[Please use the list of articles below to find what is of interest to you and jump directly to the story of interest.. We do not expect you to be interested in everything.]

In this Update:

CoS Community Forum on the University of Sydney’s Campus 2020 Masterplan – 26 July 2008

CoS Inner West Community Forum (Darlington, Chippendale etc) - Wednesday 23^rd July 6.00pm to 8.30pm

REDWatch Monthly Meeting – Wednesday 6^th August 2008 6pm

Campaign to Save ATP’s Working Blacksmith Shop

ATP’s Working Blacksmith Shop Open Day – Hopefully 17th August 2008 is not the last chance to see it!

Metro Strategy for CoS Council Area Released – Comment until 5^th September 2008

Robert Domm goes part time as RWA CEO with New GM handling RWA day to day

New Redfern Community Health Centre Given planning Approval

Human Services Plan Phase 2 Released

Information Event - HSP2 Release & HSP1 Evaluation - 1st August 2008

Railz goes for Extended Trading Hours DA’s – Exhibition until 6 August 2008.

RWA Eveleigh Pedestrian / Bike Bridge on Exhibition – Until 15^th August 2008

Floor Space at ATP Channel 7 Building on the market

Frasers Broadway Modified Concept Plan

Changes at the ILC’s National Indigenous Development Centre (NIDC)

Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage – Feedback by 15^th August 2008

Consultations for a proposed National Indigenous Representative Body

South Sydney Herald July 2008

Redwater News July 2008

In the Media

Connect Redfern – Children and Family Services Lists Updated for Term 3 2008

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)

CoS Community Forum on the University of Sydney’s Campus 2020 Masterplan – 26 July 2008

Council is holding a community forum at Carriageworks’ Track 8, 245 Wilson St Eveleigh. It will include a presentation from the University, followed by a Q&A session. In the CoS flyer Lord Mayor Clover Moore says:

“Development of the University of Sydney’s Campus 2020 Masterplan provides an opportunity for you to be involved with the University’s planning for new and refurbished facilities. The draft Masterplan includes the University’s proposals to refocus activity on its main campus, and outlines its proposal for use of the North Eveleigh site for new teaching facilities, student accommodation and open space. Residents have told me their concerns about the height and scale of the proposed Redfern Waterloo Authority development at North Eveleigh, including traffic implications from residents’ and workers’ travel to and from the site, and the inappropriate reuse of important heritage buildings as residential properties. This Forum is an opportunity to learn about the University’s draft Masterplan and how it may affect your neighbourhood and to hear about an alternative vision for North Eveleigh that could include open space, playing fields and student accommodation.”

In the last RWIU we reported on the RWA North Eveleigh Concept Plan Feedback and Sydney University’s Campus 2020 Masterplan Revealed which both provided background on the Sydney Uni Masterplan and the concerns raised about the RWA’s North Eveleigh Concept Plan. The University of Sydney is currently preparing its Concept Plan for the new development along Abercrombie St, but has delayed a decision on a community meeting about this development until after the CoS Forum. The CoS’s own submissions have raised a number of concerns about the RWA Concept Plan which Council is expected to elaborate on at the Forum - see City Of Sydney Submission on North Eveleigh (Scan & OCR Overlay 1 MB PDF) and City Of Sydney Submission on North Eveleigh - Attachment (Scan & OCR Overlay 3 MB PDF). The Sydney University’s 2020 Masterplan can be downloaded from www.usyd.edu.au/ab/about/docs/Campus_2020_Masterplan.pdf (10MB PDF).  

Following our last Update Geoff Turnbull met with Pro Vice Chancellor Richmond Jeremy and some of his staff who are responsible for Sydney Uni’s Campus 2020. The university seems keen to promote greater interaction between the university and the surrounding community. In response to Darlington locals wishing to move through the University via the Seymour gates, they are investigating how they can be kept open for longer. The University understands it needs to engage more with the community to make clear to surrounding residents how they can use the University’s grounds and services. As part of this the University will attend the CoS Inner West Community Forum as well as the CoS Forum on the University’s Masterplan. Hopefully the University’s interest is not just in the short term while its development plans are in the spot light and that there will be a genuine dialogue about how the university and the surrounding community can work together for mutual benefit.

Since the last RWIU we have also added Anne Harrison Submission on North Eveleigh Concept Plan and Elizabeth Farrelly’s The brutal reality about halls of higher earning to the REDWatch website.

CoS Inner West Community Forum (Darlington, Chippendale etc) - Wednesday 23^rd July 6.00pm to 8.30pm

The City of Sydney Inner West Community Forum covers Camperdown, Chippendale, Darlington, Newtown, Erskineville, Golden Grove and MacDonaldtown. It will be held at St Benedict’s Hall, University of Notre Dame 104 Broadway, Chippendale on Wednesday 23^rd July 2008. As with previous Community Forums there will be a time from 6 to 6.45pm to raise your own issues with council officers and councillors. The University of Sydney will also be represented. This will be followed by updates on Victoria Park playground & Prince Alfred Park upgrades, Chippendale Improvement Plan, and public domain and landscaping works. Darlington people are especially keen to find out when the LAP recommendations for their area may be implemented. You can download the flyer for the meeting form the CoS website Inner West Community Forum Flyer (265 Kb PDF).

We have been assured by council that the problem raised in the last RWIU regarding the Urban Design Study confusion over the Sydney University and Darlington boundary is being addressed.

REDWatch Monthly Meeting – Wednesday 6^th August 2008 6pm

Much has happened in the RWA over the last month. By the time the REDWatch meeting comes around there will have been briefings on Human Services Phase 2 and the Evaluation of HS Phase 1; changes in management arrangements at the RWA; the council’s meeting on North Eveleigh etc etc … The RWA will be the focus of the next REDWatch meeting and we have invited RWA CEO Robert Domm along to provide an update on recent developments and the future direction of the RWA. Mr Domm is unsure if he can attend until he starts his new SHFA job and familiarises himself with his new commitments. With or without Mr Domm, come along and find out the latest between 6pm and 8pm at The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan St Waterloo.

Campaign to Save ATP’s Working Blacksmith Shop

In the last update we covered the story about the RWA / ATP serving notice to quit from Bays 1 & 2 South of the Locomotive Building at the ATP on Guido Gouverneur & Wrought Artworks P/L. Since this time Guido and Wendy have met with the RWA / ATP CEO Robert Domm who has made it most plain that they are no longer wanted at the ATP and must be out by the end of September despite the initial approvals for setting up what became the ATP including specific reference to the existence of an operating Blacksmith on the site. This is clearly seen in this Letter on Role of Blacksmith Shop in DA Approval written by the Chief of staff to the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning to The Institution of Engineers Australia in July 1996. The letter says: “The first 2 bays of the building will enable the full appreciation of the historic significance of the place, with collections and assemblages of machinery on display and machinery being operated by the blacksmith. The blacksmith operation is proposed to be open to public view. It is considered that the proposal retains the significance of the place while allowing the adaptive reuse of the building which will ensure its long term conservation.”

Wrought Artworks have released a number of other documents detailing the history of their ongoing role at the ATP. These include extracts from EVELEIGH PRECINCT CONSERVATION POLICY - 1994 (331 KBN PDF), CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN- 1995  (733 KB PDF), DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION - 1996 (356 KB PDF), DETERMINATION OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION - 1996 (468 KB PDF), MINISTER'S MEDIA RELEASE 1997 (164 KB PDF) and the RWA / ATP NOTICE TO QUIT - 2008 (139 KB PDF). More information can be also found in Wrought Artworks Letter to RWA Board Members - 13 March 2008, Wrought Artworks letter to Clover Moore - 24 April 2008 and Clover Moore Letter to Minister Frank Sartor over Eveleigh Blacksmith Workshop of 6^th June 2008.

In a letter of 14th July 2008 regarding the Large Erecting Shop (National Trust Moves to Save ATP's functioning Blacksmith's Shop) the National Trust (NSW) advised the Federal Department “We will now be nominating the Blacksmiths Shop (Bays 1 & 2) in the ATP complex for National Listing and we will be seeking urgent action by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts to protect this place and to retain the operation of the blacksmith”.

On the same day The National Trust (NSW) wrote a Letter to NSW DoP Heritage Branch about Blacksmith's Shop saying "It is difficult to imagine any more appropriate operation in this historic workshop. This is one of those rare occurrences when the perfect "tenant" can be found for such a unique and historically important industrial heritage site and collection"

Ironically, given the RWA’s Employment and Enterprise Plan, Wrought Artworks employs a number of apprentices who face unemployment if they are forced out. Wrought Artworks has also recently been doing conservation work for the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority of which Robert Domm is now also CEO. You can get some idea of their work at their web site www.wroughtartworks.com and this extract from the (sydney) magazine July 08 feature on Traders of the Lost Arts – Guido Gouverneur Blacksmith. Wrought Artworks has produced a DVD to support their campaign to stay at the ATP. Watch their 10 minute video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHLvipjAbBU.

Wendy and Guido have produced a list of Persons to Lobby over Proposal to Remove Wrought Artworks from ATP and issued the media release ATP Blacksmith Shop - Sartor breaks Department of Planning promise. REDWatch was briefed by Guido and Wendy at its last meeting and is encouraging people to become involved in the campaign to keep the Blacksmiths Shop working at the ATP. Please lend your support to this cause. As more information becomes available it will be posted at www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/statesignificant/atp/blacksmith.

ATP’s Working Blacksmith Shop Open Day – Hopefully 17th August 2008 is not the last chance to see it!

Wrought Artworks is holding an open day Sunday 17th August 2008 from 10am – 3 pm with tours on the hour of the workshop, blacksmithing demonstrations and explanations of steam powered blacksmithing assemblages by Guido the Blacksmith. You can download the Poster for ATP's Blacksmith shop Open Day - 17th August 2008 (1 MB PDF).

Keep the Tradition! Come along the open day and see the Heritage Blacksmiths and the ATP’s functioning Blacksmith Shop. Show your support for Guido and Wendy and the continuing operation of the Heritage Blacksmiths.

Metro Strategy for CoS Council Area Released – Comment until 5^th September 2008

The Department of Planning has released the Metropolitan Plan’s Draft Sydney City Subregional Strategy. The Sydney City subregion is based on the boundaries of the CoS local government area. This subregion occupies a central and strategic part of the Greater Metropolitan Region. This is the same area covered by Council’s recent Sustainable Sydney 2030. There are a number of statutory organisations, other than the CoS Council, that control aspects of this area including the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, and Sydney Port. This planning document incorporates a number of existing planning frameworks, such as the Redfern Waterloo Plan, into a broader state plan for the CoS area. When finalised, the Subregional Strategy will guide land-use planning until 2031 in the CoS local government area. We have extracted the following overview of the Strategy from the summary brochure and the DoP website.

A Subregional Strategy What is it? What does it do?

• Draft Sydney City Subregional Strategy for the City of Sydney local government area.
• Detailed framework to link local and State planning and guide private sector and government investment.
• Provides a framework for City of Sydney Council to ensure there is capacity for 55,000 new dwellings and 58,000 new jobs by 2031.
• Identifies places for future growth such as Green Square and the five precincts within Central Sydney.
• Outlines the requirements for a mix of housing types to cater for a changing and ageing population, and to support a diverse population and workforce.
• Detailed guide for City of Sydney Council in the preparation of their Principal Local Environmental Plan, the legislation that links local land use planning with State Government processes.

The Sydney City subregion includes Central Sydney, the core component of Global Sydney, and a focus for the metropolitan region as a whole. Planning for Central Sydney considers the centre in the context of a broad range of business, recreation and other activities developing in five major precincts:

• The Sydney Central Business District (CBD) Precinct – housing sophisticated finance, legal business activity, as well as key tourism and cultural infrastructure;
• Pyrmont-Ultimo Precinct – an information technology, communications and media precinct;
• Sydney Education and Health Precinct – located to the south and west of the CBD – a major area for education, medical and other research and technology-based jobs.
• City East Precinct - containing a diverse array of business and research activities.
• Redfern Centre Precinct – centred on Redfern Station, and including the Australian Technology Park and the North Eveleigh area.

Key directions include:

• Reinforce global competitiveness and strengthen links to the regional economy
• Plan for sustainable development of major urban renewal projects
• Ensure adequate capacity for new office and hotel developments
• Plan for housing choice
• Develop an improved and increasingly integrated transport system that meets the subregion’s multiple transport needs
• Improve the quality of the built and natural environment and aim to decrease the subregion’s ecological footprint
• Enhance the subregion’s prominence as a diverse global cultural centre

Talk to a Planner - Wednesday, 23 July 2008 between 3.00 PM and 7.00 PM. You can also talk to a NSW Government planner about the draft Subregional Strategy at Department of Planning's Information Centre, 23-33 Bridge street, Sydney on Wednesday, 23 July 2008 between 3.00 PM and 7.00 PM

The draft Subregional Strategy will be available to view in hard-copy until Friday, 5 September, 2008 at CoS Council or NSW DoP, 23-33 Bridge St, Sydney. Submissions are due by Friday, 5 September 2008. Submissions can be: Emailed to sydneycitysubregion@planning.nsw.gov.au, mailed to Sydney Region East, NSW Department of Planning, GPO Box 39 Sydney NSW 2001 or faxed to (02) 9228 6244.

You can get a quick overview of the Sydney City Draft Regional Strategy by downloading the brochure about the Strategy here and visiting the Draft Sydney City Subregional Strategy page on the DoP website.

There is a lot in the document referring to Redfern Waterloo, although most is covered in existing RWA plans there is a focus on Redfern being from the commercial core towards the ATP and North Eveleigh. We have not yet had time to produce a summary of the document like we did for CoS’s 2030. We suggest the best way of getting a quick idea of what it says about Redfern (or your own suburb) is to download the PDFs that make up the report into a new subdirectory on your computer and then use the advanced search in Adobe Acrobat Reader to search all documents in that directory for Redfern (or your suburb). The links to the document sections are:

• Introduction Part 1 (1.68MB)
• Introduction Part 2 (3.30MB)
• Economy and Employment (1.19MB)
• Centres and Corridors (3.89MB)
• Housing (0.83MB)
• Transport (1.18MB)
• Environment, Heritage and Resources (1.16MB)
• Parks, Public Places and Culture (0.89MB)
• Implementation and Governance (0.43MB)
• Appendices (1.52MB)

This document, along with the Council’s 2030 Strategy, should be compulsory reading for all candidates standing in the coming Council elections and residents should expect candidates to be able to answer questions about their positions on the issues raised in both documents.

Robert Domm goes part time as RWA CEO with New GM handling RWA day to day

Not long after we sent out the last RWIU we received the news that RWA CEO Robert Domm has been appointed CEO of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA), which has responsibility for managing The Rocks and Darling Harbour along with other key waterfront sites such as the new Ballast Point Park. Prior to the establishment of the RWA it was also responsible for the ATP. You can see the details of the announcement at Robert Domm Appointed CEO of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.

Robert Domm started at SHFA on 21 July 2008 but in the words of the media release “In the short to medium-term he will retain his job at the RWA to see through a number of major projects, including the renewal of North Eveleigh.” In response to questions from the Courier in New Harbourfront Boss Commits to Redfern Mr Domm said “I remain committed to the area and will be seeing through a number of major projects such as the renewal of North Eveleigh, the release of the next phase of the Human Services Plan, various initiatives to boost affordable housing in the area and the renewal of public housing," he said.”

RWA has subsequently appointed a new General Manager, Mr Petar Vladeta, who has been delegated most of Robert Domm’s day-to-day management functions at RWA and ATP, so that Mr Domm can perform his new SHFA role. Mr Vladeta was appointed acting General Manager of the City of Sydney following the departure of Robert Domm from that post.

While some projects mentioned above, such as the Human Services Phase 2 Plan, have been released and Planning Approval for the Redfern Community Health Centre has been announced by the Minister, others such as the “renewal of North Eveleigh” and “various initiatives to boost affordable housing in the area and the renewal of public housing” are likely to take a while longer. In the next couple of months the RWA’s plans for both North Eveleigh to go to market and for the Built Environment Plan Phase 2 to be released. Each of these will take some time to bed down if Mr Domm is to be involved in the implementation of the decisions.

The changes at the RWA raise questions about how long Mr Domm will remain in both jobs and what the Government’s exit strategy for the RWA might be. While initially envisaged as having a 10 year life, there is talk that the RWA may only have three years left to run. With the former school, Rachel Forster and police station / court house sites sold and the sale of North Eveleigh imminent, there is only the development of four sites at the ATP, Redfern railway station and whatever is proposed for public housing left on the Built Environment agenda. The RWA has wound down its involvement in human services now that Plans 1 and 2 are both now out. Employment and Enterprise is still active but even the Yaama Dhiyaan location is slated to eventually become housing under the North Eveleigh Concept Plan.

Under BEP1 and SEPP, projects over $5 million go the DoP with the RWA only dealing with the smaller ones which, in the long term after the RWA winds up, will be dealt with by the CoS. Once North Eveleigh is sold, the BEP2 is out and a decision made on Redfern Station, all that will remain will be the ATP which came across to the RWA from SHFA. The ATP will either become an independent body or more likely be wound into some other larger Government body – possibly again back to SHFA where the new CEO already has experience of the ATP?

New Redfern Community Health Centre Given planning Approval

Minister Sartor announced on 11^th July 2008 Planning Approval for the new Redfern Community Health Centre. The new centre replaces the Redfern Community Health Centre at the Rachael Forster site which has been sold. The minister’s media release, which also covered the release of the Human Services Plan Phase 2, said:

Plans for a $10 million community health facility on the former Redfern Courthouse and Police Station site have been given the green light, Planning Minister Frank Sartor announced today. Mr Sartor said the new facility proposed by NSW Health would provide both on-site and out-reach services. “This project is part of the ongoing renewal of the Redfern-Waterloo area and will deliver significant benefits to the local community,” Mr Sartor said. “It will create up to 94 full-time jobs in the area and lead to the adaptive re-use of the Redfern Courthouse heritage building, as well as delivering important health services.” Minister for Health Reba Meagher said construction would soon commence on the new community health building. “This facility will deliver high-quality community health services, including community nursing, allied health, mental health and drug health services for the residents of the Redfern community in an easily-accessible building,” Ms Meagher said. Mr Sartor said the facility had been funded through the sale of the former Rachel Forster Hospital site, which was negotiated by the Redfern-Waterloo Authority earlier this year.

At the time we sent out this update the DoP had not posted the details of the Approval or of any modifications that it may have determined as a result of the public exhibition. Based on the time taken for other DoP registry changes the community may not have this information for months!

Human Services Plan Phase 2 Released

Minister Sartor also announced in a media release of 11th July 2008 the release of the Human Services Plan Phase 2 which was on exhibition back in 2006. The Minister’s media release said of the HSP2:

“Through projects such as this [Redfern Community Health Centre] we are beginning to see the benefits of the Human Services Plan, currently being developed by the Redfern Waterloo Authority,” he said. The Minister said the next phase of the Human Services Plan, aiming to provide improved services for older people, people with disabilities, migrant communities and homeless people in the area has been approved by the Iemma Government. The Redfern-Waterloo Authority has released this second phase, following a series of stakeholder workshops and calls for public comment. Mr Sartor said key recommendations of the plan include a new taskforce to improve the delivery of dementia services, increased cultural awareness training for service providers and encouraging more elderly Aboriginals to help design health programs. “This plan aims to better coordinate services to ensure the needs of the community are being met,” Mr Sartor said.

 “Over the next decade the Government will work to implement this second phase of the Human Services Plan, along with Phase One – which deals with services for children and families, Aboriginal people and young people. “Our aim is to ensure that Redfern-Waterloo is home to a strong, well-coordinated network of services that are able to adapt to the changing needs of the local community. “To achieve this, the Authority will work closely with the Department of Ageing and Home Care, NSW Health, the Department of Community Services, Housing NSW and other government and non-government organisation in the area.” Member for Heffron Kristina Keneally welcomed the new plan. “It is vital we ensure assistance is getting to the people who need it and to do that we need a coordinated approach,” Ms Keneally said. “We know that 38 per cent of Redfern residents and 34 per cent of Waterloo residents were born overseas with the most common languages spoken in the area – other than English – being Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Spanish and Greek. “The Human Services Plan Phase Two contains a number of actions specifically designed to address challenges faced by these communities, including ensuring that services are delivered in a culturally appropriate way.”

As for previous RWA plans, we have prepared a document comparison between the October 2006 Draft Plan that was exhibited and the Final Human Services Plan Phase 2 of July 2008. This will enable those working in human services to identify what has changed between the Draft and Final versions of the Plan. Please note that this comparison has been produced with a comparison software programme. While the document has been manually checked and some changes made to reflect changes of the order of some points in the HSP2, it should be taken as a guide only. Please confirm changes highlighted in the document by comparing the Draft and Final versions rather than rely on the total accuracy of this document, formatting in particular is likely to be lost in such a document comparison. In this document Green Text indicates additions to the text; Red Strike-through indicates deletions and Red Underlined indicates changed text. Here is the link to download the Human Services Plan Text Comparison of Final with Draft (MS Word 251 KB).

All Human Services Agencies should note the Implementation and Reform Framework which makes up the last section of the document, in particular the first stage of implementation from June 2008 to June 2009 as it covers both Phase 1 and Phase 2 HSP areas. It is interesting to note that despite the Morgan Disney report (2004) and the work RWA Human Services Team since then, the need to identify all groups delivering human services in Redfern-Waterloo still appears as a yet-to-be-completed task in the Action Plan! The Stage 1 – Preparation (June 2008 – June 2009) states:

The preparation stage sets the foundations for reform and encompasses services providers delivering services to the population groups in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Human Services Plan. They include:

• Identifying current reform initiatives being developed by the NSW Government relating to human services which can be implemented in Redfern-Waterloo;
• Identifying and mapping the number of service government and nongovernment services operating in Redfern and Waterloo;
• Identifying the number and size of non-government organisations delivering services solely in the Redfern-Waterloo area;
• Identifying service groupings and individual services to be reformed;
• Setting minimum service standards to benchmark and evaluate service performance relating to agreed initiatives in the Human Services Plan; and
• Identifying lead agency responsible for driving changes in each service grouping.

From the RWA website you can download the final Human Services Plan Phase 2 (114 KB PDF) and  Minister's Media Release of Friday 11 2008. Background Material on the HSP2 Consultations and some of the submissions can be found at Human Services Plan Phase 2 on the REDWatch website.

Information Event - HSP2 Release & HSP1 Evaluation - 1st August 2008

The RWA has issued invitations to an Information Event on Human Services at Yaama Dhiyaan on Friday 1^st August 2008. At 1pm there will be a presentation on the Redfern Waterloo Human Services Plan Phase Two. At 3pm the findings of the first evaluation of the progress of the Human Services Plan Phase One will be presented.  As space is limited and to assist with catering the RWA has requested that invitees RSVP. If you have not received an invitation or would like more information contact Julie Parsons the RWA Community Relations Manager at the RWA on 9202 9100.

Railz goes for Extended Trading Hours DA’s – Exhibition until 6 August 2008.

The RWA has placed on exhibition a DA from Railz on Regent Hotel at 56 Regent Street, Redfern to EXTEND TRADING HOURS OF RAILZ HOTEL from: Monday to Saturday 5:00 am to 12:00 am Sunday 10:00 am to 10:00 pm to: Monday to Saturday 5:00 am to 2:00 am Sunday 10:00 am to 10:00 pm PLACE OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT TO ENABLE LIVE MUSIC TO BE PERFORMED IN THE PREMISES. The documents for DA 033-07-08 can be downloaded from the RWA Development Applications On Exhibition. The RWA refused a previous application to extend Railz’s trading hours in December 2006 on the basis that “The application is considered unacceptable pursuant to the provisions of Section79C (1)(b) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 in that the proposal may have a detrimental social impact on the locality.” 

RWA Eveleigh Pedestrian / Bike Bridge on Exhibition – Until 15^th August 2008

The DoP has placed on public exhibition the RWA’s proposal for a pedestrian & bike bridge, which the RWA calls the Eveleigh Heritage Walk. The bridge no longer provides the link from CarriageWorks to near the new Channel 7 building as proposed by the RWA in its preliminary application. Following the Concept Plan going on exhibition the DoP finally placed on its Major Projects register the RWA’s application for the change and supplementary information (29 February 2008) and the Director-General's Requirements for Environmental Assessment (as amended 14 March 2008).

The bridge now connects the north eastern end of the ATP to North Eveleigh close to Redfern Station, as indicated in the RWA’s recent North Eveleigh Concept Plan in which the bridge featured but was not included as part of that Concept Plan. The bridge has been moved due to the cost and logistical problems of building over Sydney’s main railway corridor at the initially proposed location. The move has also seen access to the bridge become ramped rather than having lift access. The proposed bridge received a reasonable amount of comment at the RWA open days. The major issues seemed to be its move from the earlier location towards the station, the lack of integration with the station and the rest of Redfern more generally, the extent of the ramping and concerns over the safety of bridge users.

The Environmental Assessment can be downloaded from the RWA website or can viewed at the DoP Information Centre, 23-33 Bridge Street, Sydney, at CoS Council, Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney, and Redfern Service Centre, 158 Redfern Street, Redfern (open Saturday 9 am to 12 noon). Questions concerning the project and exhibition can be addressed to Yolanda Gil (RWA) by phoning 9202 9100 or Kathryn Myles (DoP) on (02) 9228 6343. All submissions must be sent to the DoP by the 15 August 2008. Address your submission to: Director, Urban Assessments, Department of Planning, GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001 or email information@planning.nsw.gov.au.

With the RWA seeking to close down the operating heritage at the ATP by serving a notice to quit on the Blacksmiths and with the lack of a Heritage Interpretation Strategy in the North Eveleigh Concept Plan that may have delivered a real Eveleigh Heritage Walk, there is a real irony that the RWA persists with calling the new bridge the Eveleigh Heritage Walk!

Floor Space at ATP Channel 7 Building on the market

The pre-leasing program for space at the television and media hub in the new development undertaken by Rebel Property Group and Seven Network Ltd at the Australian Technology Park is now underway. The development comprises an 11 storey media and office complex, with 12,000 square metres of space on the top four floors of the building. Asking rents on completion in early 2010 will be $400 a square metre. You can read the media release from City PR on behalf of the agents CB Richard Ellis and Chesterton International, on the REDWatch website at Redfern Set to Become a Major Business and Media Hub and see also the SMH article on the story Redfern to rival Pyrmont as a hub for media. There is a nice photo that shows how close the media hub construction site is in relation to the city, which underlines why Redfern is changing. We have posted it with the media statement.

DoP has also listed a Modification for the TV Production Studio and Office Complex at Australian Technology Park (MP 06_0149 MOD 1) for minor modifications to facade and other elements arising from development of design and BCA compliance. The documents on the DoP site are Modification application form, modification report and modification plans.

Frasers Broadway Modified Concept Plan

We only received notice about Fraser’s Community Information Session for Wednesday 9 July 2008 after the last RWIU had gone out. We immediately posted it on the REDWatch website so hopefully some of you noticed it when you looked at the REDWatch website or checked your RSS feed from the REDWatch website. Even though it was held during the school holidays there was a good turn out.

Frasers have posted the Community information session: storyboards, July 2008 (4.6 MB PDF) and Community information session fact sheet July 2008 (395 KB PDF) from the information session so those who did not attend can get an overview of what to expect. Frasers have also updated their website www.frasersbroadway.com.au/broadway/po.htm to cover the modification but be careful when assessing the project on the basis of the drawings on this page as buildings on the Abercrombie St / Broadway corner are now higher than the chimney not lower as appears in some of the drawings.

While there was little change from what had been presented to the Minister and the media in May, one of the areas which was changed and caused concern was that the density proposed on 9^th July had increased yet again. The Maximum Gross Floor Area approved by the DoP for the development was 235,000 sq m and the modification seeks to increase this to 257,000 sq m (up from the at the 8^th April media launch figure of approx 250,000 sq m). Councillor John McInerney made the point at the information session that before it was taken out of Council’s hands it was 200,000 sq m. You can get an overview of the concerns of the Coalition Chippendale Community Groups from their email prior to the information session CUB Site Meeting 9th July 2008 – Coalition Chippendale Community Groups Comments and Sunanda Creagh’s SMH article Space-age development plan sends some locals into orbit.

Fraser’s have undertaken to place the Modified Concept Plan documents on their website at www.frasersbroadway.com.au/broadway/doc.htm as soon as the final set is agreed with the DoP. The DoP should start formal exhibition within the next couple of weeks.

If you live near the development and have any questions or concerns about demolition issues or anything happening on the site, Frasers have a community relations officer, Graeme Soward, working from the Broadway site. Graeme can be contacted by emailing community@frasersgreencliff.com or calling the freecall number 1800 282 909.

Changes at the ILC’s National Indigenous Development Centre (NIDC)

The Federal Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) held an open day at the former Redfern Public School on 26th June 2008 to update people on latest developments prior to building work commencing. As widely rumoured the PCYC is no longer involved in the NIDC. The Community Sports and Recreation Centre will now be run by the YMCA which the ILC describes as: “a not-for-profit community organisation that has been working in Sydney and surrounding communities for more than 150 years. The YMCA owns and or operates over 20 community and sports/recreation facilities (including group accommodation facilities), and employs over 500 staff. The YMCA of Sydney is directed by a volunteer Board and Executive Management Team. The YMCA vision aims to build strong people, strong families and strong communities and this is achieved through 10 target program areas: aquatics; children’s services; community sports competitions; youth leadership; camping outdoor education; community services; gymnastics; health and fitness; school PE. The YMCA will offer the following types of programs at the NIDC Community Sports and Recreation Centre: Basketball; Netball; Indoor Soccer; Fitness Centre; Group Fitness Classes; Before/After School and Holiday Care; Leisure swimming; Summer touch football”. You can find out more about the YMCA’s programmes at www.ymcasydney.org.

The appointment of the YMCA to operate the facility brings a new large provider, without any prior involvement in the RWA’s reforming of youth services and other human services, into the Redfern Waterloo human services mix. The YMCA will now directly compete with the PCYC in the sport and recreation area and more widely with other human services in the area. While the PCYC has operated in the area for a long time and has working relationships with other service providers, the YMCA has no existing connections and there is concern that its entrance will impact adversely on other service providers in the area. It also raises the question about what the PCYC will now do. The PCYC was offered a 50 year lease on the Elizabeth Street site by DoH (now Housing NSW), but considerable money will need to be spent to address the building’s existing problems.

The other major change at the NIDC is that Murawina Child Care Centre has been dropped from the project. While nothing was in writing at the Open Day it was confirmed that the ILC will renovate the Murawina building on The Block for Murawina to use as their future child care centre with the redevelopment of the NIDC in 2009. There is concern in the community that this now very much links the future of Murawina, not only to its own governance but also to the future of The Block and the Pemulwuy project. Murawina moved from The Block to the former school site in the 1990s due to the reluctance of parents to send their children to a facility in the midst of the problems The Block was facing at that time. There are no plans released for how the space left vacant by Murawina will be used at the NIDC.

Exodus will still provide its 50 place Educational Tutorial Centre from the NIDC which the ILC handout describes it as a program for “local Indigenous students”.  When the centre was set up local schools were insistent that it had to take both Indigenous and non Indigenous students. The ILC has confirmed that while the Exodus Tutorial Centre will give priority placement to Indigenous students it is not an Indigenous specific program.

The other operator at the NIDC is the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy (NASCA), a not-for-profit organisation operating to service the development of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders sport, which aims to be the peak body for Indigenous sport in Australia. The NASCA currently runs a number of camps and programs focusing on rugby league, netball, basketball and cricket. Most of its programs are held in rural and remote areas of Australia. In 2006, 12,000 participants were involved in NASCA programs, of which 8,000 were from NSW. NASCA has expressed interest in relocating their administrative and management functions from their current location in the centre of Sydney to the NIDC. It is anticipated that whilst the majority of NASCA funded camps and programs will continue to be held in rural areas, a number of future camps and programs will be held at the NIDC, utilising the playing field, community sports and recreation centre, hostel and dining facilities.

Hirers of the NIDC are expected to include Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team, Australian Rugby League, National Rugby League, Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre.

The ILC used the Open Day to provide the ILC response to Community Concerns about the NIDC Development, NIDC Proposed Facility Operators and Tenants - 26th June 2008 and NIDC Proposed Operating and Reporting Structure. The ILC also displayed a National Indigenous Development Centre FAQs on the wall at the Open House, which covered issues such as Centre Management, community involvement and neighbour impact. The ILC website has not yet been updated with the latest plans. In the meantime the ILC has provided us with the current ILC NIDC Master Plan - June 2008 (946 KB PDF).

The Department of Planning have also just added their determination of April 8^th 2008 on the ILC’s NIDC Modification request to the DoP’s Determinations Website. You can download the Modification approval (1.7 MB PDF) and Director-General's Assessment Report (2.7 MB PDF). DoP has determined that the ILC needed to pay the Affordable Housing Levy but that the provision of the Multi-purpose sports and recreation hall and accommodation for various community organisations is accepted in lieu of payment. If the community facilities are not provided or made available for community use then the ILC will need to pay the required contributions. Lighting on the playing field must be off between 9.30pm and 7am (10.30pm on Saturdays). The multi-purpose sports and recreation hall can operate from 7am to 10pm unless it is used as a place of public entertainment then it is allowed to stay open until 11.30 pm.

The ILC Open House has highlighted one of the problems inherent in taking planning control away from the local council. A number of people in Cope St opposite the old school site came to the Open House only to find out that there had been a public exhibition of the plans for the school site next door about which they knew nothing. While council has an obligation to advise immediate neighbours about a development, the Environmental Defenders Office has told residents that under the 3A Major Project changes there is no obligation for neighbours to be informed. The ILC held an earlier Open House event prior to the exhibition period commencing, about which all Cope, Renwick and George St residents received notification by way of letterbox drop. It is the responsibility of the Department of Planning rather than the ILC to advertise the Public Exhibition. Residents attending the first open house said they were told at the first Open House that plans had not yet been finalised and then when they come to the next Open House everything has been decided without them knowing about the intervening Exhibition period.

Fifty five people have signed a letter sent to the ILC raising their concerns about the project and that they were not consulted. The ILC has arranged a special meeting with concerned residents in Cope St opposite the school on Tuesday 22^nd July at 3.30pm to discuss and walk around the project. Redfern Police will also provide residents with a report on Tuesday on the walkway between Cope St and Regent St which is also of concern to Cope Street residents. The ILC have advised that there will be a report tabling the outcomes of Tuesday’s meeting which will form the basis for the ILC’s response to the residents’ letter. When we receive a copy we will post it on the REDWatch website.

Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage – Feedback by 15^th August 2008

The Standing Committee on Social Issues Inquiry into Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage in New South Wales has issued its Interim Report on 27 June 2008. The 343 page Interim Report can be downloaded from Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage in New South Wales (Interim Report (1682 Kb PDF). The Interim Report highlights 45 issues for consideration, arranged around six themes. These six themes are: Coordinated service delivery; Partnership in service delivery; Measuring outcomes; Funding; Employment, mentoring and training of Aboriginal people; and Specific strategies.

The Committee has written to those who made submissions seeking their participation in the second and final phase of the Inquiry, at the end of which the Committee hopes to articulate to the New South Wales Government strategies to address the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. The committee is seeking suggestions on how best to address the issues for consideration identified in the Interim Report. They want to know if there is anything that has not been covered in the six themes that should be considered by the Committee. They also want to know what people think the Committee should recommend to the New South Wales Government. Comments and suggestions will be considered. Supplementary submissions to the Inquiry need to be submitted by 15th August 2008.

To get an idea of the areas covered we have extracted three sections from the Interim Report. Two of these have been sent around by the Committee to those who made submissions:

• Executive Summary - Interim Report Inquiry into overcoming Indigenous disadvantage File is 125 KB PDF.
• Summary of Issues for Consideration - Interim Report Inquiry into overcoming Indigenous disadvantage File is 128 Kb PDF.
• Chapter 10 - Summary of Issues for Consideration - Interim Report Inquiry into overcoming Indigenous disadvantage File is 144 KB PDF.

There are many references to Redfern Waterloo in the Interim Report with reference to local submissions and evidence. We have extracted the sections relating to RWA, AHC and the Block in Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage which we think will be of general interest. Hopefully the RWA’s “formal partnership agreement with the Federal and New South Wales State Governments” will see the “‘two governments …work closely together on key areas including … Indigenous housing and the Block”. The Committee’s Interim report states “The Committee believes that the AHC cannot continue in its current state of uncertainty. The Committee notes the burden of the Development Application fee on the AHC and believes that, given the nature of the AHC as a community-housing provider, these circumstances warrant re-consideration.”

The Committee has recently posted some additional submissions on their site. The committee will visit regional areas including Griffith, Broken Hill and Armidale from August 5-7. For more information visit the inquiry website.

Consultations for a proposed National Indigenous Representative Body

Not only is the City of Sydney looking for CoS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel – Nominations Close Friday 1^st August 2008 but the Australian Government is now seeking the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on a proposed National Indigenous Representative Body. FaHCSIA will be conducting consultation meetings in every state and the Northern Territory, including remote locations, from end of July until the end of August 2008. Consultations in regional areas will also cater for attendees from remote locations. The Sydney meeting is to be held at the Stamford Plaza, Sydney Airport on 18 August with registrations due by 29 July 2008. To register your interest to attend call 1800 202 366 or emailing: indigenousrepbody@fahcsia.gov.au. Written submissions can also be provided. The closing date for written submissions is 19 September 2008.

To assist in considering relevant issues for a National Indigenous Representative Body, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, released an Issues Paper on 12 July 2008 titled: Building a Sustainable National Indigenous Representative Body. The Issues paper is available at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/repbody/index.html or can be emailed to you by calling 1800 202 366. For more information about the Government's consultations, visit the FaHCSIA website at: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/indigenous/repbody.htm.

South Sydney Herald July 2008

As usual we have placed some of the articles from the July issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo on the REDWatch website. You can download the entire issue as a PDF from SSH July 2008  (2.5 MB PDF). The lead story in the South Sydney Herald was Libs back Pemulwuy, more police and transport about Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell’s visit to the Block. In Shepherd Street in trouble the SSH covered reactions to recent RWA and Sydney University proposals that would increase local traffic. Passionate Indigenous advocate resigns covers Dennis Wetherill’s departure from the area’s long term CDEP provider the Redfern Aboriginal Corporation, Vale Brenda Maling remembers the long time coordinator of the Aboriginal Resource Centre who died recently, Gathering Ground a resounding success reviews Blockside Story 2008 which ran over 3 nights, AHC supports army recruitment project looks at the AHC promoting jobs for Aboriginal youth in the Australian defence forces while The City develops an Aboriginal Cultural Centre looks at Council’s 2030 plans for a Centre for Indigenous Australian History and Culture. Chefs against a GM nation covers top Australian chefs gathering at Waterloo’s Dank Street Depot while Food… good for the heart explores the area’s comfort food outlets. Trevor Davies’ column reported Robert Domm appointed CEO of Harbour Foreshore Authority while Temple trustees frustrated looked at ongoing dissatisfaction at Alexandria’s heritage-listed Yiu Ming Temple and Luncheon Club’s changing of the guard looks at Sydney’s Luncheon Club which provides meals and food supplies for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Redwater News July 2008

Established in 1995, Redwater News was set up for and by local residents to provide essential community information to the local community on services, projects and policies that affect housing. The newsletter was aimed at keeping all informed with developments in and around their local community. Funding has been received from the Department of Housing NSW over recent years and, while it looked like it would not be refunded, additional temporary funds will be provided by Housing NSW which will allow two more copies of the RWN to be printed before December 2008.

The electronic version of the July 2008 Redwater News (1.3 MB PDF) includes some additional material which it has not been possible to include in the smaller printed version. Articles in this issue include: ‘ANTI-SOCIAL’ BEHAVIOUR - WE GET IT, THEY DON’T, Waterloo Kids 'Good Dog Bad Dog', IS IT FAREWELL TO REDWATER NEWS ?, Is Your Child Starting School Next Year?, Congratulations Larry Billington, Local Heros, Reading is important, Waterloo Green Landscape Plan update, Rent rebates: Danger for Housing NSW tenants, USEFUL CONTACTS, The Factory Community Centre Activities, Additional Snippets electronic edition only, Redfern Community Health Centre Relocation, Legal Advice, OVERVIEW OF TENANT FRAUD LEGISLATION - Alison Morgan, Housing NSW (Department of Housing) checking tenants get right rent rebates, Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal, Residential Tenancies Act, USA JAIL - SOME INTERESTING READING, REDWatch, Italian-Australian Heritage, Happy 40th Birthday South Sydney Community Aid Coop Ltd, NAIDOC Week, The Mass Exodus, Housing NSW Youth Scholarships, Father of the year, Last Friday of the Month and RWA Human Services.

In the Media

CarriageWorks continues in the news with reports on the Underbelly festival in the SMH’s Creative collective swings into action, Potted slant on urban jungles and Just go nuts. Yaama Dhiyaan picked up some more good press in the SMH’s Tucker tricks. Maybe it’s the proximity to such entertainment, the uni and the city that put Darlington at the top of the best returns for landlords as reported by news.com.au in Find the best property investment suburbs. Central reported on Alexandria Park Community School’s opening of its community garden project to mark NAIDOC Week with Growing Sense of Community. The Central also covered Hillsong’s withdrawal of its Rosebery DA in Hillsong Sung to Tune of $18K. In the lead up to the CoS election in September the Central covered Independents Step Up - New faces vie for spot on council, the Greens in Candidates Keep it Green and Voters will decide on Sydney Wards. Green Left reported on the recent protests against income quarantining at Redfern Centrelink in Protests: End income quarantining!.

Connect Redfern – Children and Family Services Lists Updated for Term 3 2008

Connect Redfern has produced its Term 3 2008 directories. These can be downloaded from the REDWatch site on the following links Events Courses and Workshops — (1 MB PDF) Making Connections ( 309 KB PDF) Information for Parents (46 Kb PDF) and Community Service Contacts ( 110 Kb PDF).

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

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

• CoS - Inner West Community Forum - Wednesday 23 July. St Benedict's Hall, University of Notre Dame Australia, 104 Broadway, Chippendale Wednesday 23 July 6.00pm to 8.30pm
• CoS Community Forum - University of Sydney’s Campus 2020 Masterplan, Saturday 26 July. Carriageworks’ Track 8, 245 Wilson Street Eveleigh
• CoS - Green Square Community Forum - Tuesday 29 July. Green Square Community Facility, 3 Joynton Avenue, Zetland Tuesday 29 July 6.00pm to 7.30pm
• C0S - Review of Standard Development Application Conditions - On Exhibition until Tuesday 29 July.
• CoS  - Nominations sought for City of Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Advisory Panel – Close Friday 1^st August 2008.
• RWA – Railz Development Applications On Exhibition – 6^th August 2008
• NSW Inquiry into Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage – Response to iInterim Report by 15^th August 2008
• ATP's Blacksmithshop Open Day - 17th August 2008
• DoP – RWA Eveleigh Pedestrian / Bike Bridge on Exhibition – Until 15th August 2008
• DoP - Draft Sydney City Subregional Strategy – Until 5^th September 2008
• FaHCSIA – Consultation on a proposed National Indigenous Representative Body – Submissions Close 19^th September 2008.
• CoS - DA Notifications by Suburb View as Map