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RWIU 13 October 2009
In this Update:
RWA Launches Electronic RWA Updates
RWA announces Community Grants Programme up to $5,000 pa
Youth Services Taskforce Invitation
Family Violence Taskforce Invitation - 21 October 2009
Human Services Evaluation Feedback
Estimates Hearing Reveals RWA ICAC Referral. Also Policy and Procedures Problems
Eveleigh Markets hit a high while Questions asked
Eveleigh Rail Yard Heritage Headed for a Boost
Lack of Movement on Redfern Station a focus of Attention
Council & RWA Move on Redfern Business Precinct Study Issues
Redfern Waterloo gets CoS Business and Community Development Co-ordinator
New Website for Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce (RWCC)
Preparations for Channel 7 Move to Redfern
City of Sydney LGA Crime Comparisons
Vote for The Settlement in Marrickville funding competition
Animation Studio headed for CarriageWorks – Exhibition until 21 October 2009
Supermarkets - the Controversies Continue
National Centre for Indigenous Excellence
Frasers Start work on Balfour Park & Other CUB Site News
Metro West Stations for USyd and Camperdown
Monthly Community Markets 3rd Sunday Redfern Park– Next Saturday 17th October 2009
Danks Street Festival – 25 October 2009
Family and Cultural Day on the Block – Next 31 October 2009
RWA Training & Employment News
South Sydney Herald September 2009
South Sydney Herald August 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)
RWA Launches Electronic RWA Updates
After not much movement this year on the RWA communications side (only one newsletter so far this year in April) the RWA have launched a new electronic “RWA Update” in which they say "This information service has been developed to provide you with the latest in development news, courses, events, programs and anything else that is a part of this vibrant community. In order to keep you informed, the RWA Update will now be delivered by email on an ongoing basis."
The first issue covers many recent RWA initiatives as well as some activities in the broader community. It is an excellent start. If, as they have indicated in their first issue, the RWA can develop its update to provide community information on a regular basis it will both provide a real community service and help build a better image for itself in the community. It will also take some of the pressure off us needing to fill the gap of providing information that the RWA should be disseminating. We won’t be going away just yet though as we think there will still be a few things to say that might not get covered in the new RWA Update.
You can download the first RWA update from www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/publications/rwa_update.html but we also suggest that you should email the RWA and get added to their email distribution list so you see the information as it comes out. The contact for the RWA Update is Ben Falkenmire ben.falkenmire@rwa.nsw.gov.au and he is looking for suggestions, comments or input as well as people to add to the distribution list. Ben is the RWA’s new RWA Communications person and many may know him from his time working on and writing for the South Sydney Herald.
The ATP a while ago started putting out their own electronic newsletters and you can see these on their website and subscribe at http://atp0.eprospect.com.au/newsletters.
RWA Website is being Updated
The RWA are also updating their website. Roy Wakelin-King has been added to the Board Profiles along with some editing of the profiles of Samantha Mostyn and Ann Weldon [a profile on Roy can also be seen in Dorothy McMahon’s recent SSH profile Getting to know Roy Wakelin-King].
The RWA has created a new Governance page which currently only has the Audit Committee Terms of Reference (36KB PDF) but which also promises that the Board Procedures and the Board Code of Conduct will soon be added. There is also a new Employment Opportunities page where the site says the RWA will upload details of vacant positions it will be shortly be seeking to fill.
The Redfern Waterloo Plan elements have also been updated. The Employment and Enterprise, and Human Services pages have updated details on what the RWA sees as each of the plans successes and new initiatives. We can supply details of the exact changes from our monitoring if anyone would like to see the additions and deletions in detail. The Development and Publications sections have also been updated and reorganised making it easier to find items. Little of substance has changed so far on the Consultation page. New appointments are being made to Ministerial Advisory Committees so this aspect at least should change soon.
One of the most significant changes is a new section finally setting out policy and procedures for the RWA Community Grants Program in Grants and Information which we cover below.
RWA announces Community Grants Programme up to $5,000 pa
The RWA Update announced that the RWA is offering grants of up to $5,000 for local projects. Long term RWIU readers may recall that we have expressed concern about the basis used to allocate the funding listed in each RWA Annual Report for various organisations. The announcement of a properly constituted public Community Grants programme is a welcome step towards greater transparency. Under the new programme an applicant may receive only one grant each financial year and the new programme joins the earlier one off catering assistance grants. It is not clear if the new programme means that no grants over $5,000 will be made by the RWA. If the RWA plans to make any such grants this process too should be transparent. It is also hoped that the RWA Annual Financial Report also separately details grant expenditure and reports on the programme.
Given the potential interest in the programme the details from the RWA website are:
The RWA Community Grants Program seeks to support the valuable work undertaken by the diverse range of not-for-profit organisations and community groups that service the Redfern-Waterloo community. The program aims to support community initiatives and projects that address local issues, increase community resilience, build social capital and enhance the well being of the community of Redfern and Waterloo. Applications are invited from not-for-profit community organisations, community groups and individuals. Grants of up to $5000 are available on a monthly basis with applications closing on the first Friday of every month and determined on the third Friday of every month.
Eligibility and selection criteria - Applicants must be a resident of Redfern or Waterloo or the applicant must provide services/support to the residents of Redfern or Waterloo. Applicants may only receive funding through the program once each financial year.
Projects will be highly regarded that focus on the Redfern Waterloo Human Services Plan priority areas;
- Improve the health and well being of children
- Lift local school numeracy and literacy levels to at least the state average
- Lift local school attendance and retention rates to at least the state average
- Improve support for vulnerable people
- Reduce the incidence of family violence
- Increase participation and involvement of young people in the community
- Increase numbers of young people accessing employment and training opportunities
- Reduce drug and alcohol misuse
- Reduce offending and recidivism
- Build community capacity
- Improving dementia support
- Improving service quality for migrant communities
- Improving access to aged care and health services by Aboriginal people 45 years and older
- Reducing homelessness
- Improving identification of need and access to services for people with a disability
- Reducing social isolation
- Improving access to local and community transport for people who are transport disadvantaged
- Improving safety and amenity
Applications must provide information on
- Why this project is needed in the Redfern-Waterloo community
- Description of the project/event/activity
- Linkage to the Redfern Waterloo Authority Human Services Plan
- Description of the organisation and its capacity to expand the grant in accordance with the project
- Who are the target group(s)
- Community and Agency participation (who else is involved and what they are contributing to the project/event/activity?)
- Budget required
- Project timeline (when the project/event/activity will start and when it will finish)
- How you intend to acknowledge the Redfern Waterloo Authority.
The RWA website Grants and Information gives the details of the new programme. For more information contact the RWA’s Community Relations Manager, Julie Parsons on 9202 9100 or Julie.parsons@rwa.nsw.gov.au.Youth Services Taskforce Invitation
Youth Services Taskforce Invitation
As we have noted in an earlier RWIU the RWA has reconvened the Youth Services Taskforce. The recent RWA Update advised that the Taskforce is currently mapping service provision and support available to young people in the area. Importantly it invited organisations interested in joining the Taskforce to contact the RWA Community Relations Manager, Julie Parsons on 9202 9100. It is encouraging to see involvement in the Taskforce is opened up to all organisations involved in the relevant area.
Family Violence Taskforce Invitation - 21 October 2009
Similarly the RWA Update advised that they are reinstating the Family Violence Taskforce to continue to raise awareness of this issue, discuss and develop ideas to address it and to support the important work being undertaken in this area by organisations such as the Redfern Legal Centre, Redfern Local Area Command and Mudgin-Gal. A meeting will be held on Wednesday 21 October 2009 at the Australian Technology Park to launch proceedings. To find out more about the Taskforce or if you would like to attend the meeting please contact the RWA’s Community Relations Manager, Julie Parsons on 9202 9100 or Julie.parsons@rwa.nsw.gov.au
Human Services Evaluation Feedback
In the last RWIU we encouraged those involved with Human Services to provide feedback to the RWA about their eighteen month Evaluation of the Human Services Plan Phase One. You can read the comments REDWatch put in after talking to a number of agencies and workers in the areas human services - REDWatch’s comments on 18 Month RWA Human Services Plan Evaluation
Estimates Hearing Reveals RWA ICAC Referral. Also Policy and Procedures Problems
NSW Legislative Council Estimates hearings often reveal little about what is happening. Questions at this Estimates hearing into Planning and the RWA uncovered some previously unknown information about the RWA’s activities including a referral to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). In a subsequent statement “The RWA requested that the Internal Audit Bureau undertake an independent investigation into these allegations on behalf of the RWA”. At the root of the revelations were a series of anonymous letters in which the person or persons who made these anonymous allegations signed them with the words “RWA Staff”. It is not known if any RWA staff were involved, but it is clear that some of the information contained in the letters was not known widely outside the RWA. The first letter was written to Minister Keneally on 15 December 2008. A second letter was sent to Premier Nathan Rees’ Office in February 2009 and then both letters were sent to Sylvia Hale late July asking her to make inquiries during Estimates. Someone was clearly not happy about what had been happening in the RWA and the lack of action to address the issues raised.
You can read the details of questions on Redfern Waterloo on pages 23-26, p28, p48-50 of the Estimates Transcript 16/09/2009 Portfolios of Planning and Redfern Waterloo (PDF 302Kb). Central reported on the Estimates evidence in Corruption allegations against former NSW planning boss investigated on 17 September 2009 and in Redfern Waterloo Authority under fire on 30 September. You can also read the RWA Statement on Allegations referred to ICAC which is mentioned in the 30 September 2009 Central article. Central also ran a companion piece Redfern’s stalled dreams on 30 September in which they looked at what the RWA had achieved since its establishment. Understandably the RWA believed the article did not deal with the positive things it had achieved since it was established.
Eveleigh Markets hit a high while Questions asked
One of the RWA activities questioned in the anonymous letters was the viability of the Eveleigh markets. The recent RWA Update revealed ”that on 19th September more than 4,000 walked through the Eveleigh Farmer’s Markets, a record day buoyed by the CarriageWorks’s hosting of Re-threads, a clothing recycling event. This day compliments an average attendance of over 3,000 people who are attracted to the fresh produce from the farm on offer. Summer fruits hit the shelves in November and should be an ideal time to head over on a Saturday from 8am to 1pm. The Artisans’ Arts and Craft Markets continues to reach out to the local community and artists showcasing indie design, art and craft on the first Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm. A new website for both markets is soon to go live, but in the meantime you can find all the information you need at www.eveleighmarkets.com.au.” Since this RWA Update it has been announced that Eveleigh Markets has won the Sydney Morning Herald 2010 Foodies Award for Best Markets in Sydney as reported in the Minister Media Release Eveleigh Markets Declared Best in Sydney.
The RWA undertook to provide information back to the Estimates Committee on the market viability so we will soon know how it is faring financially. We were interested to read recently in Food Week’s Farmers wanted for city markets that there are so many markets in Sydney that there is a shortage of farmers to participate. Four Market Power Workshops will roll-out across four regions of NSW in October supported by the RWA and SHFA which both run markets. The markets certainly have been welcomed by many locals as a meeting point but we are also told by many that they do the bulk of their fruit and vegetable shopping elsewhere due to the high prices. Hopefully some more competition for stalls will help address this concern.
Eveleigh Rail Yard Heritage Headed for a Boost
In the last RWIU we reported that moves were a foot to arrange a visits to the Eveleigh Railyards for attendees of the International Rail Heritage Conference entitled “Challenges and Opportunities” being held in Ipswich Queensland. Eveleigh blacksmiths Wendie & Guido have been working hard with some of those interested in Eveleigh Heritage to organise an Eveleigh Railyards Tour & Forum - 20 October 2009 which is also open to interested locals as well as the overseas visitors. The Eveleigh Railyards Tour and Forum on 20th October runs from 10 am – 7 pm. Forum: 4pm – 5.30 pm at Locomotive Workshop, ATP Eveleigh
ATP electronic newsletter number 3 on 6 October 2009 ATP Heritage and Developments that “one of the most exciting recent achievements has been to complete a refurbishment of the Pump Room. Located in the Locomotive Workshop, adjacent to Bay 4, the room contains two hydraulic pumps that are in excellent condition and were operating as late as 1988”.
Discussions continue between 3801 Ltd, Office of Rail Heritage and the Heritage Electric Traction (HET) regarding how the Large will be run following HET moving from the Paint Shop to the Large Erecting Shop. The Powerhouse has completed work on 3265 as reported recently in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Steam team breathes life into an old boiler. It currently looks like 3265 will move to Rail Transport Museum at Thirlmere later this year along with the Powerhouse’s 3830. With work completed on 3265 and the Powerhouse engines moving the Powerhouse volunteers will also have to move to Thirlmere if they want to continue with the Powerhouse. Many had hoped the Powerhouse and Office of Rail Heritage could have found room to keep the two engines at the Large in Eveleigh however so far this has not been possible.
One of the key elements of retaining heritage skills has been the work of apprentices on heritage equipment and so we were recently concerned to read in Central’s Rail history at Central Station that restructuring within Railcorp is not only reducing frontline staff at stations like Redfern, but that it is also impacting on the numbers of apprentices and trades that have been an important part of the passing of heritage conservation skills as evidenced in the story. With the LES secure for heritage use there will still be opportunities for the passing of heritage skills, hopefully there will also be apprentices to pick up some historical knowledge.
More on Redfern Heritage
Building on the stories reported in our last update from the 150 year celebration of local government in Redfern ABC Speaking Out spoke to Heidi Norman on "The Black Heart of Redfern: Economic development and Aboriginal people in 20th Century Redfern" City News also did a follow up article on Redfern reaches 150 as did South Sydney Herald in Bush wallabies in Redfern?. It is expected that both Aboriginal Heritage and the LGA’s heritage will be picked up in work undertaken by the RWA Heritage and Tourism Taskforce in conjunction with the Council and the local community.
Lack of Movement on Redfern Station a focus of Attention
With plans lodged for the upgrade of Newtown station Newtown station upgrade overdue the lack of progress at Redfern has come into starker focus. Sydney Central recently reported on Council’s push on the station in Fix Redfern station: Sydney Council pleads making reference to the only official statement about work on Redfern station, which was a statement in 2006 by former Minister Watkins! That statement was out of date within months of it being made, but was only removed from the RWA site following the Central article which made reference to it. Central subsequently reported in Railcorp keeps Redfern station design under wraps that RailCorp has come up with a preferred design for the Redfern station upgrade but will not release it to the public. The article reported that a funding application has been made to Treasury, which is consistent with what the RWA Built Environment Ministerial Advisory Committee had been earlier told by then RWA CEO Robert Domm.
Further information came to light in questions to the RWA at the recent Estimates Hearings where it was revealed that the RWA had purchased a property in Little Eveleigh Street. In answer to a question about the station Minister Keneally said: “I can advise you that plans for the upgrade of Redfern station are progressing. The RWA and Railcorp have formed a joint working group to develop a draft concept design. There are some key issues for consideration that we are working on together. Those include accessibility. The upgrade to the station must maximise accessibility for all members of the community, including those who are less mobile or physically impaired persons. Another is connectivity. The upgrade to the station needs to enhance connectivity to surrounding destinations, including Redfern Street and Redfern town centre, the Australian Technology Park, North Eveleigh, Lawson Street and the university. Another key issue is a paid concourse. The upgrade to the station needs to incorporate a new paid concourse that enhances accessibility to the station and to platforms and meets Railcorp operation requirements. Another key issue is the unpaid concourse. The upgrade to the station needs to incorporate an unpaid concourse for pedestrians and cyclists.”
A subsequent statement from the RWA revealed that its purchase of 125 Little Eveleigh Street was “in accordance with the responsibilities, plans and polices of the RWA”. The statement said “the purchase of the Little Eveleigh Street property is a key part: of the preparations for the upgrade of Redfern Station. "The acquisition of this land will allow for the effective delivery of the upgrade of the Station and is an important part of the design process currently underway by RailCorp," Mr Wakelin-King said. "The acquisition of this property was done with the full transparency of the RWA Board and will be of great benefit to the community of Redfern by contributing to the development of Redfern Station". 125 Little Eveleigh is the block backing on to the railway line on the southern side of Little Eveleigh near the bend in the street.
More information may come from questions on notice from both the RWA and Transport Minister David Campbell. The latter was clearly not aware of any plans about Redfern Station at Estimates as the following extract from his appearance on 17th September shows:
Ms SYLVIA HALE: Minister, as you no doubt know, Redfern Station—one of Sydney's busiest—is completely inaccessible to people with disabilities. What is the schedule for upgrading that station? I think it has been proposed for the last 10 years?
Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: There is a strong Easy Access program for RailCorp and the Government has allocated over $30.1 million for the Easy Access program this financial year.
Ms SYLVIA HALE: Thank you, but I am just really interested in Redfern at the moment.
Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: I am pleased to say that RailCorp has recently completed Eastwood urban, Belmore, Bowral, Emu Plains, Seven Hills, Penshurst, Turramurra and Werrington—
Ms SYLVIA HALE: I do not want to be rude, Minister, but I am asking you specifically about the ten year- old proposal to upgrade Redfern?
Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: The exact status of the Redfern project I will undertake to provide to the Committee. I might say though that the 131500 service provides the opportunity for people to establish where their closest accessible railway station is. I am also advised the new 131500 service will give the ability of the whole of New South Wales to use 131500. This is a supplementary answer to your earlier question.
Ms SYLVIA HALE: I am sorry, Minister, if you could supply me with that information later on. I have very limited time.
Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: I will certainly do that.
Redfern Station, its rail bus interchange and how it addresses connectivity across the rail line are key issues for the community who are very frustrated by the lack of information and apparent progress in this area. The prospect of a broad based campaign over the lack of movement on the station was raised at the last REDWatch meeting and is being explored.
Council & RWA Move on Redfern Business Precinct Study Issues
Following representations and the negotiations about the initial proposal for Council to just note the, it was finally unanimously resolved that Council:
(D) receive and note the Redfern Business Precinct Study as shown in Attachment B to the subject report;
(E) note the imminent employment of a Business Co-ordination Officer and the community’s views that community interests would be best served if that officer were stationed in the area;
(F) work with major stakeholders such as the Redfern Waterloo Authority, the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce and South Sydney Football Club to implement the Study’s recommendations, giving priority to:
(i) working with property owners, the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, the Redfern Waterloo Authority and Police to improve the shopfronts along Redfern and Regent Streets and take initiatives to remove or enhance the shutters and roller doors on the existing shops and, in particular, consider an exciting public art project on the shutters;
(ii) commencing a commercial branding exercise for Redfern which will inform a marketing strategy and direct a targeted business tenancy initiative, the $17,800 remaining in the 2009/10 Business Support Grant program being allocated towards this project; and
(iii) developing a detailed and unified Calendar of Events for the area and identify a key community event or festival.
The pressure resulted in some media coverage on the problems of the shopping strip which, while sparked by the study, do not necessarily help find solutions. Central was widely criticised for its Redfern’s Great Depression with City New’s Redfern to reinvent itself and South Sydney Herald’s Redfern’s future prospects seen in a much more favourable light. Readers comments on the Central article included Central Readers Respond on Redfern Story with Clover Moore’s comments appearing in her eNews Support for Redfern & Darlington Business Precinct. The South Sydney Herald also covered the RSL redevelopment in Redefining Redfern RSL
One of the first outcomes of the Council resolution was the formation of a Roll Up Redfern committee which was bought together by Council CEO Monica Barone and RWA CEO Roy Wakelin- King along with The Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, Souths Football Club and REDWatch to address some of the issues in an integrated manner. In the RWA Update Roll Up Redfern campaign rolled out the RWA says “the campaign aims at encouraging local businesses to roll up their shutters to create inviting and vibrant streetscapes for new visitors to the area. More than 2,000 people will be calling the Redfern area their working home in the coming year with the arrival of Channel 7 and its partner companies. Rolling up shutters sends the message that Redfern is open for business and activity.”
The RWA Update Redfern Town Centre SEPP amendment advised that the recently advertised Redfern Town Centre SEPP that reduced the podium heights around three buildings was gazetted 25th September 2009 and can be accessed under Redfern Waterloo at http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/mapindex?type=epi&year=2005&no=194. The RWA Update’s Redfern Town Centre Guidelines update reports the RWA is also finishing off its proposed Redfern Town Centre guidelines which are expected to be exhibited late October 2009. The development of these guide lines has involved input from Built Environment Ministerial Advisory Committee members and some within the community.
Redfern Waterloo gets CoS Business and Community Development Co-ordinator
The Business Co-ordination Officer referred to in the Council motion above has now been appointed. Elizabeth Waser is the new City of Sydney Business and Community Development Co-ordinator for Redfern, Waterloo and Green Square. Elizabeth will be working with the business community in developing key working relationships and projects for achieving business and community objectives in the precincts. Prior to joining the City of Sydney, Elizabeth was Economic Development Manager for the former Baulkham Hills Shire Council for nine years, Executive Officer of Planning and Operations for the World Youth Day Coordination Authority and Senior Policy Officer for the Centre for Road Safety with the RTA. Elizabeth can be contacted by phone on 02926 5980 or 0434 325 786 and email at e.waser@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.
New Website for Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce (RWCC)
The RWCC has been developing a new website which has now gone live at www.rwchamber.com.au. The new site allows members to update their profiles and has provision for a members only area as well as a public area for all businesses. In the next week or so the site will also enable people to subscribe to email updates from the RWCC.
The Chamber held a successful AGM with a presentation on the proposed implementation of the Redfern Precinct Business study. The RWCC is very pleased at the work that is underway with the City of Sydney and the Redfern Waterloo Authority to implement programmes to roll up the shutters and to encourage commercial activity in the area. Local businesses are encouraged to join the Chamber and ensure a strong business voice in the decisions about the area.
Preparations for Channel 7 Move to Redfern
The RWA Update reminds us that the Channel 7 building in the Australian Technology Park is in its final stages of completion. When it is finished Channel 7 and its partner companies will relocate their offices from the north shore to the new site. More than 2,000 employees from Channel 7 will be spending their working lives in and around the area. Based on completion and relocation estimates, Channel 7 is expected to arrive early in 2010. The RWA is currently developing a program of activities to welcome Channel 7, Pacific Magazines and Global Television employees to the area. One of the big issues for Redfern and Waterloo businesses is how can the shopping strips attract those coming to the new Channel 7 building. With the station not even started and with the difficulty of crossing the twin arterial road will the area’s new workers come into Redfern and Waterloo or will they gravitate towards Erskineville and Alexandria?
City of Sydney LGA Crime Comparisons
Redfern Waterloo has a problem with the perception of crime in the area. You would think from some of the accounts that we had no go areas and that the suburb was one of the most violent. Downloading the latest NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research report based on crime across the City of Sydney Local Government Area for Sydney 2008 will help you dispel this myth. Police Local Area Commands have strict directives restricting the release of crime statistics so these annual compilations with their crime maps provide one of the only ways to get an objective, all be it slightly dated picture of how your area compares with surrounding areas across a range of different crimes. This is where the maps in the City of Sydney Community Safety Reports come from. You can download the 7.6MB 2008 report here from Lawlink (7.6MB PDF).
Syrons Told to Quit the Depot
The RWA has formally terminated all licences and permissions that Gordon and Elaine Syron may have had to occupy the Depot at 499 Wilson Street. The RWA has indicated on a without prejudice basis that it is prepared to consider a short period of grace to allow Gordon and Elaine to pack up the collection and move. It has also indicated it is also willing to consider providing assistance in relation to the relocation costs and temporary storage costs for the collection on a without prejudice basis subject to prompt further negotiation regarding the specifics of the relocation and storage requirements.
The RWA has also reaffirmed that the NSW Government is not in a position, nor is it willing, to purchase the Keeping Place Collection.
Gordon and Elaine have been unable to come up with a permanent home for the collection and are urgently looking at alternatives so would like to hear from anyone who may be able to assist.
They have started an on line petition calling on the Federal Government to establish a National Aboriginal Museum, to save their collection and put it into a safe place. You can find out more about what is being proposed and sign the petition at www.gopetition.com/petitions/an-aboriginal-keeping-place.html.
Vote for The Settlement in Marrickville funding competition
Marrickville MP Carmel Tebbutt has launched a website where those in the Marrickville electorate can vote for the project they would prefer to receive funding from the federal government Community Building Partnership Project. The program provides a total $300,000 in grants to each state electorate to build local community projects. The Settlement has applied for funding to complete part of its much needed upgrade – you can see it at http://cbp.carmeltebbutt.com.au/Project/Details/the-sydney-university-settlement.
One of the problems in such an electorate popularity poll is that The Settlement is on the edge of the electorate and many of those who use and are involved with The Settlement are not in the Marrickville electorate and hence will be ineligible to vote. Many also do not come from very computer literate families that can not be mobilised in support of a voting push.
The other problem with this process is that you have to give a lot of personal information in the registration process and politicians are not governed by the Privacy Act so there is not control on how the information you provide will be used. We would expect this information will be helpful to Carmel Tebbutt in the next election and yes it does stop multiple voting and some of it cross checks with the electoral role.
So if you do live within the Marrickville electorate and feel comfortable passing on this information then please vote to support The Settlement’s project. If you are outside the electorate we suggest you email Carmel’s office explaining you live outside the electorate but wish to register your support The Settlement proposal – the email address is marrickville@parliament.nsw.gov.au.
Animation Studio headed for CarriageWorks – Exhibition until 21 October 2009
When the CarriageWorks was established the financial model was that commercial use of the western end of the building would generate income to support the contemporary performance spaces on the eastern end. The Anna Swartz Gallery was the first tenant and now the RWA have advertised a DA for the use of the western portion of the CarriageWorks as a commercial Digital Film Making Studio with proposed hours of operation from 8.30am to 6.30pm 7 days per week. The application comes from Kennedy Miller Mitchell who have produced, among others, Babe and Happy Feet. Details of the DA can be found on the RWA website at the following link RWA - CarriageWorks Kennedy Miller Mitchell Digital Film Making Studio - Until 21 October 2009.
Darlington Traffic Study
Following the presentation of its Draft Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Plan (PCTC) for Newtown, Darlington, Camperdown and Erskineville on 2nd September Council released its draft Plan for comment and you can find the proposals at www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/MeetingsAndCommittees/2009/PublicMeetings/TrafficCalmingMeeting020909.asp. The council proposals addressed many of the issues along Wilson Street that were of concern during the RWA North Eveleigh Concept Plan Exhibition. It also proposes a shared zone in Little Eveleigh and the southern end of Ivy Street. One of the major changes is the proposed closure of Shepherd Street at the entrance to the University but no details are provided as to how local traffic in this area will be handled. Also proposed for consideration is the possibility of the introduction of parking meters and standardisation of parking restrictions.
REDWatch has made a submission on a number of issues flowing from the work done on the North Eveleigh Concept Plan. Of major concern with the exhibition was that the Draft Proposals were circulated before Council received detailed pedestrian and traffic count data. As a result a number of issues that should have been addressed have not been adequately considered. This includes identification of the level of through traffic avoiding King Street, the scale of the pedestrian movements between Redfern Station and Sydney University, and the possible impact from proposals by the University to close Butlin Avenue.
An upgrade around the Darlington shops is also supposed to dovetail with the PCTC recommendations. The South Sydney Herald kept up the pressure on the Darlington shops in their Abercrombie, the forgotten street. When the last council traffic study was undertaken in 1995 it was in the context that Darlington was targeted for a village treatment similar to that subsequently given to Erskineville. Not all the approved traffic changes eventuated and Darlington did not get their upgrade. You can see the concerns raised by REDWatch, including about the upgrade, in the REDWatch Submission on Darlington PCTC - September 2009.
Supermarkets - the Controversies Continue
In the last RWIU we looked at the issue of supermarket placement and the wish of many public housing residents for a low cost supermarket in the area in Will Aldi come to Redfern or Waterloo? The push for a proposed Aldi in Waterloo has received a lot of support as reported in the South Sydney Herald in August Aldi is a goodie, say Waterloo locals. A petition has been well supported and in a submission to council the Factory Community Centre Supported Aldi for Waterloo.
The problem for the proposed site of the Waterloo Aldi store is that both Council and the Central Sydney Planning Committee have endorsed the findings of the Green Square & Southern Areas Retail Study (6MB PDF) by Jones Lang LaSalle in September 2008. The proposed site falls within The Green Square area which has been defined to include the Danks Street precinct in Waterloo. The study on page 73 says of “Danks Street / Crown Square – A supermarket based centre has been approved within Site 9 of the Former ACI Glass Factory Site. We consider that this development together with the Danks Street environment should complement each other. There may be further opportunities along the entire length of Danks Street from Morehead Street to South Dowling Street, however future development should not compromise the status of GSTC as the primary centre in the study area.”
The CSPC resolved in support of the study saying “that any retailing within the Green Square Urban Renewal Area and the Southern Industrial Area, outside of the Green Square Town Centre and the other nominated centres, should be of a minor, or ancillary nature or of a type which is not appropriately located in the Green Square Town Centre or these centres” This study was also the basis used to earlier reject a St Peters supermarket proposal and it will be interesting to see how a push by residents for a supermarket development fares against a recent Council Plan to prevent it.
It should be remembered however that council approves a use for a site and that approval of a supermarket does not guarantee that an Aldi branded supermarket is eventually included.
On the flip side Erskineville residents have been unsuccessful in their attempt to stop a smaller supermarket proposed for their suburb with council giving the green light as reported in Central’s Sydney’s supermarket sprawl under fire.
In another twist the Souths Leauges Club developer thought it had a green light for a supermarket in its redevelopment, but the decision by the club to retain the pokies has bought the supermarket into question as reported in ABC news South Sydney's shop, pokie plan under fire and City News’ Pokies plus supermarket equals no-go, Council tells Souths.
The more general issue of applications for supermarkets was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald on 20th August in Councils battle spread of new supermarkets and City News followed up with a look at almost all the issues raised above in their Supermarkets – the new urban battleground.
National Centre for Indigenous Excellence
The NCIE is getting ready to start operations. You can follow the development of the NCIE through its website http://ncie.org.au/ . Use http://ncie.org.au/news/ncie-news.html to access its electronic newsletters, past newsletters or to subscribe to them. The Minister for Community Services and Women, Linda Burney, recently announced the membership of the Youth Advisory Committee for the NCIE. You can read the details of the appointments in the NCIE media release Linda Burney Announces the NCIE Indigenous Youth Advisory Committee which was picked up by Central’s Indigenous opportunity in Redfern.
Planning is also underway for Midnight Basketball with a community committee being formed. For more information contact Sara Hamilton, Youth Programs Coordinator at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence on (02) 9016 1070 or sara.hamilton@ymca.org.au
The NCIE is currently selling Foundation Memberships from an office at 88 Pitt Street Redfern, for more details as to what is offered in the package contact 1300 866 761 or consult the advertisement on the back page of the October 2009 South Sydney Herald.
Frasers Start work on Balfour Park & Other CUB Site News
Frasers Property Australia, as part of the development of the old Carlton United Brewery site, started works for the Balfour Street Park, at Balfour and O'Connor Streets. Prior to the commencement of the creation and landscaping of the park, several weeks work is required to complete the environmental works. These works were approved in 2008 and have been scheduled to commence in conjunction with the work on the park. It is anticipated that the works will be completed in the last week of November 2009, a little ahead of the promised December 2009 delivery. The plans for the park and details of the associated works can be viewed at www.frasersbroadway.com.au .
Frasers also has on exhibition the Project Application for the construction of a mixed use residential, commercial and retail building on Block 2 consisting of two towers (east 34 storeys and west 17 storeys); a Gross Floor Area of 66,698sqm; landscaped platforms adjoining a lower ground level piazza; public domain works; and stratum subdivision. Details can be found at DoP - CUB Site - Construction of a Mixed Use Residential, Commercial and Retail Building on Block 2 - Until 6 November 2009
Other recent news on the Fraser site can be found at www.frasersbroadway.com.au/broadway/lat.htm
Metro West Stations for USyd and Camperdown
As the CBD Metro does not come as far as Redfern we have not been covering it in our RWIUs however it is currently on Exhibition at. DoP - CBD Metro Project Application - Until 12 October 2009.
What had not registered with us, despite SSH’s No timeline for new train line, is that the second element of the Metro system is also currently being planned under the name West Metro. This is a proposed line from Central to Westmead with stops proposed for Broadway – The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Leichhardt, Five Dock, Burwood, Strathfield, Sydney Olympic Park, Silverwater, Camellia, Parramatta and Westmead.
The location proposed for Broadway - University of Sydney station is immediately underneath the University Avenue entrance to Sydney University and Prince Alfred Park opposite Glebe Point Road just west of the pond. At Camperdown the station is proposed to be on the northern side of Parramatta Road between Larkin Street and Lyons Road. People headed to RPA hospital will need to cross Parramatta Road and walk up Missenden Road.
The Department of Planning has issued Director Generals Requirements so you can follow progress on the DoP register at Project Application - West Metro. The Social Impact Assessment is being done by Hill PDA who are currently consulting with community groups along the path of the West Metro. The plans are scheduled to go on public exhibition in early 2010. Details on the Metro proposals can be found on the website at www.sydneymetro.nsw.gov.au.
Older & Wiser Creative Output
With many older people in Redfern Waterloo the bringing together of a number of projects from different organisations into the Older and Wiser Festival seems to have hit a chord in the community. One of the popular attractions shown on Waterloo Green was The Last Hundred Yards, a 30-minute documentary that weaves together the stories and insights of Leo, Sylvia, Ray and Norma. The film was reviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald’s Tired of lives ending in loneliness and promoted in Central’s Waterloo doco keeps it real.
Another creative output was Alana Valentine’s Elderflowers, a new play commissioned by South Sydney Uniting Church based on interviews Alana undertook with Redfern and Waterloo residents. The play was unveiled in a discussion session with the author as part of the Older and Wiser Festival and a play reading the following week which was reviewed in October’s South Sydney Herald. Alana is well known in the area for her play Run Rabbit Run about the struggle for Souths to get back into the Rugby League and more recently Parramatta Girls based on the experiences of those incarcerated in Parramatta Girls Home.
Monthly Community Markets 3rd Sunday Redfern Park– Next Saturday 17th October 2009
The new RedWater Community Markets started in September and will be held on the 3rd Saturday of each month at Redfern Park between 8am and 4pm. These community markets are sponsored by the City of Sydney as part of a local community action plan and are organised by the Housing Communities Program (HCP) at The Factory Community Centre in partnership with Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre and others. All monies raised from the stallholder fees for the markets are injected back into supporting local environmental community projects such as the Waterloo Recycling Workshop. As the market is part of local community action on climate change the focuses of the market (not exclusively) is on sustainable goods which are handmade, recycled, or second hand, and are environmental friendly. This is to assist in the reduction of waste strategies of the City Council. However all goods sold must be of reasonably high quality. Please help get these markets going by dropping in or taking a stand. For more details see REDWATER Community Markets.
Danks Street Festival – 25 October 2009
Danks Street Festival is part of Art and About. Initially the festival moved from Redfern to Danks Street temporarily, but it has become firmly established and shows no sign of returning. As part of the plans to revitalise Redfern, council has flagged developing a detailed and unified Calendar of Events for the area and identify a key community event or festival. All suggestions for what should be on the calendar and what should be the key community event or festival would be appreciated. You can send us any suggestions and we will feed them in to the discussions.
Family and Cultural Day on the Block – Next 31 October 2009
Family and Culture days have become a regular event on the last Saturday of the month on The Block. The RWA Update reported Shane Phillips of Tribal Warrior estimating the crowd at the last Family and Culture Day to be easily over 300 people and said the event continues to reach out into the community to both black and white. The next Family & Culture Day will be on 31st October 2009. Contact Tribal Warrior on 9699 3491 for more information.
RWA Training & Employment News
The RWA Update provides details of some of its success stories Local apprentices and trainee star at awards night as well as details of Koori Job Ready Course: 2010 and Yaama Dhiyaan Hospitality Training Course: 2010.
More information on Yaama Dhiyaan Hospitality Training Centre’s third graduation for the year can be found in the RWA media release Yaama Dhiyaan Hospitality Training Centre celebrates third anniversary by passing the 100 graduate mark.
In the Media
In addition to various media articles mentioned above there were a number of media articles about Redfern Waterloo. Donna Karan's in vogue at Redfern revived the old New York, Paris ... Redfern line with a visit to The Block reported in the SMH. Sustainability in the area got a focus in City News’ Sustainable living opens up and SX news looked at the benefits of inner city scooters for Trevor Ashley in Trash and Trevor: Trevor Ashley - Travels with my Scooter. City News looked at Garden gamers take time out from busy Sydney while Central picked up Indigenous Welterweight Champion Paul West in Redfern boxer fights in Canada and also Lucas Van Der Fect Dance award in Waterloo dancer scholarship to Big Apple. City News looked at budding DJs Young talent brightens the night life.
New taxi zones and extra one-minute pick up and drop off areas in No Stopping zones around the city was covered in Central’s New cab zones in Sydney CBD including Baptist Street. Google lets creative types play in their Sandbox at a CarriageWorks event and Central reported that Hillsong gives up on Sydney mega church site.
Australia’s first indigenous jobs website was covered in the SMH’s Hopes for 100,000 jobs on new indigenous site and the SMH also reported on Parnell’s $15 million manufacturing plant and laboratories transforming Alexandria into a centre for science and technology companies in Fringe-dwelling Rabbitohs get new $15m vet lab neighbour.
Clover’s eNews advised that Homelessness Count Reveals Need. Meanwhile City News reported that the proposed new facility for homeless people in Camperdown was at the expense of Housing NSW tenants and was announced without any prior consultation with effected public tenants in Residents face eviction to house homeless. Waterloo’s Factory Community Centre Cycle Re-Cycle Workshop got a run in City News with On your bike for Factory seconds.
In news not making the media was Housing NSW Waterloo Green Update – August 2009 and information on Tranby Aboriginal College Offers Course to Non Indigenous Students
South Sydney Herald Oct
We have been unable to place the October South Sydney Herald articles on the REDWatch website yet but you can download the entire copy of the latest South Sydney Herald’s from www.southsydneyherald.com.au.
South Sydney Herald September 2009
Articles from the September 2009 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo have been placed on the REDWatch website and include a look back at Redfern’s history with Bush wallabies in Redfern? The SSH also looked at Redfern’s future prospects including Redefining Redfern RSL and Abercrombie, the forgotten street. Dorothy McMahon wrote about Getting to know Roy Wakelin-King and Andrew Collis & Trevor Davies’ marathon fundraiser Running in the footsteps of Pemulwuy. Concerns that Uni music will disturb peace, say Darlo locals was covered as was “We are one!” - Waterloo Recycling Workshop, Big heart for The Big Issue and Older and Wiser festival in Respect for our elders. The Fast News - Compiled by Trevor Davies again covered some local issues and Ross Smith compared State and Local consultation processes Community consultation, the State Government way and the SSH profiled Young Sydney artist, Hayley Megan French in Not an experience easily described.
South Sydney Herald August 2009
Articles from the August 2009 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo have been placed on the REDWatch website and included Aldi is a goodie, say Waterloo locals, RailCorp review rallies Friends of Redfern and Mudgin-Gal – “a true friend in turbulent times”. The Fast News - Compiled by Trevor Davies covered some local stories and South Sydney Leagues new intimate Redfern oval café was covered in Strong work ethic, on and off the field. Bearing the best of the past - Reader Profile: Ron Fox and Where there’s smoke there’s culture covered NAIDOC week. The problems of Community services “on a shoestring” are covered as is Streetbeats recognition in Getting it together for young people. In Surviving dialysis Denis Peters writes about his own struggle, Gordon Syron talks about Staring down racism and the SSH was Pondering the art of Shireen Malamoo and looking at From King Street to Wilson Street Artist profile: Maggie Stein. The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association’s history and move is covered in Platform 10 – a great initiative in Redfern as it the Temple Terraces to be repaired and the proposed Metro West in No timeline for new train line. Mini Vinnies in Erskinville looked at an Erko kids St Vincents, Bowling for Alexandria looks at the Bowling Club behind Erskineville Oval and Northcott celebrates 25 years was also covered.
South Sydney Herald July 2009
Articles from the August 2009 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo have been placed on the REDWatch website and included an article about well known identity Col James in The Fred Hollows (or is it Cassius Clay?) of architecture as well as a look at Bill Simon’s Back on the Block book. The SSH looked back on Mount Carmel Catholic Church’s 150 years in Church survives “many depressions and many wars”. The Fast News - Compiled by Trevor Davies covered some local stories and profiled Robert Tarabo from Southside Money Lent Pawn psychology – cash for gold. The newsagents’ bid to take over lotto was covered in Newsagents in it to win it, it was declared Erko Oval now best in South Sydney and the GFC troubles of independent radio station FBi was covered in Automatic for FBi. The SSH also looked at politics in the inner city with Can the Greens take Balmain and Marrickville in 2011?, the new Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre in Grand new community centre and homelessness in Homeless, not helpless.
Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations
Below we have listed consultations currently open for community input and provided a link for further information:
- CoS - Chippendale Parking: Proposed Changes - Until Wednesday 14 October.
- CoS - A proposal for stormwater harvesting for Sydney Park - Until Friday 16 October.
- CoS - Draft Planning Agreement: 6A Huntley Street, Alexandria - Until Friday 23 October.
- CoS - Draft Councillors' Expenses Policy - Until Friday 23 October.
- CoS - Public Presentation of the 2008/09 Annual Financial Report - Until Monday 9 November.
- CoS Council DAs
- RWA DAs
- DoP Major Projects
- Link CoS "Have your say"
TfNSW proposal to reverse Little Eveleigh Street - until Sept 10th 2023
