In this Update:

RWIU and REDWatch Website Changes

AHC Responds to Submissions on Pemulwuy Project

The Eighteen Storey Future for Gibbons Street

ILC / YMCA and the National Indigenous Development Centre (NIDC)

NIDC Youth Advisory Committee Nominations

Sydney University Draft 2020 Masterplan Exhibition – Until 30 June 2009

RWA under New Management – What is happening?

RailCorp Jump the Gun on North Eveleigh Demolition

ATP-Seven Building Level 2 & 3 Fit Out and Level 5 Plant Installation

Darlington Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Study – issues input by 8 May 2009

Darlington - Charles Kernan Reserve new Community Garden – Feedback Requested

Renewal and Proposed Expansion of Redfern Waterloo Alcohol Free Zones – Until Thursday 30 April 2009

Redfern Community Forum Report

The Future of Community Safety in Redfern Waterloo – REDWatch Forum Wednesday 6 May 2009 6pm

Frasers Broadway Development

Nominations for Waterloo and Redfern Volunteer Awards – Close 27^th April 2009

Redfern Waterloo Public Housing gets Maintenance Funding Boost

New Waterloo Residents Groups being formed

“Let’s TALK About Our Community” – Housing NSW - Redfern Waterloo Workshops 18 – 22 May 2009

Consultation on Memorial Statue of Fr Ted Kennedy and Mum Shirl – 18 April 2009 The Block 1-3pm

ANZAC Day Celebration – 25^th April 2009

City of Sydney Grants

In the Media

South Sydney Herald April 2009

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

Coming Events (On the REDWatch website - There are lots at the moment not covered in the update)

RWIU and REDWatch Website Changes

We are very aware that the time between our email Updates is increasing. Work pressure for Geoff is meaning that there isn’t as much time to allocate to them as we have previously. To try and streamline the process we have made some changes to the homepage on the www.redwatch.org.au website so more of the information normally in our Updates will be available on the REDWatch website between Updates.

The homepage of the REDWatch site now includes a number of new sections down the right hand side. There is a new Have Your Say section which lists community meetings, consultations and key exhibitions. Many DAs only exhibit for three weeks so the exhibition period can come and go between Updates. A couple of examples of this since out last Update are a CoS DA for work by the Indigenous Land Corporation on 233 Abercrombie Street Darlington to create a new home for Mudgin-gal and the DA approval by the RWA for air-conditioning on the Channel 7 building.

Another section www.redwatch.org.au/news is where any local news items between Updates will appear. The Media Articles on Redfern Waterloo will still show you the latest news articles about Redfern Waterloo from the mainstream media, the South Sydney Herald, City News and Central as well as media releases from local organisations. The calendar is now at the top on the right hand side of the REDWatch website – if you put your cursor over a shaded day you can see what is on and if you click on it you will get the details. A list of Upcoming Events can be found on the bottom right hand side of the REDWatch site.

If your organisation would like to post your own coming events, event posters and media releases about Redfern Waterloo then please contact mail@redwatch.org.au and we will set up an account for this. Plans to set up a wider Redfern Waterloo Community website later this year are still being pursued.

AHC Responds to Submissions on Pemulwuy Project

The Aboriginal Housing Company has supplied its responses to the submissions made during the public exhibition of the Pemulwuy Mixed Use Development Redfern to the Department of Planning. The responses are now on the DoP’s website and can be downloaded Response to submissions.pdf (680.8 KB). The AHC has made an Addendum to statement of commitments.pdf (16.46 KB), included some parking in the development Parking plan.pdf (330.1 KB) and clarified the proposal with a Circulation plan.pdf (298.0 KB) and a Public Domain plan.pdf (2.225 MB). Objectors to the project on non planning grounds will find their objections answered simply with the statement “This is not a matter that a consent authority can or should take into account.”

Over the last month the AHC has met with the Minister for Redfern Waterloo Kristina Keneally, her Chief of Staff Tony Pooley and with RWA CEO Roy Wakelin-King. Since the response to submissions there has been a walk around of the site which included the AHC project team, RWA Planning Staff and the staff responsible for the DoP’s assessment. A determination by the DoP and Minister is expected to be finalised in the near future.

It is hoped that a decision on the proposal will also lead to Housing NSW looking at how their three vacant terrace blocks on Caroline Street might be included in the redevelopment. It is also hoped that discussions can be resumed with RailCorp and the RWA about removing the brick wall at the corner of Eveleigh and Lawson Streets to create at least some of the RED Square envisaged in the earlier Premier’s Department RED Strategy RED Proposed Town Centre (PDF) (531 PDF).

The Eighteen Storey Future for Gibbons Street

We earlier mentioned that the DoP had issued Director General’s Requirements (DGRs) for 7-9 Gibbons Street to place 14 storeys above the existing four storey car park. Kimberley Securities have now asked for a modification of the DGRs on this site to allow them to build an 18 storey building including a supermarket with underground car parking. This request was with the DoP at the same time as a request for DGRs for the redevelopment of the current RSL site (157 Redfern Street). This has allowed the DoP to issue complimentary DGRs for both projects which aim to get the best integration from the development of the adjoining sites. The applications can be accessed on the DoP site at the links below and we have provided a brief overview from each of the applications:

Redfern RSL: MP09_0039 - Mixed Use Development, Redfern RSL, Gibbons Street, Redfern

The proposed building is to contain:

• active street frontages with shops at the ground floor level fronting both Redfern and Gibbons Streets;
• new club premises for Redfern RSL at the 1st floor level
• commercial office space at the 2nd and 3rd floor levels
• apartments at the upper floor levels of the building.

The proposal will involve significant improvements to the public domain in terms of enhancing pedestrian linkages along Redfern Street between the Redfern Railway Station and the Redfern Town Centre on the eastern side of Regent Street by:

• eliminating vehicular access and vehicle/pedestrian conflict in Redfern Street
• establishing an attractive, vibrant and active street frontage
• providing shade and shelter for people using the link
• casual surveillance of the public domain over extended hours by virtue of the use and operation of the proposed shops, offices, club and apartments.

7-9 Gibbons Street, Redfern: MP08_0112 - Mixed Use Residential/Commercial/Retail Development

Outline of the Current Proposal

• 6 levels of basement car parking.
• 1 level of street fronting retail tenancies and loading facilities.
• 1 level of supermarket including back of house space.
• 3 levels of commercial space.
• 13 levels of residential dwellings including 48  x 1 bed /studio units, 35 x  2 bed units and 6 x 3 bed units.

Summary of amendments

• The existing above ground car park has been deleted and car parking is now located below ground.
• Retail tenancies have been introduced to provide an active street frontage.
• A supermarket use is proposed in addition to the ground floor retail tenancies.
• Loading facilities have been introduced.
• Commercial floor space provision has been increased.
• The proposal for serviced apartments has been deleted.
• The residential component of the proposal has been redesigned to improve residential amenity.
• The proposed built form has been amended to comply with the Department of Planning and the Redfern-Waterloo Authority objectives for the site in terms of height, density, setbacks and overall built form.

ILC / YMCA and the National Indigenous Development Centre (NIDC)

In our last Update we reported on the National Indigenous Development Centre Update - Feb 2009 and raised questions about how this fitted with the youth strategy in the RWA Human Services Plan. Following that Update we were advised by the RWA that the “The RWA hosted a Youth Services Planning Meeting on the 17th February 2009. Invitations were sent by the ILC to an extensive mailing list of youth and sport related services. Thirty people attended the workshop which was independently facilitated by Twyfords consulting.  The RWA offered at this workshop to facilitate future youth service meetings and is currently developing a program with the ILC and the YMCA”. You can see the full text of their statement at RWA - ILC - YMCA Meeting Report - 17 February 2009. We had heard nothing about this meeting and we subsequently discovered that many key agencies that will be impacted by the NIDC programmes did not attend or say they were not aware of it despite the email invitation sent before Christmas. The disengagement of many of the NGOs from the RWA process, which was discussed at the recent REDWatch meeting with the Minister, probably explains why many potentially impacted agencies were not involved in the meeting. We had earlier advised the YMCA that they should approach agencies directly rather than rely only on the RWA to facilitate the process.

The ILC has subsequently appointed International Marketing firm Hill & Knowlton Marketing Agency of Record for National Indigenous Development Centre. Hill & Knowlton is an international marketing company that handles accounts like Nestles, Proctor and Gamble, Johnson and Johnson, Motorola, HP, Pfizer, Adidas and Sega. Hill & Knowlton in Australia handle accounts like Barokes, Ford, Krispy Kreme, TomTom and Roche. The prospect of having such a high power firm promoting the NIDC and its services has certainly caught some people’s attention. In the words of Hill & Knowlton’s international website we wonder what ‘success in Redfern Waterloo’ will look like?

The YMCA already operates centres with the City of Sydney council at the Cook and Phillip Park Aquatic and Fitness Centre and Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre. The NIDC will be the YMCA’s third operating facility within the CoS area. So it is not surprising that the ILC & YMCA Presentation (PDF 445Kb) to the CoS Inner South Community Forum was well received. For some agencies present the slide showing what might happen at the NIDC at 5pm on a Thursday night bought home some of the potential impact that a well marketed NIDC might have on some of their existing programmes. The slide showed:

• 4 Futsal Sports teams - 2 being Indigenous
• 35 Children's and Adults Swimming with 12 to 20 Indigenous
• 25 Indigenous Rugby Players at a Lloyd McDermott Camp
• 50 Fitness Members with 20 to 25 Indigenous Members
• 30 OSCHC [Out of School Hours Care] and homework children with 10 to 15 Indigenous
• 20 Indigenous Children from NSW North Coast Visiting Sydney
• 50 Children from Bathurst Primary visiting Sydney
• 20 NASCA [National Aboriginal Sports Corporation Australia] Indigenous Athletes at a training Camp

The YMCA presentation indicated that special provision would be made to make the centre affordable. The presentation expected that 5% of attendees would be on scholarships and 30% of all users would pay 20% of the YMCA’s market rates. With the facility on the edge of a major public housing estate, where lack of market incomes will make it almost impossible for many to pay market rates, the YMCA is looking at the possibility that its fees may need to be changed to reflect users’ incomes. With most local agencies providing free programmes, the question is will people currently using existing free services pay to use the YMCA service. Or might the NIDC provide a new facility that local agencies can add to their list of options available for their current clients covered by their existing funding support. Whichever way this goes it is clear that any agencies who have not yet familiarised themselves with the YMCA / NIDC offering should do so. For more information email james.ellender@ymca.org.au Phone: 9687 6233 or visit www.sydney.ymca.org.au/nidc to find out more.

On the building side, the ILC have put in for Modification on the Former Redfern Public School for Area G - Deletion of child care building and provision of an outdoor multi purpose sports court and play areas where Murrawina was to be located. The application states that “facilities for the Child Care centre are being developed by the ILC elsewhere in Redfern, and so the use is no longer required on the NIDC site.”  The modification plans will not go on exhibition and if you have any concerns please read the documents on the DoP website at the link above. We are also advised that the completion of the NIDC will be pushed back due to delays in getting a new substation on site. Until a move to the NIDC site is possible the ILC and YMCA will use the ILC offices at 233 Abercrombie Street to house and train staff. Work on the renovation for Mudgin-gal will be delayed until everyone moves to the completed NIDC.

NIDC Youth Advisory Committee Nominations

The NIDC is setting up an NIDC Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) to inform the YMCA about youth issues in the community and to support the YMCA in implementing youth focused initiatives aimed at engaging young people from the local area. The YMCA is looking for young people between 12 and 18 years of age who are passionate about youth issues, particularly relating to Indigenous youth. Indigenous and Non-Indigenous young people are both encouraged to apply especially if you want to develop skills in leadership; want to provide a community service; and if you live in, work in, go to school in or hang out in the local area or want to meet other young people & form new friendships. You can download the poster from the REDWatch website at NIDC Youth Advisory Committee Nominations Now Open Poster (PDF 296 KB). For more information email james.ellender@ymca.org.au Phone: 9687 6233 or visit www.sydney.ymca.org.au/nidc.

Sydney University Draft 2020 Masterplan Exhibition – Until 30 June 2009

Sydney University finally has its Draft 2020 Masterplan available on its own website at www.facilities.usyd.edu.au/c2020/index.shtml. From there you can now download a smaller size (still 3.4 MB PDF) Draft Campus 2020 Masterplan, request a non-electronic copy or provide feedback about the draft Masterplan. Regrettably however the University has provided no fact sheets (not even the information presented last year on their open day) as an overview / explanation / alternative to reading the full Draft Masterplan document. Even the text of the web page to date provides no information about what the Masterplan is or why people should download it and comment! We have raised these issues with the University and while some changes have been made it has not addressed these issues so feel free to make your own comments about the level of information supplied on the feedback section!

The University has now provided a timetable for the finalisation of the 2020 Masterplan. If North Eveleigh is sold this year then under the University’s timeframe it should be known by the end of the year, when the plan in finalised, if the University will incorporate North Eveleigh and if so what parts of the site. The time frame is:

• March 2009 - Draft Campus 2020 Masterplan issued for consultation & Website launched
• April- June 09 - Community and Stakeholder Consultations (University community of staff, students, local community and faculties)
• 30 June 09 - Consultation submissions close
• July- September 09 - Masterplan design development phase
• 30 September 09 - Masterplan design final draft
• October- November 09 - Feedback consultation with Community and Stakeholders
• December 09 - Adopt Masterplan recommendation & present Campus 2020 Masterplan to senate for approval

RWA under New Management – What is happening?

We have earlier covered the appointment of Roy Wakelin-King as the new RWA CEO. Roy has been talking to a lot of people over the last couple of months getting an understanding of the issues of concern to local people and an understanding of what the RWA has been doing. Over the last couple of months he has met, either individually or with the Minister, a wide range of people and groups including the CoS CEO Monica Barone, REDWatch, the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce and the Aboriginal Housing Company. He has walked around the North Eveleigh site with local resident Bruce Lay, visited the ATP Blacksmith Shop with Wendie and Guido and the Large Erecting Shop with representatives of 3801 Ltd and Friends of Eveleigh. The RWA has also attended the CoS Council Community Forums covering the RWA area, talking to residents in the pre-meeting sessions about issues like traffic and giving a presentation about the North Eveleigh Concept Plan at the CoS Forum at Redfern Town Hall. Roy also attended Kristina Kennelly’s Community meeting for Public Housing residents in Waterloo on 14 April 2009 and listened to their concerns first hand.

The Minister and the RWA CEO’s presentation to a REDWatch meeting provide some indication of some of the changes to expect. The meeting, covered in the South Sydney Herald story RWA’s new CEO in listening mode, promised a more consultative approach to what has previously been experienced. The Minister recognised human services as being a neglected area and indicated it is back on the agenda with the CEO being asked to review the Human Services Plans. While the Human Services Evaluation still has not been released there is a commitment to release it (after yet further discussions with the relevant government departments) and to seriously look at how government and NGO agencies and the community can better address human services issues. Roy is taking a active role in the Implementation Senior Offices Group of government departments which has responsibility for implementing the Human Services Plans.

The message is plain that the RWA will not back away from government plans such as the sale of North Eveleigh, although its sale to Sydney University remains a possibility. The Built Environment Plan (Phase Two) proposals for the redevelopment of public housing in Redfern Waterloo will still proceed although, as a result of Housing NSW’s experience during redevelopments at Minto and Bonnyrigg, the RWA is talking about modifying how it handles the process of consultation with public tenants. The Minister surprised the REDWatch meeting by reminding people of her commitment to chain herself to Matavai and Tarunga, but at the same time she indicated that the BEP would look at all public housing, including the high-rise. She also indicated the possibility that not all the affordable housing from the CUB site would go on the North Eveleigh Site. This is significantly different from what had previously been said by the RWA.

The frustrations of some of the heritage people were evident at the REDWatch meeting. They used the meeting to push the Minister on heritage concerns that had not been previously addressed. In October 2008 heritage groups had asked Minister Keneally to establish a heritage committee / roundtable of government and non-government heritage people to develop a Heritage and Tourism Strategy for the former railway yards. At the REDWatch meeting the Minister undertook to set up a committee although the form and membership of the committee are still unclear. The RWA CEO in a letter to 3801 Ltd acknowledged the Minister’s undertaking and said “the RWA will shortly be inviting key stakeholders to participate in this group …”

Following the REDWatch meeting the RWA provided written clarification of some answers provided at the REDWatch meeting as well as responding to some written questions. You can see here the RWA Response to REDWatch Meeting Questions, also of interest may be some Comments on North Eveleigh Issues made by Roy Wakelin-King to Bruce Lay following a walk around the North Eveleigh site. REDWatch, in consultation with some heritage people, is preparing some follow up questions on ATP Heritage and the implementation of its Conservation Management Plan, as these issues are not adequately addressed in the initial RWA responses.

A new RWA Update newsletter after Easter and the rekindling of Ministerial Advisory Committees will hopefully provide an indication of how the RWA will now proceed under the combination of the new CEO and Minister Kristina Keneally. Listening will need to remain an integral part of the RWA process but this can not be used to delay the action that is needed from the RWA and in the next month people will expect to see some of the changes they have been promised.

There has recently been a new batch of graduate students from Yaama Dhiyaan and the Les Tobler courses (see ABC AM’s Redfern program helps Indigenous youths get ahead). The Eveleigh Farmer’s Markets continue to perform well, and the RWA is pleased with the ongoing local support of what is rapidly becoming a great community asset. The Craft / Artisan’s markets on the first Sunday of the month however have had a slow start and one stall holder tells us that part of the problem is that there is no budget to promote them until July 2009. Maybe the ATP should swing some of its advertising from its full page adds publicising its conference facilities in local papers to supporting the Artisan’s markets.

RailCorp Jump the Gun on North Eveleigh Demolition

On 6 April 2009 Railcorp advertised in the SMH for tenders for the "Demolition of Carriage Shop Extension and Stores Buildings (1-4) Including removal of Hazardous Materials at Eveleigh Rail Yards RFT ID 09/08027". The advertisement referred to their tenders’ page which advised that "RailCorp requires an experienced demolition Contractor for the Hazardous Materials removal and Demolition of Carriage Shop Extension and Stores Buildings (1-4) at North Eveleigh Rail Yards. Work involves the demolition and removal of the former Carriage Shop and Stores Buildings (1-4) to slab level and removal of all hazardous materials from the Site (including asbestos containing materials)." We have now been supplied with a copy of the RailCorp Tender Map for Demolition of Boilermakers Shop, Carriage Shop Extension and Stores Buildings at North Eveleigh (MS Word 943kb). The problem is that the tender has been called but there is no approved DA for the demolition!

We made enquiries with the RWA which has advised that it understands that the tender was sent out by RailCorp subject to Development Approval but that an application has yet to be lodged. The RWA advise it will advertise the application when it is received. The RWA CEO Roy Wakelin-King said “I understand that the demolition relates to buildings that have potential structural issues in North Eveleigh, and their demolition is permissible (subject to DA approval) in line with the Concept Plan”. Until the DA is lodged the RWA are unable to advise what buildings will be covered.

We will make sure the details of the DA go up on the Have Your Say section of the REDWatch website as soon as it goes on exhibition.

ATP-Seven Building Level 2 & 3 Fit Out and Level 5 Plant Installation

Since our last Update the RWA exhibited a proposal for the “Fit out of parts of Level 2 and 3 and installation of Plant (air conditioning condenser unit) on Level 5 roof of the ATP-7 Building” by “Global Television Services Pty Ltd Location ATP-Seven Building, 8 Central Avenue”. The exhibition for DA 041-03-09 closed on 1 April 2009 but you can still see what is proposed in the documents placed on exhibition: Statement of Environmental Effects (90Kb PDF) Locality Plan (394KB PDF) Level 5 Roof Plan (385 KB PDF) West Elevation (301Kb PDF) BCA Statement (77Kb PDF) Cost Report (9KB PDF) Accessibility Statement (39KB PDF) Political donations Statement (63KB PDF) Application form (587KB PDF). It is interesting to note that the political donations statement says “no political donation has been made to the Redfern Waterloo Authority or any person with a financial interest in this development“. Here we are thinking that this is a project being approved by a NSW state government body and hence that the disclosure would be about donations to political parties and candidates! It makes us wonder if this is a loop hole or did they just get it wrong?

In other ATP news the Department of Planning has approved Mod 2 - Minor Design Modifications and Provision of Major Plant - 8 Central Ave on 11/03/2009.

Darlington Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Study – issues input by 8 May 2009

On 31 March 2009 City of Sydney council held a Community Forum to kick off consultation on Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming (including Parking) for the area covering East Newtown, Darlington, parts of Erskineville and Camperdown. Community input on the issues that need to be addressed in this area is being sought by Council until 17 April 2009 however REDWatch has been contacted by Terry Lawrence from the consultants Transport and Urban Planning who have advised REDWatch that they need input by 8 May 2009. The resultant plan is described by council as “a community-driven plan which will manage and calm traffic on local roads, increase pedestrian, bicycle and public transport access and provide better safety and amenity for local residents” The study includes:

• Improving walking and cycling access to local schools, parking and railway stations.
• Installing new street crossings and traffic calming devices
• Our planned cycleway network and new cycleway projects on Missenden Road, Wilson Street and Shepherd Street
• Managing student car parking
• Improving amenity for residents living near King Street

For a detailed map showing the area covered by the study click here (PDF 1Mb). All comments should be sent to Charlie Bevan, Senior Transport Planner, Telephone: 02 9265 9333 or Email: cbevan@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au If you have any problems after 17 April putting comments to Charlie please email them to mail@redwatch.org.au and we will pass them on to the consultants.

We have bought the CoS’s attention to the studies produced as part of the RWA’s North Eveleigh Consultation including REDWatch’s submission to make sure this is captured in the study and we encourage everyone in the study area to raise their concerns with CoS if they have not already done so. Central which attended the Community Forum covered the meeting in its story Cleveland Street a "deathtrap" for pedestrians and cyclists: Locals.

You can download the CoS presentation from Inner West Community Forum March 2009 (PDF 12Mb). The CoS Inner West area stretches from Central Station to Sydney Park so some of the material is well outside the area covered by the Darlington village. CoS initiatives in the area covered in the presentation include information on the proposal for Charles Kernan Reserve and changes in Chippendale from its earlier traffic study and street works. The presentation also contains information that separated cycleways will be introduced along Missenden Road, Wilson Street, Abercrombie Street, Shepherd Street and Codrington Avenue (we have subsequently been told Lawson Street has been added to the list).

Darlington - Charles Kernan Reserve new Community Garden – Feedback Requested

The CoS has approved new plans for Darlington’s Charles Kernan Reserve. You can download the Council Officers Report and Attachments that went to the Environment and Heritage Committee of 9 March 09. The Officers Report can be found at Charles Kernan Reserve – Community Consultation And Concept Design Plan | PDF 71Kb and the proposed plan for the park is Attachment B | PDF 1.6Mb. Council is now proceeding with detailed design of the Reserve. The proposed timeframe for the project is: Design development and documentation - March - May 2009; Construction tender phase - June 2009; Commence construction - September 2009; Completion - 3-5 months.

There was a petition for a community garden to be included in the redesigned reserve and council has allocated some space for this. Council is now seeking input from interested persons as to how this space will be developed and managed to best serve the community. A meeting will be organised for residents interested in the proposed community garden, and if you would like to be involved in the design and development of a community garden please contact Council's Community Garden Coordinator, Annie Walker on telephone 9265 9786 or by email anwalker@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. The overall project is being handled by Jenny Burge jburge@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.

The council consultation surrounding the redevelopment of Charles Kernan Reserve provided the basis for Geoff to make Reflections on Council Consultation in Darlington. The piece was a bit long to include in the Update so we have put it on the REDWatch website for those interested in some ideas about how consultation in the villages might be improved.

Renewal and Proposed Expansion of Redfern Waterloo Alcohol Free Zones – Until Thursday 30 April 2009

We were alerted by The Shout’s New Alcohol-Free Zones Proposed for Sydney that CoS is to consider 73 proposals for Alcohol Free Zones (AFZ) across the entire City of Sydney area that were received from police and local residents. The Central has also just run a major article looking at some of the issues raised in Alcohol Free Zones extend further through Sydney. The proposals which include applications for five new Alcohol Free Zones in Redfern Waterloo are on Exhibition until 30 April 2009. The proposed new zones include: “Lawson Street from Gibbons Street to Abercrombie Street, Eveleigh Street from Lawson Street to Caroline Street, Pitt Street from Phillip Street to Kellick Street, Phillip Street from Pitt Street to Cope Street and Raglan Street from Pitt Street to Cope Street”. In addition, to streamline the various AFZs throughout the City of Sydney, it proposes to renew other existing AFZs at the same exhibition. The exhibition listing is at Proposal to establish Alcohol Free Zones - Until Thursday 30 April. The document that went to council with the proposal can be downloaded from the CoS website Alcohol Free Zones | PDF 94Kb

Redfern Community Forum Report

The Inner South Community Forum which normally only covers Redfern, Waterloo and Eveleigh included Darlington this round as a result of a presentation by the RWA of its recent Concept Plan approval for North Eveleigh. Presentations were also made by Sydney South West Area Health Service about the Redfern Community Health Centre and by the ILC and YMCA about the National Indigenous Development Centre – you can download the presentation from the Indigenous Land Corporation (PDF 445Kb). You can download the CoS presentation from City South Community Forum March 2009 (PDF 12Mb) which provides a good update of what Council has done in Redfern Waterloo.

The Future of Community Safety in Redfern Waterloo – REDWatch Meeting Wednesday 6 May 2009 6pm

In our last Update we asked the question Will the Community Safety Plan continue in Redfern Waterloo? Since that Update we have been trying to get clarification about the future of the Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan (RWCSP). We have seen two clarifications from CoS which raise almost as many questions as they address. We have combined them in Clarification by CoS on Future of Community Safety Plans in Redfern Waterloo.  It is now apparent that while elements of the RWCSP will continue under the banner of Safe City, CoS has no intention of undertaking an ongoing Community Safety Plan specific to Redfern Waterloo. CoS is arguing that the life of the plan was limited, even though this was initially not the case and our question about where and when the 2004-2007 was tacked onto the Plan remains unanswered. CoS is also arguing that the role of the Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Taskforce will be better handled by the new Redfern Local Area Command Police Community Precinct Committee which covers a much wider area than Redfern Waterloo. CoS is also arguing that the success of the RWCSP and that the new Safe City Strategy 2007- 2012 - City of Sydney mean there is no longer a need for a specific Redfern Waterloo Plan. A specific community safety plan for Glebe has just gone off exhibition and CoS is arguing that “we can't offer the intensity of support to every community at every time”.

We are told that community safety issues and fear of crime were prominent issues at Kristina Keneally’s Waterloo Public Housing Community Meeting on 14 April 2009 underlining the ongoing nature of the problems the Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan was set up to address. Redfern police were present but the CoS was noticeably absent.

The RWCSP evaluation recommends that there should be a meeting “to decide what needs to be done from now on” in Redfern Waterloo. CoS is of the view that Redfern Waterloo can be served by CoS’s ongoing City Safe activities and no longer needs a specific Redfern Waterloo Plan. Both REDWatch and the Chamber of Commerce would like to see a discussion about this between Council and the community representatives. CoS is now saying “City staff will consider the recommendation … to bring together Taskforce members to celebrate the success of the plan and to provided feedback on what we are currently doing.”

To encourage further discussion about community safety, REDWatch will hold a special forum with a focus on “Community Safety in Redfern Waterloo after the Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan”. REDWatch will invite representatives from CoS and the police to participate in the discussion on Wednesday 6^th May at The Factory Community Centre at 6pm. Further information on the issues under consideration can be found at:

• Redfern - Waterloo Community Safety Plan
• Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan Evaluation 2008 - OCR Copy (2.2MB PDF)
• Safe City Strategy 2007- 2012 - City of Sydney
• Draft Glebe Community Safety Plan 2009-2011

[REDWatch - Note the date for this meeting has changed to 6th May 2009 to accomodate the Guest Speaker, Suzie Mathews, from the Council. This is a change from the Thursday initially mentioned in the emailed RWIU. REDWatch will still have its normal meeting on Thursday 7th May 2009]

Frasers Broadway Development

Work proceeds on the planning for the redevelopment of the former Carlton United Breweries Site with the following Department of Planning changes since out last Update:

• Excavation and Construction of Basements for Blocks 2, 5 and 9  DGRs Issued 05/03/2009
• Block 5 Residential Development Frasers Broadway Fmr CUB site  DGRs Issued 09/03/2009
• Mod 2 - Remediation and Transitional Works Approved - 11/03/2009 Determination

Nominations for Waterloo and Redfern Volunteer Awards – Close 27^th April 2009

There is so much in our community that operates with the time and commitment of volunteers. For the last three years The Factory Community Centre, through its auspiced Housing NSW HCP programme, has sought to recognise the area’s volunteers and the contribution they make to our community by formally saying thank you. They are again asking for people to nominate community members who make a difference with their volunteering. We were given a certificate last year for these email Updates and it has proudly sat at home for the last year. Give some thought to who you think should be recognised this year and get a nomination in before 27 April so they can be recognised during National Volunteer Week. For more information see Do you know a Star? Who will you nominate for the Waterloo and Redfern Volunteer Awards 2009? Or download the Poster for Volunteers Awards 2009 and put it up in your workplace or local café. To submit an entry, you can obtain an nomination form from The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street, Waterloo, NSW 2017, or Email info@the-factroy.org.au  or telephone Mike: 02 9698 9569.

Redfern Waterloo Public Housing gets Maintenance Funding Boost

NSW Housing tenants may be about to get some maintenance relief with the announcement by Minister David Borger and Federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek on 14 April 2009 that Redfern and Waterloo gets $3,856,098 to upgrade 1404 homes from the over $9.2 million being invested in the inner Sydney suburbs of Glebe, Redfern, Waterloo, Marrickville and Sydney to upgrade 3104 social housing homes by the Federal Government’s $130 million investment in NSW on social housing maintenance.

So hopefully soon we will be hearing more stories like the SSH’s Intercom installed in public housing complex and less about “The ibis restaurant” (a corroded, road-dwelling dumpster where urban pests constantly feast), broken security doors, idle elevators, gaping fences and dark hallways reported recently in City News’s pre-emptive article $130M bailout helps bandage Housing’s eyesores which Tanya Plibersek’s office tells us got the figures for the announcement incorrect. You can see the AAP report that appeared in some Fairfax publications about the announcement at Inner-city public housing gets facelift.

New Waterloo Residents Groups being formed

Following a strategy developed by the Waterloo Neighbourhood Advisory Board two new Working Groups for Waterloo residents are being formed. The groups are open to all residents be they public or private with the aim of the groups working to address some of the broader issues in Waterloo. If you are interested in being involved in one of the new groups just turn up at The Factory or contact Mike at The Factory on 9698 9569 and find out more. REDWatch supports the formation of these groups. The two new Working Groups are:

• Waterloo Employment, Learning and Enterprise Action Group – 29 April 2009 11am  - at the first meeting we are updating residents and partner agencies on forthcoming grass root employment and learning strategies including: current provision and gaps; update on Solander Landscape course; Update on Dobell Art Project; Future planning; and updates on the waterloo Recycling workshop and the Cycle recycle Club.
• Waterloo Health Action Group Friday 1st May 2009 10am  - at the first meeting we are updating residents and partner agencies on forthcoming grass root health promotion strategies including: update on the swimming for everyone group; planning of health /service Expo days for Waterloo; potential funding and project ideas that promote healthy living; and feedback on the progress of the recently Health service providers forum.

“Let’s TALK About Our Community” – Housing NSW - Redfern Waterloo Workshops 18 – 22 May 2009

Housing NSW is looking to improve communications between tenants, service providers and Housing NSW in the diverse communities of Redfern and Waterloo. They are arranging a series of all day workshops (9.30am to 4.30pm) for different parts of the community between 18 and 22 May 2009. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided. Here you can download Let’s TALK About Our Community - Redfern Waterloo Poster (168Kb PDF). More information is available from Judy McCormick HNSW Central Sydney on 92683472 or judy.mccormick@housing.nsw.gov.au. Tenants and Service providers are invited to attend two day of consultation & workshops from:

• Social Housing Tenants living in Redfern - Monday 18 May 09 : The Redfern Centre 9 Ogden Lane Redfern
• Service Providers - Tuesday 19 May 09: The Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre 73 Alexandria Town Hall
• HNSW staff - Wednesday 20 May 09: The Redfern Centre 9 Ogden Lane Redfern
• Social Housing Tenants living in Waterloo - Thursday 21 May 09: The Factory Community Centre 67 Raglan St Waterloo
• All Groups Together - Friday 22nd  May 09: The Redfern Centre 9 Ogden Lane Redfern

In our view this initiative to improve communications between tenants, service providers and Housing New South Wales by Housing NSW could lay some important basis to strengthen consultation mechanisms in Redfern Waterloo. The RWA has been talking about the renewed importance of government departments working with each other, with non-government agencies and with the community on the delivery of human services in the area. At recent forums the RWA has also talked about a approach more like that used in Bonnyrigg to consultation in the redevelopment of public housing under the pending RWA Built Environment (Phase Two). Properly handled these seminars could build a basis for improved consultation our diverse communities and we would encourage everyone to seize the opportunity provided.

Consultation on Memorial Statue of Fr Ted Kennedy and Mum Shirl – 18 April 2009 The Block 1-3pm

The Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School and community of St Vincent’s Church Redfern are inviting public comment on a memorial to the shared work Fr Ted and Mum Shirl. The presentation with model and photographs will take place at The Block. The sculpture is abstract in expression and presents the spirit of Mum Shirl and Ted Kennedy through connecting hands. Their lives exemplified the best of the Australian spirit. They worked to establish a society where justice, dignity and freedom could be enjoyed by all citizens, whether Aboriginal or settlers. For more information contact Margo Hoekstra - margohoekstra@optusnet.com.au

ANZAC Day Celebration – 25^th April 2009

The Coloured Digger Project and Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group invite you to attend the 2009 ANZAC Day Commemoration Saturday 25th April 2009. The programme is:

1:00pm Gather at The Block, Redfern

1:15pm – 1:20pm Welcome to Country

1:30pm – 1:45pm Proceed to Redfern Park for Service

1:45pm – 2:15pm Commemorative Service

2.15pm – 4.00pm Informal gathering and refreshments / Elders yarn tent and displays / Cultural performances

4.30pm Finish

Transport is available if you are unable to march and would like to travel with the marchers. You can download the poster 2009 Anzac Day Commemoration (PDF 81Kb) to let people know about the event. Contacts: Ray Minniecon: (Media, March, Service) 0417 929 701 David Williams: (Media, March, Service) 0409 813 741 Mark Spinks: (Block Assembly) 0411 282 917

City of Sydney Grants

A reminder that a number of the CoS grants and sponsorships programs are about to close. The following grants are currently seeking applications:

• Accommodation Grants Program – the new closing date to apply to lease 3 City of Sydney spaces at Waterloo Library, Cook and Phillip centre and Riley St depot (artist collective) is now 16th April, 2009
• Business Support Program - (over $5,000) The Business Support Program provides grants to non-profit business organisations that seek to revitalise and enhance local commercial and retail precincts.- Closes 20^th April 2009
• Community Services Grants Program (over $5,000) - Grants over $5,000 are awarded to non-profit organisations based in, or providing services or projects of benefit to the City of Sydney community. - Closes 20^th April 2009
• Cultural Grants and Sponsorships Program (over $5,000) - The City of Sydney encourages and supports cultural development through grants and sponsorship support for major and smaller cultural events and organisations - Closes 20^th April 2009
• Environmental Grants Program (over $5,000) - Grants over $5,000 are awarded to non-profit organisations based in, or providing services or projects of benefit to the City of Sydney community - Closes 20^th April 2009
• Heritage Grants Program (matched funding up to $10,000) - The City of Sydney provides support for individuals and groups whose activities and initiatives aim to improve the quality of the City’s heritage and built environment - Closes 20^th April 2009
• Local Community Grants Program (up to $5,000) (biannual, second round will open in August 2009) - The City offers grants to non-profit community organisations for community projects, events, activities, services and resources that help build strong, healthy and vibrant local communities.- Closes 20^th April 2009

In the Media

In addition to the stories mentioned in items above diverse references to Redfern Waterloo and its stories continued to show up in the media last month such as Just like kids... only with poo patrol, a story which ran in NZ on pet ownership that used Redfern’s PawPaws Urban Retreat as the anchor for their story, or the article about ex-Redfernite Bishop John Macintyre in Honest John bares warts-'n-all or that bankers have been pulling the plug on many hotels like Redfern’s Woolpack in Local pubs go under the hammer.

ABC’s AM ran an item on the Koori Job ready course Redfern program helps Indigenous youths get ahead while Central looked at Rohan Tobler’s role in Award-winning builder takes Indigenous leadership role. SBS’s Living Black ran a report on Family Day on The Block under Block-aid. The area’s planning also got a run in City News with Angus Thompson Opinion: Memories sacrificed on future’s altar  and Alexandra Beech’s Planning outcries fall deaf on property giant’s ears, while the Courier reported new calls for SHFA and the RWA to be wound up in Foreshore Parks Languish, that the Former South Sydney Hospital off the market and on the recent Land and Environment Court decision about the importance of the Green Square plan in Green Square town centre has priority : Court .

A media release on the City of Sydney’s Ethical Food Policy Ethical Food also raised concerns about the cost of food at the “CarriageWorks” market. The story was picked up in City News’  Ethical food still not cheap as chips prompting CarriageWorks to distance itself from Carriage Works Market which is correctly known as Eveleigh Markets. CarriageWorks got some publicity for their Hip Hop Festival in May in the Blacktown Sun’s Hip Hop Heaven. Other media releases came from WAYS about WAYS Youth Employment Defunded and from The Factory about their renovations Factory Centre Receives Welcome Makeover and this year’s Volunteer award nominations in Do you know a Star? Who will you nominate for the Waterloo and Redfern Volunteer Awards 2009? Cycle Recycle and Surry Hills Festival got a cross promotion in Surry Hills Festival April 18: Bring your bike in the Central while South Sydney Youth Service offers free hip hop got to promote their new dance programme. SX reported on the Luncheon Club in Waterloo newly-formed walking group for people living with HIV in Step Right Up.

South Sydney Herald April 2009

You can download the entire copy of the South Sydney Herald for April 2009 as soon as their site is back up again at www.southsydneyherald.com.au. Articles from the April 2009 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo have been placed on the REDWatch website and include a report of Minister Keneally and RWA’s new CEO at the REDWatch meeting in RWA’s new CEO in listening mode. The SSH follows up an earlier Darlington Housing NSW maintenance problem with Intercom installed in public housing complex and reports Caroline Street residents’ celebration of their diversity with Caroliners enjoy picnic in the park.

Jack Barton writes about transport and Green Square in Green Loop sets high standard, while Ravens on the run! is about locals looking for support for the Sydney Half Marathon fundraiser. Trevor Davies in the Fast News writes about his experience of Long journey home from Newport to Redfern on a Saturday and asks what can be done to help the Northern Beaches. Opening windows on pain looks at the Windows on Pain campaign exhibition that starts May 9 at CarriageWorks. Government grant for city upgrades covers South Sydney childcare centres, town halls and community centres that are soon to benefit from a $660,000 Federal Government grant. Rovers move to Erskineville Oval reports that Alexandria Rovers Football Club has made the move to Erskineville Oval. Among its other stories the SSH also covers Notre Dame – ever expanding looking at its DA for Pioneer House on Broadway (cnr Buckland Street) to house 480 students.

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

Below we have listed consultations currently open for community input and known community meetings. Click on the link for further information. At any time between Updates you can see what is on exhibition by visiting the REDWatch website: Have Your Say (www.redwatch.org.au/consult).

• CoS - Darlington - Charles Kernan Reserve Plans & Community Garden Consultation - April 2009
• CoS - Draft City of Sydney Affordable Rental Housing Strategy 2009-2014 - Until Friday 10 April
• CoS DA - IGA Supermarket in Souths Club - Until 15 April 2009
• CoS - Darlington Cycling & Traffic Calming (PCTC) Plan - Until Friday 17 April.
• St Vincents Community - Memorial Sculpture in honour of the work of Mum Shirl and Father Ted Kennedy – 18 April 2009
• Factory - Waterloo, Employment, Learning and Enterprise Action group meeting – 29 April 2009
• CoS - roposal to establish Alcohol Free Zones - Until Thursday 30 April.
• CoS - Draft Hoardings and Scaffolding Local Approvals Policy - Until Friday 1 May.
• CoS - Affordable Housing Levy Research - Until Friday 1 May
• Factory - Waterloo Health Action Group Friday 1st May 2009
• CoS - Draft Planning Agreement: 133 Regent Street, Redfern - Until Tuesday 5 May.
• RLS - Rights in Redfern - New Human Rights Laws – 7 May 2009
• Police / RWCC / Factory - Waterloo Shops Safety Audit – 20 May 2009
• USyd - Sydney University 2020 Masterplan - April to June 2009
• CoS - Council DAs
• RWA - DAs
• DoP - Major Projects
• CoS - Link to "Have your say"