the Attorney General and written by a task force headed by Aboriginal leader, Marcia Ella-Duncan. The report found that child abuse in Aboriginal communities had reached “epidemic proportions,” with child sexual assault up to four times the rate of the general population. Although the Government approach to Breaking the Silence makes a lot of sense, without any new funds it’s doomed to fail.”

While the election may be over the issue and the campaign continues. For more information visit www.antar.org.au/action/stop_NSW_child_abuse .

Black Fellas Dreaming Museum looking for Support

We have been asked to pass on the request from Gordon Syron that the Black Fellas Dreaming Museum is looking for a philanthropist or organisation who will continue the museum as a non-profit social enterprise employing Aboriginal people.

The Blackfellas Dreaming Museum is a large and overwhelming testimony of Australian History through Aboriginal eyes. And it easily moves people. Gathered by an Aboriginal man, Gordon Syron, an urban Aboriginal art pioneer, it is one of the largest Aboriginal owned collections and is not connected to any institution. The art works are currently being catalogued for a Bonhams & Goodmans auction with a date set for 9 May 2007.  This collection should not be spilt up and sold off to private collectors overseas. It should be a National Treasure, placed safely in the hands of Aboriginal people and remain on public view. If you would like further information visit www.blackfellasdreaming.com.au.

Marton Gardens / Waterloo Green mosaic plans on display

The mosaic design proposal for the Marton Gardens / Waterloo Green mosaic is now completed. It is on display at the Factory Community Centre and is available for viewing, any comments or feedback is welcome. The project has formal approval from DOH and they have also kindly donated some extra funds in addition to the City of Sydney funding to help with unexpected costs. The next stage will involve working both off site initially and then work on site actually creating the Mosaic. If you have any comments or would like to be involved contact Mike Shreenan, Housing Communities Assistance Program (HCAP) Redfern Waterloo Community Development Worker at The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan St Waterloo 2017 Ph: 8399 1011  Fax: 9310 4141.

Aborigines in Redfern – My Concrete Country

An exhibition Ten Years From the Heart - Photographs of Redfern Waterloo by Lisa Hogben will run from the 9th to 22nd April 2007 at Chrisie Cotter Gallery, Pidcock Street (next to the Bowling Club) Camperdown.

The exhibition opens on Thursday 12th April 2007 with a welcome to country by Clare McHugh from Metro Land Council. Aboriginal filmmaker Sonya Brindle has a video installation in the show. You will be entertained by some of inner Sydney’s best known Aboriginal performers. Musician and film and television actor Alfred Coolwell will play the (yiddaki) digeridoo. Hip Hop maestro WireMC will lay down the beats. WireMC is a dynamo who energises young Redfern Aborigines to express themselves through rap music. You will meet Aboriginal artists and activists who are part of the new wave of black Australian creativity. For details contact Lisa Hogben 0418 225 965 or email lisahogben@optusnet.com.au.

Rock the Block Continues on 5th May 2007

Joel Beasant (lead singer of Andorra), Donelle Enoch (a founding member of Bangarra) and Lani Tuitavake (general manager of the Aboriginal Housing Company) are looking for performers and those interested in helping with the next Rock the Block activity which is due to be held on 5th May 2007. More information is available on the REDWatch website at Rocking the Block Plans for ‘07 .

Yaama Dhinawan Hospitality Training Now Enrolling

Looking to work in hospitality? Love working with food and want to make a career of it? Yaama Dhinawan is Australia’s first and only hospitality college specialising in Indigenous culture and cuisine. It offers accredited Certificate II Training in Hospitality (Operations) with a focus on gaining employment in the hospitality industry. Five courses will be run in 2007. Yaama Dhinawan Hospitality Training Now Enrolling. For more information contact Louise Wagner, at the Redfern-Waterloo Authority by phone 02 9202 9100 or email louise.wagner@rwa.nsw.gov.au.

Get Redfern Waterloo Update Information Earlier

With changes in Geoff’s work arrangements Updates have not been coming out as frequently as last year. You can still find out the latest about Redfern Waterloo as it happens by looking at the Recent Changes section of the REDWatch website. News stories, coming events and other information are still being added to the site as they happen. If you set up an RSS feed to this page you can have the latest news delivered to your computer as it is posted.

News Round Up

The CarriageWorks are getting big gigs having recently hosted the luxury Italian fashion house Gucci’s launch of its Spring/Summer 2007 Collection as reported in Gucci - from Milan to Redfern. This was followed up by the popular Silverchair return concert.

As part of the redevelopment of the Souths’ Leagues club MSN reported that Souths Leagues sacks all workers. It was also reported in Central article Thanks for the Money - The Inner City Mobile Play Bus program that The Inner City Mobile Play Bus program has received funding for a further 12 months.

South Sydney Herald – March 2007

The SSH was not out when we did our last update so here is a belated round up of articles that may be of interest to those who keep an eye on Redfern Waterloo. Leaving the election emphasis aside for the moment there were a few articles also dealing with Aboriginal issues such as Brothers are making a difference about the Babana men’s group,  Indigenous vote crucial in Land Council poll about the importance of the May 19 Land Council’s election, an update on Federal Government trashes Redfern Employment Program and a report on the Rally remembers TJ Hickey. The SSH also reports on Only the beginning - Redfern Oral History website launch, RWA’s Draft Affordable Housing Plan questionable, says local activist, From Waterloo to Broadway – free by bus and that the Rabbitohs and NASCA form alliance. There is also another perspective on the Redfern lock-down and an article on the plan to transform the graffitied wall in front of the Marton high rise block in Raglan Street, Waterloo into a beautiful mosaic in Community art: a work in progress.

The SSH had a focus in its March 2007 edition on the State Election with stories like Water and housing: Labor and Greens go toe to toe and accounts of the Newtown candidates forum in The great Marrickville debate and the Fabian Society’s election function in ALP Secretary nervous about election. Political profiles in this issue included Political Profile: Clover Moore seeks double-decade; Political Profle: Linda Scott makes her run and John McInerney’s change of climate. And then there were the stories that are “in the news close to the election” category such as Frank hits a high note - good news for live music., Homeless Persons Legal Service opens in Newtown , Greens support for Redfern Gym and CUB site on Broadway approved.

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

Below we have listed consultations currently open for community input and provided a link for further information: