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13 June 2007

In this Update: RWA Update June 2007 / The PCYC Offer Examined / Preparing for the Great North Eveleigh Railway Land Sale / The Chippendale - Eveleigh Rail Heritage Tango / Rail, Tram & Bus Union (RTBU) Request Forum on Rail Tourism / CUB Site Sold but Concept Approval is under legal challenge / The ILC - National Indigenous Development Centre (Former Redfern School) submissions open until Friday 15 June 2007 / Aboriginal Cultural Assessment of Former Redfern Court House and Police Station / Housing Proposal for former Rachael Forster Hospital / South Sydney Leagues’ Club DA – On exhibition until 6th July 2007 / Work Cover Fine Police Force over Redfern Riot / Redfern Waterloo Community Safety / REDWatch Local Action Plan Grant Submission / 2007 City of Sydney Business Awards – Voting until 24th July / Sustainable Sydney 2030 / Concern over Dan Murphy’s DA for Fountain Street Alexandria / South Sydney Herald June 2007 / New Look RedWater News / New at CarriageWorks / Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

Dear All

[Please use the list of articles at the top of the email to find what is of interest to you. We do not expect you to be interested in everything. Depending on your email programme and computer settings these headings may also give you a link to jump directly to the story of interest.]

In this Update:

RWA Update June 2007

The PCYC Offer Examined

Preparing for the Great North Eveleigh Railway Land Sale

The Chippendale - Eveleigh Rail Heritage Tango

Rail, Tram & Bus Union (RTBU) Request Forum on Rail Tourism

CUB Site Sold but Concept Approval is under legal challenge

The ILC - National Indigenous Development Centre (Former Redfern School) submissions open until Friday 15 June 2007

Aboriginal Cultural Assessment of Former Redfern Court House and Police Station

Housing Proposal for former Rachael Forster Hospital

South Sydney Leagues’ Club DA – On exhibition until 6th July 2007

Work Cover Fine Police Force over Redfern Riot

Redfern Waterloo Community Safety

REDWatch Local Action Plan Grant Submission

2007 City of Sydney Business Awards – Voting until 24th July

Sustainable Sydney 2030

Concern over Dan Murphy’s DA for Fountain Street Alexandria

South Sydney Herald June 2007

New Look RedWater News

New at CarriageWorks

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

Coming Events (look at the new local events entered on the REDWatch website that are not covered here)

RWA Update June 2007

The RWA has produced an eight page Redfern Waterloo Update June 2007 (pdf ~322kb) which can be downloaded from the RWA website. As usual a text version appears on the REDWatch website so readers can link directly to an article of interest and so the information can be easily found in a search of the REDWatch website. While the update covers some material that we have earlier covered it also contains much new information.

The Update leads with Redfern public housing gets $27 million boost about the Elizabeth St Department of Housing (DoH) development announcement followed by four pieces about North Eveleigh renewal. Community markets to open by April 2008 is about the RWA’s proposal for the Blacksmith’s Shop (just finished its exhibition period); the second Eveleigh Heritage Walk is about the proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge joining North and South Eveleigh which will provide views of the former rail yards; the third article Construction training commences at Yaama covers the first 8 week Koori Job Ready course for the construction industry and other courses running on the bottom level of Yaama Dhinawan Training College and finally in Future development of surplus lands the RWA announces that it will obtain a concept plan for the site sell off North Eveleigh for re-development in line with its Built Environment Plan.

The RWA Update, under business and development growth, announces its Sponsorship for Tribal Warrior Association, which has been reported as working its way out of some financial problems, and in Australian Technology Park keeps growing the RWA updates progress on the ATP developments. The Update also reports on the success of the RWA Aboriginal jobs programme, which is being used by contractors working on City of Sydney and other development projects, in Indigenous jobs initiative goes from strength to strength. Under community development plans, the RWA covers the Indigenous Land Corporation’s redevelopment of the Black Theatre site in ILC Invests More in Redfern and in Contributions Plans to fund public infrastructure it covers the Minister’s approval of the RWA’s Contribution Plans for Affordable Housing and Developers’ Levies.

On the Human Services side Quick cooking on a budget covers how the RWA, in partnership with Sydney Day Nursery (SDN) Redfern, recently ran an ‘Easy Cooking on a Budget’ course for six young mothers on low income within the area. In $1 million for new PCYC the Update announces that the RWA and the Department of Housing will make $1 million available to the PCYC to move to the ILC school site re-development.

The Human Services Plan update reveals that Phase 2 of the Human Services Plan has not yet gone to NSW Cabinet but is expected to do so “shortly”. The other significant information released in the Human Services section of the update is that RWA Trust Fund is to be functioning by July 2007 and that it will operate as a sub-fund under the umbrella of the Sydney Community Foundation (SCF) (www.sydneycommunityfoundation.org.au). The RWA Board has approved seed funding totalling $250,000 over the next five years to enable the fund to be established. The fund will have tax deductible status and it has been established to provide a vehicle for private sector involvement in supporting local Human Service Plan initiatives.

The final article on the Community Health Centre says that progress of the plans for the former court and police station site is on track with approval expected in August. This means that the plans will be on public exhibition in late June / July. The article also reveals that the concept plan for the former Rachel Forster Hospital site is expected to be lodged with the Minister for Planning in June 2007, with the sale of the site expected to be completed in early 2008. This means that public exhibition and comment on this site is also expected in the near future. We have taken up some of the issues raised in the RWA Update in later parts of our update below.

The PCYC Offer Examined

While the RWA Update has announced that the RWA and the DoH have each offered $500,000 to encourage the PCYC to move to the former school site. The PCYC is still to decide if it will stay and renovate where it is and take up the DoH 50 year lease offer or if it will move to the ILC site. The PCYC say they will feel embarrassed if the costs of the PCYC element of the NIDC is forced onto the ILC and that they have written to the new Minister for Housing asking for $1.5 million from the DoH rather than the $0.5m offered. If the PCYC does not take up the lease they argue the current site will be available to DoH for other uses and that in 2005 the Valuer General valued the site (with existing use) at $2.5m. The RWA and the DoH say that the project is workable for the ILC with their $1m and the $600,000 that PCYC have set aside towards either renovating the existing premises or as a contribution to the new building, whereas PCYC believe this will see the ILC paying more than it should towards the new building. The RWA and DoH say that their offer is final and that the NSW Government will not put more into the project. The RWA’s $500,000 share of the contribution is contingent, in part, on the new PCYC also serving as a one-stop-shop for youth services in accordance with the Cabinet-endorsed Human Services Plan (Phase 1).

The PCYC and the ILC will also ask for just over $3 million from the Commonwealth Regional Partnerships Scheme to cover the balance cost of the new PCYC building. The PCYC has also approached the City of Sydney for a contribution but they have declined. Clover Moore has earlier expressed her concern that the proceeds of the sale of the Paddington PCYC site were not reinvested into improved PCYC facilities and services in the surrounding areas. Both local MPs Clover Moore and Kristina Keneally have been supportive of the PCYC move to the ILC development. Everyone awaits the PCYC final decision.

Preparing for the Great North Eveleigh Railway Land Sale

The June 2007 RWA Update in Future development of surplus lands provided the following information about plans for the North Eveleigh site:

“The RWA is working closely with State Rail and RailCorp on the preparation of surplus North Eveleigh lands for sale. The first stage is expected to be the marketing of the western end of the 10.5 hectare site in early 2008 for future residential development. Proceeds from this sale will be committed towards preparing the remainder of the site for disposal and development in accordance with the planning vision developed by the RWA under the Built Environment Plan. Residual proceeds from the completed sale process are expected to be committed towards the future provision of essential public infrastructure in Redfern-Waterloo.”

The current proposal has changed so that now concept plan approval for both the Eastern and Western ends of the site will be sought at the same time and then the land, with the concept plan approval in one or more lots, will be offered for sale to interested developers who will be responsible for the redevelopments. Importantly it is currently proposed that heritage buildings within the site will be sold as part of the site. The eastern end of the site contains the Chief Mechanical Engineers Office Building, the Scientific Services Buildings No.1, the Telecommunications Equipment Centre and the Paint Shop. To the West the Clothing Store and the pre 1911 Timber Shed Extension are considered of Historical Interest but not listed as heritage items under the SEPP.

The RWA’s current plan will see buildings of historical significance move from government to private ownership with the purchasing developer responsible for preserving and finding a use for the heritage buildings within North Eveleigh. While it would be difficult to find someone to restore the CME’s building on a stand alone basis, the RWA expect that by selling it as part of a land parcel which also permits high rise (up to 16 storeys under the RWA BEP behind the CME building) that developers will be prepared to buy the heritage items because of the other development opportunities the site offers.

While the strategy makes sense for a cash-strapped RWA, it will leave many in the heritage, rail and local communities very nervous. Much will depend on how well development criteria are tied down in the concept plan and the subsequent diligence of the Department of Planning, the Minister, the RWA and the community in ensuring that the initial provisions are adhered to. While the RWA may start with good intentions a purchasing developer can go back to the Department and seek changes to the concept plan and then can seek further changes in the finalising of the designs and DA / building plans. Maximising the return on the development investment is central to the development process and where the development includes significant heritage sites there will have to be close monitoring to ensure heritage values are maintained.

Moving rail heritage items to the ownership of a developer and them on-selling a restored / adaptively reused heritage building to a new owner makes it difficult to see how an integrated heritage outcome for Eveleigh can be achieved. Such a proposal has been floated by Brian Dunnett and Robert J. Haworth in their in Australian Folklore 21, 2006 article The Fate of Eveleigh: More of ‘Ugly Sydney’ or an Enhancement of the Greatest Rail Heritage Site in the World? The RWA’s decision to call the bridge between North and South Eveleigh the Eveleigh Heritage Walk may be as close as Dunnett and Haworth’s dream gets to a heritage walk that links all the sites together and tells their story. It falls far short of the development of a similar site at Midland Railway Workshop Interpretive Centre in WA.

The Chippendale - Eveleigh Rail Heritage Tango

We have earlier reported on the problems that Chippendale residents have had with heritage engines over-nighting at Mortuary Station to avoid use of Eveleigh. In a new development Mortuary was used to coal the 3801 engine during the blustery conditions of Friday 8th June (while the Hunter Valley was being flooded out). Friends of Eveleigh have released photos of the coaling in their latest media release Friends of Eveleigh Media Release 11th June 2007 - PDF (685Kb PDF).

The media release also documents that engine 3801 has recently been turning at Eveleigh which makes much more sense that at Meeks Road or Marrickville. Interestingly the engine turned and took on water at Eveleigh on 8th June but for some reason was then moved to Mortuary station to take on coal. Local Chippendale residents are concerned about a persistent rumour that RailCorp has plans to add facilities at Mortuary station to regularly allow coal to be taken on, as for heritage rail engines to be watered and de-ashed next to the restored sandstone heritage station.

The Friends of Eveleigh media release also documents recent thefts of rail heritage property throughout the state and argues that Eveleigh is still the best location for security, coaling, turning and watering for the states valuable heritage rail assets. Everyone is now in apparent agreement that the Large is in good condition. A modest investment of $3million over 5 years is needed to continue its current use. Why then would RailCorp not want to keep the Large as part of its rail heritage strategy? This would seem to be a far better option than to build storage facilities elsewhere and to hand the Large over to the RWA for an adaptive reuse or to be replaced by a 12 storey building as allowed in the RWA Built Environment Plan.

Rail, Tram & Bus Union (RTBU) Request Forum on Rail Tourism

An Inquiry is to be held into tourism in NSW. The RTBU have had discussions with the Office of Railway Heritage and have now written to the secretariat for the Inquiry requesting that they convene a forum on rail tourism as part of the Inquiry. The forum would be to explore the potential role that rail tourism and sites like those at Eveleigh can play in NSW Tourism. We are sure that such a forum will be welcomed by a range of people who are of the view that rail heritage tourism can provide an economic base for keeping some of Eveleigh in active rail heritage use. The RTBU letter can be downloaded from Rail, Tram & Bus Union Request Forum on Rail Tourism (156 Kb PDF). If you are interested in such a forum, or have suggestions for it, we suggest you contact Marianne Hammerton (The Office of Rail Heritage), Sally Edwards (The Director of the Tourism Review), or the RTB Union with any suggestions or expressions of interest.

CUB Site Sold but Concept Approval is under legal challenge

Fosters have sold the CUB site to Singaporean property developer Frasers. The sale was announced to the ASX Kent Brewery site sold to Frasers on 12th June 2007. Many articles have now been written on the sale so we will only mention a couple like The Australian’s Cheers: $2bn CUB deal Sydney's largest and the ABC’s Brewery sale sparks resident concerns. Some background on Frasers was carried in Sydney lags world markets in The Australian of 7th June 2007.

Meanwhile Matthew Drake-Brockman is taking the Minister and the CUB site concept approval to court to try and have the concept plan amended – for more information see The Australian of 12 June 2007 article Fight for green buildings. Although Matthew has been granted Legal Aid, the real benefit is that he is indemnified against cost recovery by the Minister and Fosters.  He has been granted $10,000 towards his own costs, but these are estimated to be approximately $40,000.  Matthew and his supporters therefore need to raise $30,000, preferably before the first hearing date of 24 July 2007. If you have suggestions or can assist in this fundraising please contact Lindsay at focus@pacific.net.au or turn up at Peace Park Cafe (previously Mark Anthony's) on the corner of Myrtle and Buckland Streets on Thursday 14 June at 7.00 pm for an update and a discussion on fundraising.

The ILC - National Indigenous Development Centre (Former Redfern School) submissions open until Friday 15 June 2007

Local residents have until Friday 15th June to make their submissions on the ILC proposals for the former Redfern School site. Given the national nature of the project and what many see as its lack of connection to the local community there has been some concern about the ILC’s request to the Minister that the project be exempted from the RWA development contributions under the RWA Contribution Plans. There are also concerns about the possible impact of noise and lighting from the site on surrounding units especially if the training area is in use until 10pm. If you have any issues you wish to raise you need to do so to the Department of Planning (DoP) before Friday 15th June 2007. The plans can be inspected at the Redfern Service Centre at 1 Lawson Square or can be downloaded from the DoP website at http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/06_0267.asp

Some archaeological investigation work has begun on the site resulting in the car park gates being closed with no public access to that part of the property. The ILC consultant’s letter-boxed properties neighbouring the site to advise them of the archaeological work and that the proposals for the site are on exhibition.

Aboriginal Cultural Assessment of Former Redfern Court House and Police Station

The Aboriginal community’s history and association with the former Police Station and Redfern Court House is being researched by Austral Archaeology, which has been commissioned by Atkinson Capital Insight. This research will be part of a cultural and social interpretative display to be incorporated into its re-development as the Redfern Community Health Centre. To do a full interpretative display Austral Archaeology are asking members of the local Aboriginal community to contribute their stories, histories, associations (good and bad) with the old Police Station and Courthouse. They are hoping to carry out this research over the next couple of months, so are in the process of compiling a list of people who are willing to talk to them in the near future. If you have anything you would like to contribute to this study please feel free to contact Gretta Logue at Austral Archaeology Pty Ltd, Shop 1, 92 Percival Road Stanmore NSW 2048, Tel: 02 9568 6701 Fax: 02 9568 6702 or by email on Gretta@australarchaeology.com.au . (Hopefully this explanation is slightly clearer than the advertisements that appeared recently in local papers about the consultation Aboriginal Cultural Assessment: The Former Redfern Court House and Police Station, NSW.)

Housing Proposal for former Rachael Forster Hospital

The RWA’s Preliminary Assessment for its Major Project Application for Rachel Forster Hospital (MP 07_0029) is now listed on the Department of Planning’s Register of major projects - Metropolitan Area. The Part 3A request letter (30Kb PDF), the Preliminary Assessment (1.8MB PDF) with appendixes (1.3MB PDF) and the Director-General's requirements for Environmental Assessment (58Kb PDF) can be downloaded from the website.

The RWA expect to have its application on the site back to the DoP in the next week or two, so expect the RWA plans for this site to also go on public exhibition in the not too distant future. It is expected that the site will be sold in early 2008 with an approved concept plan and the funds will be used towards the new Community Health Centre.

 The key elements of the preferred design concept are outlined below:

  • Approximate floor space of 14,000sqm and a floor space ratio of 2:1. This will yield approximately 120 – 150 dwellings, depending of the unit mix and size.
  • Retention and adaptive reuse of the existing Building 1, including the addition of one storey to the existing building. This will result in an overall building height of 6 storeys above ground level plus a basement level.
  • Demolition of Building 2, with the exception of the existing colonnade fronting Pitt Street, which will be retained. A new building 2 will be built behind the colonnade with an overall height of 3 storeys and a similar footprint to the existing building.
  • Demolition of Building 3 and construction of a new residential building on a similar footprint that maximizes residential amenity. The proposed new building will have a height of three storeys above ground level. The existing Building 3 includes a sub-basement level, which will be incorporated within the new building.
  • Construct a new building, Building 4, adjacent to the western boundary of the site.
  • Provision of open space along Pitt Street in front of Building 2. The open space will be publicly assessable and aim to provide an environment that will encourage an active and safe green space for use by the surrounding community.
  • Car parking at basement level.

South Sydney Leagues’ Club DA – On exhibition until 6th July 2007

Readers of the Daily Telegraph article Redfern lament or those locals who heard about the Club’s briefings on their DA plans, will be aware of what the redevelopment plans propose a supermarket on the ground floor. Details of the DA for 261-265 Chalmers Street have now gone on public exhibition at the Redfern Service centre or on the web. The DA proposes:

“Alterations to the South Sydney Leagues Club building. Proposed works include extension of the third and fourth floors, provision of balconies along the eastern facade of the building, and modification of the Chalmers and Douglas Street facades. Approval is also sought for the future use of the building in principle - this includes a supermarket on the ground floor, the leagues and football club on the first floor and use of the second, third and fourth floors as commercial offices. 191 car spaces are proposed to be provided for these uses in the basement of the adjoining building.”

Construction is about to begin on the upgrade of Redfern Park and Oval. Building contractor Hansen Yuncken was awarded the contract and has taken possession of the site to begin the work. For more information see Construction Newsletter June 2007 | PDF 706Kb.

You may have noticed reports that Russell Crowe and Anthony LaPaglia have been having discussions about developing a new inner city stadium. In Tick for new stadium, with a few conditions the SMH said that they were looking at the ATP as a site for the stadium. It looks pie in the sky at ATP as the RWA CEO, Robert Domm, has said there have been no discussions and that a stadium would not fit into the ATP!

Work Cover Fine Police Force over Redfern Riot

The NSW Police Force has been fined $100,000 because it failed to protect its officers during the Redfern riot. WorkCover said police were left exposed without adequate equipment and a lack of training. The equipment had defects including scratched helmet visors, and handles broken on shields. For further details see Force's $100,000 riot fine .

Redfern Waterloo Community Safety

The Redfern Waterloo June 2007 Safety Newsletter | PDF 690Kb has been distributed around the area. If you did not see it you can download it from the link above. A couple of months back REDWatch had John Maynard update it on the activities of the Redfern Waterloo Safety Strategy and Taskforce. Since it was established under the stewardship of the council, in the days of the Redfern Waterloo Partnership Project, it has been a highly effective working group giving both residents and agencies a say on addressing the important community safety concerns. REDWatch is very supportive of John, the Taskforce and way in which community participation is encouraged and greatly appreciated hearing about the results of the strategy.

REDWatch Local Action Plan Grant Submission

Part of the community safety agenda is to provide opportunities for the community to come together and meet their neighbours and create community cohesion. REDWatch supports the proposed introduction by Council of Community Action Plan Grants as another mechanism that brings the community together in some common activity. Following the axing of the introduction of this programme in the City’s Budget REDWatch has made a submission to council arguing for this programme to be reintroduced into the City’s 2007-8 budget. REDWatch has also argued that the city should explore mechanisms that allow community activities to be covered under Council’s public liability insurance in a similar manner to that which is possible in North Sydney and Manly. The REDWatch submission can be downloaded from REDWatch Submission on LAP Grants (23Kb PDF).

2007 City of Sydney Business Awards – Voting until 24th July

Do you have a favourite business in Redfern, Waterloo, Eveleigh or Darlington then why not vote for it in the fourth annual City of Sydney Business Awards. You could also win a $1000 shopping spree. You can vote for an exceptional local business across 29 categories including; fashion, fresh food, cafes, takeaway, gyms, bars, hotels and hairdressers, as well as new categories of disability inclusiveness, environmental stores and services. For a chance to win, vote for your favourite business at www.thebusinessawards.com or look out for entry coupons at local businesses, in local publications or branches of the Commonwealth Bank or telephone 02 9264 0757.

Sustainable Sydney 2030

The City of Sydney is putting together its long term plan called Sustainable Sydney 2030. Like the NSW State Plan, it provides an opportunity to think about where and how we want to live in 2030 and how we will get there. For sometime we have complained about the lack of forward planning by the RWA and council. Hopefully the process of developing the 2030 plan will start to address some of these issues such as looking at what services will be needed in Redfern Waterloo by a population double its present size. An increase in people with children staying in the inner city will result in increased needs for services such as childcare and schools, while a large aged population will require greater services for the aged. How will we get around? How will we reach green house gas targets? Such questions need to be addressed in a long term strategy.

The City is just starting a range of consultations and studies that will be held over the next year. More information can be found at Sustainable Sydney 2030

Concern over Dan Murphy’s DA for Fountain Street Alexandria

Residents in Alexandria and in Redfern Waterloo have expressed concern about a recent DA to allow a Dan Murphy’s Liquor Supermarket to operate seven days a week until 12 midnight in Fountain Street near Alexandria Park School. A number of objections were raised, including noise, encouraging alcohol consumption, the proximity of Alexandria Park school, that the operating hours meant the store would be open after the neighbouring pubs closed which would encourage drinking in the school grounds and Alexandria Park, parking and traffic issues. There is concern that an influx of low cost take away liquor into the area will exasperate existing street drinking problems. REDWatch have expressed their concern to council and the RWA has also made a submission, however a pre-existing liquor licence on the site makes all but limiting the late operating hours difficult.

South Sydney Herald June 2007

The June 2007 SSH (3.2Mb PDF) reports the DoH redevelopment of the area bounded by Elizabeth, Phillip, Morehead and Kettle streets in Housing redevelopment commences, still seeking private partner. In Trevor Davies’ “Have You Heard” column, he seeks to correct the claims in a leaflet distributed by Standup around the Waterloo towers, which misinterpreted earlier suggestions that the towers were targeted for demolition in Matavi and Tarunga residents bothered by ‘Stand Up’. In the aftermath of the CUB site approval the SSH reports Get Out!- Foster’s to evict Kensington Street tenants. The SSH also looks at the issue of late opening pubs in Open all hours – at what cost? and at APEC: like Sydney during the Olympics, but in a bad mood. RWA CEO Robert Domm interviews Val Hinton and Ray Vincent about Cecil Hinton’s experience as a Changi Aboriginal veteran in An old digger’s black experience and in ’67 Referendum remembered Bobby Perry reflects on the referendum 40 years ago. Other articles of interest to the area include Green light for Green Square pool? and a piece about Juliette Kumari Indian Queen in Waterloo. On the cultural and events side, the SSH reports on Indigenous artists dream together at Performance Space (a mix of shows centred around the theme Ngalaringi Nangami Dyaralang (‘Our Dreaming’)) and a profile on Wire MC. Wire MC will perform at the Support Independent Media! Concert for the South Sydney Herald to be held on Sunday 8th July at the ATP (for details see Poster 623Kb PDF). For more information about the SSH visit www.southsydneyherald.com.au.

New Look RedWater News

A new look RedWater News is on its way.  If you would like a peek at July 2007 (PDF 2.4MB) issue you can download it from the REDWatch website. RedWater News is produced for public housing tenants by the Redfern and Waterloo Neighbourhood Advisory Boards through the Housing Communities Assistance Program (HCAP). Articles in the latest issue include: Green Light for the redevelopment of Elizabeth Street; Precinct Letters; Redfern Waterloo needs you; Noel Person - Food for thought; Artwork in Progress; Photo Voices; Walk more feel the difference; Tongue in Cheek; Snippets; Take care - police comments on avoiding bag snatches; Useful contacts and local services and activities.

New at CarriageWorks

If you are looking for things to do in Redfern Waterloo visit the CarriageWorks website www.carriageworks.com.au to see what is happening or add your email address to their email list. Some of the events are free such as UNDERBELLY, a 10 day Arts Lab that is taking over every nook and cranny in this immense building; a post-show talk with the BEYOND BELIEF cast on 4 August; 10 YEARS FROM THE HEART, a photographic exhibition portraying life in Redfern; and Performance Spaces’ REELDANCE #03, a series of installations exploring dance and the moving image.

Among the events coming up that may be of local interest are:

10 YEARS FROM THE HEART - A photographic exhibition of Redfern Waterloo by Lisa Hogben. Redfern in Sydney wears a coat of many colours. A dominant colour is black, the black of the first Australians who have held on for dear life in this innermost urban area. - 28 May - 31 July | 11am - 5pm Monday to Friday | Free |More...

NGALARINGI NANAMI DYARALANG (OUR DREAMING) Short performances, dance, film and song will be presented over two nights by emerging and established indigenous artists. 22 - 23 June | $15 + BF |More...

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

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