In this Update:

Roy Wakelin-King Appointed New CEO of Redfern-Waterloo Authority

Plans for North Eveleigh Approved

Eveleigh Railway Heritage

RWA / ATP Satellite Dishes DA Questions

Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan Evaluation

Broadway Developments – DGR’s for UTS and Fraser’s Main Park

Court Stops Erskineville Supermarket

REDWatch Meeting – 5 February 2009

Gordon Syron to Thank SBS & Celebration to Promote Keeping Place – 12^th February 2009

Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Networking Function – 18^th February 2009

Family Day at the Block! – 21 February 2009

Eveleigh Markets Commence 28^th February 2009

Stolen Wages Deadline Extended to 31^st May 2009

Connect Redfern - Updated Children & Family Lists

In the Media

South Sydney Herald February 2009

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)

Roy Wakelin-King Appointed New CEO of Redfern-Waterloo Authority

The Minister for Redfern Waterloo, Kristina Keneally, announced on 5 February 2009 the appointment of Mr Roy Wakelin-King as the new CEO of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority. The media release says: “Mr Wakelin-King will take the role from 16 February 2009, following the resignation of Robert Domm in November 2008. Mr Domm has continued as CEO of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. “Mr Wakelin-King has extensive experience across Government, having worked on the Olympics, World Youth Day and more recently at the Department of Commerce,” Ms Keneally said. “Roy has proven he has the capacity and skills to forward plan and then deliver. These are valuable skills which he will bring with him to the Redfern-Waterloo Authority. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Domm for his service to the Redfern-Waterloo”

The Minister also said “I worked with Roy during his time as CEO of the World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority, where he again proved his ability to plan and then deliver. I look forward to working with Roy and the rest of the staff at the Redfern-Waterloo Authority to build the area into an active and vibrant community.”

Over the Christmas New Year break Petar Vladeta, the RWA General Manager ceased his employment at the RWA. Petar Vladeta was appointed to a newly created position to handle the day to day administration of the RWA when Robert Domm ceased being full CEO at the RWA last year. RWA Planning Manager Mohini Nair is currently acting CEO of the RWA until Mr Wakelin-King starts as CEO.

Readers may also like to know that immediately after the last Update that the RWA finally added John Mulally to the RWA website director list.

Plans for North Eveleigh Approved

On 30^th January 2009 Minister Keneally issued a media statement advising Minister Approves North Eveleigh Concept Plan. So far, apart from some coverage on ABC TV news, the only media coverage has been the SMH’s Green light for rail yard high-rises.

The official documents made available on 2nd February 2009 show that the Department of Planning (DoP) Director General's Report (PDF 622.3 KB) was dated November 2008 and the Instrument of Approval (PDF 1.027 MB) was dated 16 December 2008. In effect the RWA’s North Eveleigh Concept Plan is evaluated by the DoP against the planning controls established by the RWA’s Built Environment Plan and the accompanying DoP SEPP. Resident concerns about density and height have been dismissed on the basis that the proposal is generally within the planning controls that the RWA formulated. In fact the heights and floor space ratio (FSR) of particular precincts do not strictly conform to those controls but the RWA and DoP have argued that the project is acceptable because the total floor space spread across the entire site is less than the total floor space allowed across the entire site and that in the case of height “the non-compliances result from the proposed building heights being redistributed across the site and are not higher than the maximum height allowed on the site”. Interestingly the RWA has not taken this same approach to the Block zoning and has wanted to deal with the development on a strict precinct by precinct basis rather than allow the AHC any height and FSR flexibility across its site. The Department’s decision to allow a different approach on North Eveleigh will hopefully also apply to the AHC’s proposal when it comes up for determination.

With only a few minor changes, the DoP and Minister have accepted the RWA’s Preferred Project Report. This is the modified proposal prepared by the RWA after exhibition in response to submissions.

The Preferred Project Report was prepared in September 2008 and contains significant changes from the initial exhibited proposal. The DoP describe the changes as:

• Increased public open space by 2,650m², by creating 3-4 extra parks

• Amended building locations, by deleting 3 buildings and introducing 1 new building

• Redistribution of building heights

• Reduced on-site parking by 143 spaces to 1800 spaces

• Reduced floor space by 2,480m²

• Reconfigured vehicular access point

• Introduction of sustainability targets

• Affordable housing provisions.

In the Director General’s Report the DoP describes the further modifications made by it through conditions attached to the approval as follows:

• Further consideration of design options for works to Paintshop Building and Carriageworks

• Preparation of a TMAP (Transport Management Accessibility Plan) to progress proposed intersection upgrades, identify measures to enhance public transport and pedestrian infrastructure, and support achievement of 40% mode share to car.

• Staging of development to ensure adequate access for vehicles and pedestrians and provision of services.

• Site management agreements for construction and ongoing operations between Carriageworks and owner(s) of residential and commercial buildings.

• Requirements to incorporate car share schemes and increased childcare provision in future project applications.

In the last update we were critical of the RWA for not honouring undertakings to make the community aware of its Preferred Project Report (see RWA Keeping Quite on North Eveleigh Modifications) – interesting the project had been approved by the Minister two days prior to our last RWIU and has sat waiting for a suitable time to be announced. REDWatch asked the RWA to brief them at the February meeting about the approved Concept Plan but this was not possible. The RWA needs to hold a public meeting to explain what has been approved to the community so those around the site are fully aware of the changes since exhibition.

The Minister’s media statement confirms that the government still plans that “The site would be taken to market in 2009, and developed over the next five to seven years.” Prior to Christmas the RWA had everything in place for the site to go to market as soon as approval of the Concept Plan was received. With the RWA proposing to allocate a significant amount of the site for affordable housing the RWA should also make public the details of which precincts of the site are to be placed on the market and which is to be retained.

For further details on the approved project visit the DoP’s website North Eveleigh: Concept Plan residential, commercial, cultural and open space.

Eveleigh Railway Heritage

In her media release about the North Eveleigh Approval Ms Keneally noted, “One of the outstanding features of this site is clearly its historical and heritage significance. In considering the proposal I wanted to ensure the heritage features were not only retained but enhanced. I believe the proposal in its amended form will achieve that,” The final RWA Preferred Project Report included a two page Heritage Interpretation Strategy and made some changes that improved the heritage outcomes. The final approval asks for some more work to be done on the proposals for the Paintshop and CarriageWorks but these are in terms of the impact of mezzanine car parking ramps rather than with the building of a residential building through the middle of the Paintshop. The DoP says the Paintshop “in its current form is structurally unsound and requires considerable improvements to ensure its useability and interpretation of heritage significance”.

The approval has addressed some of the concerns raised by heritage groups about the possibility of a range of separate Heritage Interpretation Strategies from different buyers. The Approval states “An Interpretation Plan is to be submitted (a) with the lodgement of the first Project Application, if the site is developed as a whole, or (b) with the first Project Application for each precinct, if the site is developed in parts.” In addition to an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment identified in the Historical Archaeological Impact Assessment, the approval also requires that “Archival or oral historical research together with the local Aboriginal community into the nature and significance of the Aboriginal connections with the railyards as a whole is to be undertaken prior to or during the preparation of an Interpretation Plan for the site”.

One of the heritage issues at Eveleigh is that the former railway site is broader than just North Eveleigh and heritage groups want to see a heritage and tourism strategy that takes in the entire former rail yard site. This issue was taken up in Push for Heritage Group in response to Central’s recent article Evolution of Eveleigh which confused aspects of North Eveleigh with the ATP privatisation. Heritage Groups have written to the Minister asking for a heritage and tourism working group to be set up to look at issues across the entire former rail yard site.

RailCorp’s decision to hold onto the Large Erecting Shop has been confirmed from a number of sources including in Central’s Grand plans for Eveleigh - Heritage plans about 3801 Ltd and the Large, and also in the National Trust (NSW) E-Newsletter January 2009 update on Eveleigh Railway Workshops. The unresolved issue at the Large continues to be the conflict between what space is required to run a viable heritage operational, maintenance and training facility and the space Office of Rail Heritage is looking for to store the electric collection of rolling stock it has to move out of the Paintshop prior to the North Eveleigh sale.

RWA / ATP Satellite Dishes DA Questions

During the January holiday period the RWA placed on their website a DA for three satellite dishes to be built on top of the already 12 storey Channel 7 building which DoP approved in an area with a 12 storey height zone. The RWA placed the DA on exhibition from 14 January to 4 February 2009 and it covers Seven Network’s ATP Partnership Pty Ltd proposal to install the following: 3.1m diameter Patriot prime focus antenna (receive only); 7.2m diameter Vertex Rsl Ku-band antenna (receive only) and; 7.0mx 12.8m ATCi Simulsat-7 multi-beam antenna to transmit. The documents supporting its application are Statement of Environmental Effects (220KB PDF); Aviation Safety Approval (162KB PDF); Plans (4.1MB PDF) and the Application form (680KB PDF).

The satellite dishes were foreshadowed in the Major Project Proposal submitted to the DoP MP 06_0149 - Production Studio and office complex, but for some reason the RWA, not the DoP, will make the final approval. The DoP approval of the modifications does allow for the Level 5 roof deck to go to the RWA for final determination, but we can see nothing about the satellite dish approval process being handed to the RWA by the DoP. At around 7 metres two of the dishes equate to an additional 2-storey height increase above the 12-storey zoning. Interestingly the DoP approval for the ATP-Seven building required the communications tower originally proposed at 15 metres to be decreased to no more than 5 metres.

Approval has been given for the dishes to go into protected airspace as in the words of the assessing officer “I am required under Regulation 14 of the Regulations to approve a proposal unless carrying out the proposal would interfere with the safety, efficiency or regularity of existing or future air transport operations into or out of the airport concerned”. The Protection of Airspace Report notes that the Satellite Dish is 74.68 metres AHD and infringes airspace by 16.7 metres.

The applicant argues, “Satellite antennas on the roof of the ATP-Seven building will provide a futuristic aspect to the skyline and be totally in keeping with the theme of a Technology Park. Standing beside the Eveleigh Railway Workshops they will complement the long established industrial character of the area”. The proponent in their original DoP application provided Appendix H Satellite Dish Examples (403KB PDF) which gives easy to reference to details of what was proposed, in their DA to the RWA they simply state that “Photographs and technical data for each of the antennas are freely available from respective manufacturers websites.”!

We have asked the RWA to explain why this DA is being dealt with by the RWA rather than the DoP but to date we have received no response. It seems to us that the two storey satellite dishes are integral to the Major Project approved by the DoP and any subsequent approvals should be dealt with by the DoP rather than by the RWA. In an earlier modification ATP-Seven substantially increased the area of roof space taken up by the building equipment & services (which do not count as floor space but are taken up as height). Now we have a separate application, as if it was not in the initial application, for 2-storey satellite dishes to go on top of an almost built 12-storey building with scant detail supplied to the local community. It is not surprising that some of the residents down in Henderson Road who received notices about the DA from the RWA felt that there was something not right about this DA proposal. If you have concerns about the proposal or the way it has been handled we are sure it is not too late to make a submission to the RWA. Details on the DA and where to make a submission can be found at www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/development_applications/development_proposals_on_exhibition.htm.

Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan Evaluation

The City of Sydney has released the evaluation of the Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan (RWCSP) undertaken by Jenny Bargen in May 2008. The copy released was not searchable so we have made and posted a Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan Evaluation 2008 - OCR Copy (2.2MB PDF) as well as the original version Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan Evaluation 2008 (675KB PDF). Please check the OCR against the original if you are quoting from the report to ensure there are no errors in the OCR overlay. If we receive a searchable copy from CoS we will post that in place of the original.

With the RWA still failing to release the Redfern Waterloo Street Team Evaluation and now failing to honour its August 2008 public undertaking to release its the Human Services Plan Phase 1 (HSP1) Evaluation and its Redfern Waterloo Case Coordination Project (RWCCP) Evaluation Report, the CoS evaluation of the Community Safety Plan is the only publically available evaluation of any of the Redfern Waterloo Partnership Project (RWPP) and RWA Human Services initiatives undertaken in Redfern Waterloo over the past six years!

The Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Task Force responsible for the RWCSP has been generally perceived as being the only RWPP Task Force that delivered what it was set up to do. The RWCSP evaluation records observations and makes comparisons about the process and levels of co-operation between the community and government bodies and hence throws rare light on the implementation of RWPP and RWA initiatives in Redfern and Waterloo. The RWA HSP1 Evaluation did not include the RWCSP. The RWCSP Evaluation makes the following observations about this omission:

“A recent evaluation of the implementation of Phase 1 of the RWHSP did not include consideration of the RWCSP. The assumption was made that the RWCSP had been `successfully implemented' and therefore did not need to be included in the evaluation. We found that, in general, many of the strategies set out in the Action Plan have indeed been implemented, but that there is still work to be done. One conclusion that could be drawn from the omission of the RWCSP from the evaluation of Phase 1 of the RWHSP is that a perception exists in the State Government that Redfern-Waterloo is now safe. Perhaps the omission of the RWCSP from the evaluation of the RWHSP is indicative of a diminution in long term commitment on the part of State Government to maintaining a focus on addressing the many complex and continuing social issues in Redfern and Waterloo, now that the media spotlight has, for the most part, shifted to other areas”(p6).

The Community Safety Plan Evaluation highlights the significant demographic change in the area. Between 2001 and 2006 the population of Waterloo almost doubled from 5745 to 11,122. The population of Redfern increased only slightly. The report notes as a consequence: “The public housing population was diluted by the influx of new residents into Waterloo. In 2001, sixty seven percent of households were living in public housing in Waterloo. By 2006, with the building of many new and refurbished apartments, this figure had fallen to forty seven percent.”(p12)

On demographic changes in the Aboriginal community the report makes the following observations: “In 2001, 7.2% of the people living in Waterloo were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders. With the influx of new residents into Waterloo, by 2006 only 3.4% identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders. In Redfern in 2001, 2.7% of the residents were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders. By 2006, this proportion had fallen slightly to 2.4%. The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the whole of Australia in 2006 was 2.3% which is similar to that for Redfern but still lower than that for Waterloo.”(p12)

It was the impact of such demographic changes that were raised at the RWA HSP1 Evaluation briefing in August 2008 to question if RWA benchmarks, such as increases in birth weights in the area, could really be used to indicate the success or otherwise of the RWA’s HSP.

The RWCSP Evaluation provides detailed analysis of changes in crime profiles in Redfern and Waterloo and makes some recommendations for formulating such plans in the future (one is currently on exhibition for Glebe).  The report also proposes bringing the Taskforce together “to review and celebrate the considerable progress that has been made in implementing the plan and to decide what needs to be done from now on.”(p9)

One of the policy areas that we hope CoS turns its attention to in the new council term is on how it can help build and strengthen communities, especially those experiencing high growth, social disadvantage and community turnover. This was part of the “overarching aim of the RWCSP …'to address the underlying causes of crime by focusing on building and strengthening community networks and supporting the most vulnerable groups and individuals in the South Sydney community (RWCSP, 2004:13).”(p27). The city flirted with the models of community development outlined in Jim Diers’ Neighbor Power: Building Community the Seattle Way and even with bringing Jim Diers out for sessions with CoS staff, but little has materialised from this. Irrespective of whether CoS chooses the Jim Dier’s model or uses another one, the city needs to include building communities as an integral part of its long term City of Villages Strategy. Building community in high turnover public housing areas and in high growth areas such as Redfern and Waterloo could go a long way towards reducing crime and the perception of crime in the area.

Broadway Developments – DGR’s for UTS and Fraser’s Main Park

With the Fraser site modified Concept Plan awaiting approval, UTS has now made public its plans for the other side of Broadway. Together the projects will create significant changes to the Broadway entrance to the City. UTS in the Preliminary Assessment for the University of Technology Sydney (Broadway) - Concept Plan has mapped out its preliminary proposal and has received the DoP’s Director General’s Requirements (DGRs) to prepare its proposal for public exhibition. Meanwhile on the Fraser site the DoP has also issued DGRs for the CUB Main Park and Related Infrastructure. City News’s article on the UTS proposal was headlined Broadway set to become a ‘windswept high rise canyon’

Court Stops Erskineville Supermarket

On 13 January 2009 the judgment was delivered in Artro Management Pty Ltd v Council of the City of Sydney. CoS was successful in persuading the Court that the DA did not comply with its instruments and would lead to unacceptable amenity impacts on the Erskineville Village area. The DA was refused and the appeal dismissed. On the Friends of Erskineville website you can find a copy of the judgment and the Court's reason for refusing the development application (135KB PDF). Media reports included Central’s No to Supermarket and South Sydney Herald’s Supermarket development rejected by court.

REDWatch Meeting – 5 February 2009

The next REDWatch meeting will be on Thursday 5^th February 2009 at the Factory Community Centre 67 Raglan St Waterloo at 6pm. The focus for the February meeting will be the North Eveleigh Concept Plan. Minister Keneally is expected to attend the March REDWatch meeting. REDWatch meeting are open to the public so come along and find out about what is happening in your community.

Gordon Syron to Thank SBS & Celebration to Promote Keeping Place – 12^th February 2009

There will be a celebration on the eve of the first anniversary of the Australian Government’s apology to the Stolen Generations. The event will include entertainment and the presentation to SBS of a painting in appreciation of their documentary series "First Australians". More information can be found from the media release Gordon Syron To Thank SBS & Promote Keeping Place. Gordon and Elaine recently featured in the SMH Good Weekend’s column 2 of US - Gordon Syron & Elaine Pelot Syron.

All but the finishing touches to the catalogue of the Syron’s art collection have been completed. Now The Aboriginal Keeping Place committee, which has been set up to handle the Syron Art Collection, is looking in the longer term at setting up a foundation so that the collection can be retained within the public domain. At present the Indigenous committee consists of some very over committed people and they have asked that we send out a call to people who would like to become “Friends of The Keeping Place”. At present they have no financial base so in the short term they need volunteers who can assist with administrative tasks or with donations of a computer or other office equipment. Contact Josephine Cashman 0400 420 674 if you can assist.

Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Networking Function – 18^th February 2009

The Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce is having its first networking function for the year on Wednesday 18th February from 5.30 – 7.00pm in the Conference Room, Tudor Inn Hotel cnr Redfern and Pitt Streets, Redfern, NSW. This is an opportunity to network with other local businesses, council staff and political representatives. Special Guest will be The Hon. Kristina Keneally MP. RSVPs required by Monday 16th February to marylynne@transitionbiz.com.au.

Family Day at the Block! – 21 February 2009

Family Day is back on The Block in 2009 to drive change on The Block and the community. The invitation says “Guaranteed Safe Environment - Saturday, 21st February 2009 1pm to 4pm. This is a call out to people who think unity, greatness and family is the way for our people.- RECLAIM OUR PEOPLE & COMMUNITY. Come along and enjoy some family time with ya kids, friends, community and family.  Hear some history, share some history and make a statement that Blak Fullas are STRONG & PROUD. BBQ (sausage sizzle); Fruit: bottled water; Live & deadly acts; Jumping Castle; Face Painting, Arts & Crafts Market. FREE OR A GOLD COIN DONATION TO SUPPORT THIS CONTINUED EVENT. We believe drug dealing & drug use don’t belong to Aboriginal Culture. We know you do too! Change is coming to the block!” For more information contact Shane Phillips at Tribal Warrior 9699 3491.

Eveleigh Markets Commence 28^th February 2009

The Eveleigh Farmers Market commences trading weekly on Saturdays from the 28th February from 8am to 1pm. Eveleigh Artisans Market will be held on the first Sunday of the month commencing 1st March from 9am to 2pm. All enquires should be made to Denny Hall, Business Development Manager Eveleigh Markets ph 9209 4220 d.hall@atp.com.au

The RWA has approved its own application for the Provision of Signage on the Blacksmiths’ Workshop Building for the Market use. The details of the approval can be downloaded from, the RWA website under Application Number: DA 039-11-08 (PDF 288 KB)

Stolen Wages Deadline Extended to 31^st May 2009

The NSW Government has announced that the deadline for making a Stolen Wages claim in NSW has been extended. The new registration deadline is 31 May 2009. Please pass this information on to everyone, Indigenous and non-Indigenous who may have a claim or may be interested in finding out more about Stolen Wages as all possible claimants and their descendants need to be registered with the NSW Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme (the Repayment Scheme) by the May deadline.

The repayment of Stolen Wages to members of the NSW Aboriginal community is a very important issue and currently repayments are being made through the Repayment Scheme. Unfortunately, the Repayment Scheme does not advertise its existence and so PIAC is asking you to let people know about the new registration deadline.

For further information you can also look at www.atfrs.nsw.gov.au and www.piac.asn.au/system/indig.html. If you know someone who wants to register a claim with the Repayment Scheme, they can phone either the Repayment Scheme directly on freecall number 1800 765 889; and / or PIAC’s Indigenous Justice Program Senior Solicitor, Keppie Waters on 8898 6527. Central also ran an article on the extension see - Government extends deadline for wages.

Connect Redfern - Updated Children & Family Lists

Each term Connect Redfern issues updates lists for Children and Family services in Redfern Waterloo. We have posted the lists for Term 1 2009 on the REDWatch site at www.redwatch.org.au/redw/services/connectredfern . The four lists are Events Courses and Workshops (4 MB PDF) Making Connections ( 635 KB PDF), Community Service Contacts (110 Kb PDF) and Information for Parents (46 Kb PDF).

In the Media

Following a media item our last update Redfern In the Police Media rightly or wrongly? we have had further correspondence with Redfern Police Commander Luke Freudenstein who undertook to take the issue up with police media. The problem we highlighted seems to have been addressed with police media releases over the last couple of weeks referencing the suburb where the offence took place rather that Redfern as the command location where the charge was laid. Hopefully this helps with some of the perception of crime issues by seeing fewer associations between Redfern and crime reports.

Redfern picked up some good press over the holiday break with reports about The Block’s Barack Obama Inauguration Party reported widely including in the Daily Telegraph’s Americans celebrate Obama inauguration in Sydney and Central’s Change sweeps The Block. The same issue of Central ran the article The new generation on Binowee Bayles and the week before the Central’s article on Sydney Festival Tickle the Ivories had a photo of locals on The Block piano.

Perceptions of Redfern change slowly as was indicated in the following post on the ABC Elders called in to calm Sydney 'ghetto' story about Rosemeadow “redfern is wayyyyyy worse than anything campbelltown has got, atleast you can drive and walk around campbelltown in these "ghettos", theres streets in redfern that if you're white you cannot go near, car or foot” Will someone name the streets and in case they are on The Block let all the many people going to Redfern Community Centre know its not safe? In contrast Paul Collis in Where have all the flowers gone? on the ABC’s Indigenous website on 20 January 2009 looks at the change on the Block over the years and asks “"Where's all the Blackfullas? All the young men?"”

Housing NSW maintenance is still being held to account with the Central following up on some earlier investigations and highlighting the delays in Sewer pipe fix delayed. The following week Ross Smith responded to some of Housing NSW’s comments in Service not Delivered - Letter. In the South Sydney Herald Ross also provided some analysis on the NSW Government’s closure of some housing estates in Community decay, bulldozers and real estate agents – the NSW State Plan?

South Sydney's return to Redfern for their West Tigers game has been picked up in a number of places including the Australian’s Full house sign up for Redfern clash and Centrals Bunnies Hop Home.

Finally for those concerned about the recent movement of the Redfern Post Office the Sydney Morning Herald ran The last post which clarified that the post office building sold by Australia Post long ago and the post office is now run by an independent agent who is not obliged to stay in the same location renting from the building’s new owners.

South Sydney Herald February 2009

You can download the entire copy of the South Sydney Herald for February 2009 as soon as it’s available from www.southsydneyherald.com.au. Articles from the February 2009 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo have been placed on the REDWatch website and include A question of access about Redfern resident Arne Hanna’s struggle to negotiate his community as a wheelchair bound person. Ross Smith provides an analysis of public housing redevelopment in Community decay, bulldozers and real estate agents – the NSW State Plan? Geoff Turnbull reports on the Good turnout for RWA Christmas Market and Trevor Davies in his SSH Fast News February 2009 covers two Housing NSW issues, Henderson Road concerns about the RWA ATP-Seven Satellite dish DA, roller shutters, Souths Leagues Clubs IGA and women’s magazine Marie Claire’s amazing story about a local Redfern woman, Belinda Carr.

Sydney’s abandonment of artists may lead to artists’ abandonment of Sydney looks at support for the arts in Melbourne and Sydney with some interesting comments from someone who works in CarriageWorks. It also covers Artworks in shop windows about SLOT window gallery’s plan to celebrate its fifth anniversary by re-creating eleven of those installations in empty shop windows along Regent Street.

Songs with a beat – Yabun 2009 covers the popular indigenous festival held on Survival Day while the South Sydney Herald also reports on its own Survival Day on Sydney Harbour cruise with the Tribal Warrior Association. On environmental issues Patricia Corowa looks in Redfern activist calls for climate justice at the impact of climate change in the Pacific and Warren Mundine makes comments in Indigenous leaders cautious about carbon trading schemes.

In other stories which relate to the area the SSH looks at State taxes tough on inner-city business, the Redfern Legal Services’ Activists’ manual launched in Alexandria and at Erskineville’s Supermarket development rejected by court.

Finally if you have some time on February 17^th South Sydney Herald is spreading the word that CoS is looking for people to help count Sydney’s homeless population in Volunteers sought for street count.

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 - Missenden Road Cycleway - Community feedback, until 6 February.
• CoS - Alexandria Cycleway - Until Wedensday 11 February 2009.
• CoS - Draft Planning Agreement: 2 – 4 Allen Street, Waterloo - Until Tuesday 17 February.
• Sydney University expect to consult on Abercrombie Street Major Project Application in late February 2009.
• CoS - DA Notifications by Suburb View as Map
• CoS - Free Home Composting & Worm Farming Workshops - Book online.