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RWIU 17 August 2009

In this Update: Apologies for Break in Updates / CoS Redfern Waterloo Eveleigh Community Forum – 17 August 2009 / Darlington Initiatives including Pedestrian, Cycling & Traffic Calming Plan Feedback – Wednesday 2 September 2009 / RWA Human Services Plan Evaluation Finally Released / Exhibition of Amended RWA Redfern Town Centre Development Controls / Redfern RSL Site Public Exhibition until 28 August 2009 / Redevelopment of the Car Park at 7-9 Gibbons Street Redfern / Developer Looks for Changes on Approved Rachel Forster Site Plans / Built Environment Plan 2 – What do you want from it? / AHC’s Pemulwuy Project Concept Plan Finally Approved / Eveleigh Heritage Tourism Potential to be explored / Opportunity for International Rail Heritage Conference delegates to visit Eveleigh / Redfern History Focus of Sesquicentenary / Redfern Business Precinct Study Recommendations to be Acted Upon / Community Safety in Redfern Waterloo / Will Aldi come to Redfern or Waterloo? / Some RWA News / RWA DAs on Exhibition / NCIE Board, CEO, Newsletter and Website / Frasers Broadway Abercrombie & Broadway Blocks and Main Park on Exhibition until 11 September 2009 / Recent Books about Redfern Waterloo / Connect Redfern - Updated Children & Family Lists / In the Media / South Sydney Herald June 2009 / Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

[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:

Apologies for Break in Updates

CoS Redfern Waterloo Eveleigh Community Forum – 17 August 2009

Darlington Initiatives including Pedestrian, Cycling & Traffic Calming Plan Feedback – Wednesday 2 September 2009

RWA Human Services Plan Evaluation Finally Released

Exhibition of Amended RWA Redfern Town Centre Development Controls

Redfern RSL Site Public Exhibition until 28 August 2009

Redevelopment of the Car Park at 7-9 Gibbons Street Redfern

Developer Looks for Changes on Approved Rachel Forster Site Plans

Built Environment Plan 2 – What do you want from it?

AHC’s Pemulwuy Project Concept Plan Finally Approved

Eveleigh Heritage Tourism Potential to be explored

Opportunity for International Rail Heritage Conference delegates to visit Eveleigh

Redfern History Focus of Sesquicentenary

Redfern Business Precinct Study Recommendations to be Acted Upon

Community Safety in Redfern Waterloo

Will Aldi come to Redfern or Waterloo?

Some RWA News

RWA DAs on Exhibition

NCIE Board, CEO, Newsletter and Website

Frasers Broadway Abercrombie & Broadway Blocks and Main Park on Exhibition until 11 September 2009

Recent Books about Redfern Waterloo

Connect Redfern - Updated Children & Family Lists

In the Media

South Sydney Herald June 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)

Apologies for Break in Updates

Over the last couple of months we have been very caught up with Geoff moving his office and setting up at home, so we have been unable to do all the work necessary to put an update together. We still have not covered everything in this update but we are rushing this one out to get at least some information about current consultations out to readers. Over the last couple of months we have posted major events on the REDWatch website where those using the RSS feed will have received some of this information already. In between Updates please keep an eye on News Since Last RWIU as well as the Have Your Say section which lets you know about exhibitions, community meetings and consultations. The Upcoming Events and Media Articles on Redfern Waterloo sections are still there and updated regularly. You can still track all site changes through Website Changes. An RSS feed can be set up on any of the sections or you can tailor your own search on the site as an RSS feed to give you exactly what you want.

CoS Redfern Waterloo Eveleigh Community Forum – 17 August 2009

The next City of Sydney Inner South Community Forum for Redfern, Waterloo and Eveleigh residents is on 17 August 2009. It will include updates on the new youth facility for Waterloo: the renewal of Charles Kernan Reserve in Darlington and current Redfern-Waterloo Authority projects. This Community Forum will also be of interest to people in Darlington who are outside the area usually served by this forum. The forum will also include reports on Council sustainability initiatives, implementing the Inner South Local Action Plan and recent development applications in the area.

As usual from 6pm, you will be able to discuss your concerns with Councillors, Council staff or local police. Formal presentations begin at 6.45pm, with the forum scheduled to end at 8.15pm on Monday 17 August at Redfern Town Hall, 73 Pitt Street. The poster for the event with more details can be downloaded from CoS Redfern Waterloo Community Forum - 17 August 2009

Darlington Initiatives including Pedestrian, Cycling & Traffic Calming Plan Feedback – Wednesday 2 September 2009

In addition to the CoS Redfern Waterloo Community Forum - 17 August 2009 which will deal with a report from the RWA and an update on Charles Kernan Reserve, a Community Forum with feedback on the Erskineville, Newtown & Darlington Pedestrian, Cycling & Traffic Calming Plan will be held on Wednesday 2 September 2009 at Rydges, Missenden Rd Camperdown from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. This will be important, not only because of the opportunity to discuss the reports findings and recommendations for the area, but we are also told that this discussion will influence what Council does in terms of the upgrading of the area around the Darlington shops. Work around the Darlington shops is one of the Local Action Plan recommendations which has not yet been undertaken and we are told that funds are available for some work.

Since the last Update John McInerney responded to the May SSH article on Abercrombie Street Darlington in Council plans for a new Darlington, Clover Moore has made a walk around. Council Officers and the Office of the Lord Mayor have also met with some residents and shop owners to discuss some of the issues needing to be addressed. At the latter meeting we were told that it was important for Darlington residents and shopkeepers to attend the Community Forum as this would help determine what happens in work around the Darlington shops. We have pointed out that Darlington attendance would be enhanced if the meeting was held locally rather than in Camperdown!

In other developments University of Sydney has made a submission to the City of Sydney for the permanent closure and sale of Rose Street and Boundary Lane, Darlington west of Codrington Street to allow for their inclusion within the University of Sydney Campus. The University has negotiated with Darlington Public School and they have agreed in principle, subject to the provision of new access points from Darlington Lane and Golden Grove Street to the School. This went to Sydney Traffic Committee - 15 July 2009 - Item 43 - Other Business ... There is still no news about Sydney University’s Concept Plan for the Abercrombie Street Campus Plan of which the road closures will be a part.

It also appears that North Eveleigh sale may be delayed and while the RWA is continuing with the due diligence work, the initial timeframe will be up to Minister Keneally and NSW Cabinet. This follows recent articles Diving shares teach uni tough lesson (SMH) Sandstone on hold at Sydney University (Central) about the way in which the University has been impacted by the financial downturn and the RWA’s intention to extract the best price for the site.

Since the last Update CoS advertised a DA for Sydney University’s use of for Outdoor Plaza Entertainment at Jane Foss Russell Building. The DA has raised concerns about noise from some local residents as it was for “Use of outdoor plaza on levels 2 and 3 of the Jane Foss Russell Building at Sydney University as a place of public entertainment for markets, festivals, music performances, film screenings and erection of associated stages and structures. Proposed hours are between 7am and midnight, Monday to Saturday and 9am and 10pm, Sunday.” Hopefully local residents remembered to get comments in on the City of Sydney 2020 Masterplan before the 30 June deadline.

We note in the recent NSW Govt makes New Appointments to CSPC - 30 July 2009 that the Hon. Craig Knowles, President of the Planning Research Centre, Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Design at Sydney University, has been appointed the CSPC and that Colin Rockliff, Director of Campus Infrastructure & Services at the University of Sydney, has been nominated as one of the Alternate Members.

RWA Human Services Plan Evaluation Finally Released

The RWA has finally released the July 2008 evaluation report of the Redfern-Waterloo Human Services Plan Phase One on 28 July 2009. The evaluation can be downloaded from the RWA website: Human Services Plan Phase 1 - 18 Month Evaluation Report (pdf ~251kb) and a summary can be found in their accompanying media release Redfern Waterloo Human Services Plan Phase One Evaluation Report Released. The RWA Newsletter article covering the announcement of the evaluation can be found in: Redfern Waterloo Update July 2008 (pdf ~630kb) and the RWA Evaluation Framework (MS Word 304KB) referred to in the evaluation can be found on the REDWatch website.

REDWatch is looking for comments on the evaluation from people working in Human Service agencies to feed into a REDWatch response. This may allow people to make comments without them or their agency being identified. There are a range of concerns that have been made about the evaluation, both in terms of the low number of people accessing some of the government services compared to NGO services, as well as the way in which measurement of the potential impact of the HSP is being measured, especially given the demographic changes in the area.

In REDWatch’s view it is important that the next evaluation addresses the short comings in the initial evaluation. The initial evaluation primarily focuses on government delivery of services and as such it provides a useful overview of what government is trying to do to address the area’s issues. It is hence also important that the community takes the opportunity to read the report and to provide suggestions from the grass roots about their experience of the services and the improvement or otherwise of government co-operation and service delivery in the local area.

It is pleasing to see that some HSP initiatives like the Youth Taskforce have been reactivated. We hope that the Human Services Ministerial Advisory Committee, which is being reconstituted, will meet soon and be able to discuss the Human Services Plan Evaluation now that it is publically available.

Two recent articles which people with a human services background may find of interest are the South Sydney Herald’s Welfare services feel the pinch and on inner city the demographic changes It's time for the burbs to be heard.

Exhibition of Amended RWA Redfern Town Centre Development Controls

The Department of Planning have exhibited changes to the RWA Height of Buildings map for the Redfern Town Centre. The changes limit the ability of small land holders on Regent Street to build a tall building on a small block and it reduces the height of permitted podiums. While the exhibition has just ended, you can still find the exhibition documents on the DoP website at Exhibition of Amended RWA Town Centre Development Controls - Until 3 August 2009.  The exhibition documents describe the changes as: “The Proponent is seeking to amend the Height of Buildings Map (Schedule 3 of the State Environmental Planning 'Policy (Major Projects) 2005) specifically relating to the land bounded by Redfern, Regent, Margaret, and Gibbons Streets within the Redfern town centre. In summary the changes involve: * Reducing the street-wall/podium heights from 5 storeys to 2-3 storeys; * Reducing the setbacks of the tower building element to the street edge: Regent Street - setback of 8m (reduced from 16m); other streets bounding the town centre - setback of 4m (reduced from 8m)”. The details of the ad for the Exhibition can be found at Exhibition of Amended RWA Town Centre Development Controls.

Please note that the official SEPP Maps for Redfern Waterloo have moved and new colour maps are now found on the Maps link off the legislation page for the State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Development) 2005 which covered Redfern Waterloo. The maps are no longer on the DoP website. For ease of access we have provided the links to the current maps below including the new ATP floor space map. The new ATP map was not exhibited but reflects the ATP Masterplan FSR which is now distributed across various blocks in the ATP subdivision. The links to the maps are:

·         Redfern-Waterloo Authority Sites Gross Floor Area Map (PDF 159 kB)

·         Floor Space Ratio Map (PDF 340 kB)

·         Height of Buildings Map (PDF 344 kB)

·         Land Zoning Map (PDF 343 kB)

The RWA have also been developing Urban Design Principles for the Redfern Town Centre with input from the RWA Built Environment Ministerial Advisory Committee (BEMAC). The Design Principles will guide site development and the surrounding public domain in the Town Centre.

Redfern RSL Site Public Exhibition until 28 August 2009

We have mentioned earlier that Director General’s requirements have been issued for the RSL site. Events have moved quite quickly and the plans for the 18 storey building to go onto the RSL site (with the RSL on the first floor) are currently on exhibition. The documents for “18 storey, mixed use development (retail, RSL, commercial, residential)” can be seen on the DoP website at MP09_0039 - Mixed Use Development, Redfern RSL, Gibbons Street, Redfern or at the City of Sydney’s One Stop Shop. The developer held a pre-submission meeting at Redfern Town Hall which was not widely publicised and which was held on 3rd June – the same night as a State of Origin Game. While we welcomed the intent, the execution of the pre-submission community consultation left much to be desired!

Redevelopment of the Car Park at 7-9 Gibbons Street Redfern

The plans for the redevelopment of the car park at 7-9 Gibbons Street Redfern will be the next to go on exhibition. The developers are currently talking to community stakeholders in the preparation of their proposal. Thankfully with both developments being done at the same time there have been discussions between the developers, the RWA and the DoP about how the two developments will interact with one another, which hopefully should provide a better outcome. The car park redevelopment proposes to include a supermarket and we understand that Aldi is one of the parties that have expressed interest.

Developer Looks for Changes on Approved Rachel Forster Site Plans

Kaymet P/L, which purchased the Rachel Forster site, has lodged a Preliminary Environment Assessment for its Project Application for the former Rachael Forster site, with a proposed increase of 9 residential units and 9 car spaces. While the Preliminary EA says Kaymet’s proposal is consistent with the Concept Plan approved by the DoP Director, in that it retains the approved ‘H’ configuration, Keymet’s proposed changes include:

  • FSR of 1.99:1 coming in with a gross floor area of 13,787.51 sqm which is just below the maximum permitted.
  • An increase of 9 residential units (from 150 to 159) and 9 extra car spaces (from 161 to 170)
  • 3m height increase on building 1 and slight reductions on other buildings
  • Alterations in Building 3 to improve solar access

The Preliminary EA has been produced to obtain the Director General’s Requirements for the Project Application. The documents submitted to the DoP and the DGR’s can be found at - Former Rachel Forster Hospital: Residential and Public Open Space Development.

Built Environment Plan 2 – What do you want from it?

The RWA will soon commence consultation about what the community would like to see over the next 20 – 30 years from the proposed redevelopment of Redfern and Waterloo public housing estates The RWA is looking for community input prior to the finalisation of the Built Environment Plan Phase 2 which is expected to be released for consultation later this year. Housing NSW will handle the consultation with their tenants and they will utilise their Strategic Projects Unit which has previously been involved with major housing consultations such as Minto and Bonnyrigg. There has been some discussion with the RWA’s BEMAC about the consultation framework and more information is expected to become public within the next month.

AHC’s Pemulwuy Project Concept Plan Finally Approved

The big Redfern story of the last couple of months has to be the final approval of the Aboriginal Housing Company’s Pemulwuy Project. This project has been at the centre of a battle between the NSW government and the AHC since before the establishment of the Redfern Waterloo Authority. It has sparked more media stories than any other development and has been surrounded by more than its fair share of dirty tricks. A planning process drawn up to facilitate development became a vehicle for delay. Finally however the AHC managed to squeeze their proposal into the government’s latest planning straight jacket and with a little planning flexibility an approval was finally obtained. What made it even more fascinating was to see the Minister for Redfern Waterloo and the Deputy Premier on The Block welcoming the approval along with the long term project supporters. To get the approval it was necessary for the AHC to separate the issue of funding possibilities from the planning approvals, this stopped the government using funding possibilities to generate non planning outcomes. The challenge for the AHC is now to find the financing to deliver the project – an approved concept plan will help that. The approval is just the first step.

You can see all the AHC planning documents on the DoP website at Pemulwuy Mixed Use Development Redfern or you can download the Determination documents from Director General's Environmental Assessment Report.pdf (4.170 MB) and Instrument of Approval.pdf (842.8 KB). On the REDWatch website you will find the Minister for Planning’s media release Pemulwuy Project to Breathe new life into the Block and the media release from the Lord Mayor City welcomes Pemulwuy project. Media coverage included Redfern's The Block to be redeveloped (AFP) No funds for Redfern's The Block yet (ninemsn) $60m to overhaul The Block, Redfern (Telegraph) Green light for The Block development (SMH) 'Brand new day': Green light for Block overhaul (ABC) Approval Paves the Way for Pemulwuy (SSH) the Editorial on the Pemulwuy Project Approval in July 2009 South Sydney Herald and Pemulwuy ushers in new era for Aboriginal Housing Company (Central). Prior to the announcement the SMH ran Chap off the old Block is pushing hard for the new.

Eveleigh Heritage Tourism Potential to be explored

RWA Plans for a Heritage and Tourism Taskforce are proceeding, with the RWA BEMAC being asked for feedback on the Terms of Reference. The RWA propose to appoint a Project Manager to work with the Heritage and Tourism Taskforce which hopefully will be appointed within the next month. This will provide a long overdue opportunity to look at the former Eveleigh Railyard site, and Redfern Waterloo Heritage more broadly, to explore how the heritage of the area can be preserved and used to promote tourism.

A key part of the heritage assets of the area will be Wrought Artworks, the ATP blacksmiths, which has recently reached an agreement with the ATP over their lease and over the work required on the Blacksmith Workshop floor. In addition, work on the Pump Room is nearing completion and major structural repairs to the Workshop’s façade are being planned. Work will also be undertaken on an interpretation walk through the two northern bays of the Blacksmith Shop. As part of its due diligence process, the ATP have confirmed that currently the 1995 Conservation Management Plan (17080KB) is the current CMP for the site and it can now be downloaded from the ATP website, but beware it is a very large scanned file of the original document. The work on revising the CMP in 2003-5 was never finalised and the RWA has advised the BEMAC that it will now undertake a revision of the CMP and that this will include a public consultation. The revision of the ATP CMP will be separate from the Heritage and Tourism Taskforce and separate consultants are being appointed for the CMP revision.

The other active use area in the Eveleigh Railyards is the Large Erecting Shop. RailCorp has now made 3801 Ltd and Heritage Electric Traction (HET) aware of its proposal for the use of the LES and discussions are underway between 3801 Ltd, HET and Office of Rail Heritage about how this element of a metropolitan rail heritage strategy will operate. Any delay in the sale of North Eveleigh potentially provides time for the logistics of how the LES will operate in future to be bedded down prior to the heritage electric rolling stock moving from the Paint Shop into the LES.

In its May – July 2009 edition of the National Trust Magazine (NSW) Graham Quint looked at the North Eveleigh Concept Plan in Trust Action: North Eveleigh

Opportunity for International Rail Heritage Conference delegates to visit Eveleigh

An International Rail Heritage Conference is being held in Queensland at The Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich from 15 – 17 October 2009 and some of the delegates will be visiting NSW in the following week. The proposed schedule includes tour to the Zig Zag Railway, a trip on the 3801 Ltd Cockatoo run and a visit to the LES. If it is possible to get it included in the programme Wrought Artworks are also prepared to offer an evening tour and forging demonstration as part of the opportunity for delegates to visit Eveleigh.

Redfern History Focus of Sesquicentenary

2009 marks 150 years since the proclamation of Redfern as a municipality and to celebrate the anniversary an event was held at Redfern Town Hall by the City of Sydney. Talks included Lisa Murray, Acting City Historian, on the early Gardens and Nurseries of Redfern, Early Council Shenanigans at Redfern and the Albert Cricket Ground. Heidi Norman, the 2006 Indigenous History Fellow, talked about her documentation of The Black Heart of Redfern: economic development and Aboriginal people in 20th century Redfern. There were walking tours of Redfern lead by urban historian Mark Dunn, as well as displays of photos, maps and resources for people to view.

You can pick up some of the flavour from Clover Moore's Inspiring Speech at Redfern's 150th Birthday Party (Central), her eNews article Celebrating Redfern’s Sesquicentenary, Central’s Redfern’s sandy beginnings and a recent article on Heidi Norman’s research in the SMH Black heart of Redfern doesn't miss a beat.

Lisa Murray is writing a book about Redfern, Alexandria and Waterloo. Both she and Heidi Norman are looking for information from the community. It is proposed that a collection of walks covering Redfern, Waterloo and Alexandria will be published in conjunction with the launch of Lisa Murray’s book at the end of 2010. This will hopefully compliment work that will be done by the RWA’s Heritage and Tourism Taskforce of which City of Sydney has agreed to be a member.

Redfern Business Precinct Study Recommendations to be Acted Upon

You may recall in mid 2008 Environmetrics were surveying shoppers and businesses about the Redfern business strip. Council has had the report for nine months and following a question about its implementation by Councillor Doutney the report was tabled at a council committee, along side a report on Newtown, with the recommendation that they both be noted. At committee Mary Lynne Pidcock from the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce spoke strongly for the implementation of the Redfern report rather than it just being noted, as did other councillors. Councillor Doutney Irene Doutney on Redfern Business Study is well worth reading. The committee decided to defer consideration to the full council and following meetings both within and outside council, including with the RWA, recommendations were accepted at the council meeting which will see the key recommendations in the report progressed.

Part of the problem has been that while Council has spent a lot of money in Redfern on the Redfern Street upgrade and Redfern Park, the underlying issues facing the businesses were not being addressed. Council was already proposing to appoint a person to work with businesses in Redfern, Waterloo and Green Square, but the position will now have added to it work on a branding and promotions strategy for the Redfern Town Centre and a joint approach by CoS and the RWA to the public amenity problems caused by shop shutters in Redfern St. To understand the challenges identified you should read the Redfern Business Precinct Study (PDF 2.6 Mb). The reporting of Council’s decision can be found in the SMH’s Rise, Redfern, and roll away the roller doors.

The broader discussion about Redfern’s issues being addressed can be seen in Centrals Glebe’s great but Redfern needs attention: Sydney Councillor, Lord Mayor Clover Moore defends Sydney Council’s Redfern record and in some of the discussion about the need for an ongoing Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan addressed most recently in Monica Barone’s Making our suburbs safe in the South Sydney Herald.

Community Safety in Redfern Waterloo

The last Update was just before the REDWatch meeting about the Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan Evaluation 2008 (558 KB PDF). The meeting sparked a good discussion between various stakeholders and the RWA went away to document, with the CoS, Police and other agencies, what was happening so that any holes could be identified. At the recent Redfern Local Area Command Community Safety Precinct Committee (CSPC) the RWA advised that their work was nearing completion and that they would be in a position soon to report back to the stakeholders.

A Community Safety Survey has been produced by The Factory Community Centre and REDWatch as a way of getting community input on a number of issues raised about community safety and fear of crime issuers in the local community. Please download the Community Safety Survey 2009 (MS Word 100Kb) and distribute it to your friends, colleagues or clients in Redfern and get it back to Michael at The Factory as soon as possible.

The Redfern LAC CSPC meeting was told that many types of crime in the Redfern LAC have dropped significantly over the last few years but that there is a problem of an ongoing perception of crime which needs to be addressed. One of the areas where crime is down as a result of recent initiatives (see 18 charged after raids at 'The Block' in Redfern (Macquarie News) and Redfern drug raid (Central) is drug offences. The police are encouraging people to report all crime in the area so that they can take the opportunity to drive crime levels even lower. Media articles on the perception of safety include Central’s Fear worse than reality in Redfern and Monica Barone’s Making our suburbs safe in the South Sydney Herald.

As reported in a recent UTS reportage article Drug-Free for a Day, Family Days on The Block continue as part of a process that is helping Aboriginal families reclaim The Block and to say no to it being defined by drugs. This process will be further assisted by the recent decision to introduce an Alcohol Free Zone on part of The Block (see The Block declared alcohol-free ABC) and by the AHC taking action over alcohol consumption on their open land on The Block. Everyone in the community whether or not they are Aboriginal are encouraged to attend Family Days on The Block and learn about Aboriginal culture. Details of the next Family Day will be put on the REDWatch website coming events section as soon as it is know.

Will Aldi come to Redfern or Waterloo?

A few years ago the local pharmacist in Redfern Street organised a well supported petition to encourage an Aldi store into the area. There was quite strong support for the supermarket from public housing tenants who wanted a competitive local supermarket rather than having to travel for their basic groceries. There have recently been two applications for developments which included an Aldi store. One in Alexandria has been rejected and it is feared the same fate will befall one proposed for Waterloo. The concern seems to be the desire by the Council to place such developments in the new Green Square development rather in areas around the fringe of the Green Square area. Local member Kristina Keneally has taken up the wishes for a store raised by residents, speaking at council when the Alexandria proposal was considered. Recently she released a letter - Kristina Keneally encourages comment on Waterloo Aldi DA and a Letter from Lord Mayor to Member of Heffron regarding Aldi DAs and the issue has received some media coverage in City News’ Starved Waterloo begs for groceries. To gain an understanding of the City’s planning issues Court Again Upholds City’s Retail Vision for Green Square from Clover’s eNews provides some information.

If nothing happens in Waterloo there is still the possibility that the supermarket proposed in the redevelopment of 7-9 Gibbons Street may be an Aldi. Not all supermarkets are supported however as the campaign to stop one at Erskineville is showing. They also can come with a cost as evidenced in Central’s dumped trolleys anger locals.

Some RWA News

There have been a few developments at the RWA which have not been widely reported that should be noted.

At the end of June, as required under their agreement, Frasers Property has paid the first $6 million instalment of a total $32 million in Affordable Housing Contributions to the Redfern-Waterloo Authority. To mark the occasion Fraser’s issued a media release  Frasers Property contributes $6 million to affordable housing. The RWA now has significant funds towards affordable housing, but there is still no sign of the Affordable Housing Programme referred to in their Contributions Plan. With the NSW Government’s Affordable Housing SEPP Released - 1 August 2009 and work on BEP2 it is hoped that the RWA will be able to let the community know how it will run its Affordable Housing Programme and not just how it will raise funds towards it.

Council has recently supported an amendment to its planning policies to enable the City West Housing Company to build affordable rental housing across the City of Sydney (see Clover Moore’s Building Low Income Worker Housing) and it is hoped that whatever the RWA does will mesh with the CoS plans.

In the ATP’s recent electronic newsletter the ATP Managing Director provided an update on what was happening at the ATP in Message from the ATP MD Roy Wakelin-King. An RWA media release also announced the start of the Australian Technology Park Tree Replacement Program - Henderson Road and an earlier media release covered Professor Patrick Dodson dines at the RWA’s Yaama Dhiyaan. The Koori Jobs Ready course got a good run on SBS’s Living Black on 11 May 2009 in Jobs For The Mob.

RWA DAs on Exhibition

There are currently three DAs on the RWA website www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/development_applications/development_proposals_on_exhibition.htm

  • DA 050-07-09 – ATP The realignment of the Locomotive Street vehicle entrance, alterations to car parking and access arrangements and removal of three (3) trees at the Australian Technology Park Until 2 September 2009
  • DA 049-07-09 – RTA ATP Installation of graphics / signage on the perimeter glazing of Suites 1 & 2 on the ground level of the NICTA Building until 21 August 2009
  • DA 048-07-09 – ILC Construction of identification and directional signage to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence until 26 August 2009

Development applications and supporting information may be inspected at: Neighbourhood Centre Redfern 158 Redfern St, REDFERN (9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Mon – Fri and 9:00 am to 12:00 noon Sat) or on line.

Recent RWA Determinations can be found at www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/development_applications/notices_of_determination.htm  

NCIE Board, CEO, Newsletter and Website

The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) has released two newsletters since our last Update and they have their new website operating at www.ncie.org.au . While the newsletter stories from the last issue are on the NCIE website, some of the material in the first issue are different so we have put a text version of the first newsletter on the REDWatch website at I ON EXCELLENCE – NCIE Newsletter 1 – May 2009. The REDWatch website also has details on the NCIE Board, Newsletter and Website and the NCIE - Staff Structure - May 2009. The NCIE is currently looking for people to work at the new centre.

The NCIE has appointed Jason Glanville as Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence. Jason was previously with Reconciliation Australia where he spent the last eight years as Programs and Strategy Director.

Frasers Broadway Abercrombie & Broadway Blocks and Main Park on Exhibition until 11 September 2009

In addition to its announcement that Frasers Property contributes $6 million to affordable housing for its first contribution to the RWA, Frasers have also continued to take parts of the site further down the approval process with two project applications on exhibition:

Blocks 1 and 4 (cnr Abercrombie / Broadway) - Project Application for the construction of a new 10-15 storey commercial building, accommodating retail floor space, a childcare centre and associated basement car parking. The proposal also involves demolition of the rear ground floor bar of the Australian Hotel, demolition of the rear one storey additions of 8-12 Abercrombie Street, and construction of the surrounding public domain. The documents can be viewed on the web at Carlton United Breweries Site: Blocks 1 and 4 (cnr Abercrombie / Broadway)  – Until 11 September 2009

Main Park and Related Infrastructure - Main park and related infrastructure including the installation of a stormwater detention tank under the main park, installation of permanent roads and footpaths surrounding the main park, including parts of O’Connor Street and Irving Street, installation of signalisation at the intersections of O’Connor Street / Abercrombie Street and Regent Street / Kent Road, associated below ground services and protection of the Ovoid Drain. The documents can be viewed on the web at Carlton United Breweries Site: Main Park and Related Infrastructure – Until 11 September 2009

DGRs for Construction of Residential Building with Ancillary Retail Uses on Block 2 - Director Generals Requirements have also been issued for Construction of Residential Building with Ancillary Retail Uses on Block 2 Residential, Commercial & Retail Description: Project Application for the construction of a residential building with ancillary uses on Block 2, including residential, retail and commercial floor space; terraces which rise from the plaza to the podium levels; construction of the surrounding public domain; and stratum subdivision. Their Preliminary Application can be viewed on the web at Carlton United Breweries Site: Construction of Residential Building with Ancillary Retail Uses on Block 2.

According to Clover’s eNews CHIPPENDALE SUSTAINABILITY IMPROVEMENTS of 22 May, Chippendale will soon see the pedestrian, cycling, traffic and environmental sustainability improvements flowing from their recent Traffic Study. In other Chippendale news the South Sydney Herald’s Speculation on Broadway did a follow up of affordable housing and those removed from Kensington Street to make way for Fraser’s development.

Recent Books about Redfern Waterloo

Since the last update three Redfern Waterloo books have been launched in the area.

There goes the Neighbourhood: Redfern and the Politics of Urban Space - published in tandem with the Performance Space exhibition “There Goes the Neighbourhood”, May 2009 by Zanny Begg & Keg de Souza. The book was put together prior to the exhibition and available throughout it. Printed copies are still available and there is also an electronic version available. For more information visit There Goes The Neighbourhood Book page on the exhibition website www.theregoestheneighbourhood.org where you can also see material from the exhibition. You can view feedback to the public poll on Redfern’s Bower sculpture at www.temporaryservices.org/publicpoll/replies.html.

Articles in the book include Geoff Turnbull”s The Difficult Rebirth of Redfern which looks at the Government intervention since the Premier’s Department set up the Redfern Waterloo Partnership Project. Media articles about There Goes the Neighbourhood included City News’ Arrested development: Taking to the streets against Redfern’s rebirth, SMH’s Kids on The Block take on criminals, Central’s There goes the neighbourhood: Redfern gentrification gets an arty critique and SMH’s Redfern's bird sculpture hatches angry response.

Bill Simon's autobiography, Back On The Block was launched on The Block by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's wife Therese Rein - Rein launches book on Stolen Generations (ABC). It provides an insight into the Stolen Generations and Aboriginal life around Redfern. Media coverage included Eureka Street’s Surviving institutional abuse, City News’ Redfern community honours leader’s survival story and Elizabeth Farrelly’s SMH item Danger of refuge being destroyed in Block battle. The Block: Past, Present and Future provides links to audio and video of Bill Simons, Mick Mundine and Elizabeth Farrelly at Gleebooks.     

Ted Kennedy, Priest of Redfern by Edmund Campion – A large crowd turned up to the launch of Edmund Campion’s book about Father Ted Kennedy at St Vincent’s Church. The ongoing tensions within the parish and the wider Roman Catholic Church about the role of Ted Kennedy and his St Vincent’s parish has ensured media coverage in places like Eureka Street, which has covered extracts from Frank Brennan's homily The meddling priest and the Redfern prophet at the mass preceding the launch, and reviews by Jonathan Hill Life of a non-conformist priest and Andrew Hamilton The marginalisation of Ted Kennedy.

APNHRIA / AHRC Conference Redfern / Waterloo Field Trip - While not in the professionally published league, for those with an interest in public housing, background notes prepared for a housing researcher’s tour on 6 August 2009 organised by Professor Bruce Judd and Dr Jack Barton can be downloaded http://www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/cf/apnhr/presentations/RW_FieldTrip.pdf (PDF 10.5Mb) - just don’t believe the map that shows where The Block is located! [If you have trouble with this link copy it into your browser]

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 3 2009 on the REDWatch site at www.redwatch.org.au/redw/services  . The four lists are Events Courses and Workshops (2.7 MB PDF) Making Connections ( 212 KB PDF), Community Service Contacts (111 Kb PDF) and Information for Parents (47 Kb PDF). You can also access databases to find local organisations and services from this part of the REDWatch website.

In the Media

There have been quite a lot of media stories about Redfern Waterloo of the last couple of months of which we will give a quick overview with the necessary links to the stories.

Youth and their services have got good coverage with Makeover for South Sydney Youth Services (SSH) and Waterloo Youth gets Federal Funding (Central). PCYC Open Day gathers unsung social saviours (City News) got a run as did The Settlement and the Seido Karate benefit tournament (Central). A new programme bringing together Redfern police, Centrelink and Indigenous men’s group BABANA was picked up from Police media’s Police launch mentoring program for Redfern youth by Central in Clean Slate launched for Indigenous teens, while the SMH covered the launch of the NRL’s Close the Gap round in Children reach for the stars in Redfern. Fairfax media reported on The Man's French connection about a French photographer and The Man.

In broader community services Central reported on Northcott secures community worker and SSH reported on Welfare services feel the pinch. As mentioned earlier It's time for the burbs to be heard highlights the demographic change happening in the inner city.

The government’s proposal to reduce staff at Redfern Railway station and a community protest about it go a run in SSH’s Changes a-comin’ down the track City News’ Redfern riled over rail cuts and Green Left Weekly’s Rally against looming rail staff cuts. Wheelchair access at top of Macdonaldtown station stairs in the Telegraph highlighted a story about a wheelchair accessible phone on a non wheelchair accessible station.

On the Entertainment and Arts side Idol returned to CarriageWorks with Idol auditions at Redfern and ABC’s Message stick feature 2 Live 2 Deadly about Koori Radio. An earlier article Off the Rails we found about CarriageWorks is also well worth the read.

In other news Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Waterloo turns 150 (Central), a Waterloo inspiration in Artist finds haven in chaotic city life (City News) and Home traders toss the buck looks at how to trade in a “freeconomy” to survive.

Of Interest to many who watched the Inquiry into Redfern Waterloo and the Inquiry into the Death of a local Aboriginal Youth will be the Herald’s article on ex Redfern ACLO Paul Wilkinson in the story He was violent and controlling. She knew he was a killer.

In business The Australian reported an innovative new software lab for Eveleigh Living lab proposal takes shape and the SMH reported that following problems Pub buyers return to the bar.

South Sydney Herald June 2009

We regret that we have only managed to pull together articles from the June Issue of the South Sydney Herald and we will place the articles for July and August up on the REDWatch as soon as we can obtain the text versions. In the meantime you can download the entire copy of the latest South Sydney Herald’s from www.southsydneyherald.com.au. Articles from the June 2009 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo have been placed on the REDWatch website and include Councillor John McInerney on Council plans for a new Darlington, Monica Barone on Making our suburbs safe, The Makeover for South Sydney Youth Services and Welfare services feel the pinch.

Down but not out in Darlington looks at the story of one resident’s life after redundancy. Changes a-comin’ down the track looks at changes to staffing at Redfern Station and Redfern has its say on human rights covered Redfern Legal Services’ Community Consultation on Human Rights. Nicholas McCallum in an opinion piece looks at policing in Whose responsibility? A spirited journey - Talking with Louise Hamilton is an interview by Dorothy McRae-McMahon with the Wiradjuri teacher at Darlington Public and Alexandra Park Community Schools. The Fast News - Compiled b y Trevor Davies deals with a number of local issues; including Darlington School’s playground, Roy Wakelin-King making an impression, the problems with street upgrades, the protests about the NT Intervention and Station staffing at Redfern & Erko.

In news about the surrounding area the SSH covered Rosebery residents say no to “mega depot”, Weekend markets – a way out of recession? and revisited its Kensington Street story in Speculation on Broadway. In Supermarket 2 – residents to fight again it looks at the new plans for a supermarket in Erskineville and in Gender, power and Labor politics looks at Environmental activist, Sydney University graduate and mother, Jenny McAllister, has recently been elected to the Labor Party Leadership Team to be Vice President and serve a one year presidency of the National ALP.

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

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