Local News - RWIU

It has again been a long break since we put out our last RWIU after Trevor Davies passed away. Life has been quite hectic since then. Lyn has been one of the people who threw themselves into some of the ‘Trevor shaped holes’. In her case she has picked up Trevor’s role as News Editor of the South Sydney Herald which in February published its 100^th issue. Geoff too has started to do more short news stories for the South Sydney Herald in the absence of Trevor’s Fast News, so RWIUs have been on the back burner – hopefully you have been taking an occasional look at the REDWatch website or its RSS feed to keep an eye on what has been happening. While the end of 2011 was relatively quiet 2012 started with a bang, so despite the delay we thought we should get something out to bring people up to date with what is happening.

Lift Redfern Station Campaign

It is time to do something about Redfern Station. A 2003 community forum was told that unless the Government intervened, Redfern Station would not be upgraded until 2011. Both 2011 and Government interventions have come and gone, and the 20 year old promise that access would be addressed by a station upgrade could still be another 20 years away, when lifts are needed now. One of the problems seems to be that Redfern Station is not on the Easy Access Program list see Redfern Station Easy Access Estimates response - Nov 2011. Instead it is expected that Redfern Station access will be fixed as part of a full station upgrade, but this keeps being pushed back. In 2003 the community suggested that in the interim the installation of one lift would at least allow people to change at Central and to use one accessible platform at Redfern Station, but we have not seen that either.

A campaign to get lifts installed at Redfern Station, under the banner “Lift Redfern”, is being supported by a wide range of organisations including business, the arts, the Aboriginal communities, community services, resident groups and local political party branches. The list keeps growing but you can see it at Who is behind Lift Redfern. A key part of the “Lift Redfern” campaign is to get the appalling lack of access at Redfern Station debated in the NSW Parliament and for the Legislative Assembly to call upon the “Minister of Transport to take immediate action to install lifts to Redfern Station platforms”. The Premier put in place a procedure where a 10,000 signature petition would generate a Parliamentary debate. The campaign does not aim to tell Government how to deliver access it simply says we want lift access and we want it now!

You can join the campaign today by downloading the petitions Lift Redfern Petition - Portrait (302 KB PDF) or Lift Redfern Petition - Landscape (226KB PDF) and by getting signatures.

You can support the campaign if you share and comment on the Lift Redfern Facebook page. You can also visit the website at www.liftredfernstation.wordpress.com for more information and to share your stories about how Redfern Station affects your life. You can also Join Lift Redfern Supporters Email List to find out more about the campaign as it unfolds. Lift Redfern can be contacted on liftredfern@gmail.com.

There will be a “Platforms & Carriages Week” push which will roll out on Monday 19^th March leading into a month long signature push. One recent article in the Hub covered some of the issues in Getting off at Redfern: wheelchair access denied. The South Sydney Herald will cover Lift Redfern in its March 2012 issue.

REDWatch Community Workshop – Planning Basics for Residents – 13 March 2012

Is planning speak a fog to you? Do you want to know how building designs are determined and how the Planning system works? If so then you may be interested in a Community Workshop REDWatch is putting on with Professor Peter Phibbs, to help everyday residents find out who decides what, how to find meaning in all that jargon - terms like DA, LEP, DCP, Master Plan, SEPP – and how residents can influence planning decisions. Peter Phibbs runs a day course at UWS aimed at non-planners and we have asked him to come to Redfern and run a session for any residents who would like to know more about planning.

Planning Basics for Residents will be held on Tuesday 13 March 2012 at Redfern Community Centre, 29 Hugo Street Redfern (near Redfern Station). This is a two hour session from 6-8pm but please get there before 6pm as we need to start promptly at 6pm. You can download a poster / flyer for this forum at Planning Basics for Residents - Tuesday 13th March 2012 Poster (121 KB PDF).

This workshop is funded with a grant from Project Local. REDWatch was successful in obtaining $2,500 funding through the first round of Project Local community voting run through Central Magazine - see REDWatch Project Local Winner. The project will provide REDWatch with the resources to run a series of four larger community forums as well as to better resource its everyday activities.

Pemulwuy Project – Exhibition until 29 Feb 2012 - Public Meeting 14 March 2012

The Pemulwuy Project has been on exhibition from mid-January until 29 Feb 2012. There are two exhibitions for the project happening simultaneously to satisfy different planning requirements. The department describes the first proposal as a “modification of the approved concept plan for a mixed use development of the site comprising: affordable and student housing units, commercial, retail, community and cultural facilities, public open space, landscaping and car parking, to permit: a higher total gross floor area (GFA); less retail/commercial community and cultural facilities GFA; more residential and public open space GFA and more car parking; and no community re-use of 1-11 Vine Street” - Environmental Assessment Modification of Concept Plan Approval No 06_0101.pdf (514KB PDF). The second proposal is a “Project Application for the demolition of existing improvements on the land and construction of the mixed use development in accordance with the concept plan, incorporating the proposed modifications” Environmental Assessment _ Project Approval Application No 11_0093.pdf (1.5MB PDF). All the supporting Appendices are the same for both exhibitions and can be found under Pemulwuy Mixed Use Development Concept Plan MP06_0101 MOD 1.

The project has changed a number of times over the last couple of years. One of the big changes has been the decision to include commercial student housing along the railway line as one of the income streams for the development to support affordable housing on The Block. The Murrawina site becomes part of that site, so a new child care centre is being proposed in Caroline Street adjoining the AHC office building. The Gym moves to the top of The Block with units above it. Town houses continue from it down to the end of The Block. To avoid competition with Wyanga, the proposed Elders’ Centre has gone, but the Cultural Centre and some commercial office space remain next to the railway line. One of the biggest changes, now that the conflict with the state government has disappeared, is that the opening up of The Block by widening the entrance across the railway line at Lawson Street. Gone are the days of the battle with Frank Sartor. He only mentions The Block in passing in his new book in a section about the “Twisted Tales of EM Farrelly”.

One of the major breakthroughs last year came with the announcement that the AHC will receive Federal Affordable Housing Support. Late 2011 saw Council in discussions with the AHC over the transfer of Council Land to the project which included a community meeting at the Redfern Community Centre. The AHC will transfer some land back to Council and some open space on The Block proper will continue to be administered by the AHC rather than see that land alienated from AHC ownership. Council used the transfer to pressure the AHC to remove the commercial parking it had proposed and in return the Council supported higher student housing along the railway line. Council has subsequently resolved to Support the Pemulwuy Project. As some of the Council land is public / community land it is necessary under the EPA Act for there to be a Public Hearing for Reclassification of Council land for Pemulwuy Project. This will be held on 14 March at Redfern Town Hall at 6pm. You can find out more about the proposal at this meeting.

You can find out more about what is and has been happening on The Block including media responses such as The World Todays’ Locals praise plans to bring back The Block and SSH’s Pemulwuy housing made more affordable and Pemulwuy - towards Excavation on the REDWatch website under Pemulwuy Project Modifications 2010-2012.

Other Developments

In addition to the AHC’s Pemulwuy Project which includes student accommodation Urbanest’s proposal for 2-5 storey student housing nearby at 159 - 163 Cleveland Street is also on exhibition until March 2. The details are on the Department of Planning website at http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=4949.

Pitt Street residents fighting an overdevelopment in that Redfern street for the last two years have won a case in the Land and Environment Court – you can read about it in the SMH’s Heritage triumphs in Redfern battle.

Bye Bye RWA – Hello SMDA …

The Redfern Waterloo Authority has finished. Gone are the community grants and the Ministerial Advisory Committees. The RWA website is not being updated but a page provides details of what’s happened to some RWA initiatives and a list of what the RWA thinks was achieved is at Conclusion of the RWA including this Redfern-Waterloo Authority Transition Fact Sheet. Many of the RWA’s functions, including the ATP, have passed to the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA) operating out of Government offices near Strawberry Hills Post Office. Its website www.smda.nsw.gov.au now contains earlier RWA material. While the SMDA may only be new there is already speculation that it may not last long and the Minister has gone on record that they are looking into the possibility that the SMDA and Landcom will be combined into a new housing agency - see Sydney Morning Herald’s Plans afoot for new housing agency.

If you would like to read the RWA eulogies from the debate on the Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill 2011 you can find them here by speaker:

· 1R,2R Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill 2011 - Hazzard Mr Brad

· 2R Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill 2011 - Burney Ms Linda; Bassett Mr Bart; Keneally Ms Kristina; Speakman Mr Mark; Moore Ms Clover; Baumann Mr Craig

· 2R;3R Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill 2011 - Mason-Cox The Hon Matthew; Foley The Hon Luke; Clarke The Hon David; Shoebridge Mr David; Maclaren-Jones The Hon Natasha; Lynn The Hon Charlie.

The 2010-11 Annual Report of the RWA can be downloaded from the RWA website at 10-11 Annual Report - Full Version (pdf ~3mb) and the ATP Annual report from ATP 2010 - 2011(PDF 6MB). The annual report for the SMDA which overlapped with the RWA can be found at 10-11 SMDA Annual Report (PDF3.5MB).

Flawed BEP2 Stakeholder Report?

Since the last RWIU the RWA released its BEP2 Stakeholder Engagement Report (PDF 2MB) which reported on the RWA’s BEP2 consultation and the two page RWA response to the report’s recommendations (PDF 22KB). The report contains an analysis of the surveys returned during the BEP2 consultation. REDWatch had concerns about this consultation and how this data has been reported and has extracted from the report the raw data for further analysis. This data has been provided to the RWA/SMDA for checking and can be found at RWA BEP2 Survey Results Data (43KB PDF). The Redfern and Waterloo Community Learning and Research Group, initially set up by Housing NSW with Judy Stubbs as an independent chair, has requested a peer review of the Mediate Today report.

There are many areas of concern about the report. It interprets public housing tenants’ concerns about safety within public housing as something that could be fixed solely by changing the area’s social mix without addressing housing management issues. An issue such as how HNSW administer their allocations and tenancies if addressed would take away a lot of the reasons given for the need to redevelop the estate. Another problem of interpretation involves the comparison between public and private views of the change. The sample sizes of the two groups are so different but no statistical testing to take this into consideration is used.

One of our favourites relates to Question 4 on the feedback form which read: “The highest buildings in Waterloo (Matavai and Turanga) are 30 storeys. The highest buildings in Redfern (Poets Corner) are 17 storeys. Draft BEP 2 proposes heights of 4-12 storeys. Do you have any comments on this?” According to the Mediate Today Report on the RWA’s BEP2, the vast majority of respondents (37 per cent) simply answered “OK” to this statement of fact. Another 18 per cent said they liked 4-12 storeys, and 17 per cent made no comment. In the analysis, what is potentially just people’s agreement with a statement of fact that precedes the question is reported as showing overwhelming support for the RWA 4-12 storey proposal. More worryingly, the report says that this question established a set of categories for analysing the responses “based on RWA and Housing NSW’s need to understand stakeholders’ specific height preferences”. If this was the aim surely it needed to be a multiple-choice answer. Height of course is only one part of the equation and the question omitted anything about density which is the other key planning ingredient.

The problem is that this flawed report forms the basis for subsequent consultations, such as the recent Social Impact Assessment Scoping consultations and the final BEP2, hence the need for a proper peer review. The SMDA in response to the issues raised about the report has said “the data differences are not material. This should also be considered in the context of a report which sought to capture the essence of feedback from forms (and other submission) which was not a strictly scientific exercise, particularly given the open-ended nature of some questions. It is also noted the report sought to capture feedback from a non-statutory consultation process, and further opportunities for public participation and feedback will occur prior to any controls for the BEP 2 sites being completed.”

SMDA Studies leading to Final BEP2 Controls

Unlike the RWA the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA) exists solely to look at opportunities for redevelopment in the area. Its initial focus in Redfern Waterloo is to work on the BEP2 areas of consolidated public housing and to finalise planning controls for the public housing redevelopment. To this end the SMDA is undertaking a number of studies which will be summarised in an Urban Renewal Studies Overview Report. This will be exhibited along with the proposed planning controls. It is expected that this will happen around mid 2012 after Housing NSW has finalised its Draft BEP2 for Federal Government reporting. Only after the controls are exhibited and any final changes made will Housing NSW know how high and how many units the controls will allow to be built on the various blocks. The Preliminary Masterplan is being seen as another of the inputs (another study if you like) and it will be reviewed, along with the RWA’s Draft BEP2, by the Government Architect’s Office.

The details of the studies can be found on the SMDA website under at Draft BEP 2 & Urban Renewal SEPP Study. REDWatch has set up a SMDA BEP2 & Urban Renewal Studies section on its website where information will be added as it comes to hand. Below is a summary of the studies based on the SMDA site giving the study, the consultant and what is to be covered:

· Social Impact Assessment – GHD – The Social Impact Assessment will be building upon previous review work on community facilities, and appropriate scoping for social impact assessment.

· Communications Strategy – Straight Talk – A Communications Strategy to guide the consultation process and engagement with key stakeholders.

· Urban Design and Public Domain Study – The NSW Government Architect’s Office - This study is reviewing the previous draft BEP 2 and associated analysis and all submissions received, together with the study requirements from the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure. A separate statement on this was issued by the SMDA under Government Architect to Review Redfern-Waterloo Urban Renewal Plans

· Transport, Traffic and Accessibility Study – Parsons Brinckerhoff – This study is reviewing previous preliminary work, augmented with more detailed analysis of the wider area and appropriate modelling, in close consultation with Transport for NSW. Parsons Brinckerhoff has previously undertaken the Traffic studies of the Redfern Town Centre, North Eveleigh and Sydney Uni Precinct as well as for BEP2 for the RWA.

· Economic Analysis – Hill PDA – The Economic Analysis is including the economic/industry profile of the area and retail needs, availability, and impact on centres.

· Sustainable Servicing and Supporting Infrastructure Capacity Study – Aecom – The Sustainable Servicing and Supporting Infrastructure Capacity Study will be including utility capacity, natural and man-made processes and sustainability measures.

Two other consultants we know were appointed

· Community Facilities Review – Cred Community Planning – This report did was not finalised and is now incorporated in the GHD Social Impact Assessment Scoping. REDWatch has requested this report be released, but SMDA argue it was not finalised but it is prepared to provide a briefing on the report. REDWatch is having a Community Facilities & Services Roundtable on 1^st March 2012.

· The SMDA has employed Straight Talk as the consultants to prepare a Communications Strategy to guide the consultation process and engagement with key stakeholders. While consultations have commenced this report, about how the SMDA will consult, has not yet been released. This is a major concern given the issues raised elsewhere in this update about the Draft BEP2 consultation and its report.

The SMDA has commenced work on what was initially referred to as a Social Impact Assessment but now is being referred to as “a Preliminary Social Impact Assessment to help determine the proposed planning controls”. The study will “include work already done on the facilities review” but not released to the community. Under “the current scope the consultants must prepare a brief for a future comprehensive Social Impact Assessment”. Eight focus groups – social housing tenants; Aboriginal organisations; CALD groups; private residents; local businesses and workers; NGOs; Government agencies; Affordable/ Community Housing organisations - are being held during February and March to gain community input to identify potential social impacts that could result from the redevelopment of the HNSW sites. Here you can see the Social Impact Scoping & Assessment Brief and Social Impact Scoping and Assessment for Redfern Waterloo - Focus Group Information Sheet Text.

One of the main concerns with the Preliminary Social Impact Assessment Scoping is that it is only sketching out the issues and so far from the focus groups very broadly. The Social Impact Assessment proper will be done as part of the full Masterplan which Housing NSW is on record as saying will be undertaken with the financial support of its commercial partner, i.e. the developer. There is considerable concern that the public interest aspects of these studies need to be well locked down before they become subject to the trade-offs that take place between the developer and Government about what will be delivered. Currently this looks like it will not happen.

REDWatch in February 2012 had a forum about the SMDA studies with a focus on the Social Impact Assessment. Here you can see the SMDA Studies Presentation 2nd February 2012 to REDWatch (2MB PDF). REDWatch also asked an independent expert on Social Impact Assessments to do a presentation about what can go wrong with Social Impact Assessments in long term projects and you can see Alison’s excellent presentation at Social impact assessment a short explanation - Dr Alison Ziller (659 Kb PDF) and also look out for her article in the March South Sydney Herald. It is plain that many of the areas of concern to tenants and REDWatch should be covered by the Social Impact Assessment and REDWatch is committed to ensure there is a robust Social Impact Assessment process for Redfern Waterloo.

If you would like to know more about SIAs then you might be interested in reading the Planning Institute of Australia on Social Impact Assessment or in a free seminar on Exploring Social Impact: Effective tools and strategies in community based contexts on Wed 21 March 4pm - 6pm at UTS, Level 3, Mary Ann House, 645 Harris Street, Sydney - registration: ccs@uts.edu.au.

Large Erecting Shop Zoning Removed

After almost six years the 12 storey building zone that threatened the Large Erecting Shop (LES) has been removed. When the RWA rezoned parts of the old Eveleigh Railyards in 2006, Railcorp was intending to dispose of the LES. The RWA rezoned the site so that a building of up to 12 storeys could be built in its place. You may recall there was also a report that said the building was in bad repair and needed to be pulled down which was independently refuted.

Following the long campaign by the Heritage groups and the local community to keep the LES building intact and to keep it functioning as a heritage railway facility, RailCorp announced that it would retain it for Heritage purposes. As the zoning for the redevelopment remained it was possible that RailCorp could have still sold the site with an automatic redevelopment potential of up to 12 storeys. Many people made it plain to the RWA that if it was serious about protecting Eveleigh’s heritage that it needed to remove the BEP1 zoning over the LES. The exhibition to return the LES height controls to its existing height went on exhibition in February for two weeks. It also proposed some welcome variations for use of the site that would allow it to be used for heritage education and training.

We are highlighting this story because many of you have supported the retention of heritage at Eveleigh and campaigned around the presentation of the LES. It is important to reflect that in this case, subject to the outcome from the exhibition, that we all won that battle. There is still some way to go to ensure that the LES returns to active heritage use and does not just become a closed storage facility for RailCorp Heritage assets it has nowhere else to house.

So congratulations to everyone and thank you to the RWA/SMDA for providing the proper controls for the preservation of the LES. While this exhibition has finished you can still see the details of the proposal and the correspondence between the RWA and RailCorp that has delivered what we hope will be this great outcome at Amendment of Redfern Waterloo Authority Sites State Significant Site Listing - Until 15 Feb 2012.

The other important heritage building that had its zoning changed in BEP1 was the Paint Shop. While that zoning still exists, so does the building so that fight is not lost yet.

Heritage Update

February 25^th saw ATP return to holding what is proposed to be annual ATP Open Days. Heritage was big on the programme with the Wrought Artworks providing blacksmithing demonstrations, Dick Butcher providing tours around the new viewing area in bays 1&2 North, Interpretation talks about the Eveleigh Hydraulic Power System, Jane Bennett painting and some of Nigel Helyer GhosTrain sounds ringing out on the hour. 3801 Ltd could not get SMR 18 as expected but were very active drumming up tour business.

One of the new initiatives was the inaugural Eveleigh Railway Film Festival 2012 which had many happy patrons thanks to the hard work of Brian Dunnett, Wendy McCaffley, Tom Cowan, Juliet Suich and others. You can see what you missed at ATP Open Day Heritage Tab and on www.eveleigh-railway-film-fest.com and the Screen Hub article Cinema Heritage: Eveleigh Rail Film Festival. Thinking back to the battle to Save the Eveleigh Blacksmith and get a Heritage Taskforce set up, the changes in the last couple of years have been considerable. Having said that many Heritage Issues at Eveleigh are still up in the air and more work is required.

There has been no finalisation of the ATP Conservation Management Plan that covers all the ATP heritage equipment, although there is work being done to preserve some of this equipment currently, but no one knows what the CMP framework will be and what will happen to the material removed from Bays 1 & 2 North for the interpretation area. We have not yet seen the finalisation of the Eveleigh Heritage Interpretation Plan and there has been no replacement for the Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce or the Eveleigh Steering Committee. This is of significant concern as there needs to be a mechanism to co-ordinate heritage activity across the whole site rather than for it to be left up to the various individual land holders like ATP and CarriageWorks to do something for its area. In the lead up to the ATP Open Day the RWA indicated that it was prepared to look at a Heritage event across the entire Eveleigh site in the second half of 2012. Hopefully this can also be progressed in addition to Heritage at the ATP being showcased in ATP Open Days.

Housing NSW Baseline Survey

In August 2011 HNSW released the Baseline Study it commissioned in 2010 of 752 public tenants in Redfern and Waterloo. It is an important document in the discussion about the future of the area’s public housing. Some of the key findings were that 75% of the public housing tenants have lived in the area for over 5 years with 70% agreeing the local area was a good place to live. 82% said it was easy to get around and 73% were happy with the general condition of their homes. The survey also showed satisfaction among 71% of public tenants with the social and community assistance offered. Police were rated well by 69% of tenants for their assistance with crime issues, while Housing NSW rated poorly in this area with only 35% saying HNSW was helpful.

Only 54% of tenants surveyed were satisfied with the service of their local housing office with maintenance the major source of dissatisfaction according to the study. The recently announced HNSW to Introduce Customer Service Standards may go some way to address the rudeness many public tenants complain about, but many of the issues tenants want to see addressed are more systemic and are not in the control of the local housing office. Many of the findings in the baseline study support REDWatch’s view that a priority focus by Housing NSW on its allocations policy, tenant support, customer service, anti-social behaviour and overall place management would have a significant impact on the quality of life of public tenants, probably a much greater impact than the redevelopment of estates that many people are otherwise happy with. Ross Smith has summarised some of the other report findings in his Rimfire Review article Housing NSW Recycles ‘Consultancy’ – A residents view.

One of the problems with the Baseline survey was that it excluded a significant section of the public housing community. Figures from the 2006 census supplied by Housing NSW about its tenants showed that around 22 per cent of the public tenants in Redfern and Waterloo were born overseas with around 45 per cent speaking a language other than English at home. About 65 per cent of units in 2006 were single-person households. Given these demographics it was staggering to see that, for the survey of Redfern and Waterloo tenants, Housing NSW did not provide any translation services to ensure input from this least heard part of the tenant community. The instructions to staff for the HNSW study read: “If the respondent speaks a language other than English and requires the assistance of an interpreter to complete the questionnaire ask for another member of the household who may be able to answer the survey in English. If … no other person … thank and terminate.” Housing NSW has bent over backwards to engage members of the Russian and Chinese community in meetings but this does not overcome their under-representation in the Baseline study.

You can download the Redfern Waterloo Public Housing Tenant Survey (PDF, 2.7MB) from HNSW Redfern Waterloo Redevelopment page

Housing NSW (HNSW) Masterplan

Housing NSW has been working since September on its Preliminary Masterplan for the redevelopment of public housing in Redfern and Waterloo. It is preliminary because the SMDA has not finalised its studies or proposed the final planning controls that will apply to the Masterplan and because the federal funds they received were not sufficient to do a full blown Masterplan which will now be done at a later date with the developer. As Housing NSW applied for and received federal funds it needed to undertake the Preliminary Masterplan arguing that the Federal Government would not allow it to delay its studies. The SMDA started its studies towards the end of 2011 and it will await the outcome of the Masterplan before proposing the controls that will apply. REDWatch has been actively involved in monitoring the process and has met with Minister Hazzard and senior staff in Housing NSW to try to get a more integrated process without success.

HNSW has primarily been focused on the built environment and conducting what are probably best described as capacity building in terms of bus trips to various places to see what has happened elsewhere. You can find out what has been happening in the Community Engagement section of the REDWatch website as HNSW has not been posting material on its own website. Key issues such as how the public housing units are to be managed, how the Government will better support high needs tenants, if social mix works and the advisability of selling off public housing land for private housing have all been off the agenda. You can see more about many of these issues in the Public Housing section of REDWatch’s website.

While HNSW has consultants working away on the Masterplan the only public glimpse of what might emerge came out of the November 2011 design workshops on Redfern and Waterloo. REDWatch has extracted the summary finding from the reports into a smaller document that gives a good overview of what is emerging from the HNSW workshops. You can see the summary under Housing NSW Masterplan takes Shape and the links to the full reports are at the foot of that page. Background materials for the coming Housing NSW sessions can be found on the REDWatch website under Building Design - February & March 2012 and Community Design Workshops - March 2012.

The March Community Design Workshop will the final community consultation process in the Preliminary Masterplan so if you have any concerns about the direction things are taking make your comments known. What is of major concern is that currently there is no exhibition planned for the Preliminary Masterplan prior to it being reported to the Federal Government and used as part of the review of the BEP2 controls by the NSW Government Architect’s Office. Housing NSW is saying it will present the Preliminary Masterplan to the community in the second half of the year. REDWatch has written to HNSW about its concerns arguing that, for all its limitations, the non-statutory exhibition of the BEP2 provided useful input to the RWA/SMDA and that such a process should also be used of the Masterplan. The fear is that Government will start acting on aspects of the Preliminary Masterplan before the community see what is proposed and why. Greg Pearce’s comments in No more public housing estates, pledges minister and the possibility that Redfern Waterloo may be a candidate for the new redevelopment to be announced by the end of the year makes it crucial that what Government is working with on Redfern Waterloo has been subject to community comment.

More information relating to the Masterplan can be found on REDWatch website under HNSW Preliminary Master Plan and also in the section in this update about BEP2 and the interlocking SMDA precinct studies.

Council Redefines Village Clusters for its 2030 Planning

Council has redrawn its village boundaries for community forums and delivery of community services in line with the City’s 2030 strategy. The new boundaries are an important administrative mechanism for Council. It is asking residents for input about their local “Village Groups” to help identify what services and facilities should be in their local community. Between late February and early April Council will hold community forums in the ten roughly equal sized village groups.

There have been concerns raised about how the boundaries have been drawn, as major arterial roads and railway lines isolate some suburbs from their designated hub. So for example” Redfern St” village group includes Chippendale, but not Redfern public housing which is part of “Crown and Baptist Streets”, while Danks Street, Waterloo Oval and Alexandria Park all become part of “Green Square and City South”. Irrespective of reactions to the new boundaries, the process will set Council’s local agenda for the next few years. So visit www.2030inyourvillage.com.au for information about your “Village Group” and take the opportunity provided to say what you want Council to do in your local community.

Community Forums are being organised by Council in the ten “Village Clusters”. The one for Redfern Street (Council; describes the area as Chippendale, Darlington, Eveleigh, Golden Grove, West Redfern and parts of Waterloo and Alexandria) will be held on Tuesday 3^rd April 2012 at Redfern Town Hall from 6-8.30pm. One of the major concerns from the initial village cluster meetings is how the small villages within the cluster will get their dreams for the future addressed when only the most widely accepted propositions are advanced. How the dreams of the many small villages within the City of Villages will be handled in this process remains to be seen.

Abercrombie Street Upgrade

After many years of waiting Darlington Shops and Abercrombie Street look like they will get a bit of an upgrade. Council undertook a week long exhibition in late October 2010 for the upgrade and many people turned out to have their say. The proposal however was only for the southern side of the footpath and involves the widening of the southern side and the undergrounding of electricity delivery to the southern side. There has been concern that the resultant proposal looks like the upgrade of the walking strip rather than a Village Upgrade. When the scoping proposal went to Council a flush road treatment at Ivy Street was added. It was also resolved that a scoping report be prepared for Council covering areas not within the current scoping report including the Northern side of Abercrombie Street. You can find the details at Council Decision on Abercrombie Street Upgrades - Feb 2012.

Ideally we would have liked to have had the plans for Abercrombie Street also discussed by the City of Sydney Redfern Station/Sydney Uni Working Group however despite our efforts we are yet to get a second meeting of this group since it initially met in August 2010 following the Council resolution that established it! This group is supposed to bring together Council, RWA/SMDA, RailCorp Sydney Uni and REDWatch representatives to explore the issues and possible responses.

In late November a BBQ Darlington ALP held a BBQ to discuss a fitting memorial for Trevor Davies and raised around $500 towards a memorial bench in Darlington. This has been pushed as part of the upgrade plans.

Sydney University Abercrombie Street Business School

Sydney University has made major changes to the plans it exhibited in 2011 for its new Business school next to Darlington Primary School and has undertaken a series of meetings in February to show its new proposals before they go to the Department of Planning for re-exhibition. The new plans have reduced the overall bulk and scale of the original proposal, Integrated the Joinery Workshop Building to keep a meaningful heritage connection to previous uses of the site, maintained the large Sydney blue gum tree and the existing corner park as a key part of the landscape strategy, significantly increased building setbacks to Codrington Street and Darlington Public School and increased pedestrian access throughout the development precinct. What has not changed is that the entrance to the development and its underground car park still come off Abercrombie Street. The latter has upset locals who believed the Vice Chancellor and the head of Campus Infrastructure when each said in writing “In response to concerns from residents and parents of school children, we have relocated the entry to the basement car park from Abercrombie Street to Darlington Lane”

By responding to the concerns about a safe path for children through the site the University has left the car park and service entrance and associated traffic as the major issue of concern to residents. The residents Group RAIDD have responded to the University’s latest plans with a media statement Uni Vice Chancellor Backflips. The University is pursuing its earlier Masterplan vision of a pedestrian priority campus with readily accessed car parking stations serviced by arterial, sub-arterial and major local roads. The problem with this aspect of the University’s Masterplan is that in removing motor vehicles from the campus it moves this traffic and associated uses into the surrounding areas many of which are residential areas – nice for the Uni but not so for surrounding residents. Residents are strongly of the view that any University development which may impact on the surrounding area should be located within the University and away from residential areas. This was one of the reasons residents got so upset about the Uni recently moving some of its sporting facilities from within the University to Abercrombie Street. Residents concerned about traffic levels past their homes and the school will not react kindly to the University’s characterization of Abercrombie Street as an underutilized sub arterial road! They would prefer to see parking stations coming off the main roads and for underutilized car parks like the one at the Seymour Centre taking the parking slated for the Abercrombie Street development.

Project information and a model are on display in the foyer of the University’s Services Building, 22 Codrington Street, until Tuesday 20 March between 8:30am and 4:30pm Monday to Friday and details should be on the Abercrombie Precinct Site in the next few days. After checking by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure the proposal will go on formal exhibition. The University has provided a statement for the South Sydney Herald for their March issue which we will place on the REDWatch website when that issue goes to press.

Frank Sartor’s reflections on Redfern Waterloo

For Christmas our daughter gave Geoff a copy of Frank Sartor’s book “The Fog on the Hill – How Labor Lost its Way”. Given all the conflict over The Block you would think Frank Sartor’s book would have dealt with his fight with the AHC over the future of The Block. No so! It was surprising to see that it rated only a passing mention in a section on “The twisted tales of E.M Farrelly”.

Another section deals with accusations against Kristina Keneally and Tony Pooley over “The Undermining of Robert Domm” which resulted in the investigation of the RWA by the State Internal Audit Bureau. In Sartor’s view “The Redfern-Waterloo Authority had no money, being another example of cosmetic politics, but we had to make it work—and we did, largely due to the efforts of Robert Domm”. You can see more at Sartor: RWA was Cosmetic politics - Robert Domm was undermined.

On the “The Callan Park Mess” Sartor says Keneally planned to ‘compensate’ Sydney Uni for loosing Callan Park, doing it behind the RWA’s back and against a cabinet decision. According to Sartor it didn’t go ahead because, from what he was told, the amount Sydney Uni was prepared to pay was much lower than what the site was worth. You can see what Sartor said at Sartor: Keneally discussed plan for North Eveleigh with Sydney Uni. We asked Sydney Uni to respond for an item in February’s South Sydney Herald and you can see the University of Sydney statement re Frank Sartor on the REDWatch website. The exchange still leaves open the question that if there was a three month window to negotiate a sale and if the University was prepared to pay full market price why did the sale not proceed?

Roll Up Redfern

Roll Up Redfern is finally starting to see some movement on the shutters around Redfern as a result of funding from Council and from the RWA / SMDA to those who are prepared to remove their shutters. It is great to see the change that removing shutters from Marie’s Labels on Sale shop on the corner of Redfern and Regent Streets makes to the area. Congratulations to all. There has also been some media coverage on the change such as the SMH’s Shutters to come down on Redfern's rough reputation.

Groundswell

We announced Groundswell in the last Update as a coalition of Non-Government Agencies and residents which has come together to resource tenants in their understanding of the issues and in their dealings with Government. You can find more information about Groundswell at www.groundswellcoalition.org.au or under Groundswell Redfern Waterloo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/GroundSwell-Redfern-Waterloo/166269223427768.

Alexandria Residents Action Group

In the last Update we mentioned the formation of the Alexandria Residents Action Group (ARAG). This is now a very active group and you can find out more about them at www.arag.org.au

Ashmore Estate

One of the big battles in the area has been over the future of Ashmore Estate. You may recall that the Labor Government instructed Sydney Council to substitute substantially increased height and density over this Erskineville precinct. Council is now exhibiting its own much lower density proposals but locals are not happy and they want the current planning controls to remain. You can find out more about the locals concerns at www.erskinevillevillage.org

Finding a Community Service

Jo Fletcher from Connect Redfern Schools as Community Centres Program has updated its lists for Term 1 2012. You can find the latest lists on the REDWatch website in Connect Redfern under Find a Local Community Service along with other information on finding local services through the Lincs Directory, as well as links to the RWA - Redfern Waterloo Human Service Maps.

We hope you find the information in this email of interest. If you have any feedback or suggestions please contact us.

These Updates are also available as emails. Details about the Redfern Waterloo Issues Update Email list and how to subscribe can be found at: http://lists.redwatch.org.au/mailman/listinfo/update

22 June 2011

REDWatch — 2011-06-22T04:05:00Z

In this Update:

Vale Trevor Davies – Funeral 23 June 2011

Groundswell for Redfern Waterloo

Council BEP2 Presentation for REDWatch & Groundswell – 7 July 6pm Factory

USyd Abercrombie Precinct Business School Redevelopment Project - until Friday 24 June, 2011

Redfern Waterloo will still be State Significant

SMDA gets its Precinct Outcomes Brief for Redfern Waterloo Eveleigh and Darlington

Update on BEP2 Issues

Housing NSW Masterplan and Tenant Engagement

What is happening around the RWA Sites

RWA Heritage Update

AHC Revises Pemulwuy

Alexandria Residents Action Group (ARAG)

It is almost Census time – Please Fill in The Census

Monthly Informal Gathering Friday – 24 June 2011 at 1 pm

Electricity Pricing Workshop for Community Workers – 18 July 2011

Have Your Say - Summary of Current Consultations (looks at current consultations on the REDWatch website)

Coming Events (looks at the current events listed on the REDWatch website)

Vale Trevor Davies – Funeral 23 June 2011

The Funeral Service for Trevor Davies will be held at 10am on Thursday June 23, 2011 at Pitt Street Uniting Church, 264 Pitt St, Sydney (near to corner of Pitt & Park Streets and a block from Town Hall Station). The service will be followed by refreshments until 1pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to The South Sydney Herald. By mail: PO Box 3288 Redfern NSW 2016. By EFT: BSB 062 231; Account No. 1021 8391.

Trevor was a member and Elder of South Sydney Uniting Church, the founding editor of the South Sydney Herald and long-time Secretary of the Darlington ALP Branch. Trevor was one of the foundation members of REDWatch, had served as a committee member in almost every community organisation in the area at one time or another over the last 30 years. At the time of his death his committee responsibilities included being Vice President of the St Vincent de Paul branch that covered the Redfern area. Trevor had a wide circle of friends from his various involvements and the people he met along the way; be that as a street sweeper, working in the Darlington newsagency, at Politics in the Pub, as part of Redfern Residents for Reconciliation, at political meetings or delivering leaflets for a meeting, or his beloved local newspapers (the South Sydney Herald only being the most recent incarnation).

Trevor’s death was sudden although he had not been well for some time. He was due to have an angiogram on the day he died but was taken to hospital the evening before where he had a heart attack and was operated on for several hours before he died on Tuesday 14 June 2011. His death came as a particular shock to those who had spoken to him around the Darlington coffee shops over the long weekend or had talked to him in one of his various activities in the week before. Trevor had only recently celebrated his 55^th birthday and was brother to Susan, Annie and Ivor. Susan has recently started work at the Big Issue office in Redfern.

His family would welcome assistance with the funeral costs and if you are able to contribute please contact his sister Susan Leith-Miller on leithsu@bigpond.com and / or make a contribution to Account name: Susan Leith-Miller BSB: 062 231 Account Number: 1037 0246. Any surplus funds will be donated to the South Sydney Herald.

The South Sydney Herald will publish tributes to Trevor in their July issue. You can email your story or message to editor@ssh.com.au before the weekend. Trevor played an important role in the South Sydney Herald and they are currently looking at how they rearrange responsibilities to cover a Trevor sized hole. If you have skills that may be of assistance to the paper, even in the short term, please contact Andrew at editor@ssh.com.au.

It has also been suggested by Gai Smith, who is helping with other family archives to be deposited with the Mitchell library, that the Mitchell Library would also be interested in receiving people’s stories. She says “it's very important to use the occasion of the great gathering of people who come to honour Trevor on Thursday to get people to commit to contributing their memories of Trevor, and what they know of all he did in their area of interest, in writing - so we can gather the materials that will be needed to document the life of a great man. We'll never get that chance again, to have in one place so many people who knew the different facets of Trevor's life”. We encourage you to put something in writing about your interactions with Trevor and add items to SMH Tribute Page for Trevor or pass these on to the South Sydney Herald to either publish or to pass on to an archive.

Below are some current online tributes to Trevor and if you know of others please let us know to pass on to others:

Tanya Plibersek on Trevor Davies in the House of Representatives on 16 June 2011

Carmel Tebbutt in NSW Legislative Assembly 21 June 2011

City News’ Redfern mourns the death of community activist – Trevor is on the front page of a paper other than SSH!
South Sydney Uniting Church especially Dorothy McRae-McMahon's poem - For Trevor the local legend
Neil Whitfield's photo’s Trevor–1956-2011 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnhibvhKQ-Y&feature=player_embedded
The SMH tribute page - www.onlinetributes.com.au/Trevor_Davies/ (Fairfax Digital Media are also working on an Obituary)
Norrie's Facebook Event Page - A Funeral Service for Trevor Davies

It has also been suggested that there should be some permanent memorial for Trevor in Darlington. With Council due to do some work around the Darlington shops within the next 12 months people might like to consider how Trevor could be best remembered by his community? If there is a good idea and it gains support then we are sure it can be made to happen like many of Trevor’s own good ideas!

Trevor will be missed greatly by the community that he served and stirred for so many years. Farewell political comrade, church brother and personal friend.

Groundswell for Redfern Waterloo

An important new coalition has been formed in Redfern and Waterloo called Groundswell. “Groundswell is an avenue for the Redfern/Waterloo community to make informed decisions and to ensure their voices are heard during the Built Environment and Master planning processes. Groundswell aims to provide resources and mechanisms for organisations and residents to achieve this goal. Groundswell celebrates our community and its diversity in a spirit of mutual respect, openness and good humour” says the coalition’s mission statement on its new website at www.groundswellcoalition.org.au.

Groundswell has been initially formed by the following non-government organisations: The Factory Community Centre; Inner Sydney Regional Council for Social Development; Our House Swap; REDWatch; Redfern Legal Centre; South Sydney Community Aid Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre; Sydney University Settlement Neighbourhood Centre; University of NSW Community Development Project; and the UWS Residents’ Voices Project. Groundswell hopes that other agencies and people of goodwill will join with them in supporting local residents. More information on how agency workers can help can be found in Groundswell Introduction - Information for Agencies (231KB PDF).

While Groundswell does not include government agencies, the Groundswell Coalition is keen to see government agencies adequately resource residents to understand what the government has proposed so residents are able to respond to these proposals. To this end Groundswell welcomes the RWA & SMDA registering interest in working with Groundswell. Groundswell is also hoping that Housing NSW will be able to agree its community engagement framework with Groundswell agencies for the Housing NSW Master Plan Community Engagement strategy including adequately resourcing independent support for residents.

The initial focus for the Groundswell Coalition is to encourage the community to start thinking about what is proposed and its implications for the area. An initial Join Groundswell in Redfern and Waterloo (320KB PDF) flyer is also available in Chinese, Indonesian, Russian and Vietnamese from the Documentation section of the Groundswell website. Supporting agencies and residents are encouraged to undertake activities which will encourage discussion and engagement. Among the activities being undertaken are stalls at Redfern Markets and other locations (including the Shelter NSW conference), surveys, film showings and information & skills sessions. Twenty DVDs of the recently released Saving Erko Estate have been obtained and with discussion starter questions are being lent out around public housing tenants.

This will be followed by activities that bring people together where they can explore how they might want to respond to what is proposed. It is likely there will be a variety of responses. Groundswell is not just for public tenants; Groundswell aims to work with both public and private residents and to encourage them to work together in responding to the issues which will affect all sections of the community.

Groundswell also is looking for support from people who are prepared to volunteer their expertise to work with the community – this might include people with expertise in architecture, planning, facilitation, community engagement, community education etc. Coalition meetings to date have included both public and private residents as well as agencies. If you are able to assist in anyway email info@groundswellcoalition.org.au or make a post on the forum section of the Groundswell website. You can also follow GroundSwell on facebook - we hope you like it!

You can see media coverage of the formation of Groundswell in the South Sydney Herald’s Groundswell of support for housing tenants and City News’ Groundswell coming to Redfern and Waterloo.

Council BEP2 Presentation for REDWatch & Groundswell – 7 July 6pm Factory

At its July monthly meeting REDWatch is organising for Groundswell a presentation about the City of Sydney BEP2 Submission. This is an opportunity to hear Graham Jahn, Council's Director City Planning and Regulatory Services, provide Council's Planning perspective on the RWA Built Environment Plan 2 proposals for the redevelopment of Redfern and Waterloo. Among Council’s suggestions is a new railway station on the Airport line underneath Waterloo Green allowing higher density around Waterloo and less in the Redfern redevelopment area. There will also be an explanation of the recent state planning changes and what that means for Redfern Waterloo and an opportunity to ask your own questions. This should be a good opportunity to get a different perspective of the BEP2 proposal. The presentation will be at The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street Waterloo NSW on Thursday 7 July from 6pm to 7.30pm

At the 4 August 2011 REDWatch Meeting local Federal MP Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Social Services and Social Inclusion will attend to talk about her roles in the Government and their relation to the local area.

USyd Abercrombie Precinct Business School Redevelopment Project - until Friday 24 June, 2011

The Department of Planning (DoP) has placed Sydney University’s proposal for its new Business School to be built next to Darlington Public School on exhibition until 24 June, 2011. The documents for the proposal can be found on line on the DoP website at MP 07_0158 - Abercrombie Street Precinct, Syd Uni or you can view copies at the DoP’s Bridge Street Office or at the University of Sydney Services Building at 22 Codrington Road Darlington. If you want to comment and this is the first you have heard of it we suggest you contact the Department and let them know you are making a submission but need a few extra days. For more information contact the DoP officer handling the exhibition or Joanna Linehan from Sydney University on 02 9351 4614 or email joanna.linehan@sydney.edu.au

Residents around the site have formed Residents Acting In Defence of Darlington (RAIDD) and quickly distributed the following flyer RAIDD Poster Against Sydney University Business School Development (81KB PDF) and email statement Angry residents demand change to Sydney Uni ‘mega development’ when the exhibition period started. RAIDD can be contacted on raidd2008@gmail.com. RAIDD is asking fellow residents and parents of children attending Darlington school to raise the following six concerns in their submissions:-

“An enormous amount of public space (a road, 2 parks and a lane), an important amenity for local residents, will be lost to the community. Residents want 24/7 access to some park and/or courtyard space in this new mega development.
We want a more open design. Entrances for local foot traffic to enter/transit through the mega development must be welcoming/freely accessible.
We want the car park entrance to be on Darlington Lane - to stop cars being funnelled into Codrington / Abercrombie / Golden Grove streets. And also to keep them away from our kids who are accessing the primary school.
We want more car parking in the building - to reduce competition for street parking between the 7000 new international students and local residents.
The Stage 2 development should not go ahead. The existing buildings should remain as their scale fits in with the existing streetscape. The existing car park at the City Rd entrance of the Uni, or other University land, should be used for part of this development.
We want the height of the 7 storey central pillar of the mega development to be reduced as it is overwhelming for local residents.”

The Darlington School & Community President has circulated a letter Darlington School & Community Objection to USyd Development to parents and the community to encourage people to make submissions covering the S&C’s concerns. RAIDD has also produced a Template for Letter to Dept of Education re Darlington School Impact and are encouraging parents and friends to also write to the Department of Education and local politicians.

You can see media articles regarding the development in Central’s Sydney Uni Business School plans not welcomed by locals and Anger over Uni ‘mega development’ on page 1 of the South Sydney Herald in the June 2011 PDF (3MB PDF).

Redfern Waterloo will still be State Significant

The recently announced changes in the Planning revolution unveiled by Libs (SMH) transferred most of the sites in the previous Major Development SEPP into the category of State Significant Development (SSD) including the RWA Redfern and Waterloo SEPP areas. This keeps planning in these areas out of control of Council and treats these sites as “as being of State significance in terms of their development potential or strategic importance and where, as a result, some or all development on the site will be identified as SSD.” The factsheet also states that “Other sites will be able to be subsequently added to the SEPP should their strategic importance to the State be genuinely established in the future. Such sites would include new, major urban renewal sites.” It is under this latter provision that it is expected that the Redfern and Waterloo public housing estates may be added to the SEPP when RWA’s BEP2 is officially exhibited by the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority. On the Planning and Infrastructure website you can find out more about the new Major project assessments System

It looks increasingly unlikely that the RWA will be wound up quickly as the recent planning changes also amended the RWA Act. Day to day activities of the RWA have been transferred to the SMDA and the RWA’s Aboriginal employment programmes are being transferred to the Australian Technology Park.

SMDA gets its Precinct Outcomes Brief for Redfern Waterloo Eveleigh and Darlington

The new NSW Government has decided to proceed with the activities of the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA), previously the RWA, and has issued the SMDA with its brief for both the Redfern-Waterloo and Granville areas under the State Environment Planning Policy (Urban Renewal) 2010. The briefs set out the areas the SMDA is required by the study to investigate and make recommendations upon. The Redfern-Waterloo Precinct Outcomes Brief (21KB PDF) is issued by the Director General of the Department of Planning to the SMDA and follows a meeting of agencies including the City of Sydney Council to discuss what should be included in the brief.

The SMDA will now undertake the required studies across Redfern, Waterloo, Eveleigh and Darlington (Redfern-Waterloo Potential Precinct Map) (773KB PDF) and report back as set out in the Guidelines (3.5MB PDF) to the Urban Renewal SEPP. The study must be exhibited for at least 30 days. It is during this exhibition that it is expected that the BEP2 planning controls will be exhibited.

The Brief requires the SMDA to look specifically at a number of areas including the ATP, North Eveleigh, the Lachlan Precinct, Rachel Forster, the Redfern Town Centre and land around Redfern Station. The brief also covers public housing, employment, infrastructure, connectivity and transport. The brief sets the SMDA study agenda for the area. REDWatch has put a text version of the brief on its website which some people may find easier to read. It can be found at SMDA Receives Urban Renewal Brief from Department of Planning

Update on BEP2 Issues

BEP2 - the RWA has a draft report on the BEP2 consultation but it needs to go the RWA Board before it can be released. There continues to be a difference in opinion between the Government agencies (RWA & HNSW) and non- government agencies such as those involved in Groundswell about the quality of the initial BEP2 consultation, so the final consultant’s report is eagerly awaited and would be useful to have available before arrangements for the Master Plan community engagement is finalised. The SMDA is hoping to come back with a formal exhibition of BEP2 towards the end of the year but this depends on how quickly it can do some of the precinct outcome studies required under the SMDA’s brief. Meanwhile in discussions with Housing NSW about its Master Plan Consultation, REDWatch has been advised that the total number of units and the 60% private – 40% public housing mix (with 700 public housing units leaving the area) is to be taken as given in the Master Plan discussions, The discussions are expected to start in September 2011 prior to the formal decision on the planning controls.

The RWA still has the BEP2 documents and its report on the exhibition on its website at www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/bep2/index.php as does REDWatch under the BEP2 tab. Since our last update two important BEP2 submissions have been made public City of Sydney (7.51 MB PDF) and Council on the Aging (NSW) [COTA] Submission on BEP2 (861KB PDF). REDWatch is arranging a meeting for the Council to speak publically to their submission – the details are earlier in this update.

There has also been some further media coverage of the BEP2 proposals including SMH’s Transforming the great southern land and South Sydney Herald’s Public Housing Sell-Off and The Good, The Bad and the BE2.

[The RWA has provided a clarification regarding this point since the RWIU was published you can see the clarification at RWA Clarification on RWIU of 22 June 2011]

Housing NSW Masterplan and Tenant Engagement

Housing NSW circulated a Draft Community Engagement Action Plan for the Redfern and Waterloo Masterplan looking for feedback in May 2011. Housing NSW received some feedback including comments from The Factory and REDWatch. Subsequently there has been a meeting with Housing and we are awaiting a revised draft. HNSW has asked that we not put its document up on the REDWatch website until it is finalised so we are unable to share it with you. What we can do is to provide our comments which will provide some idea of the areas of concern – you can see these comments at Comments on Proposed HAF Master Plan Community Engagement.

Housing NSW has pushed back the starting date for the Master Plan into August / September. This will still predate the BEP2 planning controls going on formal exhibition but the Housing NSW Master Plan will assume that the number of units proposed, the 60/40 private/public mix and the decision to move 700 units of public housing out of Redfern and Waterloo have been set in stone. It appears from conversations with Housing NSW that the Master Plan will only concern itself with the areas to be redeveloped and will not deal with the renovation of the high rises, the 700 houses moved out of the area or the approximately 700 public housing units that are not planned to be renewed or renovated in the conservation area adjacent to the proposed redevelopment.

What is currently publically available for Community Consultation is HNSW Tenant Engagement Framework Consultation - Until 12 July 2011. Housing NSW has developed a draft tenant engagement framework that sets out the strategic direction for tenant engagement by Housing NSW – and defines its scope, participants, outcomes and methods - and how it contributes to Housing NSW’s overall purpose. The Draft is on exhibition until 12 July 2011. HNSW is also developing a set of community engagement principles for social housing estate redevelopment projects. These principles will support communities affected by estate renewal projects, including social housing tenants, private residents, and other local stakeholders, to have meaningful input into all key stages of the project. Everyone with an interest in Community Engagement is encouraged to make a submission.

Recent articles dealing with housing issues relevant to the area which might be of interest are the Daily Telegraph’s Suburbs go from No-go to Boom Towns which sees Redfern as one of the desirable and expensive places to move into, SMH’s 'Mixed' estates found to break rather than make communities and Green Left Weekly’s Glebe Residents Protest Demolition of Public Housing which reminds us of the still vacant buildings waiting redevelopment on Elizabeth Street and begs the question as to how soon demolition may start after the Master Plan is finalised for Redfern and Waterloo.

The most recent flyers distributed by Housing NSW relating to BEP2 and the Housing Affordability Fund Master Plan were at the beginning of April, links to them are HNSW Redfern Update March 2011 (469 KB PDF) and HNSW Waterloo Update March 2011

What is happening around the RWA Sites

With the change of Government REDWatch produced a list of Questions for New NSW Government and sent it to the Premier and key Ministers. While REDWatch has not received a reply from the Premier or any of the new ministers, some government announcements like those above regarding the Planning System Changes and the SMDA Brief indicated there is little change from the position taken by the old government. Below is a quick summary based on information from the recent RWA Built Environment Ministerial Advisory Committee (BEMAC) and other sources about what is happening around key sites.

North Eveleigh – the RWA / SMDA now know which parts of the site would not be affected by a City Relief Line if and when it might proceed. It has applied for Federal Housing Affordability Housing funds for developing some of the Affordable Housing earmarked for the site in the North Eveleigh Concept Plan. The North Eveleigh site is covered under the new SMDA Brief. [The RWA has provided a clarification regarding this point since the RWIU was published you can see the clarification at RWA Clarification on RWIU of 22 June 2011]

Redfern Station – responsibility for Redfern Station has been handed to the Integrated Transport Authority and a Project Director will be appointed soon. The previous Project Director has recommended community engagement as being the next step in the process. All these developments are seen by the SMDA as being positive progress on the Station upgrade. The deferral of the City Relief Line by the new Government postpones the proposed new platform, but hopefully not the station upgrade.

The Australian Technology Park – The SMDA and ATP are to define land uses for the remaining building blocks as required in the SMDA Brief.

Transport Planning – The RWA has produced a draft transport study report however this will now be shelved as the SMDA, under the Urban Renewal requirements, needs to do a more detailed Transport Management and Accessibility Plan (TMAP). Geoff has asked for the draft transport report to be released so some information is in the public domain. The SMDA is considering the request but think it may confuse people and that it might be best to wait until the TMAP is produced! [The RWA has provided a clarification regarding this point since the RWIU was published you can see the clarification at RWA Clarification on RWIU of 22 June 2011]

Affordable Housing – The RWA/SMDA has a draft policy it is taking to its board but it may still be some time before it is made public. It now appears that not all the affordable housing announced in Minister Sartor’s 2008 media release may go ahead at North Eveleigh. At the BEMAC meeting Geoff strongly made the point that while there had been announcements about affordable housing at North Eveleigh and for the public housing redevelopments there are no details about what the RWA / SMDA actually mean by affordable housing and how it will be managed, funded or delivered.

RWA Heritage Update

The RWA has released the official Final Report of the Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce submitted to Premier Keneally prior to the NSW election - you can download it from RWA website (135KB PDF). A combined Council RWA heritage map can also be Downloaded (2MB PDF) from the RWA Heritage page.

The RWA is still updating the Draft Interpretation Plan and Implementation Strategy for the former Eveleigh Railway Workshops following the exhibition. Here you can see the REDWatch Submission on Eveleigh Railway Workshops. The next important heritage document expected on public exhibition will be the revised ATP Conservation Management Plan. Plans are being drawn up for an Eveleigh Heritage event in February 2012 which will include a Railway Film Festival. If you are interested in further details let us know and we will pass your details on to Brian Dunnett who is planning to form an Eveleigh based film society to arrange this and future railway film festivals.

Finally the details of the nomination of the Eveleigh Railyards for the National Heritage Register have been posted.

AHC Revises Pemulwuy

The Aboriginal Housing Company Pemulwuy project will continue to be handled as State Significant as it falls within the RWA planning area. The AHC currently expect to have its exhibition plans ready to go to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure late July for checking prior to exhibition. There have been further changes to what was proposed in the Pemulwuy Concept Plan MOD 1 documents produced in September 2010. Under the latest proposal the student accommodation will move over next to the railway line with the cultural centre. The building on the corners of Lawson, Eveleigh and Caroline has been scaled back in size and will be commercial above retail with the pre-school in Caroline Street near the new exit of Caroline Lane. The AHC proposal involves resuming some of Caroline Lane and creating a new exit into Caroline Street rather than via Eveleigh Street. The AHC has also sold its properties on The Block outside the Pemulwuy project area and is now financially secure as it seeks to raise funding for the construction of the Pemulwuy project.

Independently some local residents backing onto Caroline Lane are exploring again the possibility of closing the lane. The proposal being promoted is to keep the lane as common property controlled by a community association which would allow access, as may be required from time to time, but the rest of the time to allow its use as a common space by residents. If you have property that backs onto Caroline Lane and want to be added to the email list about this proposal let us know and we will pass it on. Any proposal for such a use of Caroline Lane needs unanimous agreement by all property owners backing on to the lane and will have to be approved by Council.

Alexandria Residents Action Group (ARAG)

The new Alexandria Residents Action Group (ARAG) is up and running working on a range of issues around Alexandria including the impact of the ATP. One of their early “wins” was when the Noisy garden shed at Redfern's ATP was deemed "temporary''. Parking continues to be a major issue in Alexandria with one ATP worker buying into the dispute - see ATP Letter to Communters & an ATP Worker Response. There was a lot of interest in the new ATP Sustainability Strategy (3.6MB PDF) which residents hope will help address the level of light pollution from the Global / Channel 7 building. The group can be contacted at AlexandriaResidentsActionGroup@yahoogroups.com.au.

It is almost Census time – Please Fill in The Census

One of the problems facing both Groundswell and Government planners is the relatively low level of responses in public housing to the census held every five years. The census is run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and is scheduled for the night of 9th August this year. Census collectors will start delivering the census questions from 29 July 2011. The census is independent of Housing NSW and other state and federal departments. Groundswell encourages all residents both public and private to fill in the census so planning for the future of our area is based on the best possible understanding of our area. You can find out more about the census here.

Monthly Informal Gathering Friday – 24 June 2011 at 1 pm

As usual, on the last Friday of the month, agencies and community groups reps and volunteers are invited to come together for an informal lunch time ‘get -together’ at the Norfolk Hotel – Cleveland Street (Beer Garden if Dry – upstairs if Wet). It is a great chance to take time out of our busy schedules and catch up with each other, sharing news, and information informally. You buy your own refreshments and lunch and can stay a short or as long as time will allow you. For further information contact Mike Shreenan at The Factory.

Electricity Pricing Workshop for Community Workers – 18 July 2011

Utility prices are a significant issue for many people especially those on low incomes. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is holding a workshop on the basics of electricity retail price setting for community workers to assist them in advocating for energy affordability in NSW. The session is free and will be presented by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART) on Monday 18 July 2011 at Redfern Community Centre (29-53 Hugo Street, Redfern) from 10am - 1.30pm Lunch will be provided. Places are limited. RSVP is essential. Please contact Carolyn Hodge at PIAC on chodge@piac.asn.au or (02) 8898 6520.

We hope you find the information in this email of interest. If you have any feedback or suggestions please contact us.

These Updates are also available as emails. Details about the Redfern Waterloo Issues Update Email list and how to subscribe can be found at:http://lists.redwatch.org.au/mailman/listinfo/update

RWIU 18 March 2011

REDWatch — 2011-03-18T04:25:00Z

In this Update:

Eveleigh Heritage Interpretation Strategy Exhibition - until 6 April 2011

AHC gets $2m to Progress Pemulwuy Project from NSW Govt

BEP2 - The First Step to Reshape Redfern & Waterloo Public Housing

Housing Research Committee for Redfern & Waterloo

Housing NSW must ensure “reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of the tenant”.

RWA Exit and SMDA Role

North Eveleigh – A People’s Planning Propositional

Branding with a Redfern Smile

Sydney University’s Abercrombie Street Proposal Concerns

Alexandria Residents Action Group Formed

Fraser’s CUB Central Park Community Information Session – 19 March 2011

Have Your Say - Summary of Current Consultations (looks at current consultations on the REDWatch website)

Coming Events (looks at the current events listed on the REDWatch website)

Eveleigh Heritage Interpretation Strategy Exhibition - until 6 April 2011

The RWA has placed on exhibition The Draft Interpretation Plan and Implementation Strategy for the former Eveleigh Railway Workshops. This is an important proposal coming from the Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce and Eveleigh Steering Committee processes. The need for an Eveleigh Heritage Interpretation Strategy was one of the areas identified by heritage groups in calling on Minister Keneally to establish a Taskforce in September 2008.

Even if you do not plan to make a submission we encourage you to download the Draft Plan and read it as it contains a good overview of the heritage importance of the Eveleigh sites. Those with a particular interest in heritage should make sure that they raise any issues they see while this plan is on exhibition.

The proposed Strategy is important because the former Railyards are being broken up and will have a number of different owners. The site needs an overall Heritage Interpretation Plan that helps people in the future to understand the whole site and how it worked.

The Draft Interpretation Plan is on exhibition between 9 March and 6 April 2011 and you can download it from the RWA website here - DRAFT Interpretation Plan (3MB PDF). The specific aims of the Plan are to:

Guide and facilitate interpretation of the site’s heritage significance as a conservation process designed to sustain the site’s authenticity and character as the sites are developed;
Identify existing audiences and visitor experiences on the Eveleigh site, including workers, neighbours resident in the district, tourists and school groups, as well as to explore opportunities to enhance visitor numbers and experiences in each of these categories;
Achieve enhanced public understanding of the history of the area and its significance to residents, workers and visitors by fostering active links with the community, as well as with tourism, education and recreation activities;
Ensure interpretive devices and their content have the potential to engage and provoke public interest, are viable, accessible, sustainable (in relation to maintenance, evaluation and review) reversible (in relation to heritage fabric) and compatible with the sites for which they are chosen.

The Plan has been prepared for the RWA's Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce by 3D Projects in association with Artscape and Only Human. As part of the preparation of the Interpretation Plan for the former Eveleigh Rail Yards a community consultation field day was held on 30 October 2010 at Innovation Plaza, Australian Technology Park.

Submission on the Interpretation Plan can be emailed to reception@rwa.nsw.gov.au. For further information contact Juliet Suich on 9202 9100 or by email on Juliet.Suich@smda.nsw.gov.au or visit the RWA Heritage Page.

REDWatch will host a presentation on the Eveleigh Heritage Interpretation Strategy on Thursday 7 April at 6pm at The Factory Community Centre 67 Raglan Street Waterloo. We have asked that submissions be left open a few extra days to allow those attending the presentation to raise any issues following the meeting.

A DA for ATP's Bays 1 & 2 North is expected to go on exhibition soon on RWA DAs on Exhibition. This DA will cover the area opposite Wrought Artworks the ATP Heritage Blacksmiths. It proposes to turns an area which has been used as a storage area into a more engaging heritage display. The ATP Conservation Management Plan, which will update the 1995 CMP which currently covers Heritage items at the ATP, is still being finalised.

AHC gets $2m to Progress Pemulwuy Project from NSW Govt

The Pemulwuy Project received a welcome boost on 10^th March 2011 when it was announced that the NSW Cabinet had approved a grant of $2 million to the AHC to help the Project proceed to the next planning phase. The details of the announcement can be found in the Premier’s media release on the REDWatch website under $2 Million to Boost New Plans for The Block in Redfern. The announcement received almost no mainstream media coverage as it was announced during the election period, one of the few stories was City News Premier announces grant for the Block. Local officials from the RWA and Police were unable to attend because of the caretaker provisions.

On 30 June 2009 the DoP finally gave approval to a Concept Plan for the redevelopment of AHC lands on and around The Block in Redfern. You can still see all the documents for the original proposal on the DoP website under Pemulwuy Mixed Use Development Redfern. This approval followed a long battle by the AHC and the community to get approval for the building of a new housing development on The Block.

Having received concept approval the AHC has been working for the last year on the project and in particular on how to ensure that building the project can be funded and be viable in the long term. The AHC will retain control of the development and they have engaged Dei Corp, who is doing the Redfern RSL Redevelopment, to act as the Project Manager.

During the review process the AHC decided it needed to strengthen the income producing side of the development to ensure the affordable housing component will be viable in the long term. As a result the area between Caroline and Lawson Streets is now proposed as much needed student housing above retail at street level. This, along with some commercial parking underneath the Pemulwuy Project and income from the commercial development alongside the railway line, is designed to provide an income stream for the AHC so it can provide affordable housing for Aboriginal families. By its very nature affordable housing is provided at concessional rents and needs either Government support or a subsidy of some sort to be viable in the long term.

The changes proposed from the initial Concept Plan are significant and there will be a need for the AHC and the surrounding community to work through the issues raised so that the Pemulwuy Project can be viable while minimising the impact on the Project’s neighbours.

As a result of these changes the AHC has submitted an outline of the modifications to the Department of Planning (DoP). The DoP advised the AHC of its requirements for the next phase of the process incorporating the proposed changes on 30 September 2010. In line with planning procedures the DoP has made available the Preliminary Environmental Assessment [Application] and the Department’s Requirements on their website under The Block: Pemulwuy Concept Plan MOD 1. The body of AHC Application can be downloaded from Preliminary Environmental Assessment.pdf (163.2 KB). There are a number of attachments which are not clearly labelled but on the REDWatch website Pemulwuy Project Modification Details Publicly Available you will find details about each file and links to the Major Project files so you can easily find other files of interest.

The AHC and Dei Corp have been preparing the documentation requested by the DoP so the amended proposals can be placed on formal public exhibition. There are however significant costs to prepare the studies required and in paying the Department of Planning to place the Project on exhibition and the AHC has been seeking finance of the next stage. The AHC found that while the Project’s financials were sound there was a reluctance by financial institutions to lend to Aboriginal organisations due to fear of possible bad publicity if there was a need to sell the land used as collateral for the loan. Given this problem the AHC approached the government to guarantee a loan and the NSW Cabinet instead provided a grant to assist the project move forward.

There has been some media criticism of the AHC serving notices to quit on the AHC’s tenants on The Block. It was not well understood at the time that the AHC issued notices to their tenants at The Block so they would qualify for priority housing. To receive priority housing with Housing NSW and other social housing providers the tenants needed to be facing eviction / homelessness. The AHC, housing providers, police, council and the RWA have all been providing assistance to the AHC and tenants to make the transition as smooth as possible. Most tenants have now moved and only a few remain that are still to move into appropriate housing. The AHC is also seeking expressions of interest in 5 terraces in Eveleigh Street outside the Pemulwuy Project area to help fund the Project.

The AHC is hoping to start demolishing the remaining buildings on The Block as soon as practical in preparation for the approval and construction of the project. In the meantime the Area bounded by Eveleigh, Vine and Louis Streets, Redfern is to be used as a film set between April and late July 2011 for a future Underbelly TV series and a Development Application for this is currently being assessed by the RWA.

BEP2 - The First Step to Reshape Redfern & Waterloo Public Housing

RWA’s Draft Redfern-Waterloo Built Environment Plan Stage 2 (BEP2) for the redevelopment of the consolidated public housing estates may no longer be on exhibition, but the discussions within the community need to continue. The initial exhibition was a non-statutory exhibition – it was aimed at getting the government plans in the public domain and getting initial feedback about them. Based on this input the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA), which is replacing the RWA, will do further work and start preparing the plan and the planning controls for a statutory exhibition. Housing NSW is awaiting these planning controls to be finalised so it can start the Master Planning for the estates which will go into much finer detail.

Our last Update came out not long after BEP2 went on exhibition and before there started to be much analysis of the issues. As the Draft BEP2 exhibition was only the first part of a process that will go on for quite a while it is very important that people get a good understanding of what is proposed so they can participate in the further discussions about the area’s future. A good summary of the issues Public housing not a “magic pudding” can be found in the South Sydney Herald who was unable to carry anything about the BEP2 exhibition until after submissions closed. The Sydney Morning Herald’s Crowded Redfern to spread its wings and City News Consultation concerns over Redfern-Waterloo plan are among the other media stories about the BEP2 exhibition.

REDWatch released its initial comments on 15 February 2011 in REDWatch - BEP2 Overview and Issues for Submissions and REDWatch BEP2 Issues : Open Space. REDWatch also undertook an analysis of the sites using details provided by the RWA at the REDWatch meeting to produce BEP2 infill around high-rise and re-development potential (78KB PDF). Just after this the RWA released its second set of FAQs (file size 0.06 Mb) which clarified some points raised by REDWatch including providing an undertaking on social mix across the refurbished high-rise and the new redevelopment.

You can read REDWatch’s final submission as a webpage at REDWatch Submission on BEP2 or you can download the full submission with appendices from REDWatch Submission on BEP2 PDF Version (642 Kb PDF).

REDWatch has been advised that a number of organisations were unable to prepare submissions in the short period of time allowed. The City of Sydney is making a submission but has not yet lodged it. REDWatch has collected the submissions from interested individuals and organisations and placed them on its website under the BEP2 Exhibition tab. We understand that following requests from a number of people the RWA is also planning to place submissions on its website – probably on the BEP2 page. For easy access we have provided the links to the main submissions we are aware of when putting out this update:

Shelter NSW Submission on BEP2 52 KB PDF.
NCOSS Submission on BEP2 234 KB PDF.
The Factory Community Centre - Submission on BEP2 58 KB PDF.
South Sydney Community Aid Submission on BEP2 176 KB PDF.
Redfern Legal Centre Submission on BEP2 263 KB PDF.
The Precinct submission on BEP2
South Sydney Greens Submission on BEP2
Bruce Lay Submission on BEP2 76 KB PDF.
Mehreen Faruq Submission on BEP2 72 KB PDF.
Desley Hass Submission on BEP2

The Built Environment Ministerial Advisory Committee (BEMAC) on 9th March 2011 was advised that over 500 feedback forms and 28 submissions had been received and that they are still rolling in. The quick impression provided was that the main issues identified are open space, traffic and safety. It is apparently also clear from the submissions that there was confusion about density, planning issues with many had difficulty in visualising what the plans mean. More capacity building work is required for future rounds of discussions between SMDA, Housing NSW and the community. It was reported that there seemed to be no real opposition to increasing density although some questions about if it is too much. There was a general feeling from respondents that this was an opportunity for improvement in the area. A final report is being prepared by the RWA’s consultation consultants.

One of the most disputed issues about the BEP2 exhibition was over consultation. You will see this concern raised in many of the submissions above and get an idea of how contested the ground is by reading REDWatch Concerns Regarding BEP2 Consultation and the reply RWA Letter to REDWatch Regarding BEP2 Consultation. REDWatch in effect responded further in the first part of its BEP2 submission and the RWA has added a note after the exhibition about how it consulted to the foot of the BEP2 consultation web page.

A key concern is about the shortness of the exhibition period and the difficulty of consulting on a complex matter in such a large diverse community. While the RWA and Housing NSW asked workers and organisations in the area a number of times about what they thought should be done as part of the consultation and engagement strategy they never publically released their strategy nor did they explain why they did not accept much of the community advice.

The government clearly did do much more than is usually done when consulting on planning controls. For example, when issues were raised at the REDWatch meeting about older public tenants not being able to download the response sheet the RWA undertook to mail these out to all public tenants. Housing NSW also held curb side sessions around the estates which connected with over 750 people many more than the 70 who came to the 7 information sessions at Redfern Town Hall.

On the other hand the consultation did not use the local community centres like The Factory or the networks that local community workers in the area use to service the public housing community. They also did not get out into the many groups, churches and other organisations that meet around the area which were seen by community organisations as an important way to tap into the broader community of people that work and live in the area. There was also concern that the information dissemination and capacity building were inadequate and that tenants did not understand what was being proposed and were unable to respond in an informed and considered manner.

If this problem is to be avoided in the next round of discussions, government and community groups should reach an agreement up front about what needs to happen to consult in a way that both believe to be appropriate. In the event that this cannot be agreed it is likely to be necessary for community groups to explore independent of Housing NSW and the RWA ways of providing residents with the support required to ensure public tenants can make an informed contribution.

REDWatch is interested to hear from people who are interested in donating some time to working with public tenants and local groups to help people better understand the proposals and their likely impacts on public tenants. If you are interested in being involved please contact REDWatch Spokesperson Geoff Turnbull on mail@redwatch.org.au.

The RWA is hosting barbeques to thank social housing residents for their input during the draft BEP 2 exhibition period. They will be held on Monday, 21 March at Poet’s Corner Redfern and Tuesday, 22 March, at Waterloo Green from 12pm-2.30pm.

Housing Research Committee for Redfern & Waterloo

The first meeting of the Redfern & Waterloo Research Committee was held at the Redfern Oval Community Room on 4 March 2011. The meeting was facilitated by housing researcher Dr Judy Stubbs and included Housing NSW staff, local residents and community workers. The committee originated from a meeting convened in October 2010 at which Judy Stubbs also facilitated a session see HNSW Report on Community Learning & Research Workshop for details of that meeting.

The recent meeting decided to set up a community website where the community can access readable summaries and research. The University of NSW Community Development Project is facilitating a working group to set up the website and look at how student may help with plain English summaries of the research papers. Some researchers, including Judy Stubbs, are looking at how the existing research can be graded for relevance to different aspects of Redfern and Waterloo.

The next meeting will look at how bottom up research about the area can be organised. If you have an interest in being involved in this committee please contact David Lilley DAVID.LILLEY@dhs.nsw.gov.au and ask to be advised of future meetings.

Until a new community research website can be set up REDWatch will continue to include research relevant to BEP2 and the Housing Mater Plan on its website under the Public Housing Tab. You will find many research papers relevant to Redfern and Waterloo on the REDWatch website. Housing NSW has recently supplied some more of the information requested in REDWatch Information Required and Received for Consultation on Public Housing. This includes Housing NSW’s list of Research Articles on Social Mix and a list of Publicly Accessible Literature Relating to Social Mix.

Housing NSW must ensure “reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of the tenant”.

Our attention has recently been bought to an email circulated by Our House Swap on 11 March 2011 which reported that Tenant sues HNSW and WINS! The item refers to a Housing NSW tenant in Redfern area who has successfully sued the Housing NSW for failing to provide her with "quiet enjoyment" following an ongoing dispute with a neighbour over antisocial behaviour reports. The Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal found Housing NSW had failed to act within Residential Tenancies Act 1987 - Sect 22, to ensure “reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of the tenant”.

Many tenants we speak to have stories about the disruption that they have to put up with and the about the lack of action by Housing NSW in addressing these complaints. It is hence not surprising that safety was one of the three main concerns identified in the RWA’s BEP2 returned questionnaires. This Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal ruling opens up another avenue frustrated tenants can consider when trying to get action by Housing NSW. On Our House Swap you can find out How to make Housing accountable - the Basics.

RWA Exit and SMDA Role

In the last update we advised that the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA) takes on Planning for RWA Area. You can see some of this information on the Department of Planning website under Urban Renewal. Two documents, we had not seen at the time, provide information about the SEPP (State Environment Planning Policy (Urban Renewal) 2010) and how it is to work are the Better Regulation Statement Urban Renewal SEPP (589KB PDF) and Urban Renewal SEPP Guidelines (3.4MB PDF). The Department of Planning is still to issue the requirements for the growth centre study for Redfern, Waterloo, Darlington and Eveleigh to the SMDA.

The City Council however has already run fowl of the new SEPP when it went to make a change to its Development Control Plan for the Lachlan Street Precinct it received a letter Council to Consult SMDA on Planning Activities in Redfern-Waterloo Growth Centre from the Director General of Planning requesting "Council defer finalisation of the DCP amendment for the Lachlan Street Precinct until the SMDA have been consulted with, and their views have been considered. More broadly I encourage you to consult with the SMDA on other planning activities and amendments that you propose within their identified growth centre for Redfern-Waterloo".

The RWA is expected to be wound up by the middle of the year. The new SMDA is not a Consent Authority so as part of this transition the RWA’s functions for dealing the DAs under $5 million and other consent arrangements will need to be transferred elsewhere. The City of Sydney would be the preferred body to take over this role but this is not yet finalised. Other activities that will not be absorbed into the SMDA will also need to be transferred. In the last update we noted that Aboriginal training programmes were being left in the RWA. We have since been advised that funding has been secured to allow these projects to continue to operate but the structure for this has not yet been made public. It is not clear what will happen with the RWA’s human services functions even though existing staff have been transferred to the SMDA in Social Equity positions. The SMD website www.smda.nsw.gov.au contains the current SMDA Organisational Chart (18KB PDF) and you can see where some of the current RWA staff fit in to the new organisation.

As the RWA draws to a close it is timely to look back on what the community was told the Government would do with the RWA and ask has it delivered? You can find the government statements on the REDWatch website from 2004 and 2005. In particular it is interesting to read Premier Carr Announces 10-year Redfern-Waterloo Plan, The Redfern Waterloo Plan Frequently Asked Questions, Government Announces Jobs Plan for Redfern Waterloo and Government Human Services Review to Reshape Redfern Waterloo Social Services.

North Eveleigh – A People’s Planning Propositional

A people’s planning exercise – The North Eveleigh Propositional – has been launched for the North Eveleigh site to stimulate ideas about what people would like to see on the site if they could do whatever they want with the site. “The Propositional aims to upend the typical process of city-making … The Propositional does not aim to find one perfect design, rather it seeks an accumulation of ideas, polished or rough, wild or pragmatic, heart-warming or spine-chilling, a permanently evolving catalogue of potential North Eveleighs”. Who knows some of the ideas might just get picked up!

Three dispatch boxes have been placed along Wilson Street where people can collect a propositional and deposit their ideas of what they would like to see at North Eveleigh. REDWatch has placed the Propositional also on the REDWatch website under People's Planning - The North Eveleigh Propositional - 2011. From here, if you can’t find one in a dispatch box, you can download The North Eveleigh Propositional Issue #1 (PDF 786KB). Articles in Issue #1 set out the general framework for a propositional City-Making - The Background to the Propositional and more specifically Towards a People's Urbanism - The North Eveleigh Propositional. The Propositional web site is www.propositional.net.

The future of North Eveleigh remains unresolved heading into the election. The City Relief line announced by the NSW Government necessitated an assessment of how this proposal would impact on the RWA’s Concept Plan for North Eveleigh and the government’s intended sale of the site. While the timetable for the new line is likely to change under a new government there will still need to be an assessment of the potential impact which is not expected for another couple of months.

In the meantime the RWA has allowed Weave Youth Family Community Services (formerly the South Sydney Youth Services) to use space in the North Eveleigh Clothing Store. The RWA has also allowed their Little Eveleigh Street premises to be used for The Big Issue - see $1.25 Million and Office in Redfern for The Big Issue.

North Eveleigh is covered by the Eveleigh Heritage Interpretation Strategy which is on exhibition until 6 April 2011 and those with an interest should see the first item of this update to look at what it proposes for North Eveleigh and provide any comments.

Branding with a Redfern Smile

The new Redfern Smile was launched by the Premier and Minister for Redfern and Waterloo, the Hon Kristina Keneally, and the Lord Mayor, Clover Moore on Saturday, 5 February at the Return to Redfern game at Redfern Oval. We have illustrated the media release Capturing Redfern with a Smile with a photo so you can see some of the merchandise for the launch. An Order Form for Redfern Merchandise (72KB PDF) can be downloaded from the South Sydney Business Chamber.

In addition to the word Redfern within the smile that is used on the initial merchandise there is a secondary version which in addition to Redfern in the Smile has the names of the suburbs Redfern, Darlington, Eveleigh and Waterloo which define the wider area around our most recognised landmark Redfern station.

The brand logo is designed to be used by businesses and residents it is not a logo someone else owns it belongs to the community. There are guidelines on how to use it, to try to ensure that it gets used in the way intended but where and if you use it is up to you. You can put it on your own t-shirts, your blog or product leaflet or not – it is up to you. If lots of people use the Redfern Smile then it will probably take off, if people don’t use it then the idea will probably fade away. For this reason REDWatch has been arguing that there needed to be greater effort by Roll Up Redfern to explain the branding process and get community acceptance of the concept and the brand. REDWatch is a member of Roll Up Redfern but has had some reservations about the process – for more explanation see REDWatch involvement with Redfern Brand. A coming communications strategy may reach out more to residents as well as business and generate greater community acceptance.

You can download Redfern Brand 100dpi logos (81KB MSWord) embedded in a word document for net use or you can obtain higher resolution RBG and CMYK jpg and eps logos by contacting Elizabeth Waser the City of Sydney Council’s Business and Community Development Coordinator on 9265 9850 or ewaser@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au You can also download the Redfern Identity Guidelines Summary (223 Kb PDF), the larger style manual Brand Identity Guidelines (1.3MB PDF) and you can get some idea of some ways it might be used from Using the Redfern brand (688 KB PDF).

As part of the development of the brand Frost, the design company, sought to understand people's experience and perception of the Redfern area and engaged Environmetrics to carry out a survey of 300 people living within 10km of Redfern. The resultant Redfern Brand Study Report (460KB PDF) is well worth reading. This information along with desk research and meetings with local people fed into Frost’s identification of the brand values and the core brand idea of Welcoming Spirit. The Redfern Brand logo was just the last step of the process. You can get some idea of the process behind developing the brand prior to the logo from the 27 July 2010 Frost Presentation on Brand Development (1.1MB PDF) provided to a group for local people involved in providing input to the Redfern Brand process.

Sydney University’s Abercrombie Street Proposal Concerns

The expected exhibition of MP 07_0158 - Abercrombie Street Precinct, Syd Uni has not yet occurred. An interesting development has been a letter from a Darlington resident who is part of a group of Darlington residents concerned about Sydney Uni’s proposed developments. The resident has written to the Department of Planning arguing that Sydney Uni has not complied with the consultation requirements of the Director General’s Requirements for the proposed project. The text of the email in Resident Questions if Sydney Uni has followed Planning Requirements asks the Department to request the University to address the lack of community consultation before the Department allows formal exhibition.

The group is arranging a public meeting at Darlington School and has written to the Sydney University Vice Chancellor asking him to attend and talk to the community about the University’s plans and how community consultation can be better planned in the future. If you would like further information on this group or the meeting please contact Tim Brunero on 0405285547. REDWatch will also advertise it on their website events calendar.

Alexandria Residents Action Group Formed

Alexandria residents who have been complaining about the impact of the ATP and Channel 7 on their area convened a meeting at South Sydney Community Aid on 16^th March 2011 to form the Alexandria Residents Action Group. Over 30 people turned up and a committee and working groups have been established. If you would like to join the new group, join its email list or find out more about it please contact Ben Aveling on ben.aveling@optusnet.com.au.

Parking issues, promoting Green Travel Plans to the ATP, improving public transport and pedestrian facilities, getting the lights in the Channel 7 building turned off, coal seam gas mining and the impact of the proposed increases in density from RWA BEP2 and Ashmore were among the issues discussed. With the ATP DA on exhibition for the Gardeners Compound ATP Garden and Cornwallis Streets - Extension of 2006 Temporary Arrangement there was a fair amount of discussion about the impact of the noise from this facility on nearby residents.

A Letter from the Lord Mayor to Residents on Parking in Alexandria has recently been received; the letter states that Council expects to start community consultations with Alexandria residents about parking in May 2011 and the group is working on how the residents wish to address this issue.

The IT Section of the Department of Education and Training is moving to 8 Central Avenue in April and this will involve over 500 new staff travelling to the ATP and is likely to impact further on parking in the area.

Fraser’s CUB Central Park Community Information Session – 19 March 2011

Fraser’s redevelopment of the CUB site at Broadway is proceeding apace. There will be a Community Information Session held at Central Park Display Pavilion at 80 Broadway Chippendale from 12pm to 3pm on Saturday 19 March 2011. FraserStudios on Kensington Street will also have an Open Studio and Exhibition between 2pm and 5pm also on 19^th March.

You can find out more about what is happening on the Frasers CUB site redevelopment at www.centralparksydney.com. We especially like the interactive 3D Master Plan on the website. We were not previously aware of the amount of retail space in this development until we say this highlighted on the map. The ‘Central Park Gazette’ for Autumn 2011 can be downloaded from the site. It contains updates of the progress in developing various parts of the site - Download PDF (590 KB PDF)

These Updates are also available as emails. Details about the Redfern Waterloo Issues Update Email list and how to subscribe can be found at: http://lists.redwatch.org.au/mailman/listinfo/update

RWIU 3 February 2011

REDWatch — 2011-02-03T10:30:00Z

In this Update:

Greetings for 2011 – Sorry RWIU missed 2010!

RWA Draft BEP2 Exhibition – Planning for the Redevelopment of HNSW Estates in Redfern & Waterloo

Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA) takes on Planning for RWA Area

City of Sydney – City Plan (LEP & DCP) on exhibition until 4^th April 2011

Sydney University Abercrombie Street Precinct Close to Exhibition

Steps in the Recognition of Heritage

Positively Branding Redfern

Finding a Community Service

Have Your Say - Summary of Current Consultations (looks at current consultations on the REDWatch website)

Coming Events (looks at the current events listed on the REDWatch website)

Greetings for 2011 – Sorry RWIU missed 2010!

It is over a year since we last sent out a Redfern Waterloo Issues Update (RWIU). The long awaited exhibition of the RWA’s BEP2 has encouraged us to put together a brief update and to think about how to distribute information out in future. The work of producing the old updates became just too great for us given Geoff needs to work to support us and we both have other community activities we are involved in. So the all-encompassing RWIU’s have gone – you can see some of the things that happened in in 2010 from the collection RWIU 2010,

We recognise there is still a need for some mechanism to get information out to people other than via the REDWatch website. Last year REDWatch sent out emails to more targeted groups like people interested in Heritage, Human Services, Sydney University and Darlington developments, but these went only to REDWatch members & friends lists. We knew there are others with particular interests and are sorry that many will have missed news of interest to you. So for 2011 we are trying something new! We are setting up an Updates list on the REDWatch website that will allow people to receive everything or more just targeted information depending on what they want. The list is self-administering so also cuts down on our voluntary work load. You can go to the site to choose what you wish to receive, to change your email address or to remove yourself from the list – the link is at the bottom of each email.

The best way of keeping up to date broadly about Redfern & Waterloo issues is to visit the REDWatch website www.rewdwatch.org.au regularly or if you are experienced at using RSS feeds by setting up an RSS feed from the Website Changes section of the site or elsewhere as you wish. This new list will be an option for people who want key information sent to them.

RWA Draft BEP2 Exhibition – Planning for the Redevelopment of HNSW Estates in Redfern & Waterloo

On January 27 2011 the RWA released its Built Environment Plan Two (BEP2) proposals for the future of public housing in Redfern Waterloo. BEP2 also covered public housing in South Eveleigh. You can download an electronic copy of the Plan from the RWA website. The document is broken up into a number of parts so we have provided below the direct links for the different parts of the main report. Some of the figures (diagrams) within the report are difficult to read so the RWA has also placed these separately on the RWA BEP2 Webpage. From the RWA website you can download the RWA BEP2 Newsletter, (PDF 1.06MB) the BEP2 FAQs (PDF 240Kb) and a Feedback Form.

Section 1 Overview (file size 8.92 Mb)
Section 2 Characteristics Analysis (file size 5.73 Mb)
Section 3 Renewal Opportunities (file size 2.37 Mb)
Section 4 Planning Framework (file size 3 Mb)
Section 5 Where to from here? (file size 0.29 Mb)
Section 6 Appendices (file size 0.33 Mb) – This compares BEP2 controls, site by site, with those earlier proposed by City of Sydney
Section 7 Appendix B: Redfern and Waterloo Traffic and Transport Context: Built Environment Plan (Stage 2) (2011) prepared by Parsons Brinckerhoff (file size 6.77 Mb)

Housing NSW has produced its own booklet for public tenants HNSW BEP2 Information Booklet for Public Tenants (PDF 1.5MB). This booklet informs HNSW tenants about the BEP2 in the context of HNSW’s federally funded Masterplan which will follow on from the RWA’s BEP2 consultation. HNSW has also set up a Redfern Waterloo section on its website. Both HNSW and the RWA are running information sessions this month and you can find the details on the REDWatch events calendar or on the RWA and HNSW websites.

REDWatch has placed a new BEP2 Consultation tab at the top of the website to cover items associated with the BEP2 exhibition. This is in addition to the Public Housing tab where REDWatch has collected a lot of information on Public Housing issues in preparation for BEP2 and the HNSW Masterplan to help resource local services and tenants. Many items in this section have been supplied to REDWatch by HNSW so they can be publically available to the community.

One of the encouraging things about the RWA BEP2 exhibition is that it is not a statutory exhibition of a proposed planning instrument. The RWA has learnt from the BEP1 complaints and has placed the Draft BEP2 on exhibition to get community feedback prior to the preparation of the final development control instrument which will be formally exhibited by the Department of Planning for a further month. This enables the community to be involved in a discussion with the RWA which potentially can change some of what is proposed before it goes on formal exhibition.

What is concerning however is that only one month has been allowed for this exhibition of the draft, and only a very few printed copies have been made available. The emphasis has been placed on electronic copies and on people coming to sessions organised by the RWA and HNSW rather than getting out into the community where people are already meeting and talking to them there. Admittedly there will be another formal change to comment on BEP2, but with the logistics of consulting on such major changes within a large and diverse public housing community there is concern that one month is just not enough time. Computer access levels are quite low among older public tenants (see 2006 Census Data Comparison of Public and Private Tenants in Redfern and Waterloo) so it is difficult to see how they will be able to go through the electronic plans. The only way many will be able to access the report is to find one of the limited number of printed exhibition copies – see Places Document can be Viewed. It is further concerning that the HNSW brochure refers public tenants to the RWA website and HNSW did not contain a summary of the details of the BEP2 proposals in their publication.

For the REDWatch BEP2 Meeting with RWA & HNSW on 3 February 2011 -6pm, REDWatch produced a brief summary of the BEP2 and we have reproduced it below.

Plan includes a draft planning framework for the Redfern and Waterloo concentrated social housing areas and HNSW’s South Eveleigh site.
Plan allows for redevelopment of the HNSW estates over 20-25 years
Most High Rise to be kept with new infill buildings around some of them
HNSW Redfern & Waterloo Walkups demolished over 20 year period
Floor space increase of over 2 hectares for HNSW in South Eveleigh
No RWA planning controls proposed for HNSW properties in Waterloo Conservation Area or HNSW scattered sites these are under Council LEP
No indication of how HNSW stock outside defined area will be renewed
3500 private units go into Estates (no population estimates in report)
700 Affordable Housing places to be included in the estate areas
700 HNSW units displaced replaced elsewhere in the City of Sydney
Proposed Business Mixed Use Zones for Elizabeth, Cope & McEvoy Sts
Building heights up to 12 storeys allowed subject to design merit in 8 storey zoning
Over 15 hectares or 35% more floor space than City of Sydney proposed
Includes Urban Design Guiding Principles & Design Excellence Provision
Remove road closures, 60% non-car travel target & less parking per unit
RWA Traffic study says modest impact on traffic & parking
Public space, parks & facilities to be outlined in future planning studies but not in current proposed planning controls
Future planning studies to do more work on Transport, Public Domain & Community Facilities
Comments feed into a SMDA Urban Renewal Study & HNSW Masterplan
Final controls will be formally exhibited before coming into effect.

A summary of this nature is open to criticism as it reduces a complex report down to a few dot points, so we encourage you to use this as a starter, then to download the report and read it. Also keep an eye on the REDWatch website for comments as they become available.

As an example of the complexity you will see that there is some difference between REDWatch’s point above that “Over 15 hectares or 35% more floor space than City of Sydney proposed” and RWA’s BEP2 FAQs Q18: “How does draft BEP 2 compare to the City of Sydney Council’s draft Local Environmental Plan (LEP)?” A: “The City of Sydney’s draft LEP will not provide controls for the Redfern and Waterloo sites (shown in dark blue in Figure 1 above), South Eveleigh (shown in brown in Figure 1 above) or the Eveleigh Street sites. For other Housing NSW” sites in the Redfern-Waterloo Operational Area, BEP 2 supports the controls proposed by the City’s draft LEP”.

We think it is important to point out that the City of Sydney undertook its own Urban Design Study for Waterloo & Redfern in 2006 as part of its preparation of new planning controls. The Council included significantly increased density for the Public Housing Estates in its Draft LEP which it sent last year to the Department of Planning (DoP) for approval to exhibit. The DoP instructed the Council to remove its proposed controls for the consolidated HNSW land from the formal exhibition of its LEP which also started this week. The BEP2 document contains, in Appendix A, the comparative figures for the Council and RWA proposals but the BEP2 does not provide totals for the changes or make an overall comparison between the proposals. REDWatch has tabulated the figures in REDWatch Comparison of BEP2 and CoS Floor Space Recommendations (PDF 74Kb) to provide its comparison. So the RWA’s answer, while technically correct, does not provide all the information that REDWatch thinks it should. This is important because a key part of the discussion about BEP2 is about densities and how if there are significant increases in density how this will impact on the area and those that live here now and in the future.

If you want to see what the CoS Design study said and recommended for these sites you will find them on the REDWatch website under City of Sydney Urban Design Study and Public Housing What was in the CoS Draft LEP for the HNSW Estates in Redfern and Waterloo can be downloaded here - Draft LEP Height (PDF 289Kb), Draft LEP Floor Space Ratio (PDF 292Kb), Draft LEP Heritage Map (PDF 259Kb) and Draft LEP Land Use Zoning (263Kb).

The BEP2 exhibition closes on 28^th February and submissions can be emailed to redfernwaterloo@redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au

Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA) takes on Planning for RWA Area

While the RWA has prepared the Draft BEP2 the follow up plans will be done by the RWA’s successor the SMDA. On 23 September the Minister for Planning announced the establishment of the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority and that the RWA would be subsumed by the new SMDA. The priority for the Authority is to focus on the areas currently administered by the Redfern Waterloo Authority, including North Eveleigh and the Australian Technology Park as well as Granville. RWA CEO Roy Wakelin-King was appointed as the interim CEO. There was also an RWA Statement on Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority issued on 29 September 2010.

On 15 December the Minister announced that a new State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) would cover Redfern Waterloo Eveleigh and Darlington (Redfern-Waterloo SEPP map). On 17 December the Government published Orders (Placing the SMDA under the Growth Centres Act and Changing the Employment and Management arrangements for the RWA and SMDA) bringing the SMDA under the Growth Centres (Development Corporations) Act 1974 and transferring RWA staff, apart from Aboriginal Employment programme staff, to the SMDA. It is not clear what will happen with the RWA’s Aboriginal Programmes but the RWA will continue until the RWA Bill (1994) is repealed. The SMDA has set up a new website at www.smda.nsw.gov.au and key RWA staff email addresses have changed to this domain. The establishment of the SMDA coincided with the release of the New Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036 which sets targets for jobs and housing across the city.

The new SEPP requires the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA) to undertake a planning study of the RWA’s area – the suburbs of Redfern, Eveleigh, Darlington and Waterloo. The study is to look at a wide range of issues such as infrastructure capacity, traffic and flood modelling, urban design outcomes, landscaping, environmental issues and economic and social factors. The SEPP states that consent authorities such as the City of Sydney “must not, while a precinct is being investigated, approve projects valued at more than $5 million unless they are consistent with urban renewal objectives.”

The RWA BEP 2 study will feed into this much wider study which will be undertaken when the Director General of Planning issues the requirements for the study. The new planning instrument that covers local HNSW estates will be introduced under this mechanism. It is also possible that the SMDA will recommend other areas in Redfern Eveleigh Darlington and Waterloo where increased densities should be introduced. These areas may be removed from the control of the City of Sydney as has happened with the HNSW estates covered by BEP2.

City of Sydney – City Plan (LEP & DCP) on exhibition until 4^th April 2011

The City Plan contains the new Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) for the City of Sydney as well as the Draft Green Square Affordable Housing Program and the Draft City of Sydney Competitive Design Policy. These documents are the CoS Council’s key planning controls and will guide future development in the city, promoting heritage, sustainability and liveability. Please take opportunity to look at the controls (height, floor space and land use etc) proposed for your part of the City. You will find the areas for the RWA Draft BEP2 blank. As both RWA and CoS proposed controls are on exhibition at the same time people may want to look at both together. Details of the City controls can be found at www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/CityPlan/Default.asp

Sydney University Abercrombie Street Precinct Close to Exhibition

In 2007 Sydney University obtained requirements from the Department of Planning under Part 3A for a major project as MP 07_0158 - Abercrombie Street Precinct, Syd Uni. The University proposes to build its new Business School on the 1.92 ha site bordered by Darlington Lane, Codrington Street, Abercrombie Street and Darlington School. In December 2010 the University sort some input from the surrounding community before finalising their proposal and submitting it to the Department of Planning for Exhibition. Exhibition is expected soon. At exhibition the documents should go up on Department of Planning website. Sydney University have also set up a website for the Abercrombie Street development at www.sydney.edu.au/abercrombie_precinct and information will also appear on the university’s more general expansion website at www.sydney.edu.au/facilities/projects/sac/expansion.shtml.

The University has also placed on exhibition plans for the expansion of the Darlington campus aquatic centre and a new sports hall. The site has frontages to Abercrombie Street and Raglan Street and exhibition has been extended until 11^th February 2011. More details can be found on the Council’s website DA Number D/2010/2183 or can be viewed in the USyd Services Building foyer.

This exhibition highlighted a problem with the Council’s DA notifications system as the DA was advertised with a City Road address even though it was to be built 300m away on Abercrombie Street. We have asked the Council to investigate the problem to ensure that DAs on large sites with a single address like the University, clearly flag the actual development locations so locals can easily identify DAs which may impact upon them.

Recently about 30 residents met to discuss the University’s Abercrombie Street Precinct plans. If you live in the vicinity of this site and want to discuss the plans with other residents please contact Tim Brunero on 0405285547 who can add you to their email list.

Steps in the Recognition of Heritage

The last year has seen an increased focus on the importance of the area’s heritage. Following representations from heritage groups the Premier established a Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce which met through 2010 and is due to report back to the Premier in late February. You can find out more about the task force on the RWA Heritage webpage and REDWatch’s Heritage Task Force Page – REDWatch also has a large heritage section on its website which can be accessed under the A Future for Heritage tab. The last year has also seen significant progress at the ATP with its Heritage S170 Register being made available, as well as its Heritage Interpretation Strategy – you can see these documents on ATP’s Heritage page.

As we put this RWIU together we are waiting for the exhibition of two key heritage documents. The first is the exhibition of the revised ATP Conservation Management Plan (CMP). This Plan is to replace the 1995 CMP which still governs the ATP and can now be found on the ATP Heritage Page. The second document awaiting exhibition is the Eveleigh Heritage Interpretation Strategy. This document has been produced by consultants as part of the Heritage Taskforce and Eveleigh Steering Committee process and it aims to produce an interpretation plan that will cover the entire former Eveleigh Railyard area irrespective of ownership. If you would like to know more about the Heritage Taskforce or these two important Heritage Exhibitions please contact Juliet Suich who is handling heritage issues at the RWA / SMDA on Juliet.Suich@smda.nsw.gov.au and she can add you to her heritage email list.

Positively Branding Redfern

Over the last 12 months work has been done the by design company Frost to come up with a brand for the Redfern area. Roll Up Redfern which includes the Council, RWA, Chamber of Commerce, Souths Football Club and REDWatch has been overseeing this project with funding from the City of Sydney and the Redfern Waterloo Authority. The project has involved meetings with local people and a study of people in a 10km radius of Redfern to assess their perceptions of and contact with the Redfern area. There will be a media launch of the brand at the Return to Redfern day run by South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday 5 February 2011.

On 9 February 2011 Frost will make a presentation for business and community organisations about how the Redfern brand was developed. There will also be tips on how local businesses and community organisations can use the new branding, Businesses and community organisations will be encouraged to consider looking at how the new brand can be used on their websites, leaflets, posters and other promotional material. We encourage those involved in local businesses and community organisations to attend and get an understanding of the process used to develop the concepts for the branding and what some of the benefits may be. For catering and seating purposes it is important to RSVP to RSVP@ssbchamber.com.au by 4^th February 2011. The Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce recently expanded its area and has become the South Sydney Business Chamber with a new website – www.ssbchamber.com.au.

Finding a Community Service

Jo Fletcher from Connect Redfern Schools as Community Centres Program has updated its lists for Term 1 2011. You can find the latest lists on the REDWatch website under Find a Local Community Service along with other information on finding local services through the Lincs Directory, as well as links to the RWA - Redfern Waterloo Human Service Maps. The last year has seen long time services in the area re-joined by the relocated Redfern Health Centre which is now operating from the former Redfern Court House. The National Centre for Indigenous Excellence has also had a successful first year providing a positive Redfern focus for a wide range of Aboriginal activities from around the country. A number of new services are also moving into the area.

These Updates are also available as emails

Details about the Redfern Waterloo Issues Update Email list and how to subscribe can be found at: http://lists.redwatch.org.au/mailman/listinfo/update

RWIU 2010

REDWatch — 2011-02-02T04:47:19Z

Redfern & Waterloo public housing – many plans & questions

In August 2010, REDWatch produced the discussion paper, Planning for the Redevelopment of Redfern & Waterloo Public Housing. REDWatch has also been adding background material about relevant issues to its website under the Public Housing tab. All this is in preparation for the expected consultations about the future shape of the Redfern & Waterloo public housing estates. REDWatch’s spokesperson, Geoff Turnbull, explores some of the issues for the South Sydney Herald in their December 2010 issue.
New Chance for Young People at Risk - 90 Regent St: Homeless and disadvantaged young people will be given hope, help and opportunities to access education, training, jobs, counseling, and drug/alcohol programs when the Property Industry Foundation takes over City premises at 90 Regent Street, Redfern reports Clover's eNews of Friday 3 December 2010.
Pemulwuy Project Modification Details Publicly Available: The Department of Planning (DoP) has posted the Aboriginal Housing Company’s (AHC) Preliminary Plans for modification of the Pemulwuy Project Concept Plan. These documents can now be viewed on the Department of Planning’s Major Project website under Pemulwuy Concept Plan MOD 1. We have provided some background to the changes and a guide to the documents currently available below.
Seven's studios on city fringe for sale: THE home of Network Seven's studios in Redfern is on the market for more than $200 million as the joint owners, Flagship Property Holdings and Rebel Property Group, look to cash out and move on reports Caroiyn Cummins the Commercial Property Editor in the Sydney Morning Herald of 4 November 2010.
Eveleigh Heritage Update - 22 Oct 2010: This update is to provide a brief Eveleigh heritage update, to make sure that you are aware of the Eveleigh Open Day on 30th October 2010 and to urge your input into the Heritage Interpretation Plan for Former Eveleigh Rail Yards. In this Update: Eveleigh Rail Yards Community Consultation Open Day – Saturday 30 October 2010 / What is the Former Eveleigh Rail Yards Interpretation Plan? / Redfern Waterloo Heritage Task Force (RWHT) / RWHT Heritage Projects / Support the Eveleigh Steering Committee (ESC) / What is happening on the ATP Conservation Management Plan (CMP) / Heritage Installations in ATP Innovation Plaza / Work on Locomotive Workshops Bays 1 & 2 / Update on Other Eveleigh News dealing with Heritage / Conclusion – Make sure you put your ideas forward now!
HNSW Redfern and Waterloo Renewal - Areas of Responsibility: Housing NSW released the following list showing the areas of responsibility of various people associated with the HNSW Redfern and Waterloo Renewal / Preliminary Masterplan at a workshop on 7 October 2010. HNSW have undertaken to update details on the list as changes take place so residents are aware of the roles played by various staff and advisors involved with the project. The release of the list follows a request by REDWatch.
RWA Statement on Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority: The CEO of the RWA advised that the work of the RWA will continue as per the current plans and that the Australian Technology Park will remain part of the RWA and will ultimately be transferred to the SMDA in this statement on 29 September 2010 regarding the RWA and the Sydney Metropolitan Development Aiuthority (SMDA).
RWA assumed by new Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority: As a priority, the authority will focus on areas currently administered by the Redfern Waterloo Authority, including North Eveleigh and the Australian Technology Park. It is anticipated Redfern and Granville will be the two priority areas for the SMDA over the next 12 months. A new interim board has been apointed and the RWA CEO becomes the interim CEO of the new Authority reports this media release of 23 September 2010 from Planning Minister Tony Kelly.
North Eveleigh Site and City Relief Line: The announcement by Transport NSW (TNSW) on 29 August 2010 that they will not require private property in and around Leamington Avenue is a welcome relief but the statement does not clarify the situation for the adjoining North Eveleigh site writes Geoff Turnbull from REDWatch on 31 August 2010.
Leamington Avenue Saved: The residents of Leamington Avenue, Holdsworth and Pines Streets, Newtown, are extremely relieved the State Government has announced on 29 August 2010 that it will not be compulsorily acquiring their heritage homes to make way for the City Relief Line reports this media release from Save Leamington Avenue Inc on 29 August 2010.
REDWatch Discussion Paper on Public Housing Redevelopment: REDWatch's Discussion Paper of 23 August 2010 discusses a recent HNSW meeting “Hava Cuppa with a Designa” and raises some key questions about the future of Redfern & Waterloo public housing and ask: is “Social Mix” a mantra or a resourced solution? The paper aims to encourage discussion about the planning for the coming redevelopment of Redfern & Waterloo public housing.
$9.8 Million Redfern Health Centre Officially Opened: Redfern and Waterloo residents will now have access to improved health services with the official opening of the new $9.8 million Redfern Health Centre - a single, central facility to provide a range of community health, drug and alcohol, and mental health services to the local community reports this media release from the Premier of NSW on 5 August 2010.
Another Brick in the Wall for Public Housing: A mixed public/private redevelopment plan has gone horribly wrong reports Stephen Pascoe in the Age of 27 July 2010. [REDWatch Comment - Given the similarities between what is proposed for Redfern Waterloo and this Victorian project the issues raised in this article need to be carefully considered in the planning of the redevelopment of Redfern and Waterloo public housing estates to ensure the problems found in this Victorian mixed redevelopment are not repeated here.]
Jesuit School Plans for Aboriginal Children in Redfern: A new, tuition-free Jesuit primary school for Aboriginal children is set to open its doors in Sydney in 2011, providing disadvantaged children with a quality, holistic education which responds to the needs of local families and draws from the students' own culture reports Catherine Marshall in the CathNews on 8 July 2010.
Save Leamington Avenue Meeting - 5 July 2010: Residents of Leamington Ave have arranged a meeting at Darlington Public School from 5.15pm to 7.15 pm for local residents and supporters to inform people about the Transport NSW Plans and to discuss community action. The text of their leaflet can be found below:
Commonwealth funds to plan renewal in Redfern and Waterloo - HNSW Update June 2010: Housing NSW have rleased an explanation of how the Federally funded Master Planning Process for Redfern and Waterloo will work alongside the RWA BEP2. The explanation is contained in Newsletters distributed to Redfern and Waterloo public housing tenants on 29 June 2010. The text below is accompanied by a chart which REDWatch has linked to at the foot of this article.
“The Castle” rerun? - Local Homes Threatened by Rail Relief Line: Residents in Leamington Avenue near Macdonaldtown station were reeling after a recent leaflet came through their letterboxes headed “Your House may be Resumed, Help Stop It!” It was the first anyone knew that the houses they were buying, selling and renovating may soon be resumed writes Geoff Turnbull from REDWatch.

REDWatch Letter Regarding Sydney University & North Eveleigh

The letter below was sent on 24 May 2010 by REDWatch individually to local politicians urging "the state government and Sydney University enter into negotiations to overcome whatever non-financial obstacles exist to the sale of the North Eveleigh site to the University." The letter was sent to Kristina Keneally, Carmel Tebbutt, Ferity Firth, Tanya Plibersek and Clover Moore.
Redfern Vine Street Factories for Sale: Real Estate agents McGrath are advertising by Auction on 31 May 2010 the sale of industrial land at 2 - 23 Vine Street Redfern. The site backs on The Block owned by the Aboriginal Housing Company and is covered by the RWA's Planning Controls. Development would be dealt with under Part 3A by the Department of Planning.
HNSW Community Renewal Events for Redfern Waterloo - June 2010: The letter below has been sent by Housing NSW to their Redfern Waterloo stakeholders with details of events HNSW are holding in June 2010 about community and urban renewal for residents and local organisations in Redfern and Waterloo.
City Supports Sydney University Proposal for North Eveleigh: Council has provided in-principle support to Sydney University for their proposal to redevelop North Eveleigh. The proposal, which includes using the site for student accommodation and educational facilities, will ensure it remains in publicly owned land and that its heritage is protected reports CLOVER'S eNEWS - Friday 14 May 2010 - No. 496.
New Move for CarriageWorks CEO, Sue Hunt: CarriageWorks announces the resignation of its inaugural Chief Executive. Linda Gregoriou, Acting Chair of CarriageWorks’ Board, has this week announced the resignation of Carriageworks’ Chief Executive, Sue Hunt according to CarriagewWorks May 2010 News.
RWA Responses to REDWatch Questions: At the REDWatch meeting of 4 March 2010 attendees placed questions into a question box and these were passed to the RWA for a response. The RWA replied in writing to a number of the questions on 7 April 2010. The balance questions were answered on 5 May 2010. Following the RWA meeting on 15 March 2010 the REDWatch Co-ordinating Group also wrote to the RWA raising a number of concerns. At the end of that letter were a series of questions summarising the issues raised. The RWA responded to this letter in their response of 7 April 2010. For ease of interpretation REDWatch has taken the RWA responses and added into it the questions and the REDWatch Co-ordination Group Letter.
Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce Eveleigh Sub-Committee & Eveleigh Interpretation Plan: At its second meeting the Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce resolved to establish an Eveleigh Sub-Committee and to develop a Eveleigh Interpretation Plan. Below is the notice calling from Interest in the Sub-Committee and details of the RWHT decision to set up the Sub-Committee.
Clover Moore Supports Sydney Uni Public Forum for 28 April: Clover More in her enews No 492 of Friday 16 April 2010 has welcomed Sydney University's initiative in exploring opportunities for working with the community for mutual benefit over the North Eveleigh site. She will attend the forum being run by the University at CarriageWorks on 28 April. The text from the enews is below:
Heritage works begin at ATP - April 2010: In the following extract from ATP News of 7 April 2010, ATPPML advised details of the heritage plans for Innovation Plaza, Bays 1 & 2 and Heritage Lighting around the ATP.
52 Suburbs - Suburbs Number 6 Eveleigh & 28 Redfern: My name is Louise. I've lived in Sydney for over 30 years but have never set foot in most of its 600 plus suburbs. Now I'm on a mission to explore and photograph one new Sydney suburb a week for a year in search of the beauty in the 'burb. Care to join me? [Eveligh & Redfern have already been covered].
Community Consultation Parking Study in Local Area Adjacent Australian Technology Park: Following a community meeting in December last year where parking issues were raised, the Australian Technology Park Precinct Management Limited (ATPPML) has appointed Transport and Urban Planning to undertake a parking study in the local streets adjacent the ATP site reports Newsletter 1 from Transport and Urban Planning on 19 March 2010.
Kevin Rudd’s Opening Speech NCIE Redfern: This is the text of the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd’s Speech at the Launch of the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence Redfern, Sydney 26 February 2010 - This has not been checked against Delivery.
Elaine Pelot-Syron : Thinking Outside The Square: A Retrospective (1972-2010): "I have been documenting people, places and events for over three decades. As an American emigrant from Bradenton, a small country town in Florida, I came to cosmopolitan Sydney in 1971, with fresh eyes" writes Elaine Pelot-Syron in this media release and invitation to her Thinking Outside The Square: A Retrospective (1972-2010) on 9 March 2010.
Developers may get site uni seeks to house students: The housing needs of thousands of Sydney University students have been left hanging by the state government, which has failed to make a decision about a urban renewal site capable of providing mass accommodation reports Josephine Tovey in the Sydney Morning Herald of 5 March 2010.
Pilot for Stronger and Safer High Rise Public Housing: A $12 million three-year program – which includes "concierge" style front desk staff, on the ground maintenance teams, and extra security measures, especially at night - will be trialled at six Waterloo high-rise public housing buildings to improve safety for their 1,500 residents reports this media release from the NSW Premier on 19 February 2010.
The changing face of Redfern and Waterloo: Crime Down, Housing Prices Up, Jobs and Opportunity for the community: Independent data shows that the partnership approach set up by the NSW Government and the local community is transforming Redfern and Waterloo reports this media release reports this media release from the NSW Premier on 15 February 2010.
RWA UPDATE Issue #4 - 8th February 2010: This is the RWA’s electronic Update which was issued on 8 February 2010.
HNSW Waterloo Update January 2010: In early February 2010 Housing NSW released separate Updates on HNSW activities in Redfern and Waterloo. Both updates included an update on the RWA Built Environment Plan Phase 2. Below is the text of the Waterloo Update. A link to the Redfern Update is available at the foot of this page.
HNSW Redfern Update January 2010: In early February 2010 Housing NSW released separate Updates on HNSW activities in Redfern and Waterloo. Both updates included an update on the RWA Built Environment Plan Phase 2. Below is the text of the Redfern Update. A link to the Waterloo Update is available at the foot of this page.
Construction on CUB Central Park’s main park and infrastructure set to commence immediately: The New South Wales Department of Planning has given approval to Frasers Property Australia to commence building the main park and related infrastructure such as roads, footpaths and traffic lights reports this media release from Frasers Property.

Heritage Update - 28 January 2010: In this Heritage Update: Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce (RWHT) – Terms of Reference / Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce (RWHT) Call for Projects / ATP Conservation Management Plan (CMP) Input / ATP S170 Heritage Register Overview Report & Moveable Heritage at ATP. This is an update was prepared for railway heritage people by Geoff Turnbull but is equally relevant to local residents concerned about heritage.
Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce - Call for 2010 Heritage Projects: The Redfern Waterloo Heritage Task Force (RWHT) has issued a call for nominations of 2010 Heritage Project. Below is the advertisement that is appearing in local papers as well as the Selection Criteria referred to in the add. Nominations close 25 February 2010.
Needle Van moves from Block to Hudson Street: The Redfern Waterloo Authority have advised that as of 16 December 2009 that the needle and syringe van that was previously located on the Block has been relocated to Hudson Street.
ATP Letter on C7 Residents Meeting - 23 Dec 09: The following letter was sent by the ATP to people who attended the meeting on 15 December 2009 about the 8 Central Avenue Eveleigh (the new C7 and Global Television building). As not all those who attended left contact addresses we are posting the letter so this information is diseminated to all who may be interested.
ATP Heritage Statement - December 2009: This public statement on ATP Heritage was issued by Australian Technology Park Precinct Management Ltd (ATPPML) on 24 December 2009.
Expression of Interest - Indigenous seat on Heritage Taskforce: Nominations are now open for Indigenous people to participate as a member of the Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce for 2010. Nominations close 25 February 2010.
Redfern Waterloo Built Environment Plan Stage 2 (BEP2) Update November 2009: The Redfern Waterloo Authority and Housing NSW issued the Update below in November 2009. It was handed around at the Redfern Neighbourhood Advisory Board information day on Saturday November 21st 2009.

RWIU 18 December 2009

REDWatch — 2009-12-18T10:35:00Z

In this Update:

Seasons Greetings from the Turnbull Family

Keep up to date between emails on the REDWatch website

RWA establishes Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce (RWHT)

Australian Technology Park Conservation Management Plan Revision — Feedback Requested ASAP

Moveable Heritage at ATP & ATP S170 Heritage Register Overview Report

Darlington Pedestrian Cycling and Traffic Calming Plan Study Available - Goes to Council in Early 2010

City of Sydney Darlington & Inner West Update

M5 Expansion into South Sydney – RTA requests feedback by 19 February 2009

Premier keeps Redfern Waterloo Ministry

Redfern Waterloo Built Environment Plan Stage 2 (BEP2) Update November 2009

Thinking about Redfern Station – some information due in early 2010

RWA - Changes to the RWA Contributions Plan - Exhibition until 12 February 2010

RWA - Draft Redfern Centre Urban Design Guidelines - Exhibition until 22 January 2010

RWA News

Competing Proposals for a Community Website

Roll Up Redfern – RWA & Council working together to Encourage Redfern Waterloo Businesses

Channel 7, Pacific Magazines & Global Television move in January 2010

ATP signs two-year sponsorship deal with Souths Football Club

University of Sydney still pushing for North Eveleigh

Redfern RSL - Response to Submissions & Preferred Project Report

National Centre for Indigenous Excellence News

Fraser’s Broadway – Projects moving ahead

Waterloo gets Aldi Approval & Redfern gets IGA Supermarket

Miller Films approved to go to CarriageWorks

Settlement has successful start to Fundraising

Redwater Markets – 3^rd Saturday of Month Redfern Park

Survival Day SSH Fundraiser Harbour Cruise

Redfern Waterloo in the Media

South Sydney Herald December 2009

South Sydney Herald November 2009

South Sydney Herald October 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)

Seasons Greetings from the Turnbull Family

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers and colleagues our best wishes for Christmas and New Year. We hope that you have a safe and relaxing holiday season and that you will have a great 2010. Thank you for your support, ideas, information and suggestions over the year and we hope that you have found some of the information we have supplied of use in keeping up to date with Redfern Waterloo Issues.

Keep up to date between emails on the REDWatch website

We have had a few people say that they miss the more frequent RWIU’s this year. As mentioned in our last few RWIU we are sorry we can not get them out more frequently however you can keep up to date on what is happening in Redfern Waterloo by visiting the www.redwatch.org.au where the latest stories, events and information is being added as things happen. If you look at the website changes menu it will bring up all the changes on the site and you can easily check what has happened since you last visited. You can also set up an RSS feed to deliver the changes directly to your computer as they happen.

RWA establishes Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce (RWHT)

The Minister for Redfern Waterloo Kristina Keneally has established a Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce and it had its initial meeting on 8th December 2009. The Taskforce is a little different from what was requested by rail heritage groups in October 2008 in that it will deal with a wide range of Redfern Waterloo heritage issues and not just with the Eveleigh Railyards. Below the “core” Taskforce it is proposed to establish a number of working groups which will focus on particular projects such as a workers’ wall proposal; or documenting Aboriginal involvement in the Eveleigh site; or the formation of Aboriginal organisations in Redfern Waterloo. This structure will enable a wide range of people to both make proposals for projects and to become involved in working on projects of interest to them. It will also cater for rail heritage groups to put up their heritage proposals.

The “core” Taskforce is made up of representatives from the RWA, RailCorp, Heritage Office, Tourism NSW, Housing NSW and the City of Sydney. There will be four community representatives, Mary Lynne Pidcock (President of the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce), Geoffrey Turnbull (REDWatch) and two Aboriginal representatives are yet to be appointed. The RWA is currently looking for Expression of Interest for the Indigenous seats on Heritage Taskforce. The RWHT has also agreed to appoint a representative from the non-government heritage rail groups and discussions are currently underway to determine an agreed upon nominee.

The Taskforce & working groups will both endeavour to undertake immediate projects and document / research longer term proposals. The Taskforce will prepare a report for the Minister by the end of 2010 which will aim to document what has been achieved and what remains to be done. The Terms of Reference for the Taskforce and the call for projects / working groups will be found on the REDWatch website Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce in the next few days when available from the RWA.

Australian Technology Park Conservation Management Plan Revision — Feedback Requested ASAP

Godden Mackay Logan (GML) held a public information session / consultation on 7^th December 2009 as part of the revision of the Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the ATP site. The letter of invitation circulated said: “It has been a number of years since a Conservation Management Plan was prepared for the site and previous plans have addressed the Locomotive Workshops building only. This new Conservation Management Plan would address the Australian Technology Park site as a whole, including its significant machinery, and would take into account the changes that have occurred to the site since most railway operations at Eveleigh closed in 1988”. The full text of the letter about the CMP revision can be read at Australian Technology Park—Conservation Management Plan—Feedback Requested.

GML is still looking for feedback from people with an interest in the ATP site to inform its preparation of the new CMP. They would ideally like this before Christmas but will also take feedback through January and throughout the CMP preparation. The new CMP will be exhibited when prepared. They are especially interested in why people consider ATP to be significant and what tangible and intangible components of the site are important. The Australian Technology Park - Conservation Management Plan - Consultation Feedback Form (PDF 302Kb) provides details of the areas on which GML is specifically seeking input. The current 1996 CMP can be found at the bottom of www.atp.com.au/heritage-and-history. It should be noted that an ATP section 170 register was approved by Heritage Office in November 2008 and an ATP Heritage Asset Management Strategy (HAMS) was endorsed by Heritage Office October 2008 and these both interact with the CMP revision.

Moveable Heritage at ATP & ATP S170 Heritage Register Overview Report

Recently some “Australian Technology Park Surplus Heritage Item … Identified for Disposal” tags and pink crosses appeared on some of the outdoor moveable heritage equipment at the ATP. This was the first that people were aware that decisions had been made about the future of ATP moveable heritage which it was expected would be dealt with under the ATP Conservation Management Plan revision.

Following the discovery of the tags we were informed that back in 2008 the RWA / ATP engaged Dr Maclaren North of Futurepast Heritage Consulting P/L to undertake a section 170 review of the ATP’s Heritage Holdings. Government agencies have responsibilities under Section 170 of the Heritage Act 1977 (NSW) to identify, conserve and manage heritage assets owned, occupied or managed by that agency. Included in the study was a review of the ATP’s moveable heritage management. This had previous been covered in 1996 by the Godden McKay Eveleigh Workshops Management Plan for Moveable Items and Social History. The Section 170 report was endorsed by the Heritage Office in November 2008 and has been publically available from the NSW Heritage Office since that time. Examination of the Heritage Council paper regarding the s170 application showed that the Heritage Council had recommended in 2008 that the ATP also place its s170 on their website. This had not happened up to the beginning of December 2009 and those concerned with Eveleigh Heritage were unaware of the 2008 s170 report or its recommendations until questions were asked about the items with “identified for disposal” tags.

We have now obtained a copy of the s170 report and a scanned copy is on the REDWatch website under ATP Eveleigh Moveable Items. The Heritage Council paper for the s 170 also shows that the Heritage Office had endorsed a Heritage Asset Management Strategy (HAMS) for the ATP on 1 October 2008. Its existence only became apparent when the Heritage Council papers on the s 170 were sighted. We have not sighted the ATP HAMS but the State Heritage Register Committee Meeting minutes of 1 October said of the HAMS – “The SHRC commented particularly on ATP’s need to address the significant movable heritage collections currently located in Bay’s 1 & 2 of the Locomotive Workshop and the significance of these collections to the site and the State. While the HAMS has identified the significance and value of the movable collection, the SHRC identified the need to monitor the management of this collection.”

The s170 report was unable to locate at least 47 items from the 1996 Management Plan for Moveable Items which catalogued 219 heritage items and collections (there is an error in this table so we can not be sure of the actual figure). The s170 report includes a further 13 items from the 1996 list in the 43 items it identified for disposal. REDWatch has placed parts of the 1996 Management Plan for Moveable items on its website so people can read about the significance of these items and their condition when the 1996 Management Plan was undertaken. We have created a text index so people can find the relevant inventory sheets with details about the equipment. We have also added to the index the details of missing items and items recommended for disposal in the s170 report to this index. We understand that some items may have been moved to RailCorp owned land, and RailCorp and the RWA have been asked to compare s170 information to see if any of the missing items can be located. If you have any information about any of the missing items please pass the details on to the ATP and let us know so we can follow the information up.

Regarding the items with “Identified for Disposal” tags mentioned at the beginning of this item, these items are all identified for disposal in the s170 report. The report says “Depending on the nature of the item, disposal is recommended to be through offer to another institution, disposal through sale or disposal as scrap / rubbish”. Following media articles Australian rail heritage ‘travesty’ and Concern over future of heritage railway machinery about the pink crosses and the disposal tags the ATP issued an ATP Heritage Equipment Public Statement which made it clear “No heritage equipment has or is being thrown out. We are acting to ensure the valuable heritage in the ATP is being appropriately preserved, maintained and promoted”. The items identified by pink crosses are parts of the two identical Wheel Shop Pivot Cranes of which the s170 report says “Restore one example for external static display … dispose of other as scrap”. Both are supposed to be retained under the earlier CMP and Management Plan.

The ATP has advised that they have begun cleaning up the site near Henderson Road which will get the heritage items out of the weather. The containers with Heritage items have now been moved to North Eveleigh for sorting in the new year. The Wheel Shop Pivot Cranes will be picked up on 22^nd December 2009 to go to the firm handling the refurbishment. The remaining items which were outside have been relocated to Bays 1 & 2 North. The ATP has prepared a statement on Heritage following their Board Meeting on 17 December 2009 but at the time this needed to be sent it had not been received. The ATP statement will appear under ATP Eveleigh Moveable Items and under “News Since the last RWIU” on the home page of www.redwatch.org.au as soon as we receive it.

Darlington Pedestrian Cycling and Traffic Calming Plan Study Available - Goes to Council in Early 2010

The Final Report for the Newtown, Erskineville, Camperdown and Darlington Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Plan is now publically available. There was no report available to the community when the CoS put on exhibition its recommendations. Some pedestrian, cycling and traffic counts are available in the Final Technical Report as is a summary of the community comments and responses to those comments. The report was posted on the CoS website on Friday 11^th December as item 60 for the City of Sydney Traffic Committee meeting on 16^th December and residents who had earlier expressed an interest were advised by email that they could attend the committee meeting and comment.

We are concerned about the way this consultation has been undertaken. How do a community forum and an exhibition to consider recommendations without the benefit of the technical report assist community input? How does a few days window just before Christmas allow people to digest the report, talk to neighbours and make a considered response? On the up side, Council has stopped meeting for the year so people who are around in January will have time to contact Councillors with any concerns they might have. The Council Officers’ Report to the Traffic Committee can be found at: Newtown Erskineville Camperdown And Darlington Pedestrian Cycling And Traffic Calming Plan | PDF 6Mb and the Final Technical Report can be found at: Final Tech Report - Newtown Erskineville Camperdown Darlington Pedestrian Cycling and Traffic | PDF 15Mb

Our major concern with what we have managed to read is with how the report deals with the Redfern to Sydney University High Priority pedestrian route. The study has the highest pedestrian movements along Lawson Street with weekday 8-9am at 2261 (south side) and 504 (north side) and 5-6pm being 1857 (south side) and 264 (north side). The study proposes on page 7: As part of the development of the pedestrian network, alternative walking routes between Redfern Station and the University’s Darlington Campus have been identified, which involve Little Eveleigh Street, Wilson Street and Shepherd Street, as well as Ivy Street. Depending on which walking route is used, these alternatives will reduce crowding in Lawson Street and also in Abercrombie Street, if Wilson Street is used to Shepherd Street.:

The problem with the action proposed by the study is that it goes contrary to the pedestrian desire line between Redfern Station and USyd. The study expects pedestrians to follow the “U shaped” shared zone to by pass Lawson Street. This route is currently already available to pedestrians and has minimal impact on Lawson Street. The precise impact is not known as there were no pedestrian counts in the study for Little Eveleigh St which primarily services pedestrians coming towards the station from Wilson Street. In our experience students take the shortest distance between two points and will not take the proposed “scenic detour”. Having proposed the “U” shaped route as the solution, the study then does not further address the problem. We support the shared zone in Little Eveleigh for the pedestrian traffic that heads down Wilson Street as the footpaths are overgrown and not wide enough for pedestrian use. We note however BikeSydney’s objection to this shared zone because of the conflict between pedestrians and cyclists it creates. These conflicts need to be addressed by Council and the RTA all around Redfern Station where bikes, pedestrian and vehicular traffic all converge to cross the railway line.

We have suggested a number of complimentary strategies which may help address the problem but these do no not appear to have been seriously considered and we think they should be. These include sorting out pedestrian, bike and vehicular conflicts around Redfern Station, encouraging more people to use the Lawson Street northern footpath with a possible crossing at or to the south of Eveleigh Street; marked crossings along the pedestrian route, especially across Ivy Street and Little Eveleigh Street; maintenance along Lawson Street to allow maximum pedestrian peak capacity and minimising the impact of garbage bin collections on the pedestrian thoroughfare. We have suggested to the CoS Traffic Committee that it should request Council to undertake more work on the pedestrian route from Redfern Station to USyd and bring back the recommendations to the Traffic Committee.

We encourage those who use the pedestrian route from Redfern Station in the direction of USyd to make your suggestions to Councillors about the pedestrian route and on any other matters of concern from the final report and its recommendations. Some recent media stories about issues covered by the report include RTA says no to go-slow zone in response to the report’s proposal for 40km zones, J Sam’s letter Strange plans to block streets regarding the proposal to block Shepherd Street, and Small business leaders watch the parking meters which is about residential parking meters being introduced into Chippendale. This was also mooted for Darlington in the consultations.

City of Sydney Darlington & Inner West Update

Work on Charles Kernan Reserve will start in mid January 2010 and will continue for about five months. The work is being undertaken by Furnass Landscapes and more information about the upgrade can be found on the Council’s website under Charles Kernan Reserve Darlington or by contacting Michael Woolley on mwoolley@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au / phone 9265 9670 or Ian The on iteh@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au / phone 9246 7550.

On broader Council issues the council report on to the Inner West Community Forum November 2009 (PDF 6.2Mb) can be downloaded from the CoS website for more local information.

M5 Expansion into South Sydney – RTA requests feedback by 19 February 2009

The RTA is exhibiting initial plans for the expansion of the M5. While much of the attention will focus on the duplication of the M5 tunnel to increase capacity the proposal also includes a new two lanes in each direction link to Campbell Road at Sydney Park. This potentially brings more traffic through Redfern Waterloo via Euston Road which it joins at traffic lights. In the proposal the RTA admit that “The RTA would also look at the management of traffic, and possible traffic calming, in the residential areas north of Campbell Road.”

The new surface road follows the proposed corridor for the F6 (Southern Freeway) and proposes single lane ramps to provide access from this new road to Qantas Drive/Airport Drive. It is also located so it can link with the proposed Marrickville tunnel which is to link from near the proposed new road to the M4 to allow movement from the M4 to Port Botany. If the Marrickville tunnel is built the new road will provide the link between it and the M5 connection to the Port. Without the Marrickville tunnel it potentially sends M4 traffic via Campbell Road to Edgeware Road. Currently traffic from the M5 towards Redfern goes via Airport Drive and O’Riordan Street. It is not clear how this traffic is expected to be channelled from the new arterial without creating a more attractive route to the western part of the city through Redfern Waterloo which increases traffic on Gibbons and Regent Streets.

Details of the M5 new surface link are on a special RTA website accessed by www.m5corridorexpansion.com.au. As part of the consultation process the RTA is inviting initial submissions to help identify emerging issues to help scope the environmental assessments. Submissions can be made via the contact page on the website or by email to m5expansion@rta.nsw.gov.au or post to RTA, M5 corridor expansion, PO Box 609, Pyrmont NSW 2009. Submissions are advertised to close on 19 February 2010. There was quite an outcry about the lack of notification and the consultation happening over the holiday season at the public meeting held by Kristine Keneally’s office on 14 December so this might be extended. People should also copy their submissions to their local member so your local MP is also aware of your concerns. This is especially so if the submission deals with the need for broader transport options other than the RTA’s proposal.

Premier keeps Redfern Waterloo Ministry

New Premier Kristina Keneally retains the role of Minister for Redfern Waterloo in the new NSW Cabinet sworn in on 8th December 2009. As the local Member for Heffron, which covers much of the Redfern Waterloo area, Kristina was previously the Minister for Redfern Waterloo as well as the Minister for Planning. The new Minister for Planning will be Tony Kelly. The Premier's decision to hold on to the Redfern Waterloo Ministry breaks the connection between it and the Planning Minister, who has always held the portfolio since the establishment of the RWA. Prior to the establishment of the RWA, Redfern Waterloo specific issues were handled by the Redfern Waterloo Partnership Project, a place management team which operated out of the Premier's Department.

The RWA's activities are guided by the Redfern Waterloo Plan which has Human Services, Employment and Enterprise components as well as Built Environment. In 2010 Housing NSW and the RWA will introduce phase two of the Built Environment Plan which deals with planning for the renewal of public housing in the area over the next 20-30 years. Many of the issues within Redfern Waterloo involve the need to improve co-ordination between different arms of government especially in human services. The retention of the role of Minister for Redfern Waterloo by the Premier not only means continuity, but should allow her to ensure greater co-ordination in government service delivery in the area and possibly some of the lessons learnt in improving human service delivery can be replicated around the state.

The Premier’s decision was reported in Central’s Premier to retain direct control over Redfern Waterloo with a further analysis in NSW Premier Keneally in the hot seat. For cabinet details see - www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/Parlment/Members.nsf/V3ListCurrentMinisters.

Redfern Waterloo Built Environment Plan Stage 2 (BEP2) Update November 2009

The Redfern Waterloo Authority and Housing NSW issued the Update below in November 2009. It appears to have only been handed around at the Redfern Neighbourhood Advisory Board information day on Saturday November 21st 2009. The leaflet contains a map showing the BEP2 study area. You can see the full text of the leaflet and the map at Redfern Waterloo Built Environment Plan Stage 2 (BEP2) Update November 2009. The leaflet makes some firm commitments as to how the consultation, expected in the early part of 2010, will be conducted. The leaflet says:

“Housing NSW and the RWA will be conducting a thorough consultation process. We want public housing residents and the broader community to tell us what they think about the plan and give us their ideas for the renewal of public housing areas in Redfern and Waterloo.

We will give you the information you need to comment on the BEP2. We will hold large and small consultation events so you can understand what's in the plan and how it might impact on you, and then ask for your feedback on what the plan proposes. We will hold sessions in the main community languages. There will be lots of opportunities to get information and to have your say.

We will then assess what you told us, and incorporate, where possible, the community's comments on the plan. We will give you feedback on how the plan may have changed and if community views could not be taken into account, why not.”

Housing NSW is also pointing towards the construction of new public housing homes on the site bounded by Phillip, Morehead, Kettle and Walker Streets in Redfern as an indication that renewal is already underway although this has earlier been separated out from the BEP2 process. Housing NSW also took some residents for an inspection tour of Minto to show what it had achieved there. After many delays, 2010 looks like the year of BEP2.

Thinking about Redfern Station – some information due in early 2010

The RWA Built Environment Ministerial Advisory Committee (BEMAC) was provided with a briefing in November by RailCorp on the issues surrounding the Redfern Station Upgrade. The RWA has advised that RailCorp will make available some details about its planning for Redfern Station in early 2010. The BEMAC was told it will probably take 3 years before building started and another two to build it. The main problem with the station is the narrowness of the platforms particularly at the southern end. This means that the concourse needs to run more or less across the middle of the station with the ability for two flights of stairs coming off most platforms onto the concourse and provision for a lift. If all the platforms are linked across the middle then an unpaid public concourse can only be to the north or the south and cannot connect across the paid concourse. This problem can be seen in A 1995 Proposal for Redfern Station (50KB PDF). With the RWA buying the property in Little Eveleigh Street closest to the station, it is likely that the preferred proposal will be to have access from RWA purchased building in the west to near Marian Park on the east, remembering that the BEP provides for new buildings to be constructed on railway land to the east of the station. One of the problems with feeding the station from only one direction is that the other side is cut off from much of the activity. If the station entrance is to the south then this will impact adversely upon The Block, Redfern Street’s existing linkage and the location of the RWA’s proposed civic space at the station.

RWA - Changes to the RWA Contributions Plan - Exhibition until 12 February 2010

Draft amendments to the RWA Contribution Plan 2006 are on exhibition until 12 February 2010. The Draft Amendments cover: changes required as a result of legislative changes; changes as a result of the North Eveleigh Concept Plan approval; and further information on the application of planning agreements and material public benefit arrangements. The proposed changes, as well as an appreciated comparison between the existing and proposed plans, are available on the RWA website (half way down the page) at RWA - Changes to the RWA Contributions Plan - Exhibition until 12 February 2010.

RWA - Draft Redfern Centre Urban Design Guidelines - Exhibition until 22 January 2010

The Draft Redfern Centre Urban Design Guidelines which have been worked up with input from the RWA BEMAC and some community members are being exhibited to the public until 22nd January. You can access the guidelines on the RWA website at RWA - Draft Redfern Centre Guidelines - Exhibition until 22 January 2010.

RWA News

The RWA’s new email updates are coming out monthly and we encourage everyone to subscribe to them to keep up to date with the latest information being put out by the RWA. The RWA also produced a printed RWA Update in October. The past copies of these publications can be downloaded from the publications tab on www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au. The RWA has also continued to tidy up and streamline its website with further changes over the last couple of months. There is also some interesting information in the written answers to questions raised at NSW Legislative Council estimates hearings which can be read at Redfern Waterloo Estimates - Answers to Questions on Notice.

Competing Proposals for a Community Website

There has been discussion between various groups for sometime about a proposal to set up a Community website. The idea is to operate a site where a broad range of community organisations can post their own events, media releases and information about their programmes. The model for this is the Community Graphic Domain Names (www.aucd.org.au) which provides domain names like www.redfern.nsw.au. The idea is to have it as a community site rather than a service provided by one agency like REDWatch.

In recent discussions with the RWA we have learnt that the RWA is planning to include a community calendar on its site along with community information and the RWA is saying that when it winds down that the www.redfernwaterloo.com.au site name minus the RWA statutory content could be passed on to a community group for a community website. They see this as an alternative to setting up a community website now. REDWatch has discussed this proposal and believes that it would be far better if the RWA worked with community groups to set up a community managed and run site from the beginning rather than hand over what the RWA had developed further down the track to someone. The RWA proposal throws up issues of the differences between what might be acceptable to currently place on the RWA’s site and what a community site might be prepared to have posted. One clear difference in the discussion concerned media releases from community organisations. Many organisations put out media release to promote events and programmes. REDWatch thinks these would be legitimate on a community website whereas the RWA would prefer material to be limited to “factual” information about events. The RWA events could link for more information to organisations own websites for media releases etc. REDWatch’s concern is that many organisations do not have websites and where they do the website’s are often not easy to add news and event information.

We would be interested in the thoughts of community groups, sporting clubs etc on these issuers. We would be happy to send you a copy of the proposal Geoff floated with the RWA.

Roll Up Redfern – RWA & Council working together to Encourage Redfern Waterloo Businesses

It is encouraging to see the RWA, City of Sydney and the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce join forces to encourage businesses to ‘Roll Up’ and make the best of the opportunities coming to Redfern Waterloo. The three bodies have co-signed a RWA, Council & Chamber Letter to Redfern Waterloo Businesses to local businesses urging them to roll up their shutters and become involved. A second letter is due to go out to business tenants. The letters comes from a committee which, in addition to the three parties signing the letter, also includes South’s Football Club and REDWatch. Having a vibrant business community that serves the mix of people who live in the area is very important to the area’s future. The Roll Up Redfern Committee is also preparing a brief for a study to help identify how the area sees itself and how this could then help brand and promote the area. This follows on from the Council’s recommendations about revitalising Redfern and Waterloo retail strips. As can be seen in the South Sydney Herald article Rolling up the shutters and getting down to business there are a number of issues that the committee needs to address to get the shutters up. Most people however would also be keen to remove Redfern from the Central’s survey’s five most boring suburbs Sydney city ``most exciting’’ place to live: Community Pulse Survey.

Local businesses have been encouraged to gear up for the arrival of Chanel 7 with many making introductory offers available in the welcome pack prepared by the RWA. For the Rabbitohs Return to Redfern Match on Sunday 7 February 2010 South’s Football Club and Council and encouraging local businesses to make available special offers to those visiting Redfern for the match. Businesses opening on the Sunday will have access to Souths window decorations etc. If you are interested in the opportunity contact Liz Waser Council’s Business and Community Development Co-ordinator for Redfern, Waterloo and Green Square by phone on 02926 5980 or 0434 325 786 or email her at e.waser@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.

Channel 7, Pacific Magazines & Global Television move in January 2010

The three anchor tenants of the “Channel 7” building arrive in January. While Channel 7 and Pacific Magazines are related media companies, Global Television makes shows and organises outside broadcasts for all major networks. Channel Seven have named the building “Media City”. Special arrangements are being made to direct new arrivals to their building from Redfern Station and to encourage the areas new workers to explore the area and its businesses. What will be more tricky will be directing audiences, who will start turning up in late January early February. These people will be arriving for the filming of shows that are not connected to Chanel 7 or Global Television – they will not be looking for what many may refer to as the Channel 7 building so specific programme sigs from the station are being considered. One of the problems that will face those moving into the new building is that the canteens have not been completed so people will need to get meals and coffee outside the building. The RWA is looking at ways for local businesses to use this opportunity to promote their businesses. If you are interested in being involved contact the RWA.

The DA for the Place of Public Entertainment (POPE) has been readvertised and is currently being assessed by the RWA. Architectus, on behalf of Global Television Services and Channel 7, has advised that all marshalling of audiences will take place within the building and not outside it. It has also responded to a range of other issues raised in submissions. You can see the text of the clarification on the REDWatch website Clarification on C7 & Global TV Marshalling prior to entering ATP studios.

Following the SSH article Seven rates poorly with Alexandria residents the RWA has sort to clarify some of the issues raised by Alexandria residents in RWA responds to SSH regarding “Channel Seven rates poorly in Alexandria“. The RWA CEO, Roy Wakelin-King, has made a walk around Alexandria with some of those expressing concerns and on 15^th December the RWA / ATP held a well attended public meeting during which many of the ATP’s Alexandria neighbours voiced their concerns. The RWA has undertaken to look into the concerns raised. If you would like to get further information from the ATP about the follow up to the meeting or if you want to raise any matter, contact ATP General Manager Chris Saunders on 92094431 during work hours. ATP Security can be contacted on any issues after hours on 9209 4666.

Among the issues raised was lack of notice about the changes to the building controls on the site, the light coming from the new building, parking impact during and post construction, as well as concerns about how movements of audiences and traffic from the site might impact on surrounding residents. Some of the concerns raised seem to have come about because Alexandria is outside the RWA area and hence they did not get RWA newsletters advising of the RWA planning changes and key events in the development of the site. Many residents say they did not get notification from the Department of Planning when the Project Proposal for the site was notified to adjoining land owners. The problems identified underlined the importance of making sure that all residents in the surrounding area that are likely to be impacted by a development are kept advised of what it being proposed.

ATP signs two-year sponsorship deal with Souths Football Club

The Australian Technology Park on 13 November 2009 entered into a two-year agreement to sponsor local community service provider Souths Cares, as well as to take on the naming rights to the Australian Technology Park Performance Centre at Redfern Oval and become a senior partner of the South Sydney Rabbitohs. ATP signage will appear at the Australian Technology Park Performance Centre at Redfern Oval and at South Sydney Rabbitohs’ home games. In addition select South Sydney Rabbitohs’ events will be held in the Redfern-Waterloo community at the Australian Technology Park. For full details see the Rabbitohs’ media release Australian Technology Park signs two-year sponsorship deal with Souths Cares and Australian Technology Park Performance Centre at Redfern Oval. The NSW Government announced in its mini budget in 2008 that the state government would sell a 99 year lease over the ATP. This will probably be completed during the life of this agreement.

University of Sydney still pushing for North Eveleigh

In the written answers to Questions raised at estimates hearings Redfern Waterloo Estimates - Answers to Questions on Notice Minister Keneally advised that: “The Government has received a number of unsolicited expressions of interest both formal and informal for the North Eveleigh site, including from the University of Sydney. The University of Sydney has written to the NSW Government formally expressing its interest in the site. The Government is currently giving consideration as to how the site may be sold. This includes consideration of the current market conditions. This process is currently under consideration by NSW Cabinet.”

There is still no news from the Government or Sydney University about North Eveleigh. Lending support to Sydney Uni’s ongoing interest in land for student housing were two SMH articles about Unis push for land to build student housing and Wanted: housing for uni students. For the history of earlier Darlington / Sydney Uni battles you might find South Sydney Herald’s interview with Bev Hunter in Darlington resists the Uni push of interest.

Redfern RSL - Response to Submissions & Preferred Project Report

The Department of Planning has made available the responses from the Redfern RSL site developer to submissions from the public exhibition. The developer’s Preferred Project Report incorporates changes following public comment, as well as submissions from bodies such as the RWA, Department of Planning and the City of Sydney. The Department of Planning is currently assessing the project. You can see the comments from the exhibition and the Preferred Project report on the DoP website under Public Files – Response to Submissions at Redfern RSL: MP09_0039 - Mixed Use Development, Redfern RSL, Gibbons Street, Redfern.

National Centre for Indigenous Excellence News

If you have walked past the old Redfern Public School recently you will have noticed that building work is almost complete on the NCIE. The Department of Planning approved on 16 October 2009 the Modification Application for the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence to operate the Gym from 6am rather than the earlier approved 7am for a one year trial. The Assessment and the Conditions attached to the Approval can be seen on the DoP website at ‘Former Redfern Public School: Extension of Operating Hours (Multi-Purpose Sports and Recreation Building.

The NCIE has continued to put out electronic newsletters about the project which you can download from www.ncie.org.au/news/ncie-news.html. In other news Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib confirmed $477,000 in Federal funding for the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence to employ an Indigenous Employment Co-ordinator and deliver training. For further details see the media release Federal Govt supports Indigenous Employment at NCIE with $477,000. The South Sydney Herald also ran National Centre part of Redfern renaissance, says CEO.

Fraser’s Broadway – Projects moving ahead

Fraser’s Broadway provided an update to residents recently at the Inner West Community Forum. Fraser’s are pushing through with their Project Applications and work looks set to commence on the new development with minimal impact from the international financial crisis. The current state of applications for the Carlton United Breweries Site on the Department of Planning website are as follows:

MP07_0163 (Mod 3) - Remediation and Transitional Works Approved - 17/11/2009 Determination

MP 09_0078 - Construction of a Mixed Use Residential, Commercial and Retail Building on Block 2 Proponent Reviewing Submissions

MP 09_0041 - Block 5 Residential Development Proponent Reviewing Submissions

MP 09_0042 - Excavation and Construction of Basements for Blocks 2, 5 and 9 Proponent Reviewing Submissions

MP 08_0253 - Blocks 1 and 4 (cnr Abercrombie / Broadway) Proponent Reviewing Submissions

MP 08_0210 - Main Park and Related Infrastructure Assessment

The SMH reported on the close of the Abercrombie on the former Carlton United Brewery site to make way for the new development in It's last drinks at the Abercrombie and punters raise a toast. The last Uber Lingua party at the Abercrombie EVER!! is this Saturday night – 19^th December from 9pm ... If you¹ve ever considered coming, or not been for a while, this is your last chance.

Waterloo gets Aldi Approval & Redfern gets IGA Supermarket

Supermarkets continued in the local news. The Waterloo Aldi and the IGA in the South’s building have been approved by Council, while debate still continues in Erskineville about Council’s approval there. Much of the focus has been around the IGA approval due to its proximity to South’s Leagues Club and its pokies. Much of the reporting has been blurred by people not understanding that the Leagues Club no longer owns the building where they were previously located. The Leagues Club needed to sell that building to remain solvent and was purchased by a developer and the owners of the South’s Football Club. Like the RSL club development, South’s Leagues Club will end up with a floor in the new building along with the IGA, South Football club and other tenants. Neither the Football Club nor its owners control the Leagues Club which is a totally separate entity with a board responsible to its own members. The Leagues Club argues that to be viable it currently needs to have poker machines but if someone can come up with a way that the club can be viable and serve its members without poker machines then it is prepared to consider it. The Leagues’ Club Chairman told the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce breakfast in 17 December that the Leagues Club expects to open with poker machines in 2010 but may dispose of them if a viable alternative business plan can be developed.

Other media about the supermarket issue including the Daily Telegraph’s How bread loaf could save Souths club without poker machines, the SMH’s Souths gambles future on promise of pokie-free club, Central’s Super battle over South Sydney supermarkets and Supermarket Approved, City News’ Crunch time for Waterloo supermarket and Redfern-Waterloo supermarket DAs approved and South Sydney Herald’s Supermarket and pokies “socially irresponsible”. The South Sydney Herald also reported Erskineville split over new supermarket and most recently Friends of Erskineville have written to Clover Moore claiming that they have advice that decision to approve their supermarket was in error.

Miller Films approved to go to CarriageWorks

The DA for Miller Films to set up at CarriageWorks has been approved by the RWA and the move has been reported in the Daily Telegraphs Mad Max 4: Fury Road gets green light; Sam Worthington tipped to star and the SMH’s Miller films to move into CarriageWorks. We understand that the Miller move into CarriageWorks does not close off the possibility for a higher intensity use of the site as an income stream to support CarriageWorks and that further development of the income producing part of the site is proposed to be looked at in a couple of years time.

Settlement has successful start to Fundraising

You may recall in the last update we urged people to Vote for The Settlement in Marrickville funding competition. The issue was also picked up by some other papers including in Central’s Praise & Brickbats. Well the results are just in for the $300,000 for Marrickville Community Projects and we are pleased to pass on that The Sydney University Settlement secured $47,357 towards redeveloping The Settlement Neighbourhood Centre Building. This was the largest of the grants given in the Marrickville electorate. The Settlement is raising funds to do major work on their building – more details can be found at http://thesettlement.org.au .

Their fundraising has been greatly helped by the $100,000 they received from Queensland mining magnate, Peter Bond as part of the ‘Secret Millionaire’ TV programme which was reported also in SSH’s Funding for young mums, swim and dance lessons? The Secret Millionaire publicity has also lead to Corey Brown and Hugh Bowman meeting the kids at The Settlement and announcing that proceeds from the NSW Jockeys' Calendar will be donated to The Settlement as reported in Jockeys with the hearts of Phar Lap and Top rider throws support behind calendar. The Settlement needs to raise about $800.000 to cover the cost of the work covered by their Development Approval.

Redwater Markets – 3^rd Saturday of Month Redfern Park

REDWATER Community Market are held at Redfern Park between 8am and 4pm on the 3^rd Saturday of the month. 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 focus of the market (not exclusively) is on sustainable goods, which are handmade, recycled, or second hand, and is 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. Markets will be held on 19 December 2009, 16 January 2010 and 20 February 2010. The South Sydney Herald covered the markets in Promising start for markets in the park.

Survival Day SSH Fundraiser Harbour Cruise

The SSH invites their readers on a harbour cruise aboard the Deerubbun for a unique Australia/Survival Day experience on January 26. After the success of last year’s event this year they have decided to repeat this fundraiser for the South Sydney Herald. For bookings contact Trevor Davies on 0400 008 338 or email trevrssh@bigpond.net.au before 15 January 2010. The cruise is from 5-9pm with an on board BBQ and soft drinks cost $70 waged / $60 unwaged.

Redfern Waterloo in the Media

There has been a lot of Redfern Waterloo stories in the media. On the development side Roy Wakelin-King Letter to Central 14 October 2009 responded to Central’s assessment of the RWA’s progress to date, the SMH reported Redfern's ready for its close-up as developers set sights on the fringe, and that Council was considering selling $30 million worth of prime inner-city real estate to developers who will build affordable housing in Choice sites for cheaper housing. Controversy continued in $5b metro counting on ghost passengers where many passengers are no longer expected to change at Redfern but rather go to Central to change to the new Metro.

There was a brief mention of the celebration of Col James's lifetime achievements in social housing in Central’s Winds of Change, Father Chris Riley’s ‘Youth off the Streets’ charity’s Key College is moving into Little Eveleigh Street for two years according to City News’ As one door closes… and the “Village to Village” shuttle bus will expand next year to help fill the transport gap created when Sydney Buses cut the Elizabeth Bay loop from the 311 according to New bus for E-Bay loop?

Central covered the Kinchela plan for healing, Larissa Behrendt’s novel launched by Germaine Greer and Str8 Ballaz un-rap their true talent. Village Voice covered Jack Manning Bancroft being named the NSW Young Australian of the Year for his work establishing the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience in Jack Manning Bancroft Aims for the top and the ABC news reported on More businesses interested in Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships. Mark Spinks wrote about the benefits from the walking group in It's NOT Just ' moving your feet and the Daily Telegraph reported South Sydney winger Nathan Merritt overjoyed after being named in Aboriginal All-Star team and they looked at him growing up in Redfern. Central also promoted the PCYC Redfern Fight Night featuring Redfern LAC Police Commander Luke Freudenstein.

South Sydney Youth Services and the Urban Dance Centre run a program titled Chance to Dance and it received some publicity through the South Sydney Herald and Central. The Eveleigh Markets continued to get good coverage following their award by the SHM as the best markets in articles like To Market, To Market. CarriageWorks continued to get good publicity through events from performance Space and others such as EVENT: 1 HOUSE=1000 HOMES and Green thumbs up for Kitchen Garden while in 2010 Canon shows off top shots - 9 January and 14 January 2010 CarriageWorks.

Meanwhile Police continued to tackle drugs on The Block in Nine charged in Redfern drug raid and to close down Rave parties Alexandria rave scuttled.

South Sydney Herald December 2009

Articles from the December 2009 issue of the South Sydney Herald (www.southsydneyherald.com.au) that relate to Redfern Waterloo have been placed on the REDWatch website and include the Settlements visit from Secret Millionaire Peter Bond in Funding for young mums, swim and dance lessons?, the RWA responds to SSH regarding “Channel Seven rates poorly in Alexandria“, South Sydney Community Transport’s 30th anniversary Thirty years and still transporting and New Centrelink officers to help the homeless. In Rolling up the shutters and getting down to business SSH looks at some retailers response, National Centre part of Redfern renaissance, says CEO looks at the imminent opening of the NCIE. The federal Governments Powering Ideas launch at ATP is covered in Flair, initiative and perseverance at the ATP as is ATP signs sponsorship deal with Souths. SSH also talks to Peter Holmes à Court and others in Supermarket and pokies “socially irresponsible”, the new homelessness initiative is covered in Building on Common Ground, the Australian Crossword Club in Looking for clues at the Cauliflower and Darlington schools’ Halloween fate in What instrument does a skeleton play?. Darlington long time resident Bev Hunter remembers some of the areas history in Darlington resists the Uni push, Local MP Kristina Keneally in her advertisement tells constituents about the New Bus Service to City and North Shore while Have you heard? - The fast news with Trevor Davies - December 2009 covers Surry Hills Festival returning to Crown Street and the importance of our Living heritage in the long time residents who live around us.

South Sydney Herald November 2009

Articles from the November 2009 issue of the South Sydney Herald (www.southsydneyherald.com.au) that relate to Redfern Waterloo have been placed on the REDWatch website and include Seven rates poorly with Alexandria residents (see also the RWA response in November), Indigenous school in Redfern presbytery, Erskineville split over new supermarket and “I expect the highest standards …” An interview with NSW Premier Nathan Rees (Part 2). The Food Distribution Network is covered in Promoting health and independence as is the Factory’s Promising start for markets in the park at Redfern Park. In Small business leaders watch the parking meters Chippendale business owners react to the introduction of parking meters, Councils traffic plans for Darlington are covered in the letter Strange plans to block streets and Kristina Keneally uses her advertisement to cover Eveleigh Markets Declared Best in Sydney. The SSH looks at Yaama Dhiyaan and Aunty Beryl’s three-word dictionary, one of Yaama recent students being supported by PCYC in Start the day the short course way and the appointment of the NCIE youth panel in Indigenous youth to advise on excellence. SSH introduced Phillip Black as the newly-elected Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney in New Deputy Lord Mayor’s agenda, while Running for Pemulwuy – the rundown reported on the SSH fundraiser for the Pemulwuy Project and in Have you heard? - The fast news with Trevor Davies – November 2009 Trevor covered a number of local news items.

South Sydney Herald October 2009

When we did the last RWIU we did not have the SSH articles from the October 2009 issue of the South Sydney Herald (www.southsydneyherald.com.au) on the REDWatch website. Here is a belated rundown. The SSH covered “You want a place that’s vibrant, you want a place that’s safe” - Interview with Nathan Rees (Part 1), the RTA response to the Councils proposal for 40km zones was RTA says no to go-slow zone and Kristina Kennelly’s add covered NSW Govt Affordable Housing. Other stories included South Sydney pets meet volunteer vets, Plot for community garden in Erskineville and Four easy ways to wreck your terrace. The SSH also talked to long time Darlington resident and ward of the state Carol McDonald – a remarkable survivor, they reviewed the new play from Redfern Waterloo’s Older and Wiser Festival in Elderflowers (a reading) By Alana Valentine and covered the push for improved community worker wages in Community workers ask Government to pay up. Chance to Dance reports on the not-for-profit organisation Urban Dance Centre in Glebe’s work in the area, there was a Setback on road to Pemulwuy, the usual local news in Have you heard? - The fast news with Trevor Davies – October 2009 and the news that about 400 people are sleeping rough in the inner city each night in How many homeless?

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

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

DoP - Moore Theological College: MP 09-0005 Concept Plan Exhibition until 24 December 2009
DoP - Moore Theological College: MP 09_0007 Project Application Library Building Exhibition until 24 December 2009
GML - Australian Technology Park—Conservation Management Plan—Feedback Requested ASAP
RWA - Expression of Interest - Indigenous seat on Heritage Taskforce
CoS Councillors - Darlington Pedestrian Cycling and Traffic Calming Plan Study Available - Goes to Council in early 2010
RWA - Draft Redfern Centre Guidelines - Exhibition until 22 January 2010
RWA - Changes to the RWA Contributions Plan - Exhibition until 12 February 2010 (half way down the RWA page)
RTA - M5 Expansion into South Sydney - Feedback to RTA by 19 February 2010.

RWIU 13 October 2009

REDWatch — 2009-10-13T08:10:00Z

In this Update:

RWA Launches Electronic RWA Updates

RWA Website is being Updated

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

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 19^th 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. More details can be found at the links above.

The RWA has appointed Juliet Suich for one day a week to establish and work with the Heritage and Tourism Taskforce which was requested by heritage groups in October 2008. Geoff has had a number of meetings about the proposed Taskforce with the RWA and it is hoped that the RWA will be in a position to announce the Terms of Reference and composition of the long awaited Taskforce in the very near future. While the Taskforce is likely to deal with wider heritage issues the Eveleigh Railyards will certainly be an important area covered by the Taskforce. Juliet can be contacted at Juliet.Suich@rwa.nsw.gov.au.

In other heritage news Roy Wakelin-King reported in the 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 17^th 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 20^th 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 3^rd 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 31^st 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:

RWIU 17 August 2009

REDWatch — 2009-08-16T12:58:19Z

[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 3^rd 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:

CoS Community Forum - Inner South - Monday 17 August.
RWA – 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
RWA – ILC Construction of identification and directional signage to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence - until 26 August 2009
DoP - MP09_0039 - Mixed Use Development, Redfern RSL, Gibbons Street, Redfern – 28 August 2009
Erskineville, Newtown & Darlington Pedestrian, Cycling & Traffic Calming Plan Feedback - Wednesday 2 September Rydges, Missenden Rd Camperdown 6.30pm to 8.30pm
RWA – 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
DoP - Carlton United Breweries Site: Blocks 1 and 4 (cnr Abercrombie / Broadway) - Until 11 September 2009
DoP - Community Forum - City South (incorporating Green Square Update Wednesday 30 September Green Square Community Facility, 3 Joynton Avenue Zetland 6pm to 8.15pm
CoS Council DAs
RWA DAs
DoP Major Projects
Link CoS "Have your say"

RWIU 5 May 2009

REDWatch — 2009-05-05T09:37:01Z

[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:

Reminder about RWIU & REDWatch website changes

REDWatch Community Forum - What is the Future of Community Safety in Redfern Waterloo? – 6pm Wednesday 6 May 2009

NIDC becomes National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) & Youth Advisory Committee Nominations close 29 May 2009.

Frasers’ community commitments to be delivered as scheduled including to RWA

Minister Raises Expectations for Change

Roy Wakelin-King Background

RailCorp North Eveleigh Demolition DA – Until 20 May 2009

Alcohol Free Zones (AFZ) Exhibition Deadline extended to 20 May 2009

Council Development Applications on Exhibition

Erskineville Supermarket resubmitted – Community Meeting Wednesday 13 May 2009

Redfern Waterloo Volunteers Awards - May 15, 2009

There goes the Neighbourhood – Book, Exhibition and Public Programme about Redfern – 22 May to 27 June 2009

RWCC Business Networking Function – ATP Tuesday 2nd June 5.30pm

Eveleigh Markets & CarriageWorks Kids Lucky Dip Workshops – Saturdays

Connect Redfern - Updated Children & Family Lists

RWA April 2009 Update

ANZAC March gets good coverage for Coloured Diggers

In the Media

South Sydney Herald May 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)

Reminder about RWIU & REDWatch website changes

In the last Update we mentioned that there had been changes made to the REDWatch website to better integrate with these Updates so readers could more easily access information between Updates. If you have been using RSS feeds or visit the REDWatch website regularly you will have already found much of what is covered in this update on the website. In brief there is a section on the website that has News Since Last RWIU as well as a 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 these sections or you can tailor your own search on the site as an RSS feed to give you exactly what you want.

REDWatch Community Forum - What is the Future of Community Safety in Redfern Waterloo? – 6pm Wednesday 6 May 2009

REDWatch has had to change the date of this forum to Wednesday to suit Council so if you made a note in your diary from our last RWIU please changes it! Since 2004 Redfern and Waterloo has had its own Community Safety Plan. It was one of the few ongoing initiatives from the Premiers Department’s Redfern Waterloo Partnership Project. The lead agencies were Council (first under South Sydney Council and then City of Sydney) in conjunction with the Police. Following an evaluation the Council now proposes to no longer have a specific Community Safety Plan for the area, even though that evaluation recommends a process “to decide what needs to be done from now on” in Redfern Waterloo. This forum will look at questions like: Is there still a need for a separate Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan? Will Council’s broader Safe City Strategy adequately replace the local Community Safety Plan? Can the Redfern Local Area Command Police Community Precinct Committee play a role in developing and monitoring a Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan in a manner similar to the old Community Safety Task Force? A presentation will be made by Council followed by a discussion of the issues. The forum will be held on Wednesday 6 May 2009 at The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street Waterloo at 6pm.

Background information on this issue includes:

Please Note – REDWatch’s monthly meeting will still occur on Thursday 7 May 2009 to discuss broader Redfern Waterloo Issues and follow up on the issues raised at the forum.

NIDC becomes National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) & Youth Advisory Committee Nominations close 29 May 2009.

The ILC's National Indigenous Development Centre (NIDC) has undergone a name change to become the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence. It is not clear how being "open to all" and allowing "everyone an opportunity" in the local community will fit with the more elitist re-badging of the centre. Local Indigenous leader Sol Bellear will be a director of the new centre. A newsletter will soon be distributed to provide more information about the change and the ongoing development of the centre. The information was contained in a 23 April 2009 media release from Hill & Knowlton and accompanying email to encourage nominations for the centre's Youth Advisory Committee, nominations for which close on Friday May 29th 2009. The media release provides the following information about the new centre:

“The NCIE, due to open later this year in Redfern, Sydney, will become the first multi-use complex to offer world class sport, education, art and cultural programs for young Indigenous people. Fostering talent and encouraging excellence, the NCIE will provide young people the foundations they need to succeed in their future endeavours. The NCIE is a unique initiative that will give young Indigenous people the opportunity to live their aspirations in the areas of sport, arts, culture and education. Creating an environment of learning and opportunity, the NCIE will be a centre of excellence that will cultivate talent and encourage personal development for our nation’s best and brightest Indigenous stars”.

The change echoes an earlier media report Redfern complex to help Aborigines shoot for the stars in the Sun Herald last December which was downplayed at the time by the YMCA as not being an accurate depiction of the proposed centre.

The full text of the media release can be found at - Young People Urged to Raise their Voices. Here you can find more information about the NCIE (NIDC) Youth Advisory Committee Nominations - Until Friday May 29th 2009. The Department of Planning has approved the former Redfern Public School Mod 4 - NIDC Area G - Deletion of child care building and provision of an outdoor multi purpose sports court and play areas.

Frasers’ community commitments to be delivered as scheduled including to RWA

The Sydney Morning Herald of 17 April 2009 ran the story It's off: Carlton brewery site goes flat and the ABC Sydney development shelved as economic crisis bites. The newspaper reports created quite a stir in Chippendale with concern about the delivery of the parks, and in the RWA which receives the affordable housing contributions from the Broadway site under the RWA Act. The Modified Affordable Housing Planning Agreement (667.4 KB PDF) provides for payment in five instalments starting in June 2009. Each of the first four instalments is for $6m with an adjusting instalment dependent of the final FSR. Interest is charged on any late payment at 2% above the Bank Bill Rate.

In response to the media reports Frasers Property issued a media release providing clarification on the Frasers Broadway development at the old Carton United Brewery site which it summarised as: works on site are continuing; the planning and approval process is continuing and Frasers’ community commitments are unchanged and will be delivered as scheduled. On the latter Fraser’s said:

Balfour Park will be completed by December 2009.
Main Park will be completed by December 2010.
Affordable housing contributions to the Redfern Waterloo Authority will be paid as scheduled, commencing with $6M this year.
Frasers has also encouraged the use of undeveloped parts of the site for transitional community activities. FraserStudios (a visual and performing arts space on Kensington Street) has been underway for 6 months and will continue well into 2010. Frasers has offered space to a local community food co-op and proposals for other temporary uses for parts of the site in later stages of development are being considered.

You can read the full Fraser’s media release from Frasers Property affirms commitment to CUB site on Broadway. Subsequently RWA CEO has met with Frasers Property and the RWA issued a media statement on 23 April 2009 RWA meets with Frasers Property to discuss Voluntary Planning Agreement. The Frasers clarification was picked in the media by Central in No Date Set for Works and in City News’ Broadway development on track – conditionally.

Minister Raises Expectations for Change

Minister Kristina Keneally is certainly raising expectations that she means to address the areas issues. Following her meeting with Waterloo residents Ms Keneally appeared on the front cover of Central characterised as a super hero towering over some of the high rise public housing with the words “Promises, Promises”. The Central focused on a comment by the Minister that said: “Sometimes you get put on a horse you never expected to be on, as the local MP, Planning Minister and the Minister for Redfern Waterloo I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change things – and we are going to do it,” - ‘Very courageous Minister’ as Yes Minister’s Humphrey Appleby would have said. We remember when Andrew Refshauge held many of the portfolios that impacted on Redfern Waterloo but nothing changed. Hopefully Minister Keneally will be able to seize the moment and address some of the issues. Expectations are high and the community will not wait uncritically for long for her and the RWA to start showing signs of the promised change. You can view the Central front page and the article Planning Minister promises to fix problems of Redfern Waterloo on the REDWatch website.

Roy Wakelin-King Background

It is always interesting to know a little about key people in our area so when we heard that there was a brief biography of the new RWA CEO at the ATP we asked for a copy. You can read a little of Roy’s background at Roy Wakelin-King - Biography. Roy has worked in a range of different agencies including the Office of Public Works & Services, World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority, Transport Operations Division of NSW Ministry of Transport, State Rail Authority, Olympic Roads and Transport Authority, and the Army Movements and Transport Agency. From July to December 1993 - Roy was part of a small Australian Army contingent in Somalia that was part of the United Nations multi national force called UNOSOM II. His contingent was responsible for transport coordination of military and humanitarian people and goods in, around and out of Somalia. Roy wore his UN Service ribbons to the Coloured Diggers March in Redfern on ANZAC Day.

RailCorp North Eveleigh Demolition DA – Until 20 May 2009

In the last update we advised that RailCorp Jumped the Gun on North Eveleigh Demolition when they advertised a tender to pull down some heritage listed building at North Eveleigh without having applied for a DA. There was also some media interest in this story and it received a run on the ABC news Govt pushes on with Eveleigh rail yard demolition on 18^th April. Those who have set up a RSS feeds from the REDWatch website will have seen that the RWA advised us when RailCorp lodged a Development Application which we posted as Rail Corp Lodge DA with RWA for North Eveleigh Demolition. In this statement the RWA pointed out that under “Section 29(2)(a) of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority Act 2004, requires that the Minister for Redfern-Waterloo seek the views of the Heritage Council of New South Wales (now the Heritage Branch of the Department of Planning) on any proposal to alter or demolish an item listed on the State Heritage Register. The subject site is listed on the State Heritage Register. As such RWA will seek the views of the Heritage Council.”

You can download the documents from the RWA website for DA 042-04-09 RWA - RailCorp - North Eveleigh Demolition - until 20 May 2009. The Statement of Environmental Effects argues that “The Part 3A North Eveleigh Concept Plan was approved by the Minister for Planning on 16 December 2008, thereby approving the future demolition of these three buildings.” Is also reports that RailCorp commissioned “Dincel & Associates in 2008 to prepare a review of the structural issues of the Robert Bird Group report, and to prepare concept solutions to address the structural issues as the buildings posed a risk to the public and adjoining rail corridor. This report recommended ‘… the immediate demolition of all building structures’ as the first recommendation. The report also recommended temporary methods for the propping of building should demolition not be pursued in the short-term. Due to the cost of the temporary works RailCorp will pursue the first recommendation, being demolition.” Interested residents and heritage groups have until 20 May 2009 to make submissions on the demolition.

The RWA have also advertised a proposal for the ATP NICTA Building - Modification of two (2) previously approved illuminated signs - until 11 May 2009. The modification of two (2) previously approved illuminated business identification signs on the top south-east and south-west side of Building D (NICTA building)Building D, 13 Garden Street Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh. It is on exhibition until 11 May.

The RWA have also notified approval on 14 April 2009 for DA 041-03-09 (814 PDF) for the office fit out of the western half of Levels 2 and 3 and installation of an air conditioning unit on top of the Level 5 roof of the ATP-7 Building, 8 Central Ave at the Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh.

Alcohol Free Zones (AFZ) Exhibition Deadline extended to 20 May 2009

The council has extended the exhibition date on the proposed AFZs. We have been a little surprised, living in a street for which a new AFZ has been proposed that residents don’t get letter-boxed about a proposed AFZ for their street. We think the people impacted should be notified directly as happens with neighbours for a DA in addition to the notices in selected local newspapers.

The AFZ proposal has stirred up quite a debate in Redfern Waterloo. In the last Update we mentioned Central’s article Alcohol Free Zones extend further through Sydney. Reaction to Meredith Bergmann’s comments were reported in Central in Head to Head reporting “Member for Heffron Kristina Keneally has come out swinging against her Labor Party colleague, City of Sydney councillor Meredith Burgmann over her position on alcohol-free zones”. Sydney Greens Councillor Irene Doutney weighted in to the issue by proposing that the CoS should seriously look at “wet centres” in City News’ Govt centres to give street drinkers a guzzle and the Central’s Sydney councillor’s call for Waterloo wet centre. Michael Shreenan weighted in to the discussion with his letter Alcohol Free Zones – ‘two sides to the coin’ and we understand the debate will also run in the next issue of Redwater News currently being prepared. Some of these issues are also likely to come up at the REDWatch Community Safety meeting this Wednesday, 6 May.

Click on this link for more details about the Proposal to establish Alcohol Free Zones - Until Thursday 20 May. While we are aware of the concerns around the area about the impact of alcohol we also think that it is important to see this in a wider context. This Hotspot map for non-domestic alcohol-related assault incidents 2006 (PDF 410Kb) from Council’s Late Night Trading Research Project, which is about to go on exhibition, shows Redfern Waterloo as far less impacted than in the city’s entertainment districts by non-domestic alcohol-related assaults.

Council Development Applications on Exhibition

There are a few DAs currently on exhibition which people might want to have a look at. These include:

South Sydney Leagues Club Modifications to Approved DA - Until 5 May - modification to approved development application for first floor fit-out of South Sydney Leagues Club at 261-265 Chalmers Street Redfern comprising alterations at ground floor including relocating the merchandise store; an amended internal layout at first floor level including replacement of conference facility with private function room, new gaming room and an extension of the breakout balcony facing Douglas Street. The non-smoking balcony which is to be accessed by general Club patrons will not be fully enclosed and will be open to Douglas Street. Proposed hours for the enlarged balcony are 10.00am to 12midnight seven days a week. (also see SSH’s Opinion divided over new IGA)
92-110 Cope Street Waterloo - Until 15 May 2009 - Section 96 (2) Delete Basement level 2. Redesign Basement level 1 to maintain 49 spaces. Internally reconfigure layout of apartments to provide more functional living which results in an altered unit mix and 1 less apartment. Minor external changes to elevation including new windows facing the internal courtyard and sliding privacy louvre panels added on level 6 window facing internal courtyard and amend internal fire egress arrangements.
Demolish Heritage Listed Former Zetland Tram Terminus - Until 18 May 2009 - S96(2) modification to demolish heritage listed former Zetland Tram Terminus single storey brick federation building and replace with interpretive public art and signage together with deletion/modification to associated conditions of consent numbered 2, 10 and 11 at 862-874 Elizabeth Street Waterloo
Demolition of Nursing Home / New Residential Care facility at 47 Redfern Street - Until 20 May 2009 - Demolition of decommissioned 112 bed nursing home & construction of a new 5 storey residential care facility with 72 beds, common kitchen, 9 car spaces in the ground floor level and a rooftop terrace for recreation at 47 Redfern Street.

A list of other exhibitions and consultations can be found at the foot of this update or on the REDWatch website at Have Your Say.

Erskineville Supermarket resubmitted – Community Meeting Wednesday 13 May 2009

Despite the majority of Erskineville residents rejecting a development plan for a supermarket on the corner of Erskineville Road & Gowrie Street in 2008, the same developer has just lodged another application for a supermarket on the same site. The new supermarket is smaller than the original rejected by residents, Council (SCC) and the Land & Environment Court of NSW (LEC). However, professional advice obtained from supermarket location planning experts is that whilst the new proposal is smaller than the last, the impact on our amenity, traffic, parking, and the business of the village will still be as serious as in the last DA. A Community Meeting have been called by Village Friends for 7.30 pm Wednesday 13 May 2009 at Erskineville Town Hall to be chaired by Councillor John McInerney. For more information - www.erskinevillevillage.org.

Redfern Waterloo Volunteers Awards - May 15, 2009

Nominations have been made and those nominated and their friends are being invited to attend the celebration at the Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street, Waterloo from 11am – 2pm on 15 May 2009. The Annual Volunteer Awards for Redfern and Waterloo will also be an opportunity to celebrate the recent upgrades to the centre. For more information see Who’s a Star? 2009 Waterloo and Redfern Volunteer Awards.

There goes the Neighbourhood – Book, Exhibition and Public Programme about Redfern – 22 May to 27 June 2009

The website says "There Goes the Neighbourhood is an exhibition, residency, discussion and publishing project for May 2009. The central element of this project will be an exploration of the politics of urban space, with a focus on Redfern, Sydney. The project will examine the complex life of cities and how the phenomenon of gentrification is altering the relationship between democracy and demography around the world. While urban change itself is not always a bad thing, gentrification often happens at an accelerated rate, out pricing the lower income and marginalized communities from the neighbourhood and dislocating them from their existing connections to urban space. The project brings together artists from Australia and around the world whose work addresses these issues". You can find out more from this media release from Performance Space There goes the Neighbourhood and from www.theregoestheneighbourhood.org

The There Goes The Neighbourhood exhibition opening is on 22 May 2009 at 6pm at CarriageWorks with the book being launched by Gary Foley. There will be a SquatSpace Redfern Waterloo Tour of Beauty? on 31 May 2009 as part of There Goes the Neighbourhood. The public programmes and talks during the exhibition can be found at www.theregoestheneighbourhood.org/public programs.htm. Participating artists include Brenda L Croft (Australia), 16beaver (USA), Daniel Boyd (Australia), Temporary Services (USA), Jakob Jakobsen (Denmark), Lisa Kelly (Australia), SquatSpace (Australia), Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro (Berlin/Sydney), Evil Brothers (Ned and Tom Sevil, Australia), You Are Here (Keg de Souza and Zanny Begg, Australia), Michael Rakowitz (USA), Miklos Erhardt and Little Warsaw (Hungary), Bijari (Brazil) and Democracia (Spain).

RWCC Business Networking Function – ATP Tuesday 2nd June 5.30pm

The next Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Networking function is being held at the ATP with the RWA / ATP. If you are a Redfern Waterloo area business and would like further information about this function please contact the RWCC President Mary Lynne Pidcock on 0419 657 888 or email her through the www.rwchamber.com.au website. Bookings for the City of Sydney Lets Talk Business seminars are still open – for more information visit http://letstalkbusiness.nsw.gov.au/

Eveleigh Markets & CarriageWorks Kids Lucky Dip Workshops – Saturdays

The Eveleigh Markets have become a part of the Darlington’s Saturday. Many people turned up on ANZAC Day morning, when all businesses are closed unless exemptions have been granted, expecting the markets to be open! The SSH reports in Darlington’s forgotten street that Darlington shops are feeling the impact of the markets as people spend Saturday morning at Eveleigh Markets rather than having a coffee in Darlington.

Parents with children 3-12 may be interested to learn that CarriageWorks is now holding children’s workshops on Saturday mornings to coincide with the markets. Each Saturday, the activity will be a surprise ‘lucky dip’ – a different arts-based workshop each week that kids 3+ and their parents can take part in for just $5 per person. More information can be found at www.carriageworks.com.au/whats_on.php?event=luckydips.

In addition to the Monthly Eveleigh Artisans Markets on the first Sunday of the month, CarriageWorks are also hosting the Finders Keepers Autumn/Winter 09 design markets - 15 & 16 May 2009.

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 2 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.

RWA April 2009 Update

The RWA issued an April RWA Update newsletter on 21 April 2009. You can download the Redfern Waterloo Update April 2009 (pdf ~1mb) from the RWA website. As usual we have put together a text version of the update so various articles can be referenced directly. Articles covered included North Eveleigh Concept Plan approved , The Walker Street Housing NSW Redfern Redevelopment Project: 106 houses and 20 jobs and New sport and recreational services in Redfern about the ILC YMCA meeting organised by the RWA. There is a column in which the New CEO Roy Wakelin-King writes and an article on the Eveleigh Market is open for business. There are also a number of articles on the RWA Enterprise and Employment initiatives including Congratulations Allana! RWA’s first trade qualified carpenter, On the tools and in the classroom, Koori Job Ready Course in warehousing and storage and Rohan Tobler honoured at ACTU Awards . In articles about the broader area, the RWA Update covered The Coloured Digger Project – ANZAC Day 2009, Factory Community Centre: 30 years – still going strong and the RWA sponsored All Blacks basketball teams are winners.

ANZAC March gets good coverage for Coloured Diggers

In the lead up to ANZAC day the Redfern Coloured Digger Anzac March received some good publicity with the Central’s Acknowledging Indigenous Diggers, AAP’s Aboriginal diggers commemorate Anzac Day, ABC News Indigenous veterans to commemorate Anzac legacy, the RWA’s The Coloured Digger Project – ANZAC Day 2009 and Street Corner’s Aboriginal Diggers Fought but Couldn't Vote which reported on the Minister for Community Services Linda Burney asking NSW residents to remember the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Diggers on Anzac Day. ABC News also reported the march in Indigenous soldiers remembered at Sydney march. The Babana ANZAC Newsletter - April 2009 (1 MB PDF) has pulled together many interesting items about Coloured Diggers in various conflicts and is well worth a read. A graphic 2009 Coloured Diggers Poster was also produced.

In the Media

There have been a few media item reflecting the breadth of life in Redfern in the last couple of weeks. Eveleigh Blacksmith Guido Gouverneur was one of four craftspeople profiled in Dedicated to their craft in VirginBlue’s April 2009 Voyeur, Redfern’s goats got a mention in SMH’s Werewolves of London? No, the stylish goats of Redfern while Alexandria Park Community School eye testing was covered in Central’s Eye testing and fun at Redfern. The SMH looked at suburbs with terraces, including Redfern and concluded Paddington rules the terrace house price league. Concerns raised at the Council Community Forum about Redfern station received a run in Central’s Redfern refuses to be blocked who also picked up on Pemulwuy housing project in Redfern nears approval while City News raised concerns that TJ Hickey’s death site to be stripped by upgrade of Waterloo Green.

Other media stories on the RWA, Carlton United Brewery site and other issues have been included elsewhere in this update.

South Sydney Herald May 2009

You can download the entire copy of the South Sydney Herald for May 2009 from www.southsydneyherald.com.au. Articles from the May 2009 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo have been placed on the REDWatch website and include an article on Abercrombie street as Darlington’s forgotten street, a look at South’s Leagues Club’s proposed supermarket in Opinion divided over new IGA and a look at Redfern RSL’s ANZAC march and its proposed club redevelopment in Redfern RSL marches on. The SSH also reported on the Upgrades to public housing herald “new era” and also provided an editorial comment on Sylvia Hale’s visit to the Marton building in SSH Editorial on Public Housing Maintenance.

Trevor Davies in SSH The Fast News - May 2009 covers a number of items of interest to Redfern Waterloo including the future of secondary bus routes, RWA’s new CEO comments on REDWatch, the Urban Taskforce’s response on councils affordable housing plans and reports that staff cuts are planned for Erskineville and Redfern railway stations. In her advertisement Kristina Keneally covers the New Metrobus Service for South Sydney. The SSH also explores some of the interaction issues between pedestrians, bikes and cars in Cars versus bikes versus pedestrians. Life after prison looks at a not uncommon Redfern story in the lead up to a May 27 forum PRISON: LAST RESORT OR FIRST OPTION? Also of interest to the area is likely to be Councillors unite to support Affordable Housing Strategy.

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young people covers the renamed National Centre for Indigenous Excellence and its call for nominations for a Youth Advisory Committee. It also covers the proposal for a Memorial for Mum Shirl and Father Ted and the There Goes The Neighbourhood Exhibition and book project which is to be launched by Gary Foley on 22 May 2009. On the sport side SSH covers the 10^th Annual Fernside Skating Competition at Waterloo Skate Park in Tearing it up at Fernside as well as More than your average footy club about Alexandria Rovers and a profile of 10 year old netballer Kim Byers in The greatest!

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 - Darlington - Charles Kernan Reserve Plans & Community Garden Consultation - April 2009

· CoS - rskineville Road Changes for Contra flow Cycleway - Until Monday 4 May..

· CoS - Draft Planning Agreement:133 Regent Street, Redfern - Until Tuesday 5 May.

· CoS - South Sydney Leagues Club Modifications to Approved DA - Until 5 May

· REDWatch Forum - What is the Future of Community Safety in Redfern Waterloo? - 6 May 2009

· SSCA - Welcome-African Morning Tea at South Sydney Community Aid – 7 May .

· RLC - Rights in Redfern - New Human Rights Laws – Thursday 7 May 2009

· CoS - Darlington Cycling & Traffic Calming (PCTC) Plan - Until Wednesday 8 May 2009

· RWA - ATP NICTA Building - Modification of two (2) previously approved illuminated signs - until 11 May 2009

· CoS - Draft Residential Environment Action Strategy - Until Friday 15 May.

· CoS - 92-110 Cope Street Waterloo - Until 15 May 2009

· CoS - Demolish Heritage Listed Former Zetland Tram Terminus - Until 18 May 2009

· CoS - Proposal to establish Alcohol Free Zones - Until Thursday 20 May..

· CoS - Waterloo Shops Safety Audit – 20 May

· CoS - Demolition of Nursing Home / New Residential Care facility at 47 Redfern Street - Until 20 May 2009

· RWA - RailCorp - North Eveleigh Demolition - until 20 May 2009

· CoS - Draft Design Excellence Development Control Plan - Until Thursday 21 May.

· CoS - Lord Mayor Clover Moore Forums with Social housing Residents Redfern - 27 May 2009

· NCIE (NIDC) - Youth Advisory Committee Nominations - Until Friday May 29th 2009

· USyd - Sydney University 2020 Masterplan - April to June 2009

· CoS Council DAs

· RWA DAs

· DoP Major Projects

· Link CoS "Have your say"

RWIU 16 April 2009

REDWatch — 2009-04-16T01:15:00Z

[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:

RWIU and REDWatch Website Changes

AHC Responds to Submissions on Pemulwuy Project

The Eighteen Storey Future for Gibbons Street

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

NIDC Youth Advisory Committee Nominations

Sydney University Draft 2020 Masterplan Exhibition – Until 30 June 2009

RWA under New Management – What is happening?

RailCorp Jump the Gun on North Eveleigh Demolition

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

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

Darlington - Charles Kernan Reserve new Community Garden – Feedback Requested

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

Redfern Community Forum Report

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

Frasers Broadway Development

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

Redfern Waterloo Public Housing gets Maintenance Funding Boost

New Waterloo Residents Groups being formed

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

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

ANZAC Day Celebration – 25^th April 2009

City of Sydney Grants

In the Media

South Sydney Herald April 2009

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

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

RWIU and REDWatch Website Changes

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

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

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

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

AHC Responds to Submissions on Pemulwuy Project

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

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

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

The Eighteen Storey Future for Gibbons Street

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

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

The proposed building is to contain:

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

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

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

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

Outline of the Current Proposal

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

Summary of amendments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NIDC Youth Advisory Committee Nominations

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

Sydney University Draft 2020 Masterplan Exhibition – Until 30 June 2009

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

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

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

RWA under New Management – What is happening?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RailCorp Jump the Gun on North Eveleigh Demolition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Darlington - Charles Kernan Reserve new Community Garden – Feedback Requested

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

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

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

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

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

Redfern Community Forum Report

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frasers Broadway Development

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

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

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

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

Redfern Waterloo Public Housing gets Maintenance Funding Boost

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

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

New Waterloo Residents Groups being formed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ANZAC Day Celebration – 25^th April 2009

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

1:00pm Gather at The Block, Redfern

1:15pm – 1:20pm Welcome to Country

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

1:45pm – 2:15pm Commemorative Service

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

4.30pm Finish

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

City of Sydney Grants

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

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

In the Media

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

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

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

South Sydney Herald April 2009

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

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

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

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

RWIU 4 March 2009

REDWatch — 2009-03-04T03:04:44Z

[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:

Invitation to REDWatch Meeting with Minister Keneally – Thursday 5 March 2009 6pm

Indigenous Land Corporation Update throws light on YMCA's role in the NIDC

North Eveleigh Concept Approval Issues

RWA Clarification on the Channel 7 Satellite Dishes DA

Redfern – A Musical?

Aboriginal Involvement in the former Eveleigh Railyards

Eveleigh Railway Heritage Update

Will the Community Safety Plan continue in Redfern Waterloo?

Can Council and the State Government work together?

CoS Redfern Waterloo Community Forum – Thursday 19 March 2009

CoS Darlington Pedestrian, Cycling & Traffic Calming Plan Community Forum – Tuesday 31 March

Amended Plan Approved for Frasers CUB Broadway Site

Fraser’s CUB Site Community Meeting – Wednesday 4^th March 2008 6pm

Broadway University Expansion Plans

Moore Theological College Joins in the Area’s Major Project Redevelopments

What’s New at Redfern Park and Oval?

City of Sydney Grants – Now Open

Training Opportunities for Community Workers and Management Committees

NSW Government response to Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW

Weekly Eveleigh Farmers Market kicks off successfully

RWA Approves ATP Subdivision & Henderson Road tree Removal

RWA Adds Community Links to its Website

ATP 2007/2008 Annual Report

Support for the Syron’s “Keeping Place”

Redfern Waterloo in the Media

South Sydney Herald March 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)

Invitation to REDWatch Meeting with Minister Keneally – Thursday 5 March 2009 6pm

Redfern Waterloo – What will change under New Management? REDWatch invites you to its monthly meeting to hear Kristina Keneally (Minister for Redfern Waterloo) & Roy Wakelin-King (Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) CEO). The State Government set up the RWA in 2005 and Minister Keneally has announced it will be wound up by 2011-12. What remains to be done over the next three years? What is the RWA exit strategy? What benefits will the community have in 2012 from this Government intervention? Will outstanding community and Human Services concerns be addressed in the remaining years? Can the outstanding issues be addressed in partnership with the community or will it be more of Government knows best? Come to The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street Waterloo at 6pm Thursday 5 March 2009 and meet those responsible for important NSW Government decisions about Redfern Waterloo’s future. You can download a leaflet to advertise the meeting at REDWatch 5 March Meeting with Minister Keneally Poster (55Kb PDF).

Indigenous Land Corporation Update throws light on YMCA's role in the NIDC

The ILC through Tyford Consulting have issued a National Indigenous Development Centre Update - Feb 2009. This update includes a progress report on construction and on the organisations that will occupy the site. In particular it contains the first official information about what will be provided by the YMCA on the site. The update lists the programmes to be provided as: Health & Fitness Programs and Services including cardio and weight training, group fitness, personal training and challenge fitness camps, aquatics programs, sports competitions (futsal, netball, basketball, touch football), gymnastics; Accommodation at the Sydney Urban Camp; Out of School Hours Care and Vacation Care; Leadership Programs (future leaders, youth parliament) and Education and Training Programs.

Since the inception of the RWA it has argued that the area was over serviced and that there is too much duplication and insufficient interagency co-operation. The YMCA’s entry will bring some new programmes to the area, but there is considerable overlap with programs delivered by existing local services. What is not clear is the implications of the YMCA’s entry into Redfern Waterloo for those organisations. In October 2006 we reported RWA Youth Taskforce Meetings Suspended. From what we have been told the RWA has done nothing since then to bring existing youth services together to discuss future directions. Presumably behind the scenes someone has been deciding what is needed in the area and what will be delivered by the YMCA and the new NIDC. Now we wait to see how the new programmes work with, duplicate or compete with existing agencies and programmes running in the area.

North Eveleigh Concept Approval Issues

In the last update Plans for North Eveleigh Approved we provided information on the North Eveleigh approved plans but there was little response to what was approved available at that time. Since then we have received some additional information and seen some reactions to the announcement.

In November 2008 REDWatch wrote to Minister Keneally asking for an Assessment Panel for North Eveleigh and for the Government to consider Sydney University’s interest in the North Eveleigh site, following the determination REDWatch received a response from the Minister. Even though the decision has been made we think worthwhile passing on the key parts of the response as it clarifies why an Assessment Panel was not appointed (at the time the letter was written information about assessment panels was still listed on the DoP website). It also leaves the door open as far as Sydney University’s interest in the site. In part the letter reads:

“The Independent Hearing Assessment Panel provisions of the planning legislation were repealed in October 2008 so such a Panel could not be constituted for this project in this instance. Notwithstanding this, I can advise that the issues and concerns you raised about the redevelopment have been resolved in the assessment by my Department and through specific modifications I have made to the Concept Plan.”

“The interest of the University for the site is being considered by Government. No decision has been made at this stage. As you point out, any alternative proposal will need a separate application, which would be publicly exhibited.”

On the University side there has been some local concern about the impact of the financial crisis on Sydney University and how this might impact on their ability to purchase the site. A recent SMH article Unis learn some hard lessons about their money reported that “Sydney University's billion-dollar endowment fund lost $170 million in value last year, the director of investments and capital management, Greg Fernance, said.” The amount lost is much more that the RWA expected to get for the North Eveleigh site but the University still seems keen to secure the site. The timing of the sale will determine what the government will receive for the site; interestingly the Minister’s approval media statement still said it would go to market in 2009.

Residents, like planner Brue Lay, who live around North Eveleigh are unhappy about what has been approved and this is reflected in the recent City News article Redfern is ‘the new Stalingrad’ and in Bruce Lay’s opinion piece Darlington dudded, again in the March 2009 South Sydney Herald. The SSH also ran a cover report on the approval What next for North Eveleigh?, and in her advertisement Kristina Keneally also covered North Eveleigh.

Another response to the approval has come from some rail heritage people who are questioning the DoP view that the Paintshop “in its current form is structurally unsound and requires considerable improvements to ensure its useability and interpretation of heritage significance”. We have had a couple of people point out that this sounds very much like the line that the Minister and the RWA used to try and get rid of the Large Erecting Shop. In that case we reported the RWA saying that the LES was in very bad repair. Thankfully 3801 Ltd had earlier commissioned its own report on the building that showed there were no significant problems and finally RailCorp accepted that report. We have recently been shown a letter sent from Minister Frank Sartor Opposing LES Federal Listing to the then Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Resources in part stating of the LES that “the structure is in a very poor condition and is subject to industrial contamination issues.” The letter is dated 29 April 2007 which post dates our 3 April 2007 RWIU item RWA at Large in which we reported on RailCorp’s acceptance of the 3801 Ltd adequacy report that showed it was not in the poor condition earlier claimed. Heritage people have been asking if anyone seen any proof this time that the Paintshop really is “structurally unsound” and if there is such an adequacy report that can be publically released?

RWA Clarification on the Channel 7 Satellite Dishes DA

In the last RWIU we raised a number of RWA / ATP Satellite Dishes DA Questions. Since the last update the RWA has responded to clarify some of the issues surrounding this DA for some of those concerned about the development application process. While the RWA has taken the C7 TV Dish DA off exhibition we think it is still useful to make available what we learnt from the correspondence with the RWA as usually this information is not readily available about DAs either as background during exhibition or in the determination. We think it would be useful for consent authorities to provide a little more information for lay people wanting to make a submission about a DA as to what planning rules apply and what the scope for an objection is. We have tried to simplify the issues but if you would like a copy with the relevant Act sections numbers etc we are happy to pass the information on! We appreciate the RWA’s assistance in clarifying these issues even though the exhibition period had finished.

The RWA have advised that the Satellite Dish DA is considered a separate development to the C7 building on which it sits. As the satellite dish development is under $5 million the developer could choose to either modify the approval for the C7 building through the Department of Planning or lodge a separate DA with RWA. The developer chose to lodge with the RWA.

As the C7 building is within a Business Zone -Business Park, satellite dishes are permissible with consent in that zone. The Sydney Regional Environmental Planning Policy (REPP) No. 26 no longer applies to the ATP and hence this DA although it did apply to the original C7 Major Project as that plan was lodged prior to the 30 August 2006 change that removed the application of REPP 26 to the RWA sites.

The height controls for the C7 building in the ATP are for a maximum height of 12 storeys, however, satellite dishes are not included as a "storey" under the definition covering the site. The RWA advise that it “is common practice that communication devices, such as satellite dishes, are excluded from the measurement of "building height". This is the case with the definition of "height of a building" contained in the City of Sydney LEP and the definition of "building height" in the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006. Accordingly, assessment of the height and appropriateness of the satellite dishes is undertaken on a "merit" basis in accordance with the provisions of Section 79C of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.” So the bottom line is that to object you had to argue against the “merit” of putting a satellite dish on the top of an already approved TV station.

This DA was made more confusing on exhibition due to several inaccuracies and deficiencies in the Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) submitted with the DA, particularly with regard to the consideration of SEPP (Major Projects). The RWA has requested the applicant submit an amended SEE, which properly considers all the relevant planning instruments and provides a full assessment of the DA in accordance with relevant section of the Act. The applicant is amending the SEE but as the proposal for the satellite dishes remains unchanged and will not result in additional environmental impacts, re-exhibition of the amended SEE will not occur The RWA say this is in line with the City of Sydney’s Notification DCP, which the RWA uses as a guide in the notification and advertising of development applications.

Redfern – A Musical?

Plans are underway for a collaboration between Blackfella films who recently did the First Australains for SBS and a UK documentary maker who has used a musical documentary format to approach difficult social issues. Over the last few weeks Genevieve Grieves from Blackfella Films has been talking to a wide range of people around Redfern about the project and over the next 3 weeks she is being joined by the UK producer. While they are currently talking to people about the issues, people and stories of the area they will eventually refine the proposal and conduct detailed interviews with some people whose stories will be put to poetry or song for that person to use to tell their part of the Redfern story. The producer tells us that this approach has worked well in the UK and SBS is interested in the production having aired the earlier UK programmes in Australia. If you would like any further information please contact Blackfella Films on (02) 9380 4000. Central recently also ran a story on this as Stories to Sing.

Aboriginal Involvement in the former Eveleigh Railyards

On Friday 27 February Minister Keneally announced the State Heritage Register Thematic Listings program for 2009 – 2010 would focus on four key themes: Aboriginal Heritage; Convicts; Governor Macquarie; and First and Second World Wars. The theme-based listings program is aimed at discovering new places to be nominated for inclusion on the State Heritage Register. Eveleigh is already listed but its significance has often been down-played in recent times as the NSW Government has sought to re-develop the area. Next update we will try to supply some information on its significance during the wars but below we have provided a couple of quotes that underline its importance for Aboriginal Heritage from the CoS wbsite - Barani - Aboriginal Labour in the City:

“The railway workshops at Eveleigh were the biggest employer of Aborigines, particularly during the late nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth century. Many Aboriginal people had jobs relying on manual and hard labour. Photos taken of workmen excavating the cable channel for the Darling Street tram in Balmain include Aboriginal men in the gang, providing evidence of an Aboriginal role in the development of infrastructures in and around the city. Aboriginal people worked in the Alexandria goods yard loading trains with kegs and potatoes.”

“Many local Aborigines from Redfern were employed in the dirty work in the foundry, boiler room and workshops. In later years, others arrived from the country seeking work but had to sleep in disused air-raid shelters because the local hotels refused them accommodation - (Australian Railway Historical Society Archives)”

As mentioned in the last RWIU the North Eveleigh Concept Plan approval requires that “Archival or oral historical research together with the local Aboriginal community into the nature and significance of the Aboriginal connections with the railyards as a whole is to be undertaken prior to or during the preparation of an Interpretation Plan for the site”. At the end of this process we would hope that the relationship of Aboriginal people to the Eveleigh railyards should be well documented.

Eveleigh Railway Heritage Update

There were two articles of interest in the February 2009 issue of Trust News Australia. The first item was by The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP Australian Minister for the Environment Heritage on the importance of Heritage Tourism for Australia. Peter Garrett in the article says: “One area I'm keen to encourage more work on is heritage tourism. Domestic and international visitors who participate in cultural and heritage tourism activities stay longer at their destination, travel further and spend more than the average visitor. It's a phenomenon that's happening all over the world, and one we need to better exploit in Australia.” In the second article Eveleigh's Still Hidden Heritage by Graham Quint of National Trust (NSW) he points out that “Some of the finest historic railway engineering workshops in the world are located just south of Sydney's Central Railway Station adjoining Redfern Railway Station (originally called Eveleigh)”. Those who have asked Minister Keneally for a process to establish a robust heritage and tourism strategy for the Former Eveleigh Rail yards to go alongside the redevelopment are simply joining the dots.

Two items from Associate Professor Lucy Taksa PhD, Director - UNSW Industrial Relations Research Centre, University of NSW have been added to the REDWatch website and are worth reading. The first Issues pertaining to absence of attention to the intangible cultural heritage associated with the NSW Eveleigh Railway Workshops covers Dr Taksa’s presentation in October 2008 to heritage groups with a common interest in preserving Eveleigh’s railway heritage. The second article ‘Nostalgia or Nostophobia?: Trends in the interpretation of Australia’s railway industrial heritage’ (87KB PDF) is a paper Dr Lucy Taksa presented at the Interpretation Australia conference in 2007. The paper compares Eveleigh to other workshops around Australia.

We understand that there has still been little movement on how much of the Large Erecting Shop will be used to store equipment from the Paint Shop and hence what area will be available to conduct viable heritage railway operations. One encouraging development is that Powerhouse volunteers have apparently been told that they will be able to stay at the Large until building at Thirlmere is complete. While the Powerhouse remains in Eveleigh there is hope that a heritage rail operation out of the Large which includes the Powerhouse is still possible.

Finally one of the important aspects about operating heritage railways are the opportunities they provide to volunteers. So it was interesting to read Train tragics' heritage project on track in the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader about Engadine resident Steve Rowling and his sons Brett and Todd who are 3801 Ltd volunteers on the Cockatoo Express which operates out of Eveleigh. We also have been told by John Glastonbury from 3801 Ltd that the company has also been successful recently in providing sufficient experience to one young volunteer on their trips for that person to get a food service job. This has encouraged 3801 Ltd to think about how they may be able to use their heritage rail trips to provide for work experience and job training opportunities. If you would like to discuss this possibility further please contact John at 3801 Ltd on 9869-2749.

Will the Community Safety Plan continue in Redfern Waterloo?

In the last RWIU we covered the Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan Evaluation, and the story has been picked up in different ways by City News in Redfern and Waterloo safer and Do you live in a crime hotspot?. Redfern Waterloo residents however are keen to see if the City of Sydney Council will now implement the recommendations from the report to reconvene the Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Taskforce and complete the unfinished work identified in the Community Safety Plan and by the Taskforce. There is concern that without an increase in the CoS community safety budget, the focus will shift to the new Community Safety Plan for Glebe and no further work will be done on the Redfern Waterloo Safety Plan or with its Taskforce. Residents are asking for assurances that CoS will continue with its community safety work in Redfern Waterloo rather than pulling out as if, now that an evaluation has been completed, Redfern-Waterloo is now safe.

Can Council and the State Government work together?

According to Clover Moore’s eNews Local Representation for All Clover says she recently asked the Planning Minister and the Premier to review the continued need for SHFA and the RWA. If Minister Keneally’s 2011-12 timeframe to close the RWA or amalgamate it with the SHFA holds, then the Minister, the RWA and CoS should all be planning at what needs to happen to provide a seamless transition of the RWA area back to CoS control. With Clover Moore taking up the offer for involvement on the board responsible for Barangaroo one step towards a seamless transition would be for the Minister to again offer a position on the RWA Board to someone from the CoS.

On a smaller scale both CoS and Minister Keneally could take up the proposal of Waterloo public housing tenants and hold joint meetings for Waterloo residents where everyone sits around the table and addresses the issue rather than each holding a separate meeting and ducking responsibility for issues. Last year council scheduled two meetings for public tenants, the Lord Mayor turned up to Redfern but could not make Waterloo much to the disappointment of a large group of tenants. On her side Kristina Keneally scheduled a meeting for Redfern tenants on 26^th February 2009 but was unable to attend at the last minute and has a meeting for Waterloo scheduled for 14^th April 2009. If Ms Keneally makes the Waterloo meeting that will mean Redfern and Waterloo will each have met with one politician.

What Waterloo residents have asked for is for both Clover Moore from CoS and local member Kristina Keneally to be involved in the Waterloo meetings, which they would like to see include others not just public tenants. They have proposed alternate chairing of Waterloo meetings by Clover and Kristina but they want both parties at the table. They have also asked that departmental representatives from the RWA Human Services Implementation Senior Officers Group (ISOG) to also be involved. Housing NSW and Police currently attend meetings held by both CoS and the local member but representatives from other major human services departments do not normally attend leaving Housing NSW and Police to respond to issues which are the responsibility of other departments such as Health and DoCS. The idea is to try and avoid blame shifting at such meetings and to get everyone to work together and address the problems that are being experienced by Waterloo residents. The proposal also includes some subgroups to work on issues between the larger meetings. The workings groups proposed are a Community Safety Group; an Employment, Learning, Enterprise Group; a Community Health Focus Group and a Housing Standards Focus Group. You can download further details of the Waterloo Community Engagement Proposal March 2009 (92 KB MSWord).

CoS Redfern Waterloo Community Forum – Thursday 19 March 2009

CoS has put details for the first Community Forums for the year on its website. The forum for Green Square was notified and held since last RWIU but you can get some details from Green Square Community Update or by contacting the CoS contact person named on the website. Council Community Forums are scheduled for Inner South and Inner West in March meaning the bringing of Redfern Waterloo together around its Redfern “hub” has not yet eventuated. West Redfern and Darlington will need to go to Camperdown for their Community Forum on 31 March. Inner South Community Forum covering Redfern and Waterloo will be held at Redfern Town Hall, 73 Pitt St Redfern Thursday 19 March 6pm to 8.30pm.

CoS Darlington Pedestrian, Cycling & Traffic Calming Plan Community Forum – Tuesday 31 March

When the RWA’s North Eveleigh Concept Plan was on exhibition there were major concerns raised about traffic impacts from it and from the University’s expansion. At that time there was no recent council traffic study of the area. It has been delayed due to on in Surry Hills taking longer than expected. CoS is now about to start its study that will cover Darlington. This will follow two studies undertaken for the RWA - RWA BEP 1 Traffic Study (OCR on Scan PDF 3.9 MB) Appendix H - Traffic and Transport Impact Assessment (PDF 3.69 MB) and one currently unsighted study by the Department of Planning made to assess the RWA’s North Eveleigh traffic studies. In addition as Sydney University gets ready for submitting its Abercrombie Street Major Project Application it too will have untaken more work hopefully including the impact of its proposed closure of Butlin Street in its 2020 Masterplan. REDWatch in one of their North Eveleigh submissions specifically concentrated on the traffic issues and you see the concerns raised in REDWatch North Eveleigh Concept Plan Submission - Traffic.

The North Eveleigh Major Project - Minister's Instrument of Approval pages 6-7 requires that a Transport Management and Accessibility Plan (TMAP) is to be prepared prior to or concurrently with the first project application that includes new floor space for North Eveleigh. The approval points out that some aspects of this study will require the concurrence of the City of Sydney Local Traffic Committee. It is hence very important that a robust study be undertaken in the Darlington precinct to try and understand the current and future traffic impacts on the area and to minimise their impact on the surrounding community.

Given that the Inner South has had a Traffic study while Inner West is just about to have its, it does make some sense to keep the two areas separate until the traffic study is completed. After this however we think CoS should consider moving to its 2030 Plan hubs for its Redfern area Community Forums.

The Community Forum for Inner West (which includes the part of Redfern to the west of the Railway line, Erskineville, Newtown and Darlington Pedestrian, Cycling & Traffic Calming Plan) will be held at Rydges, 9 Missenden Rd Camperdown Tuesday 31 March 6pm to 9pm.

Amended Plan Approved for Frasers CUB Broadway Site

NSW Premier Nathan Rees announced on 19 February 2009 the approval of Fraser’s Modified Concept Plan for the former Carlton United Breweries site in Chippendale. The Concept Plan change will deliver more open space for the local community and a much more environmentally friendly redevelopment. In exchange the developer gets increased density along Abercrombie Street and Broadway. Mr Rees said that the $1.3 billion plan has the potential to create 5,500 ongoing jobs and 1,200 construction jobs. The maximum Gross Floor Area (GFA) available for development across the site is 255,500 square metres. No more that 70% of the GFA is to be for residential and no less than 30% is to be for non-residential use. Affordable housing contributions from the CUB site under the RWA Act went to Redfern Waterloo and the CUB redevelopment will increase from $23 million to $32 million the funds available to the RWA for spending on affordable housing.

You can read the text of the NSW Premier’s media release of 19 February 2009 1,200 Construction Jobs in Bigger, Greener Development for Carlton United Breweries and Fraser’s Premier announces approval of concept plan for Frasers Broadway site of the same day. Frasers have also released a Newsletter Five February 2009 (574KB PDF). Media coverage has included AAP Former CUB site gets development tick in the Australian and other places and Central’s Broadway’s blockbuster : Carlton United site green light.

For those who made submissions on the amended Concept Plan and are familiar with Frasers Preferred Project Report for modification 2 which responded to submissions, you will find the Response to Submission Documents on the DOP website CUB Site Modification application 2 of interest. The documents include the assessments of the Design Integrity Panel report - November 2008 MP 06_0171 MOD2 (41 KB), the Director General's report - pages 1 -14 (1.9 MB) pages 15 - 31 (2.1 MB) pages 32 - 37 (2.1 MB) and pages 38 - 53 (1.8 MB) as well as the NSW Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) report - 22-01-09 on the Director General’s Report (585 KB) and the Revised Statement of Commitments .doc (78 KB). The final determination can be found in MP 06_0171 MOD 2 - Minister's Instrument of approval & modifications_conditions (1.3 MB).

The Coalition Chippendale Community Groups have put out a preliminary analysis of the approval in their CCCG News Update - 1 March 2009 (PDF 671KB) along with information about a number of other Chippendale development proposals. If reading through the details in these document is too much detail we suggest you go along to Fraser’s Community Meeting on Wednesday (revised details below). CCCG is encouraging people to attend the meeting but are warning people to try and “look behind Frasers PR spin”!

Fraser’s CUB Site Community Meeting – Wednesday 4^th March 2008 6pm

Frasers Broadway project team members will be available to present on and answer questions about the approved Concept Plan and upcoming Project Application submissions. Frasers have received DGRs on 26^th November 2008 for CUB Main Park and Related Infrastructure and on 18 February 2009 for Blocks 1 and 4 (cnr Abercrombie / Broadway). Frasers are currently preparing Project Applications for:

Residential Block 2 (Ateliers Jean Nouvel)
Commercial Blocks 1 & 4 (Foster + Partners)
Residential Block 5 (Johnson Pilton Walker)
Stage 1 Infrastructure Works including the Main Park

The meeting will be held from 6pm to 8pm, Wednesday 4 March 2009 at FraserStudios, 12-14 Kensington Street, Chippendale (off Broadway, near The Clare Hotel). For further information regarding the Community Meeting or the project generally please contact Carlene on 1800 282 909 or email community@frasersgreencliff.com.

Broadway University Expansion Plans

On February 7 2009 the Coalition Chippendale Community Groups reported in their Chippendale News story that Notre Dame University Misleads Community Over Its Expansion. The story was picked up by City news in their article Chippendale to become a “students’ playground”.

Meanwhile University of Technology Sydney continues to explore its Concept Plan 08_0116 and recently received DGRs for Project Application 09_0021 - Student Housing (Building 6). More information on both expansions can be found in CCCG News Update - 1 March 2009 (PDF 671KB).

Moore Theological College Joins in the Area’s Major Project Redevelopments

Moore College owns significant land holdings around the Carillion Ave, City Road and Little Queen Street in Newtown. They have recently lodged plans MP 09-0005 Concept Plan and MP 09_0007 Stage 1 Library Building with the Department of Planning to redevelop some of their land holdings and received Director General’s Requirements on 4 February 2009.

What’s New at Redfern Park and Oval?

Redfern Park & Oval facilities are slowly getting up and running. South’s Leagues Club will operate the café on the park. The Redfern Oval - Community Room can already be booked through CoS for Monday to Sunday from 7am to 11pm. This new medium sized function room takes approximately 100 people and overlooks the recently redeveloped Redfern Park and Oval. The CoS website says the stylish function room offers polished floors, tea and coffee making facilities (downstairs), lift and stair access. It is suitable for private functions, community meetings, recreation classes, rehearsals, seminars and training sessions. Standard hire fees are $38.00/hr with a refundable bond of $310 or $13.00/hr for local community organisations and charity functions. General enquiries and bookings can be made by Tel: 02 9265 9333 or by online Booking Enquiries.

One recent innovation from CoS, according to City News in Untie your chi for free is the provision of free tai chi classes at parks in several suburbs, including Redfern Park. To join in the new classes contact Jeffrey at CoS on 9265 9489.

The big news of the last month was Souths’ return to Redfern Oval which was covered in the mainstream media including in the Daily Telegraph’s Souths return to Redfern Oval which we chose because of its link to some of the photos of the day - Picture gallery: See snaps from the historic occasion here.

City of Sydney Grants – Now Open

A number of the CoS grants and sponsorships programs are now open. An information session on the various grant and sponsorship programs will be held on 12 March 2009 (Thursday) at 5.30pm Town Hall House, (Southern Function Room) Level 4, 456 Kent Street Sydney. The following grants are currently seeking applications:

Accommodation Grants Program – City of Sydney assists not-for-profit groups community organizations with accommodation for the provision of services, programs and projects to meet community needs – Closes 16 March 2009.
Matching Grants Program - The Matching Grants Program supports identified community projects or objectives in the Local Actions Plans by matching with City Resources what is raised in-cash or in-kind by the community.- Closes 23^rd March 2009
Business Support Program - (over $5,000) The Business Support Program provides grants to non-profit business organisations that seek to revitalise and enhance local commercial and retail precincts.- Closes 20^th April 2009
Community Services Grants Program (over $5,000) - Grants over $5,000 are awarded to non-profit organisations based in, or providing services or projects of benefit to the City of Sydney community. - Closes 20^th April 2009
Cultural Grants and Sponsorships Program (over $5,000) - The City of Sydney encourages and supports cultural development through grants and sponsorship support for major and smaller cultural events and organisations - Closes 20^th April 2009
Environmental Grants Program (over $5,000) - Grants over $5,000 are awarded to non-profit organisations based in, or providing services or projects of benefit to the City of Sydney community - Closes 20^th April 2009
Heritage Grants Program (matched funding up to $10,000) - The City of Sydney provides support for individuals and groups whose activities and initiatives aim to improve the quality of the City’s heritage and built environment - Closes 20^th April 2009
Local Community Grants Program (up to $5,000) (biannual, second round will open in August 2009) - The City offers grants to non-profit community organisations for community projects, events, activities, services and resources that help build strong, healthy and vibrant local communities.- Closes 20^th April 2009

Training Opportunities for Community Workers and Management Committees

1) Currently the City of Sydney is running free community training and networking opportunities for community workers and community management committee members to build their skills in a range of community management areas including:

Making your meetings more effective - 10 March 2009 (Tue) 1:00pm to 4:30pm (light lunch included) at Redfern Town Hall, L 2 / 73 Pitt Street, Redfern
Cross-Cultural Awareness - 2 April 2009 (Thursday) 9:30am to 12:30pm (light lunch included) Level 3, Redfern Community Centre, 29 – 53 Hugo Street, Redfern
Conflict and how to solve it? - 6 April (Monday) 9:30am to 1:00pm (lunch included) Glebe Youth Service, 84 Glebe Point Road Glebe
City of Sydney Community Profile, Population Forecast and Specific Census Information Session - A training workshop to enable you to access and use the City of Sydney online community profile, population forecast information and access Census information about specific communities within the City of Sydney local government area. This workshop will be held mid-year, if you are interested in this training please complete the expression of interest form.

Number are limited, if you’d like to attend any of the above Connect Sydney training and networking opportunities, please contact Michelle Thomas, Super V Multicultural Volunteer Program at the City Of Sydney Tel: 9246 7878 or email mithomas@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. The training is being delivered by Our Communities P/L www.ourcommunity.com.au

2) SDN Children's Services and Connect Redfern have organised for Parentshop to provide free training for community workers to help manage children aged 2-12. Registration closes 9th April 2009. This training licenses community workers to train parents in the 1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching method. Each participant will leave with a comprehensive training manual and a personalised slide show presentation that they can use to teach parenting groups or to show to individuals.

NSW Government response to Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW

Pam Marsh Executive Officer, Inner Sydney Regional Council for Social Development advises that the NSW Government has released its response to the recommendations made by the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW headed by Justice James Wood. The report entitled Keep them safe: a shared approach to child wellbeing listed 115 recommendations most of which the Government has adopted. The Government response to the report can be accessed at http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/about_us/keep_them_safe.html. There appears to be no mention of the Community Services Grants Program, but that is not so surprising as the program was not included in any detail in the report or the recommendations. Agencies will need to put time and effort into developing an action plan to ensure that it is included in the State budget. We now await a report from NCOSS and other peaks.

Weekly Eveleigh Farmers Market kicks off successfully

The Eveleigh Farmers Market started on Saturday 28^th February 2009 with a good crowd. They will now occur weekly at the old Blacksmith shop opposite CarriageWorks at Eveleigh. Prices on fruit and vegetables were much more reasonable than at the market before Christmas but shoppers said you had to be careful when buying as weights were not given on some items defined by volume which can be a bit of a trap. There was a good range of premium specialty food products. Public housing tenants will probably not be flocking there, but it is sure to be attractive to those living in Darlington and Newtown. We happened across a number of locals using the markets and we see great potential for the markets as a community focus that will bring many people who live around North Eveleigh together. In contrast there was a disappointing turn up of both artisans and patrons for the monthly Artisans Markets which kicked off at the same venue on Sunday March 1 2009. Hopefully some promotional work will be done before the next month to draw the crowd needed to sustain an ongoing artisans Market. Prior to the markets kicking off the RWA / ATP put out the following media release Eveleigh Market is bursting with Fresh Food and Artistic Flair and more information about the markets can be found at www.eveleighmarkets.com.au.

RWA Approves ATP Subdivision & Henderson Road tree Removal

The RWA has posted two new DA approvals from 13 February 2009 on its website. Details of the approvals and conditions can be down loaded from the links below:

Henderson Road, Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh Development: Removal of existing trees along the ATP southern boundary and provision of replacement trees DA 038-10-08 (203 KB PDF)
Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh Development: Land subdivision at the Australian Technology Park. DA 037-10-08 (146 PDF)

The subdivision of the ATP makes it possible for the 99 year leases, announced in the state mini-budget, to be sold over parts of the park as an alternative to selling a single 99 year lease over the entire ATP.

RWA Adds Community Links to its Website

The RWA has added links to local organisations and government departments to its website including a link to the REDWatch website. The RWA had, under earlier management, declined to provide a link to the REDWatch website arguing that it was political in a way that the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce who they carried a link for was not. You can see the new links at www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/links/index.html.

ATP 2007/2008 Annual Report

When we reported last year on the RWA Annual Report the report for the ATP was not available in electronic form. The ATP Annual Report 2007/2008 went up soon after our report and can now be downloaded Annual Report 07/08 but be warned if you are on dial up that it is a 4.7 MB PDF!

Support for the Syron’s “Keeping Place”

Gordon and Elaine Syron and their collection of over 1300 paintings and thousands of photographs and artefacts have been given more time by the RWA to negotiate a new, hopefully permanent, home for the collection following a recent meeting with Minister Keneally.

The collection was bought to Redfern for cataloguing with support from the RWA. After months of hard work by Gordon and Elaine, UNILINC Ltd, Redfern Residents for Reconciliation and many other volunteers the cataloguing of the paintings and their valuation are near completion. An invitation to meet Kristina Keneally the Minister for Redfern Waterloo coincided with plans for a gathering in support of the collection.

On the eve of first anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s apology, Wilson Street rocked to a large turnout from the local and wider Aboriginal communities, the art world, the reconciliation movement and supporters of Gordon and Elaine’s “Keeping Place”. While the event started at 6pm many arrived late and stayed until the early hours of the next morning keen to show their moral and material support.

The evening was organised by a committee of Indigenous professionals which has been established to bring Gordon and Elaine’s dream of publically accessible keeping place for the collection to fruition. Gordon Syron paid tribute to Chicka Dixon who is the official patron of “The Keeping Place” during the evening.

John Morse the ex-head of Tourism Australia joined those making recorded statements of support while Aboriginal activist Lyle Munro, Aboriginal Art Curator Djon Mundine, Sydney Heritage Society’s Andrew Woodhouse and Geoff Turnbull from REDWatch spoke in support on the open mike. A minutes silence was also held for those killed in the Victorian bushfires.

Josephine Cashman was the MC for the evening which started in language with actor and linguist Richard Green. Activist Ken Canning read a poem called "Nameless People" while Keeping Place Chair Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor recited "Spirit Man" her poem about Gordon Syron. Adam Hill played a didgeridoo signed and played by many Aboriginal musical greats which he then donated to the Keeping Place collection. Nadeena Dixon sang "Aboriginal Land" accompanied by some wonderful dancers. To finish off the entertainment hip-hop artists, Wire MC and Choo Choo performed with little 'Little Gee' and ‘The Last Kinection’ DJ Jaytee.

Around $1100 was raised to help support Gordon and Elaine. A good time was had by those attending however some nearby neighbours concerned by the volume of the entertainment invited the “boys in blue” who arrived just as the entertainment was coming to an end.

Geoff also put this item in for the latest SSH. You can find out more about the committee and their proposal for the Keeping Place Presentation made by UNILINC to a national library conference late last year. You can see some of Gordon Syron’s paintings at www.gordonsyron.com and www.blackfellasdreaming.com.au.

Redfern Waterloo in the Media

One of the big events of the last month was the “Black Friday Aboriginal boxing, basketball and culture event – a Night of Black Stars” to raise funds for the Indigenous Sporting Academy and Indigenous Boxing Academy. The event was well covered in the media including Sydney Morning Herald’s Mundine spoils for a stronger apology, the Central’s Black Stars in a First for the Block, City News’ Night of the Black Stars lights up The Block and Night of the Black Stars rocks the Block. Another successful Family Day on the Block was held but without any media coverage as far as we could see.

Well worth a read was Alan Madden featuring in The Sun Herald Extras Welcome to our land in which Mr Madden talked, as a descendent of one of the area’s original inhabitants, about Aboriginal Sydney before the arrival of the Europeans. The rally to mark the anniversary of TJ’s death was covered in Justice for TJ!

Redfern got a mention in News.com.au’s Builders oust bankers in Australia's posh suburbs, while blue-collar areas move upmarket as one of the changing suburbs – “In 2001, adults earning more than $52,000 a year made up 16 per cent of Redfern’s working population. By 2006, that proportion had grown to 25 per cent.”

City News highlighted the absurdity of Wilson Street’s western bike lane by pointing out that no cyclist can legally exit it in Cyclists’ choice: risk it or rot and Central picked up on Hillsong comments about a fresh move to achieve their new facility in Rosebery in Unholy row to erupt again?. We also learnt from the ABC Sydney to host Edinburgh Military Tattoo that the replica Edinburgh Castle is stored in Redfern!

South Sydney Herald March 2009

You can download the entire copy of the South Sydney Herald for March 2009 as soon as their site is back up again at www.southsydneyherald.com.au. Articles from the March 2009 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo have been placed on the REDWatch website and include three items looking at the North Eveleigh Concept Plan approval including the news item What next for North Eveleigh?, Bruce Lays opinion piece Darlington dudded, again and Kristina Keneally’s advertisement Kristina Keneally on North Eveleigh. Blaming Redfern looks at how Redfern’s image related to the way police stories are reported, Roller shutters blight streetscapes looks at a major issue of concern to Redfern and Waterloo while Inner-city happiness investigates if the inner-city is really as unhappy as recent research suggested.

The SSH reported on community Support for the Keeping Place proposed by Gordon and Elaine Syron, on the The National Apology – one year on as well as on Michael O’Loughlin’s visit in Swans star meets kids at Darlo School.

The SSH interviews the Redfern “Run, Rabbit, Run”, and “Parramatta Girls” playwright in Arranging Elderflowers – An interview with playwright Alana Valentine. Sydney’s first Lebanese restaurant Wilsons of Pitt Street Redfern gets covered by the SSH, Journey towards a dream – Reader profile Pamela Neville starts a new section in the paper while Vale – Peter Symon remembers a valued member of the Chippendale-Darlington Community for Peace Group.

Trevor Davies covers Frasers/CUB site in Chippendale – some movement; Public housing in the inner city continues to be sold off; A night with Gordon and Elaine in Wilson Street uncovers real local talent; Some advice for Hillsong; The RWA has a new Boss and Farewell Angelina in Have you heard? - The fast news with Trevor Davies – March 2009.

There is also an update on More trouble for Yiu Ming temple and Additional Affordable Housing for Green Square and Ultimo looks at affordable housing provider City West.

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

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

Frasers – CUB Site Community Meeting Wednesday 4 March 2009 - FraserStudio 12-14 Kensington Street 6-8pm
Community Forum - Inner South - Venue: Redfern Town Hall, 73 Pitt St Redfern Thursday 19 March 6pm to 8.30pm
Community Forum - Inner West (includes Erskineville, Newtown and Darlington Pedestrian, Cycling & Traffic Calming Plan) Venue: Rydges, 9 Missenden Rd Camperdown Tuesday 31 March 6pm to 9pm
Sydney University consultation on Abercrombie Street Major Project Application has been delayed.
CoS - DA Notifications by Suburb View as Map
CoS - Free Home Composting & Worm Farming Workshops - Book online.

RWIU 5 Feb 2009

REDWatch — 2009-02-05T04:40:57Z

In this Update:

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

Plans for North Eveleigh Approved

Eveleigh Railway Heritage

RWA / ATP Satellite Dishes DA Questions

Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan Evaluation

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

Court Stops Erskineville Supermarket

REDWatch Meeting – 5 February 2009

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

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

Family Day at the Block! – 21 February 2009

Eveleigh Markets Commence 28^th February 2009

Stolen Wages Deadline Extended to 31^st May 2009

Connect Redfern - Updated Children & Family Lists

In the Media

South Sydney Herald February 2009

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

Coming Events (look at the new local events entered on the REDWatch website that are not covered here)

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

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

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

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

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

Plans for North Eveleigh Approved

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Redistribution of building heights

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

• Reduced floor space by 2,480m²

• Reconfigured vehicular access point

• Introduction of sustainability targets

• Affordable housing provisions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eveleigh Railway Heritage

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

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

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

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

RWA / ATP Satellite Dishes DA Questions

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

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

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

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

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

Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan Evaluation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Court Stops Erskineville Supermarket

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

REDWatch Meeting – 5 February 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

Family Day at the Block! – 21 February 2009

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

Eveleigh Markets Commence 28^th February 2009

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

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

Stolen Wages Deadline Extended to 31^st May 2009

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

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

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

Connect Redfern - Updated Children & Family Lists

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

In the Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

South Sydney Herald February 2009

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

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

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

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

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

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

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

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

RWIU 18 Dec 2008

REDWatch — 2008-12-18T08:39:27Z

[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:

Season’s Greetings

Robert Domm Resigns from ATP / RWA

RWA Annual Report

December 2008 RWA Update

RWA Keeping Quite on North Eveleigh Modifications

University to consult on Abercrombie Street Plan in New Year

Good turnout for RWA Christmas markets

Frasers Agree to CUB Site payment Schedule with RWA

RailCorp CEO on record over Future of Large Erecting Shop

ATP 99 year lease and Heritage

Council Moving towards a Redfern Street Centre

Souths Leagues’ Club to Include a new IGA Supermarket

City of Sydney Council Appoints Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Panel

Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage in NSW Final Report

Debate about the Aboriginal Children’s Service

The Factory Secures Housing Communities Program (HCP) Funding

Improving Action on Issues facing Public Housing Tenants

Green Public Housing for Redfern

Green Square Developers Appointed

RLC launch Activists Rights Manual

Redfern In the Police Media rightly or wrongly?

South Sydney Herald December 2008

UTS Shopfront – Deadline for New Projects 30 January 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)

Season’s Greetings

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers and colleagues our best wishes for Christmas and New Year. We hope that you have a safe and relaxing holiday season and that you will have a fine 2009. Thank you for your support, ideas, information and suggestions over the year and we hope that you have found some of the information we have supplied of use in keeping up to date with Redfern Waterloo Issues.

Robert Domm Resigns from ATP / RWA

Robert Domm resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the RWA and General Manager of the Australian Technology Park on 28^th November 2008. Mr Domm has been the CEO of the RWA since its establishment in early 2005, having previously been the General Manager of the City of Sydney. On July 21 2008 Mr Domm also became the CEO of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. At the time of his appointment to SHFA Minister Frank Sartor said “In the short to medium-term he will retain his job at the RWA to see through a number of major projects, including the renewal of North Eveleigh.” Day to day responsibility for the running of the RWA was delegated to a new General Manager position to which Petar Vladeta was appointed. A similar new position was created at the ATP which was filled by Chris Saunders. According to evidence given to NSW estimates hearings Mr Domm was not being paid by the RWA during that time.

The announcement was unexpected and the Minister’s office has told Central in Early resignation from RWA CEO that a “decision on the management of the RWA will be made in due course.” The Minister has earlier announced that the RWA will continue until 2011-12. Given the creation of General Manager’s positions any external appointment will need to be funded and will leave the RWA administratively top heavy. Another option may be a part time appointment or an Executive Chair. A decision by the Minister is awaited. In Domm quits but questions remain a spokesperson for the Minister was reported as saying "an acting arrangement for the RWA will be arranged following discussions between the minister and the chair of the RWA."

REDWatch were scheduled to have Mr Domm speak at their December 2008 meeting and appreciated Petar Vladeta attending at short notice following Mr Domm’s resignation.

RWA Annual Report

The RWA has released its 07-08 Annual Report (pdf ~3.5mb). This is the annual opportunity to find out a little more about what the RWA has been doing than gets reported in its newsletters and on its website. We are pleased that after last year’s unsearchable report, the RWA report is again available as a searchable PDF although the text versions of the first couple of years have not been produced. REDWatch has again produced a Text Version of Redfern-Waterloo Authority Annual Report 07-08 without the financial sections of the report. The links below feed to that text report.

The annual report includes background to the RWA and Redfern Waterloo. The Statement from the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer provides and overview of the RWA’s activities and under the Redfern-Waterloo Plan there are reports on the component Built Environment Plan (BEP) , the Human Services Plan, and the Employment & Enterprise Plan. Each overview reports details of main focus of the plans, the significant achievements of the RWA, future key tasks and the composition of the relevant Ministerial Advisory Committee.

The Annual Report also looks at various sites of “Redfern-Waterloo Renewal” including: Australian Technology Park (ATP), National Indigenous Development Centre, Residential Development, Community Health Centre, North Eveleigh Training Centre, North Eveleigh Concept Plan, Blacksmiths’ Workshop, Redfern/ Regent Streets Upgrade, and the Black Theatre Site.

The RWA illustrated the Annual Report with photos and comments from a range of local people including: Sol Bellear: , Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo, Eric and Maria Papadopoulos, Pastor Ray Minniecon, Dixie Link Gordon, Harry Karabotsos, Maury Finkelstein, Mabel Chang, Rob Roberts and Tribal Warrior. We can also confirm that keeping his head down in Harry Karabotsos’ barber chair smiling to himself about what is going on around him is Aboriginal Artist Gordon Syron whose relationship with the RWA has been strained over the last few months.

One of the revelations of the RWA Annual Report is that in January 2008 Mr John Mulally was appointed to the RWA Board to replace Ms Jennifer Westacott. The RWA website removed Ms Westacott from the RWA Board listing on its website in early March 2008 but has still not added Mr Mulally to the website! If it were not for the Annual Report we would still not know of the appointment. You can read the profile of Mr Mulally and other RWA Board members under Board Member Profiles.

There has been a major change in Sponsorships and Grants reported in the Annual Report. In 2006-7 the RWA reported $827,166.25 in sponsorships and grants. Whereas in 2007-8 Sponsorships/Grants provided by the Redfern-Waterloo Authority only totalled $46,828.60. The largest grants in 2006-7 went to organisations delivering human services. In 2007-8 the largest grants were $10,472.00 to Ryans Cakes for funding for non woven recycle bags, $8000 for SDN Children’s Services for four Easy Cooking on Budget courses and $6010.55 for various Waterloo Storm sporting team sponsorships. Missing from the list this year is the funding the RWA allocates for its own Seniors Christmas Luncheon which presumably is covered in the RWA’s general accounts. Again the sponsorships and grants do not show up as a separate line item in the RWA Financial accounts and the structure of the accounts makes it impossible to see where funds have come from, or on what activities they have been expended. Of the Significant Achievements listed under the Human Services Plan only funding for “Easy Cooking on a Budget” is revealed in the Annual Report. The Appendices reveal that the Annual Report cost $49,478 for external production and printing up from $41,750 in the previous year. At least this year the binding has improved!

The Australian Technology Park Annual Report has also been produced but an electronic copy has not yet been posted on the ATP website at www.atp.com.au/dyncontent.cfm?MenuID=113.

December 2008 RWA Update

In the lead up to the opening of the markets at the Blacksmith Shop the RWA put out a Redfern Waterloo Update December 2008 (1.5MB PDF). In addition to details on the Traditional Christmas Farmers’ Market the newsletter covered Aunty Beryl and Mathew Cribb’s trip to Terra Madre (Mother Earth) in Turin Italy under Protecting traditional farming and cooking, as well as the Les Tobler Construction Centre refurbished – Koori Job Ready Course all on site, and Yaama Dhiyaan delivers unique learning experience. The Community Drug Action Team’s BBQs at Waterloo Green was covered, as was Redfern Karate Kids about support for a programme run at The Settlement. Other items included the Koori League Knockout, headspace Central Sydney – new care services for local youth, and Work underway on new National Indigenous Development Centre.

RWA Keeping Quite on North Eveleigh Modifications

When you question the RWA about its community consultation the response is that they do much more than the statutory requirements. As we have previously pointed out the RWA works on an “Exhibition is Consultation” model and they are perfectly correct when they say they do not have to put out Newsletters or hold sessions to explain their proposals during an exhibition. The RWA Preferred Project Report contains four pages detailing its activities around the exhibition of North Eveleigh Concept Plan. The problem is that the RWA does not encourage community involvement outside the exhibition period, neither before with the Ministerial Advisory Committee or afterwards in making available information about the modifications to the proposal.

Back in September the Built Environment Ministerial Advisory Committee was told that the summary of the main changes to the North Eveleigh Concept Plan would be advised through an RWA Update but this never happened. The December RWA Update makes no reference to the North Eveleigh Concept Plan or the changes that the RWA has made in its Preferred Project Report. The RWA’s changes were dated September 2008 and were posted on the Department of Planning’s Major Project register in October but a link from the RWA’s website to the report only went up on 5^th December 2008 following the issue being raised at the BEMAC meeting.

The problem for the RWA is that if it makes people aware of the Modified Plan before the Minister approves it any residents that are not happy with the revised plan might write to the Department of Planning, local member Carmel Tebbitt and RWA Minister Keneally and lobby for further changes. It is far better for the RWA to stay quiet until there has been a determination by the Minister on its modified proposal. After the determination they will still be able to say they have done much more to encourage community consultation than they were required to do!

If you have not yet seen the details of the modified proposal you can get details from our 11 November item RWA response to submissions & Preferred Project Report on North Eveleigh.

University to consult on Abercrombie Street Plan in New Year

Sydney University is aiming for a consultation with Darlington Residents in February 2009 about its proposed Abercrombie Street Precinct Concept Plan. The University plans to talk to residents prior to lodging its concept plan for the site bounded by Darlington School, Abercrombie, Coddrington and Darlington. We welcome the University’s decision to involve resident feedback early in the process. The University also hopes to have its 2020 MasterPlan up on its website in the new year and will be looking for community feedback. The community has earlier asked for dialogue with the University about how a better relationship can be buiolt between the university and the community but it is not yet clear who will have responsibility for such discussions under the new structure. We will explore this in the new year. Like the community, Sydney University is waiting for the Planning Minister’s decision on North Eveleigh. The University is keen to purchase the site and hopefully the NSW Government will be prepared to consider the University’s use rather than insist on standard commercial and residential uses.

Good turnout for RWA Christmas markets

The RWA Christmas markets were well supported with many people turning out to take a look and buy in the lead up to the Christmas. The RWA reported receiving lots of good feedback. Most people seemed to be walking to the site from around the area or from the station although local residents say that the area was parked out and that many were walking from cars parked around the area. Locals also say there were problems at the entrance to North Eveleigh as people tried to enter to park (see Bruce Lay’s letter below). The markets seemed to have had a big impact on the Darlington shops with café use and paper sales well down and little new passing trade.

The RWA propose to start weekly Farmer’s Markets between 8am and 1pm on the site from 28^th February 2009. It will be interesting to see the take up for the weekly farmers markets. There were certainly people who were delighted to be able to get salt bush lamb at Eveleigh but there were also people who turned up expecting to buy vegetables who did not because of the restricted range and high prices. Public housing tenants certainly won’t be coming down to buy their vegies if the prices do not improve in February. If this is not a target market then there will need to be a good supply of people with high disposable incomes looking for specialty items to make the market viable week after week.

This was the first market at the site so we should expect some teething problems and hopefully the RWA will have learned a lot from the initial experience. This was also a Christmas Market so you can not expect weekly farmers’ markets to look like the Christmas Market. The RWA is also planning Sunday markets from 9am – 2pm. Currently on the drawing board is a monthly artisan’s market with options for other Sunday markets being considered. In the week before the RWA markets CarriageWorks hosted the Finders Keepers craft market (see the SMH’s The needle and the homage done - welcome to the cool new world of craft) which reportedly was also well attended demonstrating good potential for an artisan’s market. Details of the RWA Eveleigh Farmers' and Artisans' Market can be found in this RWA media release or in this media report. Two reports on the markets can be found in Food Weeks Sydney’s newest farmers market kicks off and local resident Bruce Lay Letter on Eveleigh markets to Clover Moore. More information about the markets will be available in the lead up to 28^th February on www.eveleighmarkets.com.au

Community organisations interested in making use of the free community fund raising stall to be available at each market should contact Denny Hall at the RWA on 9202 9100.

Frasers Agree to CUB Site payment Schedule with RWA

One of the last things Robert Domm did as RWA CEO was to sign an agreement with Frasers for the payment of the Affordable Housing Contribution from the CUB site to the RWA. The agreement delivers $6 million a year for 5 years with a residue payment. While the RWA Legislation covered the requirement for the funds to come to the Redfern Waterloo Authority, the Voluntary Planning Agreement between Frasers and the RWA means the RWA will receive funds in a predicable manner irrespective of the pace of the Frasers development.

RailCorp CEO on record over Future of Large Erecting Shop

A former Eveleigh worker who has been lobbing about active rail heritage and tourism issues at Eveleigh received a letter dated 1^st December 2008 from Rob Mason CEO of RailCorp about the future of Eveleigh which is worth passing on. The full text can be seen at RailCorp: Large Erecting Shop retained for continuing rail heritage purposes. The key parts of the letter said:

“In progressing implementation of the Government's Sustainable Rail Heritage Asset Management Strategy, RailCorp has been reviewing options for a metropolitan heritage facility and has, with the concurrence of Redfern Waterloo Authority, factored in the Large Erecting Shop. This review has led to the RailCorp Board's recent endorsement of a plan for RailCorp to retain the building for rail heritage related uses.”

“RailCorp intends to use the Large Erecting Shop primarily to accommodate its heritage electric fleet, under the custodianship of the volunteer group Historic Electric Traction. RailCorp is also in discussion with 3801 Ltd about providing accommodation for that organisation's heritage train operations, which involve some items in the State's core heritage fleet, at the site.”

“As well, RailCorp is looking to provide some limited capability to undertake rolling stock restoration and skills training, in addition to a layover facility for heritage groups operating core fleet rolling stock.”

“RailCorp's plan for the Large Erecting Shop is consistent with the Friends of Eveleigh proposal that the workshop be retained for continuing rail heritage purposes. It is also part of a broader investment by the Government in both fixed and moveable State rail heritage assets across NSW.”

It is not often you see a Government Department claim their plans are consistent with those put up by one of the key bodies who have been lobbing for a policy change. We understand Friends of Eveleigh have written to Rob Mason to ensure he is fully across the FOE proposals that RailCorp are now supporting.

We understand that at the time of writing of the RailCorp letter that 3801 Ltd were still waiting on Office of Rail Heritage to initiate discussions regarding 3801 Ltd’s space requirements. This will be a key determining factor in how viable 3801 Ltd will be and if the Large will really stay a viable active rail heritage site rather than be a heritage storage facility. The Powerhouse has started moving their equipment out of the Large with steam crane 1082 being removed by road on 11^th December 2008. 3801 Ltd have offered space for the Powerhouse to store two of their engines at the Large as part of 3801 Ltd’s space allocation. Such an arrangement could help facilitate heritage trips from Sydney without the requirement for the engines to travel out of Sydney after each trip.

ATP 99 year lease and Heritage

It is still not clear what role the RWA will play in preparing the sale of a 99 year lease over the ATP, it is expected that there will also be involvement by Treasury and the State Property Authority in the planning for the sale. We are told that heritage concerns, such as those covered in the South Sydney Herald article Privatisation plans raise heritage fears, can be covered in the lease agreement. The question is will they be adequately covered and how do we know they will be. According to Carolyn Cummins, the Commercial Property Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald in New property star on horizon there should be good demand for the site, but with $60 billion of property developments put on hold this is may not be the best time to sell the ATP lease. The need for treasury to bring in funds ASAP will need to be weighted against the fact that a delayed sale will almost certainly achieve a higher price especially if it is delayed until the Channel 7 building is completed and populated.

In the lead up to the ATP lease discussions we have assembled a list of some of the key documents relating to the earlier development approvals for the Eveleigh Railyards. This includes the heritage provisions applied in the establishment of the ATP that would need to be covered adequately in the lease. You can see these on the REDWatch website at Historical Material on the Eveleigh Railyard Re-development. Some of these documents are already held by REDWatch and if you have copies of any others that may be of interest please contact mail@redwatch.org.au .

Finally a video from the Blacksmith Open day has been put up on Youtube you can see it at Blacksmith Open Day at Eveleigh 2008 Video

Council Moving towards a Redfern Street Centre

The City of Sydney has purchased the former Disability Services building at 107 Redfern Street from businessman Peter Holmes a Court for approximately $3 million. The building is between the old Redfern Court House building which will become the Redfern Community Health Centre and the Aboriginal Medical Service. The story initially broke in the SMH’s Moore's donor vote broke council code but Council has subsequently confirmed the purchase and indicated that it proposes to develop the site as a centre for Council activities in Redfern. It could for example house a multi-purpose facility including a library, part of the Eora Journey, a council one stop shop or other community facilities outlined in the CoS 2030 proposal for a community hub. Council staff say there will be extensive consultations with the community about the future use of the building.

The purchase is consistent with the council’s 2030 strategy for a series of local centres or hubs throughout the city. The Redfern Street “hub” would cover an area roughly defined by a 800m radius from the corner of Redfern and Regent Streets. It would take in Redfern down to Elizabeth Street and Redfern Oval, North Western Waterloo and Alexandria down to Alexandria Park, Eveleigh, Darlington and Chippendale. We understand that Council is moving towards Community Forums based on these new areas. Surrounding centres would be King Street Newtown, Green Square and Crown Street. For Redfern Waterloo the new “hub” will bring West Redfern and Darlington into the same area as the western part of Redfern, Waterloo and Eveleigh. Previously the area to the west of the railway line was part of a CoS region that went from Broadway to Erskineville.

In other Council news covering the area CoS has been taking feedback on its plans for Charles Kernan Reserve Darlington Design Plans. The upgrade of the South Sydney Youth Service premises has been given the green light (see Clovers eNews of 14^th Nov Waterloo Youth Facility Refurbishment and Central’s Demand for Drug Support). Finally it was with some concern that we read the City News article titled Council reluctant to expand free shuttle service. This service has been very successful and there is a demand for the service to be expanded. Council needs to work with Housing NSW and the state government to come up with a way in which the demonstrated need for the service can be met. It is only when public transport that links communities to the services that they need is available that will it become feasible for those with cars to get rid of them and for those without their own vehicle to be able to readily access all the services in their community that they need.

Souths Leagues’ Club to Include a new IGA Supermarket

South’s Leagues Club has revealed the supermarket to be included in the club’s refurbishment will be an IGA Supermarket. Souths say it has tenants lined up for the building when it opens. In addition to running the café on Redfern Park, Souths is also looking for a ‘Signature Chef’ as part of their plan to attract people to the area for functions and good dining at the renovated Club.

In the meantime Souths Football Club has returned to Redfern Oval to train and this was reported in Tears as Mario Fenech, Craig Coleman return to Redfern. In other club news South’s co-owner called for greater support for the football club in Rabbitohs can't always rely on me: Crowe and the community response was reported in Souths' fans stick with Crowe.

City of Sydney Council Appoints Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Panel

On 2 June 2008, Council resolved to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel and to ratify the community membership following the nomination process. The Panel arose as a suggestion from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community during Sustainable Sydney 2030 consultations, as a more formal process to improve the dialogue between Coucil and the Aboriginal community.

At the council meeting on 15^th December 2008 CoS formalised the appointment, for a period of one year, of its first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Panel. The appointment came following expressions of interest and selection process. Millie Ingram and Don Clarke were appointed to the two elder positions with Adam Ridgeway and Adina Silva Duncan appointed as the youth (under 25s) representatives. The remaining seven community representatives were filled by Bronwyn Bancroft, Larissa Behrendt, Fay Carroll, Kay Dundas, Sara Hamilton, Dillon Kombumerri and Shireen Malamoo.

The remainder of the committee will be made up of one Councillor (Marcelle Hoff with Irene Dountney as alternate) and three City of Sydney officers (the Aboriginal Community Development Officer, Community Living Director, and Manager Social Policy and Community Support). The Panel will be co-chaired by the CoS Councillor, with an Aboriginal co-chair to be elected by the Panel members at the inaugural meeting.

Twenty nine eligible nominations were received for the panel and the selection process sought a balance of skills in governance, arts and culture, research, business and enterprise, community, government experience, etc. While only eleven nominations were accepted for the panel the remainder form an eligibility list for the Panel in case any of the original eleven are unable to take up the offer, or to continue the full term; and the remainder will also be asked if they would be available to take part in working groups.

Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage in NSW Final Report

The NSW Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues has handed down its Final Report on Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage in New South Wales. You can download the Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage in New South Wales Final Report (989Kb PDF) and Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage in New South Wales Recommendations (110Kb PDF) from the Inquiry Website. Of interest to people in Redfern Waterloo will be a Redfern/Waterloo Case Study on the Needle Exchange in Redfern. The report says:

”The need to improve communication between government and Aboriginal communities has been starkly apparent throughout the whole of this Inquiry, and is evident in the example of previous recommendations relating to the Needle Exchange in Redfern. This need is addressed in this report through recommendations strengthening partnership and consultation between government and Aboriginal communities”

“Strengthening partnership and consultation between government and Aboriginal communities” was expected to be one of the outcomes of the recommendations of the 2004 Inquiry into Redfern/Waterloo of which the recommendations on the Needle Bus were just one of the many recommendations that many argue were not implemented. Hopefully the NSW Government will take the latest recommendations more seriously.

One of the recommendations from the Inquiry is “That the NSW Government require government departments and agencies involved in the delivery of services to Aboriginal communities to use the representative structures established by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs’ Two Ways Together Partnership Community Engagement strategy to conduct their business”. According to the last page of the Two Ways Together brochure in Redfern the partnership community operates “through the Redfern-Waterloo Authority”. We understand that this mechanism was the focus of some questions at the last DAA consultation in Redfern.

Debate about the Aboriginal Children’s Service

The Aboriginal Children’s Service has no been funded this financial year. The Australian has run a large story about the ACS providing perspectives from DOCS and the ACS about the service. You can see the Australian’s story in Disservice to children.

The Factory Secures Housing Communities Program (HCP) Funding

The Factory Community Centre has been successful in re-securing the tender to continue auspicing the new HCP Programme (formerly HCAP) for Waterloo and Redfern Area funded by Housing NSW. The project has been funded for the next two and a half years. This means that Michael Shreenan will continue as the Redfern Waterloo Community Development Worker.

Improving Action on Issues facing Public Housing Tenants

City of Sydney Council has started community forums for public housing tenants Redfern and Waterloo. Forums in other parts of CoS have been operated by Clover Moore as the local MP and Mayor whereas Redfern and Waterloo are in Kristina Keneally’s seat of Heffron so this model was not workable. As a result there have not been forums where feedback has fed into council until the recent forums. The council interest was welcomed but there is a need for serious thought to be given to how consultations with public housing residents can be organised so that residents can get their issues addressed irrespective of which part of government is responsible for addressing their particular issue. The Redfern meeting went off well even if City News wrote it up as Residents says public housing is bedlam.

The Waterloo meeting was very disappointing with the Lord Mayor being absent, the police not sending a senior officer and the new Housing NSW representative not having the back up information available to her to be able to answer the questions. Ongoing issues about Waterloo Green were high on the agenda of those attending and we are told there was a strong feeling the problems were not being addressed. The RWA Annual Report lists the development of the Waterloo Green Action Plan as one of the RWA’s human services achievements for the year. There is a need for all parties to get around the table, stop blame shifting and start to address the complex issues surrounding Waterloo Green. This should involve CoS, the local member, police, Housing NSW, the RWA and other relevant government departments. All need to work with Waterloo tenants to address residents’ issues. A new model for working with the community has being put forward by public tenants in Waterloo to the various parties, hopefully it will be supported and see the issues addressed.

Some people thought the CoS / RWA proposal for a dry centre might help address some of the street drinker issues in the area including those in Waterloo Green. We understand however that the Human Services MAC was advised that the Federal Government would not be funding the dry centre proposal arguing that they already provide funding for services for this target group in the area.

Green Public Housing for Redfern

The Sydney Morning Herald in Redfern pilot tailored to cut energy needs has provided some additional information about the "Green Star" national standard for energy-efficient residential buildings being planned for re-developed public housing in Redfern. According to the article the new housing at Redfern will have gas-boosted solar hot water, water-saving shower heads, rainwater tanks to supply water for washing clothes and flushing toilets, native landscaping and water recycling for gardens. There will also be cross-ventilation within residences, insulation and thermal materials that act to reduce energy costs year-round. Redfern is one of six residential pilots under way nationally according to the article.

Green Square Developers Appointed

Mirvac/Leighton Properties has been selected to partner with Landcom to deliver the first phase of the $1.7 billion Green Square Town Centre reports the media release Next Step taken on $1.7 Billion Green Square Town Centre from Minister for Planning Kristina Keneally. The story was picked up by the SMH property editor in Engines started on Green Square.

RLC launch Activists Rights Manual

To help activists in NSW to exercise their rights and avoid unnecessary problems with police, Redfern Legal Centre has produced the Activist Rights Manual, an online guide to the art of peaceful protest, written by Dale Mills and funded by the Law and Justice Foundation. The online guide can be found at www.activistrightsmanual.com. It is intended for a non-legal audience, yet it should also be of assistance to lawyers who have an interest in this area of law. One strength of the Manual is that it will be continually updated for at least the next three years as legal changes occur. It will also collect information from activists about what happens in reality. This will include sentences received as they are handed down by the courts. The manual was launched on 10^th December by 1970s activist, Meredith Burgmann. In other Activating Human Rights activities Redfern Legal Centre also celebrated the 60^th Anniversary of International Human Rights Day by distributing fortune cookies containing information from the International Charter on Human Rights within the cookies.

Redfern In the Police Media rightly or wrongly?

It is difficult to shed the bad image Redfern has in the media. Through the media monitoring we do for the REDWatch website it is clear that there are many more positive stories about the area than negative stories. One of the media perceptions of Redfern is of the high level of crime in the area. The police tell us that the level of crime continues to drop but the perception of crime in the area persists. We suggested a couple of years ago that one thing that could be done to overcome this perception was to change the name of the Police Local Area Command. This week there was a police story that highlights the problem.

The story was put out by Police media with the headline Man charged over serious drug matters - Redfern and was initially run unedited with a note that “Inquiries into the matter continue” by the Courier’s Central with the headline ‘Redfern drug arrest’. The story covers an arrest, made by the Surry Hills Proactive Team, of a man in Eve Street Erskineville who was then taken Redfern Police Station. There was a subsequent search of a property which we are advised was also in Erskineville. We have taken the issue up with the Central and we are pleased to see that in an update of the story on their website they have now changed the headline to Erskineville drug arrests but you can still see the original name in the story URL.

The only Redfern connection to the story was the name of the Local Area Command. The LAC covers Chippendale, Darlington, Eveleigh, Erskineville, Alexandria, Beaconsfield, Rosebery, Zetland and Waterloo as well as Redfern - the entire area from Broadway and Cleveland St in the north, west down along the railway line to Sydney Park and Gardeners Road in the south and to South Dowling St in the east. If the LAC was called say “Inner Southern” then the word Redfern would never have appeared in the story at all.

In our earlier discussions on this topic with then LAC Comander Catherine Burn we found there was a reluctance to consider changing the name of the LAC and a certain pride among police about serving in Redfern. Stories like the one we have just discussed often arise and Redfern’s media association with crime would be lessened if such a LAC name change took place. In the meantime we suggest that police media should assign stories to the suburb in which they occur rather than to the broader LAC. Journalists and editors should consider if the headline matches the fact contained in the story.

As a counter point on Redfern’s law and order image, we should acknowledge the appointment to the High Court bench of Justice Virginia Bell who’s career began 30 years ago at the Redfern Legal Service - Justice Kirby to be replaced by NSW judge reported the ABC.

In other Redfern stories the media release Coloured Digger Project Thanks Damien Minton Gallery covers a cheque presentation for $4,000.00 to the Coloured Digger Project Steering Committee and the WordUP! Book Launch media release covered the wordUP! literacy program recently run at The Yurungai Learning Centre in Waterloo. In addition to the SSH articles below other Redfern Waterloo media stories included the Telegraph’s Torn between two States covering actor Luke Ford at the Actor's Pulse studio in Redfern, where he studied and still teaches when the opportunity arises. December 1 saw Waterloo’s Cauliflower Hotel celebrate its 170th birthday which was reported in Pub with Dark Past Celebrates 170th Birthday. The recent protests about the Northern Territory was covered in Redfern protest attacks intervention.

South Sydney Herald December 2008

You can download the entire copy of the South Sydney Herald for December 2008 (3.2 MB PDF). Articles from the December 2008 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo have been placed on the REDWatch website and include Leasing ATP – Heritage Lost? about the NSW mini-budget decision to sell a 99 year lease over the ATP and Brendan Nelson on Bill Crews Redfern tutorial centre in Setting kids up for success. The South Sydney Uniting Church community garden is covered in “It is a radical act to garden …” , the Waterloo Recycling Workshop (WRW) gets a run in Cycling, recycling as does South Sydney Community Aid in Community aid, thanks to volunteers. The SSH also reports on an inspection of Waterloo’s Solander building in Tenants left in the dark as well they report on responses from the NSW Housing Minister in Questions to the Housing NSW Minister.

In other stories the SSH covered Notre Dame’s expansion plans in Chippendale, Café owners stung by new Council fees, the problems facing Darlington-based Interprojects in Bust or boom, businesses adapt and the opening of sustainability practice Resource 88 in Sustaining business in Redfern. They also reported in The future and the past at Souths Leagues that South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club are looking to locate ‘N Grade’ Grand Final, Redfern Oval, 1976 players Jimmy Monta (La Perouse) and Brad Downes (Mascot Juniors). Other stories included Coloured Digger Project thanks Damien Minton Gallery, Studio for artists and passers-by about Shopfront Studio in Redfern Street, Works on film, online - Artist Profile: Curious Works, and Redfern artist Adam Hills exhibition in “One placard in a picket line of urban Indigenous activism” . In the fast news Trevor Davies reflects on Something about homeless people that makes some people feel uncomfortable and asks Do we need an International Year of the Disabled 2010? On the broader city canvas the SSH reports on the changes to poster laws in the City of Sydney in Ban on bill posters an “attack on free speech” .

UTS Shopfront – Deadline for New Projects 30 January 2009

The deadline for UTS Shopfront projects for Semester One is 30 January 2009. You can see past projects at http://datasearch2.uts.edu.au/shopfront/projects/completed/index.cfm.

UTS Shopfront are also associated with a new refereed Journal, Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement which covers Interactions between universities, the community sector and public policy. You can see the first issue here.

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 - Charles Kernan Reserve Renewal - Community feedback, until Friday 12 December.
CoS - Missenden Road Cycleway - Community feedback, until 6 February.
Sydney University expect to Consult on Abercrombie Street Major Project Application in February 2009.
CoS - DA Notifications by Suburb View as Map
CoS - Free Home Composting & Worm Farming Workshops - Book online.

RWIU 12 Nov 2008

REDWatch — 2008-11-12T08:13:06Z

[We are sorry about the lengthe of time between updates - a lot has happened. 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:

New Minister rules on future of the RWA

ATP to be privatised - Mini Budget

RWA response to submissions & Preferred Project Report on North Eveleigh

Concern over RWA Heritage Interpretation Strategy

Previously Unknown Redfern Major Projects found on New DoP website!

ILC modifications on former school site approved

Frasers respond to submissions and lodge Preferred Project Report for CUB Broadway site

CoS Darlington Charles Kernan Park consultation – 15 November 2008

ATP Subdivision – until 19 November 2008

Eveleigh Blacksmith Shop Markets Information Breakfast – Tuesday 25th November 2008

Britannia Hotel Darlington DA to become boarding house – until 28^th November 2008

ATP Henderson Road Tree Removal – until 3 December 2008

RailCorp decides to keep Large Erecting Shop for rail heritage purposes

Answers to Estimates Questions on Redfern Waterloo

Redfern Waterloo issues raised with Minister Keneally

Heritage meeting asks Minister for a Heritage and Tourism Committee for the Eveleigh Railyard Precinct

Minister Encouraged to Re-grant Heritage funds to ATP

Do you have any Eveleigh railyard stories?

RWA Human Services Evaluation still to be released

Research into Volunteer Opportunities in Redfern Waterloo

Free RWA/ATP Seniors and Elders Christmas lunch – Tuesday 18^th November 2008

Community Safety at Waterloo Shops Questionnaire - by 21 November 2008

Summer on the Green – 5^th December 2008 2pm – 6pm

Family Days on the Block – Saturday 6^th December 2008

NSW Aboriginal Stolen Wages Registration cut off - 31 December 2008

Connect Redfern – Children and Family Services Lists Updated for Term 4 2008

New Artist Space in the Inner City

In the Media

South Sydney Herald November 2008

South Sydney Herald October 2008

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

Coming events (look at the new local events entered on the REDWatch website that are not covered here)

New Minister rules on future of the RWA

The RWA continues to 2011-12 - Minister Keneally has announced in a one line statement in the summary of planning portfolio reforms in her media release of Wednesday 29 October 2008 on "Planning Reform to Keep Development and New South Wales Moving". The one line statement said:

"The Redfern-Waterloo Authority continues operation until 2011-12 at which point it will reviewed, either for termination or to be incorporated into other agencies".

With the change of Minister there had been some calls for the RWA to be abolished and REDWatch at its last meeting said it was Time to Rethink Redfern Waterloo Authority. The statement was picked up by both the South Sydney Herald in North Eveleigh – questions persist and Central in Authority scrapped. REDWatch in the lead up to the last election had detailed the changes that it would like to see with a change of Minister. Recently a copy of the REDWatch paper An Agenda for Redfern Waterloo Changes in 2007 - State Election Issues (PDF 75kb) has again been given to the Minister.

ATP to be privatised - Mini Budget

The NSW Government has announced that as part of the Mini-Budget of 11 November 2008 the ATP will pass to private hands. The most likely outcome would seem to be the sale of a 99 year lease across the entire site although as subdivision of the ATP is still currently proceeding so other options are possible. The full text of the media release is at Infrastructure levies reviewed, and leases for ATP and Darling Harbour and a brief article about the budget and the ATP can be found NSW razor broadly misses IT spending. The key sections of the Budget documents relating to the ATP are:

"The Australian Technology Park at Redfern is a commercially operated business park that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, Owning and operating a business park is not a core responsibility of government and there is no evidence of market failure. The property will be offered to the market by way of a 99-year lease. The site has development potential that can be better realised by the private sector."[Budget Papers reported on Zdnet NSW razor broadly misses IT spending]

“Commercial assets and leases belonging to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) and the Australian Technology Park (ATP) at Redfern will be placed on the market as part of the NSW Government’s Mini-Budget… “The long term lease of these assets will provide a shot in the arm for the State’s economy,” Ms Keneally said. “It will also free-up the government agencies responsible for these assets, the SHFA and the Redfern-Waterloo Authority (RWA), to strengthen their focus on what they do best.”….“The Government purchased the ATP because it was in financial stress and did not have the financial capacity to restructure its business,” Ms Keneally said. “The Park has turned this around. It is more appropriate for the private sector to take over its ownership and operation.” Ms Keneally said the leasing of each asset will be staged and will only proceed if there is appropriate interest from the private sector…[Extracts from Minister’s media release].

REDWatch has consistently spoken out against government selling off its scarce inner city land and so the sale of a 99 year lease rather than sale of the land is welcomed. It should however not proceed until there are arrangements in place to ensure that the heritage of the site will be protected in private ownership and that heritage tourism access to the privatised site will be guaranteed. The decision to divest the ATP raises the question of if certain parts of the site may be better managed for heritage purposes if they are transferred to a dedicated heritage trust prior to the ATP head lease being sold. This proposal was recently floated at the recent Eveleigh heritage meeting in relation to ongoing ATP management.

No one would want to see heritage equipment in Bays 1 & 2 and other locations around the ATP cleared out further down the track to provide better income generating office accommodation. Similarly no one would want to see the Blacksmiths thrown out by a new owner because they could either not generate a commercial rate of return for their floor space or because of the impact of their activities on others in the park. This announcement makes the establishment of a committee to ensure heritage across the entire site is preserved with a view to this being supported by a Heritage Tourism Strategy even more urgent (details later in this update).

Concern about the announcement has come from some of those committed to the initial idea of the ATP. It has been pointed out to us that the ATP was originally conceived by the universities to foster excellence in innovation and technology. In the 1880s, Eveleigh was an incredibly important centre for "technology transfer in the steam era." Skilled tradesmen and engineers were brought from UK and elsewhere to establish the Eveleigh Locomotive Works as a world class steam era technology centre. Its success in doing so can still be measured today by the large number of people who still say that they did their apprenticeship at Eveleigh. The Eveleigh skills base provided the critical training ground for the later establishment of the NSW (& Australian) heavy engineering manufacturing industry. The universities vision in establishing ATP was to do in today's electronic era what Eveleigh did in the steam era 100 years ago. Under the RWA the ATP has moved away from being a Technology Park and become more of a business park where potentially the original vision was in danger of being lost. These people want to know if part of it will continue as a world class new technology training centre and how if the site is sold this will be guaranteed?

RWA response to submissions & Preferred Project Report on North Eveleigh

The Department of Planning has posted the RWA’s Preferred Project Plan on its website at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/08_0015.asp. The original documents for the exhibition were posted on the RWA website with a DoP link back to the RWA’s own site. Those trying to follow what happens at North Eveleigh would have expected that the RWA’s responses to submissions and the Preferred Project Plan would have also appeared where the original documents were posted – to date, despite bringing it to the RWA’s attention, the RWA still have not posted the documents on their own website. The RWA’s Preferred Plans can be downloaded from these links:

Preferred Project Report - Main Volume (September 2008) (609 KB PDF)
Appendix 1 - Amended Concept Plan (941 KB PDF)
Appendix 2 - Solar Study (3,295 KB PDF)
Appendix 3 - Comparison of Statement of Commitments (76 KB PDF)
Appendix 4 - Agency Issues and Responses (216 KB PDF)
Appendix 5 - Interpretation Strategy (16 KB PDF)
Appendix 6 - Residential Flat Design Code Review of Amended Concept Plan (83 KB PDF)
Appendix 7 - Response to Community Submissions (425 KB PDF)
Appendix 8 - Wind Effects Report (1,344 KB PDF)
Appendix 9 - Supplementary Archaeological Advice (1,136 KB PDF)
Appendix 10 - Circulation Plan and Access (217 KB PDF)
Land Use Plan - North Eveleigh (97 KB PDF)

These plans do not go on exhibition again. They are now assessed by the DoP, which can request further changes or attach conditions to the approval. If you are not happy with any aspect of the RWA’s revised proposal make your comments quickly to the DoP referencing MP 08_0015. We are aware that some residents and people concerned about the RWA’s two page Heritage Interpretation Strategy have already done this.

In the Executive Summary of the Preferred Project report the RWA says that the key aspects of the amended Concept Plan and Statement of Commitments include:

‘Improved Site Layout: The site layout and design framework has been improved by creating more contiguous open space throughout the site and on Wilson Street. The removal of buildings at the western precinct enables the creation of a significant park providing a generous setback to Ivery’s lane and adjacent properties while the provision of pocket parks along Wilson Street provide an improved aesthetic quality to the development, integrates the site with the surrounding neighbourhood and increases its permeability. The removal of the proposed 5 storey commercial building at the eastern end of the site and east-west orientation of a new residential building along the railway lines allows a greater appreciation of the Fan of Tracks and delivers a clearly delineated park with maximum capacity for heritage interpretation. The overall floor space has been reduced by 2,400m2.

New Parks: The Statement of Commitments has been amended to require the proponent to provide the following five parks, totalling approximately 9,400m2 including:

A park at the western end of the site, adjacent to Iverys Lane, with an approximate area of 3,350m2.
A park in the location of the Fan of Tracks with an approximate area of 2,635m2.
A park at the eastern end of the site, adjacent to Little Eveleigh St, with an approximate area of 2,690m2.
A park on Wilson St at the western end of the Blacksmiths’ Shop with an approximate area of 445m2
A park on Wilson St opposite Forbes St with an approximate area of 280m2.

In addition the Statement of Commitments has been strengthened in relation to the provision for deep soil planting, play equipment, water sensitive urban design and crime prevention strategies as recommended by the NSW Police, as well as other landscaping treatment which recognises the sites heritage values and responds to community submissions.

Strengthening Heritage: The Concept Plan has been amended to provide for the mixed use of the Chief Mechanical Engineers Building, thus allowing for commercial development consistent with its historical use. In addition to the existing requirements for heritage protection, the Statement of Commitments has been amended to require proponents to develop Interpretation Strategies in accordance with the Interpretation Strategy Guidelines specifically developed for the site. This will ensure an integrated heritage interpretation which best reflects the site’s history.

Increased Provision for Childcare: The amended Statement of Commitments increases the provision for childcare facilities from one 45 place centre to the equivalent number necessary for the proposed residential and working population to meet the requirements of the City of Sydney Child Care DCP 2005.

Reduced Car Parking: The maximum number of car parking spaces on site has been reduced in the Amended Concept Plan from 1943 spaces to 1800 spaces. Proponents will now be required to provide for car share schemes as well meet the standards for bicycle parking outlined in the South Sydney Development Control Plan.

Safer Access: The configuration of the western vehicular access to the site has been changed and directional signage introduced to reduce potential conflicts from vehicles exiting the site at the intersection of Queen and Wilson Street. The Report provides a review of options for the western access developed in response to submissions.

Sustainability Targets: Sustainability Targets for commercial development have been introduced. Proponents will be required to achieve best practice equivalent to 4 Star Green Star for Commercial Buildings and 4.5 Star NABERS Office Energy.

Traffic and Transport: A Transport Management and Accessibility Plan (TMAP) will be required to be undertaken for the development with emphasis on increasing public transport patronage. The Proposal also reiterates the RWA’s commitment to providing the cycle/pedestrian bridge linking North Eveleigh to the ATP. RWA’s traffic consultants have responded in detail to the independent traffic assessment commissioned by the Department of Planning.

Redistribution of Heights: It has been necessary to redistribute heights to achieve the overall design improvements and in particular, better integrated open space. Where heights have been increased it is demonstrated that there will be no amenity impacts. All variations to heights are addressed in the Report.

Affordable Housing: The amended Concept Plan proposes a target of 12% of the new dwellings in North Eveleigh for affordable housing. This will be managed by a registered community housing organisation or government agency and will be funded by the RWA’s affordable housing developer levies.’

There have been some height changes which from pages 22-23 of Preferred Project Report include:

‘Building D4: The Concept Plan proposed a split height of 5 and 6 storeys for this building. It is now proposed that the 5 storey element be increased to 6 storeys making the whole building a 6 storey building. The variation is sought as the amended Concept Plan eliminates Building B1 and A1 creating public open space in their place.
Buildings G1 and G2: As outlined in Section 5 of the previously submitted Concept Plan the maximum permitted height for these buildings is 4 storeys. The amended Concept Plan increases the height of these buildings from 5 storeys to 6 storeys.
Building J1: In the previously submitted Concept Plan a small portion of Building J1 which was 5 storeys in height protruded into the 4 storey maximum height zone. The amended Concept Plan proposes that this building be reoriented east-west along the railway line, framing the park proposed on the Fan of Tracks. The proposed height of 8 storeys complies with the permissible height limit of 10 storeys applying to this part of the site. (change in its use from commercial to residential – p 3)
Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Office Building – Mixed uses, including either commercial or residential uses.’

Local Wilson Street resident Bruce Lay and some other residents involved in the walk around with the previous Minister have raised a number of concerns about the Preferred Project Report and have written to the Minister requesting that she appoint an Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to review these important issues of public concern that remain unresolved in the North Eveleigh Revised Concept Plan. Here you can see the text of Bruce Lay’s request for Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel. More information about the panels can be found in Fact sheet 5: Independent hearing and assessment panels (91Kb PDF) on the DoP website.

REDWatch at its meeting resolved to request the Minister to place the assessment of the RWA’s North Eveleigh Concept Plan on hold until discussions are held with the University of Sydney to see if an agreement can be reached for USyd to acquire the site. If such an agreement could be reached then a new Concept Plan would be required that would incorporate USyd’s proposal. If the Minister decided not to pursue the University option then REDWatch requested that the Minister establish an Independent Hearing and Assessment panel to address unresolved issues in the RWA’s current proposal. Having originally been invited by the NSW government to make proposals for its use of Callan Park, USyd’s chance of securing the North Eveleigh site is likely to be improved by the rejection of its plans for Callan Park. While the Harold Park site, which is also of interest to USyd, will come on the market within the next two years (see And they're leaving: Harold Park for sale) it is not expected to detract from USyd’s interest in North Eveleigh. According to Estimates Hearing evidence Minister Keneally has met with USyd over the Callan Park decision and presumably USyd’s interest in North Eveleigh was part of the discussions.

Concern over RWA Heritage Interpretation Strategy

When the North Eveleigh Concept Plan went on exhibition many people concerned about heritage on the site were concerned that there was no Heritage Interpretation Strategy (HIS). The RWA subsequently produced a brief two page HIS that given the site’s heritage significance has been strongly criticised by those working in heritage. While the HIS makes reference to a Worker’s Wall, it has not picked up other key elements of the proposal by labour historian Associate Professor Lucy Taksa that include the Worker’s Register launched by then Premier Bob Carr or a keeping place for the labour and social history of this important site.

While the HIS foreshadows heritage walking tours with guides and recorded commentary it does not go into any detail about what needs to happen across the site to ensure it will be a heritage attraction that people will want to see. While there is a proposal for three carriages to be part of the North Eveleigh development pubic domain, carriages that were originally made at Eveleigh won’t be used because the HIS proposes they be sited outdoors, which makes the Eveleigh carriages unsuitable! There is concern that the existing HIS is not sufficient to ensure there is an integrated heritage interpretation across the site. You can read the RWA Heritage Interpretation Strategy and if you have concerns about it, the only avenue currently available is to write to the DoP requesting them to reject the RWA’s HIS as inadequate.

Previously Unknown Redfern Major Projects found on New DoP website!

Long time RWIU readers will know that we have been very critical of the Major Projects Registry on the DoP website, so we were very pleased to find that they have now introduced a database style listing which enables you to easily bring up details of projects by Local Government Area eg Major Project in City of Sydney or say for Redfern Eveleigh University of Sydney or Chippendale. The database entries are coloured so you can see at what stage they are and you can set up a link to the associated documents, which was impossible with the earlier Register. You will notice however that the system is only as good as the person providing / entering the data so for example the development proposed in Redfern surrounded by Hart, Hudson, Abercrombie and Cleveland Streets shows up in Chippendale and not Redfern.

The new system has revealed three Major Project Applications in Redfern Waterloo for which DGRs have been issued in the last year without the projects being listed in the earlier Major Project Register. The three projects are:

7-9 Gibbons Street, Redfern: Mixed Use Residential/Commercial/Retail Development Kimberley Securities Ltd to construct a 14 storey development above the existing 4 storey car park to include retail commercial and residential spaces – Application 5-6-2008 DGRs issued 7 August 2008.
Australian Technology Park: MP 08_0001 Red Cross Blood Service Centre and Commercial Tower Grocon Property Services (NSW) Pty Ltd for Australian Red Cross Blood Service Facility and ancillary operations with an adjacent 10 storey commercial office tower on Lease Lot C1 within Lot 500. Application 19-12-2007 DGRs issued 7 February 2008.
157-163 Cleveland Street Chippendale (correct suburb Redfern): MP 07_0180 - Mixed Use Development for Retail, Commercial and Residential Use, Chippendale Hudson Square Pty Ltd propose a five storey retail and commercial building on the western portion of the site (referred to as Building A), and a five storey mixed use - retail and residential - building on the eastern portion of the site (referred to as Building B). The new project proposes to include a supermarket and 202 car parking spaces. This is a new application and reissued DGRs for area bounded by Hart, Hudson, Abercrombie and Cleveland which was covered by the earlier MP 06_0218 - Mixed use commercial residential development - Chippendale of which we were aware. New Application December 2007 - DGRS Issued: 13 February 2008!

ILC modifications on former school site approved

Since our last update DoP has posted the approval for the ILC’s second set of modifications (06_0267 MOD 2) for the NIDC on the former school site. The modifications are to the George Street facade of Building F, and minor amendments to internal configuration of building F, including the addition of amenity and first aid facilities to the pool terrace (Level 2). The changes primarily come from a review of the layout of the building following the decision that YMCA will be the proposed operator rather than PCYC. The details of the changes approved can be downloaded from the DoP - Former Redfern Public School: MOD 2 - NIDC Building F Modifications.

Frasers respond to submissions and lodge Preferred Project Report for CUB Broadway site

Frasers Property has lodged a Preferred Project Report for the Frasers Broadway site with the DoP. This report relates to the recently lodged Modified Concept Plan and has been prepared in response to submissions received during the public exhibition period. It addresses a number of key issues raised in public submissions and from the DoP’s assessment. You can view the report on the DoP website at Carlton United Breweries Site: Modification application 2 or on www.frasersbroadway.com.au/broadway/doc.htm. The Fraser’s report says this Preferred Project Report includes the following changes:

Minor reconfiguration of building envelopes and floor space (particularly along Abercrombie Street);
Reduction in floor space by 1,500m2;
Adjustment of connecting bridges on Blocks 1, 2 and 4; and
Reconfiguration of some vehicular entrances (Blocks 1 and 5) and introduction of a two-way street around the Main Park and Brewery Yard.
Provides a better built form transition along Abercrombie Street;
Improves solar access to residential dwellings located on the opposite sides of Abercrombie Street and Wellington Street;
Improves solar access to the main park;
Improves traffic circulation in and around the site; and
Improves visual site lines to and from the site.
Future project applications will provide more detailed information on:

car park management schemes and measures to be applied such that the site does not incorporate any commuter parking; and
incorporation of CPTED principles and key public safety aspects – in particular the detailed design of the proposed green plates.

Fraser’s Preferred Project Report proposal is now with DoP for determination so any ongoing concerns about the Preferred Project proposal should be directed to the DoP.

CoS Darlington Charles Kernan Park consultation – 15 November 2008

Council is holding a consultation on the renewal of Charles Kernan Park. The project is in the early design phase and Council wants community input. You can discuss with City staff the initial design ideas, which will be on display at the community meeting. Your suggestions and feedback will help finalise the design. The consultation is at the corner of Abercrombie and Shepherd Streets Darlington on 15 November 2008 from 10:30am to 12:30 pm. For more information visit the CoS website at Park Upgrade Community Consultation.

ATP Subdivision – until 19 November 2008

Australian Technology Park Precinct Management has applied (DA 037-10-08) to its owner the RWA for the subdivision of land within the Australian Technology Park to create seven (7) lots including the registration of infrastructure easements. The plans are on public exhibition until 19 November 2008. The documents can be inspected at the Neighbourhood Centre 158 Redfern St, Redfern. The documents can also be downloaded from the RWA’s website as follows: Statement of Environmental Effects (2,231 KB PDF); Existing Title Plan (122 KB PDF); Land Contamination Summaries (945 KB PDF); Correspondence with Utility Authorities (380 KB PDF); Subdivision Plan 1 (345 KB PDF); Subdivision Plan 2 (209 KB PDF); Subdivision Plan 3 (111 KB PDF); Subdivision Plan 4 (190 KB PDF); Subdivision Plan 5 (134 KB PDF); Subdivision Plan 6 (192 KB PDF); Application form (1,032 KB PDF). Any enquires should be referred to Joanne McGuinness at the RWA on 9202 9128 9:00am to 5:00pm Mon-Fri or email redfernwaterloo@rwa.nsw.gov.au and include the DA reference number listed above. The ATP subdivision being prepared by the RWA is for the purpose of ground lease sales probably within the overall 99 year lease to be offered rather than for the direct leasing of individual blocks.

Eveleigh Blacksmith Shop Markets Information Breakfast – Tuesday 25th November 2008

The RWA is inviting interested people to a free information breakfast to find out about business and fundraising opportunities available at the new Eveleigh Market, Wilson St, Darlington. The breakfast event will include professional advice for people thinking about starting a small business and becoming a market stall holder. Local schools and community organisations can find out how the Eveleigh Market can help them raise funds through the community stalls. It will be held on Tuesday 25 November 8.00am til 9.00am at Yaama Dhiyaan, Hospitality Training and Function Centre 255 Wilson St, Darlington To register please contact the RWA on 9202 9100 or email Natalie.culverhouse@rwa.nsw.gov.au

The RWA has advertised a DA for signage at the North Eveleigh Blacksmith Shop “Installation of ‘Eveleigh Markets’ business identification signage on the eastern gable of the building (4m wide x 1.3m high) and on the Wilson Street elevation (35m x 2.525m high)” aIt is on exhibition until 3 December 2008 see - Development Proposals On Exhibition.

The RWA is advertising that the first market day will be Saturday 13^th December 2008. Further information should become available on its website www.eveleighmarkets.com.au.

Britannia Hotel Darlington DA to become boarding house – until 28^th November 2008

Some concerns have been raised with us about a DA for 103 – 107 Cleveland Street Darlington for “Alterations and additions to existing buildings, also known as The Britannia Hotel and adjoining 2 storey dwelling, to construct a 3 storey boarding house consisting 27 rooms and 54 beds (10 x 1 bedrooms, 9 x 2 bedrooms, 5 x 3 bedrooms and 3 x 4 bedrooms, communal amenities and 1 car space accessed via Vine Street. The site also has frontages to Beaumont Street and Vine Street.” View the full details and accompanying documentation here or inspect the plans at the CoS Redfern Neighbourhood Service Centre at 158 Redfern Street, Redfern.

ATP Henderson Road Tree Removal – until 3 December 2008

The ATP has also made a DA for “Removal of existing trees along the ATP southern boundary facing Henderson Road footpath and provision of replacement trees”. The DA is one exhibition until 3 December 2008 see - Development Proposals On Exhibition.

The RWA also have received an application for modification from Kimberley Securities Ltd for 1 Lawson Sq to “Include cooking facilities in the previously approved café fitout located on the ground floor between Tower 1 and Tower 2” – Exhibition until 21 November 2008. More information about these RWA DAs can be found on the RWA website at Development Proposals On Exhibition.

RailCorp decides to keep Large Erecting Shop for rail heritage purposes

Heritage operator 3801 Ltd advised a recent meeting of those interested in heritage at Eveleigh that Office of Rail Heritage (ORH) had advised them that the RailCorp board has approved the retention of the Large for rail heritage purposes subject to subject to final funding approval. The next issue however is the resolution of how the building is to be used. It is clear that ORH wants to move some carriages from the Paint Shop to the Large, so an issue is whether there will be sufficient space for the new carriages the ORH wants to put into the Large and still have room and equipment for 3801 Ltd to operate in a viable manner. Over the next few weeks there will be some interesting discussions between 3801 Ltd and ORH with the future of active heritage uses at the Large likely to be at stake. After a long break 3801 Ltd has put out a newsletter www.3801limited.com.au/news.htm. 3801 Ltd has also announced that with Lachlan Valley Railway Society Co-operative Ltd assistance LVR Steam Locomotive 5917 will be located in Sydney for approximately six weeks during November and December 2008. Steam will operate on selected Cockatoo Runs on yet to be determined dates during that period. Hopefully this is the start of a new future for rail heritage at the LES.

The Large is again nominated for the National Heritage Federal Register under The Large Erecting Shop - Eveleigh. Also for the second year in a row the Large has made the National Trust’s 10 Most at Risk list and you can see the nomination details at www.heritageatrisk.org.au/Large_Erecting_Shop,_Eveleigh.html. The Friends of Eveleigh have produced this map of the Eveleigh Rail Yards to show what remains of the former Eveleigh complex Eveleigh 2008 - Railway Heritage Map (415 KB PDF). The Large is the only continuously working part of the rail yard site.

Answers to Estimates Questions on Redfern Waterloo

On Wednesday 15 October 2008 Minister Keneally and RWA CEO Robert Domm appeared before General Purpose Standing Committee No. 4 for examination of proposed expenditure for the portfolio areas of Planning and Redfern Waterloo. Questions and Answers cover the Built Environment Plan 2; Rachel Forster hospital; RWA funding; interest in the purchase of North Eveleigh; the Aboriginal Housing Company; heritage buildings on North Eveleigh and the unspent funding for heritage conservation work at the ATP. A number of questions were also placed on notice. You can read the draft transcript and the answers to the questions on notice on the REDWatch website - RWA Questions at Estimates Hearing - 15th October 2008

In September, South Sydney Herald put a series of questions, prepared by REDWatch, to Minister Keneally. You can read the Minister’s answers at New Minister for Redfern-Waterloo. REDWatch was not impressed that the new Minister’s responses were very little different from those of her predecessor. It is to be hoped that as the Minister settles in to the new job she will look for ways to improve the RWA’s community engagement processes.

Redfern Waterloo issues raised with Minister Keneally

In mid October Geoff, in his individual capacity as an active community member on Redfern Waterloo issues and as a member of one of the RWA’s Ministerial Advisory Committees, met with Minister Keneally. A wide range of issues were raised with the new Minister and you can see the note covering them in - Redfern Waterloo Issues Discussed with Minister Keneally. Among the issues raised was the need for an exit strategy for the RWA so that there will be a smooth transaction from the RWA to post RWA mechanisms. The strategy needs to start being built now. One example is in the area of human services, where the RWA has wound back its own involvement in human services with its role being cut back just to chairing the Implementation Senior Officers Group (ISOG) which has responsibility for implementation of the RWA Human Services Plans. Geoff put to the Minister that there needs to be thought given to how the post RWA ISOG and Human Services Plan mechanism is going to relate to local service providers, service users and residents. These mechanisms should be being built now.

Heritage meeting asks Minister for a Heritage and Tourism Committee for the Eveleigh Railyard Precinct

On 28th October 2008 a wide range of heritage groups, practitioners, ex-workers and volunteers met at the ATP to discuss heritage issues across the former railway site, including the twelve heritage sites identified in the RWA Heritage Schedule. This meeting followed the public meeting resolution from the Wrought Artworks open day that requested heritage groups to meet with the NSW Government about the “best way to preserve and manage all railway heritage locations, equipment and rolling stock within the former Eveleigh Railway Workshops in perpetuity”. The October meeting resolved to ask Minister Keneally to establish a committee of government representatives from various departments and authorities dealing with heritage and tourism, to meet with heritage groups active on the Eveleigh site to explore the role heritage preservation and heritage tourism can play in the future of the area. In her capacity as Minister for Redfern Waterloo she has Ministerial Advisory Committees and taskforces that bring together relevant government departments to address key issues. Heritage groups are asking for a similar mechanism to address the heritage future of the site. More about the issues they would like to see addressed, including some of the presentations from the meeting, are available in a new Eveleigh Rail Heritage & Tourism Strategy section of the REDWatch website.

Minister Encouraged to Re-grant Heritage funds to ATP

In 1997 then Planning Minister Knowles announced a $300,000 heritage grant “towards the conservation of world-class railway machinery at Eveleigh Workshops” – Minister’s Media Release 1997 (164Kb PDF). The funds were supposed to be matched by the ATP but the funds were never expended for the purposes given. The Eveleigh heritage meeting was told that the funds were returned to the Heritage Office prior to the ATP going into receivership and that the bulk of funds were never expended. As a result heritage groups say crucial heritage conservation work required at the ATP has never been undertaken. In response the RWA has advised at RWA Questions at Estimates Hearing - 15th October 2008 that:

‘The Australian Technology Park's Annual Reports for the years 2000-01, 2002-03 and 2003-04 outline works undertaken to restore heritage machinery from the Eveleigh workshops. These works are consistent with conditions attached to the Heritage Assessment Grant by the NSW Heritage Office. In 2003, the Minister Assisting the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning opened the Eveleigh Heritage Walk through the former locomotive workshops, including Bays 1 and 2. The walk showcases restored machinery and provides interpretive signage describing the workshops' history. The Australian Technology Park has an ongoing heritage asset management strategy.’

The 28 October 2008 heritage meeting heard of a number of areas where the conservation and interpretative work required at the ATP has not been undertaken. The meeting decided to request the Minister to seek a re-granting of the earlier funds so long overdue heritage conservation tasks at the ATP could be undertaken. Failing reissuing of the funds, the ATP should be encouraged to apply for funds in the Heritage Branch’s current funding round which closes on 28^th November 2008 - see www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/funding. The request for the Minister to make the funding available was included in the letter the meeting sent to Minister Keneally about Eveleigh heritage and its tourism potential.

Do you have any Eveleigh railyard stories?

Nigel Helyer is the current ABC Radiophonic Fellow, working on the GhosTrain project. This new project aims to create a series of audio-portraits of the Redfern Locomotive & Eveleigh Carriage Works encompassing the oral histories and acoustic ecologies of industrial culture. The works will be broadcast on ABC Radio National and be available as Podcasts. Future phases of the project will see the audio material transformed into a Sound-Sculpture installed throughout the CarriageWorks and also developed as a GPS guided Heritage Audio Tour of the site. For more information The GhosTrain Project – audio-portraits of the Redfern Locomotive & Eveleigh Carriage Works

RWA Human Services Evaluation still to be released

We have been waiting patiently since the RWA Human Services Plan briefing on 1^st August 2008 for the promised release of the HSP1 Evaluation Report and the Case Co-ordination Evaluation Report, but neither has yet been released to non-government service providers and local residents. The RWA’s Update Newsletter article in July 2008 trumpeted some of the early outcomes of the evaluation of Phase One of the Human Services Plan, but non-government attendees at the RWA report back afternoon expressed concerns about aspects of what was reported. It is important for the credibility of the RWA that when they run a story about the success of their plans they are able to back up their claims with material that can be independently evaluated. If the report was not finalised, as people have subsequently been advised, why was it featured in an RWA newsletter and a briefing for non-government service providers held on it? Hopefully the reports will be released soon so independent assessments can be made of the HSP and its evaluation claims.

Research into Volunteer Opportunities in Redfern Waterloo

Housing Communities Assistance Program (HCAP) at The Factory has been funded by Housing NSW to carry out some initial research to identify what local volunteer opportunities exist within Redfern and Waterloo area and how they can be best promoted. They are looking for Redfern Waterloo organisations to complete a questionnaire regarding their current and planned volunteering opportunities. Following collation it is proposed to develop a volunteer promotion plan, which may result in volunteer recruitment market days and the development of a brochure for local residents who are seeking volunteer opportunities. If your organisation uses volunteers and you want a copy of the questionnaire contact Michael M Shreenan at The Factory on Ph: 8399 1011.

Free RWA/ATP Seniors and Elders Christmas lunch – Tuesday 18^th November 2008

The RWA is inviting local seniors and elders to their annual free Christmas party lunch on Tuesday 18 November, 12pm at the ATP. To reserve your seat contact the RWA on 9202 9100. Free transport will be available from central collection points in Redfern and Waterloo. Please advise the RWA if you require transport. It will be held in the Dining Room, ATP Conference Centre, Bay 4 Locomotive St, Eveleigh. For those considering driving, please note that there is a fee for parking.

Community Safety at Waterloo Shops Questionnaire - by 21 November 2008

A meeting was recently held with some local Waterloo businesses, local residents, and community service providers to discuss a number of issues around the Waterloo Shops. The HCAP worker at The Factory Community Centre at the request of City of Sydney and the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, who also attended, convened the meeting. Following the meeting the council has done some tree trimming and is looking at greater enforcement of council regulations in the area. There has also been increased police activity around the shops. A questionnaire has been circulated to businesses in the Waterloo shopping strip to help further identify issues. It will be followed by a Community Safety Audit is proposed with the police to identify issues and longer-term solutions to improve safety around the shopping strip. The Waterloo Shops Community Safety Survey (50KB PDF) can be downloaded and needs to be returned by 21 November 2008.

Summer on the Green – 5^th December 2008 2pm – 6pm

Summer on the Green is scheduled for on 5th December between 2 and 6pm any agency looking to host a stall or activity at the event should get in touch with the Factory by Friday 21st November 2008. This years Summer on the Green is celebrating the International year of the potato. There will be bouncing castles, BBQ, live entertainment, dance demonstrations, Spanish tortilla, raffles, face painting, show bags, potato salsa, sack races, dog training lesson, wildlife exhibition, Kid Speak and cultural food. For more details call the Factory on 96989569.

Family Days on the Block – Saturday 6^th December 2008

Another successful Family Day was held on the Block on Saturday the 1st November 2008. On this occasion 17 men turned up to enforce the No Drug dealing & Substance abuse in the community on Family Day. It is now proposed to hold the event monthly with the next Family Day on Saturday 6th December. A planning meeting will be held on Tuesday 18th at Redfern Community Centre at 11am.The event is aimed to encourage Aboriginal people to stand together as one to reclaim the people & community on the Block without drug dealing & drug use. So come along and enjoy some family time with ya kids and family, hear some history, share some history and make a statement that black fullas are strong & proud! For more information contact Shane Phillips at Tribal Warrior on 9699 3491.

NSW Aboriginal Stolen Wages Registration cut off - 31 December 2008

The closing date for registering a stolen wages claim for Aboriginal people in NSW is 31 December 2008. The claims are made to the NSW Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme (AFTRS). Stolen wages are the monies that were withheld from Indigenous peoples' wages, pensions, child endowments payments, inheritances and lump sum compensation payments. The monies were either not paid or kept in trust. The trust operated until 1969. Descendants of people who have died but who would have been eligible can make a claim. For more information see www.piac.asn.au/system/indig.html or www.atfrs.nsw.gov.au/home. If you know someone, are related to someone, or be someone, who has not been properly paid all the wages or other money they are entitled to you need to register before the end of December 2008.

Connect Redfern – Children and Family Services Lists Updated for Term 4 2008

Connect Redfern has produced its Term 4 2008 directories. These can be downloaded from the REDWatch site on the following links Events Courses and Workshops — (1.8 MB PDF) Making Connections ( 380 KB PDF) Information for Parents (46 Kb PDF) and Community Service Contacts ( 109 Kb PDF).

New Artist Space in the Inner City

On 19^th October 2008 as part of the Chippendale Peep Show the Lord Mayor Clover Moore opened new free or subsidised temporary studio space for visual and performance artists in Kensington Street Chippendale. FraserStudios brings together some currently vacant property owned by the CUB site developer at 10-14 Kensington St with Queen Street Studio, a Chippendale-based, not-for-profit arts organisation who was running the Peep Show with CoS funding. Queen Street Studio will make the space available for residencies and performances. The two main programme areas are:

Visual Arts Residency Program in Studio 10 which offers 3 month artist residencies of free studio space for between 8 to 10 professional and emerging visual artists. Residencies will be available to NSW artists from September 2008 to October 2009.
Multi-purpose Performing Arts Studio in Studio 12+14 which will provide heavily subsidised rehearsal, exhibition and performance space from November 2008. Queen Street Studio will curate several performing art programs within Studio 12+14.

More information on the application process is available on the Queen Street Studio website: www.queenstreetstudio.com/fraserstudios.html. Council is looking to see if it can establish similar arrangements with other developers so there can be an ongoing supply of suitable artist spaces in the city in the long term.

“Active and creative communities are vital to the energy and cohesion of our inner city neighbourhoods,” says Sam Chester, Co-Manager/Founder of Queen Street Studio. “Affordable studio space is near impossible to find in the inner city, so the FraserStudios project is a great initiative that we’re happy to be part of. We hope other developers will follow Frasers’ lead,” added Ms Chester.

In the Media

We apologise that it has been a long time since the last RWIU. During that time there has been a lot in the media about the area other than the coverage of the tragic Waterloo home invasion incident that lead to the death of a Chinese student and a badly injured Korean student see Waterloo Safe, say Police. We have seen some preliminary public transport information in Light rail transit loop to link Green Square to city in the SMH and Green Square planning rules on the table in Central. Central has covered the problems at Redfern Station with Public transport excludes disabled and also the new Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce president Mary Lynne Pidcock in Positive Energy. City News reported Redfern's green housing project unveiled but no one locally can find out what Housing NSW has proposed! They also reported Construction imminent: Redfern's new community health centre and Redfern residents kept in the dark over asbestos removal about the ILC’s former Redfern School site problems. The SMH reported in Putting the heat on Souths about alleged breaches at South Sydney Leagues Club that might mean that the last round of board elections, including that of RWA / SHFA CEO Robert Domm, are invalid. Souths were also in the news with Snoop Dogg in Redfern in Souths gear which coincided with the Indigenous jobs plan launched and Rudd gives $20m to black scholarship fund all of which were reported by the SMH.

The Sydney University Settlement programme was covered in Central’s Kids settle into play while it also reported about inner-city public schools enrolment being on the rise in Extra classes for inner city. Chippendale stories included City News’s City artists score prime studio space and Chippo locals become sustainable heroes. In Sydney Uni turns hit on investments into cuts the SMH reported on Sydney Uni taking a loss on their investments and on CarriageWorks winning the Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage in Australia's best house. The Herald Sun’s Black and white world of the Dreamtime talks with Rod Jensen about growing up an Aboriginal with a white father and City News reports that Koori Radio is thriving in its new home in Redfern in Making airwaves. In Planning angst strikes a chord with community groups City news reported on the Hyde Park Rally attended by Friends of Eveleigh and other groups protesting NSW planning laws.

In local politics City News reported on the post election committee carve up and that Marcelle Hoff has become Deputy Lord Mayor in Bloc tactics at council meeting; they profiled Councillor Irene Doutney in City councillor who turned her life around and also profiled CoS CEO Monica Barone in Clover's right-hand woman. City News has also started a ‘talking heads’ section and we were particularly interested in Michael Gormly’s comments on the comparison between Sydney and Seattle’s approach to community participation in determining the nature of their villages in What can council do to make the City of Sydney a more open and transparent government?

South Sydney Herald November 2008

You can download the entire copy of the South Sydney Herald for November (2.6 MB PDF). Articles from the November 2008 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo placed on the REDWatch website include: Elderly residents at risk in public housing complex about the Housing NSW residents in Darlington not being able to grant easy access to emergency services due to ongoing maintainence problems and the editorial that Public housing tenants deserve better. The South Sydney Herald put some questions from REDWatch to New Minister for Redfern-Waterloo Kristina Keneally, the REDWatch Co-ordination Group were not at all impressed with the answers – what do you think? The SSH covered the latest on the RWA’s plans with North Eveleigh – questions persist, the AHC’s Pride in Pemulwuy Project and Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce got a run in Rolling up the shutters, getting down to business. One reader of the previous article about Redfern police offered the SSH Suggestions for police commander, Danks Street Festival was covered in Congregation of fine food and culture as is the Block screening of A dog called Wanja and From little cuttings, big plants grow – streetscape community garden in Waterloo. Chippendale’s food for the future day was reported and CUB development to cast shadow over Chippendale updated the history and progress on the CUB site plans while Trevor Davies picked up on Notre Dame expanding and that Chippendale residents are not very happy about it. Supermarket a threat to “village life” in Erskineville? reported on preparations for the Land and Environment Court case while Tell your kids about Peter Norman picked up the story of the view of the Macdonaldtown mural that has been blocked by TIDC’s sound barrier. Love times two – local author’s enchanting memoir reports on Kathy Golski’s ‘My Two Husbands’ and a A spiked love story looks at Redfern locals, Luke Cowling and Melinda Dransfield of Unit 107 Chris Chibnall Kiss Me Like You Mean It. Finally Meredith Burgmann, Irene Doutney and Di Tornai’s First impressions of life on Council are reported.

South Sydney Herald October 2008

As usual we placed some of the articles from the October 2008 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo on the REDWatch website or you can download the entire issue for October (2.5 MB PDF). We know it was a little while ago but we thought it still worthwhile providing the summary. One of the main local stories in the South Sydney Herald in October was Policing in Redfern - Knowing our rights, creating trust which has a background piece on Redfern LAC Police Commander Luke Freudenstein; another was Feeling proud of who you are about Shane Phillips and Tribal Warrior. Local celebration of the Chinese Moon Festival was covered in By the light of the Chinese moon as was South Sydney’s Leagues Club launches loyalty program, Spanish Community Care Association in Spanish community care and Shopfront Studio in Redfern Street in For artists and passers-by. Spinifex – a Darlington business at the cutting edge of large scale video presentations was profiled as was Food for the Future in Food sustainability in Chippendale and the future of the old Royal South Sydney Hospital in Hospital site “for the benefit of local residents”. Other articles of local interest included criticism of $12,060 to the Redfern Legal Centre to educate female victims of domestic violence as a Piecemeal approach to issues of domestic violence, accounts that the number of people who are sleeping rough in Sydney is rising in Homelessness in Sydney an “epidemic”, opportunities for fun exercise with a local running group Step it up and go and Trevor Davies looks back at The rise and demise of Frank Sartor. The October edition also had a reproduction of the Newtown Chronicle of Friday October 6 1899 which you can download from Newtown Chronicle (insert) (2MB PDF).

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

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

Charles Kernan Park Upgrade Community Consultation - 15 November 2008 10.30-12.30
RWA – ATP Subdivision -19 November 2008
RWA – Cooking Facilities 1 Lawson St Mod - 21 November 2008
Waterloo Shops Community Safety Survey - by 21 November 2008
Missenden Road Cycleway Consultation - Sancta Sophia College (within the grounds of University of Sydney), 8 Missenden Road Camperdown (entry via driveway opp. Rydges Hotel) Tuesday 25 November 7pm to 8.30pm
CoS - Britiannia Hotel Boarding House DA - Until 28th November 2008
RWA – ATP Removal of Trees - 3 December 2008
RWA – North Eveleigh Blacksmith Shop Markets Signage - 3 December 2008
Sydney Airport - Preliminary Draft Master Plan - exhibition until 16th December 2008.
CoS - DA Notifications by Suburb View as Map
CoS - Free Home Composting & Worm Farming Workshops - Book online.

RWIU 30 September 2008

REDWatch — 2008-09-30T00:39:15Z

[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.]

Fees Paid and Pemulwuy Project is on Exhibition until 24^th October 2008

Large Erecting Shop (LES) headed towards RailCorp Storage

ATP Blacksmith Deal Hammered Out

Eveleigh Rail Yard Heritage

RWA’s North Eveleigh Concept Plan

Sydney University 2020 MasterPlan

ATP Noise Complaints Continue

Asbestos Contamination Issues on the ILC’s NIDC Development

RWA Built Environment Ministerial Advisory Committee (BEMAC)

Chippendale & Frasers’ Amended Concept Plan

Souths’ Manoeuvrings Revealed

HNSW Booking System for Waterloo Community Rooms, Neighbourhood Centre & Waterloo Green

State Government Changes

New Faces on City Council

Metropolitan City of Sydney Subregional Strategy

Sydney Airport Five Year Review of Airport Master Plan - until 16 December 2008

Erskineville & Woolworths the Battle Prepares for Court

Sydney Childrens’ Festival - CarriageWorks 27 September – 11^th October 2008

Safety Issues and Waterloo Shops – 30^th September 6pm Factory

REDWatch Monthly Meeting – Wednesday 1^st October 2008 6pm

PEEPSHOW: Chippendale … behind Closed Doors – 19^th October 2008

Meet the New Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce President – 22^nd October 2008

In the Media

South Sydney Herald September 2008

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

Coming Events (look at the new local events entered on the REDWatch website that are not covered here)

Fees Paid and Pemulwuy Project is on Exhibition until 24^th October 2008

The Aboriginal Housing Company’s Plans for the Pemulwuy Project have now been placed on public exhibition by the Department of Planning and people can see the final plans at the Redfern Neighbourhood Centre, 158 Redfern Street Redfern or View project documents on the Department of Planning (DoP) website. This is the link to the Environmental Assessment - main volume (3.13MB PDF) which provides the overview of the project. The full set of documents is also available at the DoP Information Centre 456 Kent Street Sydney and from the City of Sydney Council, Level 2, Town Hall House.

The 'Pemulwuy Project', Mixed Use Development, Redfern-Waterloo (MP 06_0101) is described on the DoP website as “The Aboriginal Housing Company Ltd seeks approval for a concept plan for the redevelopment of the site known as 'The Block', for a mix of residential, commercial, retail, cultural and recreational uses. The concept plan application covers land uses, density, building locations and envelopes, building heights (3 to 5 storeys), vehicular and pedestrian access from Lawson Street, open space and landscaping, and staging. Location: Area bounded by Lawson, Eveleigh, Caroline, Louis and Vine streets, Redfern”. Notification Letters have also been received from the DoP by property owners around the proposed project.

Everyone is encouraged to look at the documents and to make a submission setting out their support or opposition to the project by 24^th October 2008 to The Director, Urban Assessments, Department of Planning, GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001; fax (02) 9228 6540; or email plan_comment@planning.nsw.gov.au. Enquiries concerning the exhibition should be made to Sumathi Navaratnam at the DoP on (02) 9228 6361 and the full listing of the project can be found at http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/major_projects.asp. The AHC is also happy to answer any questions about the project proposal, but it needs to be understood that the documentation requirements and the arrangements for the exhibition have been put in place by the DoP. For submissions to be considered they must go to the DoP.

Michael Mundine Senior, CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Company was advised on Saturday September 6th 2008, while the new Premier Nathan Reese was selecting his cabinet, that the RWA would pay the $68,750 fee required by the DoP with no strings attached. The breakthrough followed a meeting, set up by the then ALP mayoral candidate and ex Legislative Council President Meredith Burgmann, between Michael Mundine and Robert Domm to discuss the stand off over the fee required for exhibition. Following the initial meeting the RWA made an offer to the AHC to pay the fee, but the AHC had concerns about aspects of the accompanying agreement proposed by the RWA. One of the key concerns was the possible interpretations of a provision concerning negotiations with the RWA and other government agencies to ensure good governance of the project. In the end the RWA paid the fee without the AHC providing any undertakings to the RWA and 18 days later the Pemulwuy Project documents went on public exhibition.

We understand however that Meredith Burgmann at a recent Darlington ALP Branch meeting has also raised concerns about AHC governance, membership of the AHC and the level of Aboriginal support for the AHC. These concerns echo earlier RWA and NSW Government lines about the AHC and indicate that payment of the fee may not mean that the Government has overcome its earlier concerns about the project. It was probably timely that the Sunday Telegraph of 21^st September 2008, in its background article on the new Premier in Can you spot our new Premier?, recounted that it was Nathan Rees, who was at the time Chief of Staff to Milton Orkopoulos, who visited Ray Jackson’s Waterloo home on a Sunday evening in 2005. The article quotes Ray Jackson as saying ``What it boiled down to was would I be interested, obviously with the government's under-the-covers support, in challenging Mick Mundine and taking over the company,'' Jackson says, adding he promptly kicked the men out. ``I was incensed,'' Jackson says. While everyone hopes the Government has left this approach behind, the content of the proposed agreement over the payment of the fee and Ms Burgmann’s recent comments indicate that this might not be the case.

In response to Meredith Burgmann’s comments, the AHC has offered to provide a special combined briefing about the Pemulwuy Project for local ALP branches. They have also offered to provide a written response to any questions Ms Burgmann might like to put to them about her or the government’s concerns, even though these are not part of the project exhibition. Michael Mundine’s response was one of frustration that the same old lines kept being raised even though they have been earlier addressed. He is looking forward to the day when someone connected with Government tells him that the AHC has been doing a great job delivering Aboriginal affordable housing and getting the Pemulwuy Project to exhibition - with out any government funding or support!

One has the distinct feeling that there is more to run in this story yet and that those who support the project will need to continue to show that support in their submissions on the project and to the NSW Government and its agents / apparatchiks. You can see some of the comments about the AHC fee breakthrough in the REDWatch media release RWA Pays AHC Fee for Pemulwuy Project Assessment, Redfern-Waterloo Authority chips in on the Block (City News), Pemulway project breakthrough (Central) and Journalism student Elizabeth Hope’s Next step for the Pemulwuy Project (Webdiary).

Large Erecting Shop (LES) headed towards RailCorp Storage

It has been confirmed over the last month that the LES is no longer surplus to RailCorp’s requirements and it will not pass to the RWA in the immediate future. RailCorp is facing a major problem finding locations to store the heritage rail carriages it has had to move out of the Paint Shop at North Eveleigh to allow the RWA sale of North Eveleigh. The LES is being earmarked for storage. To make space for all that RailCorp wants to fit in, existing active rail heritage use is being wound back.

There is a fear that the restriction of active heritage use in the Large will impact on the viability of 3801 Ltd and the Powerhouse’s 3830, and that the Large could be lost to long term active heritage use. If the Large becomes just a RailCorp heritage storage facility, then it will be easier for Railcorp to dispose of the building with its 12 storey planning control further down the track; possibly when the Endeavour Centre becomes surplus to RailCorp requirements in a few years time.

While RailCorp’s decision to hold on to the Large will keep the building away from adaptive reuse for a while, the erosion of the current active rail heritage use of the site has begun. One of the Powerhouse Museum volunteers at the Large has gone on radio in the last week and revealed that the Powerhouse has been asked to quit the Large in early 2009 to make room for state heritage items that need to be moved from North Eveleigh. The Powerhouse has been offered storage capacity near Goulburn and the pressure seems to be back on to try and force them into Thirlmere. Following the publishing of the Resolution from the Public Meeting Sunday 17th August 2008 on the REDWatch website, the Powerhouse Museum Management requested that we make it clear that “The Powerhouse Museum was not consulted about and did not agree to inclusion in the motion”. The Powerhouse is a Government body and so it is difficult for it be involved in lobbying activities with non-government heritage groups even if the Powerhouse and its volunteers face similar problems to the non-government heritage rail operators.

It is currently not known what space is being offered to 3801 Ltd and if the space on offer will be sufficient for the company to operate a viable heritage business from the Large. It should be remembered that 3801 Ltd has lost its mainline engine and many of its main operating cars to Thirlmere where they currently sit un-operational (in the case of 3801) or weathering in the open (as is the case with some of the cars). Much will depend on what space 3801 Ltd are allowed and if this is sufficient for their existing and future rebuilt rolling stock needs as a heritage operator.

The Government still continues to deny any Heritage Act provision to provide an assessment of what is occurring at Eveleigh even though it is on the State Heritage Register. The National Trust & the Friends of Eveleigh have active applications for heritage protection at a Federal Government level and are waiting for a response from Minister Garrett. This LES has no protection and getting this has to be a priority. The building, its rail heritage use, the skills and the benefits that this rail workshop can bring to an important heritage site like Eveleigh, is still at high risk of being lost to the NSW public forever. There has been no worthwhile response from any of the Ministers although the National Trust has identified the Large Erecting Shop in its working condition as of high heritage significance for some two years now. The LES needs protection as a working railway heritage workshop in perpetuity.

Even though the RWA will not be taking the building at this stage, the RWA is still proposing to conduct geotechnical drilling throughout the building as part of drilling they are doing across the former rail yards. Given the construction of the Large and we understand the absence of plans for drainage under the building, there is concern that this drilling through the LES floor may result in long term damage to the building. These concerns have been brought to the attention of the relevant national and state bodies. Indiscriminate drilling and excavation in the Locomotive Workshop (ATP) has previously caused major damage including in the Blacksmiths Shop.

ATP Blacksmith Deal Hammered Out

In the last update we reported about the Wrought Artworks Open Day and the campaign to keep the Blacksmith operating at the ATP. In the couple of days prior to the Open Day the ATP had started negotiations with Wrought Artworks and following the Open Day an agreement was reached for a 3 x 4year lease. As an indication of the importance of the campaign and of the agreement, Minister Sartor issued a media release Wrought Artworks Reaches Agreement to stay at the Locomotive Workshop Building in Redfern on 22 August 2008. There is also a Wrought Artworks Statement on Lease with RWA/ATP.

Media reports about the issue include Last-ditch effort to save a piece of rail history (City News), National Trust blasts the RWA (City News) and Eveleigh blacksmith shop threatened (Central), with the outcome being reported in Lifeline for heritage blacksmith shop (City News), Deal hammered out (SMH) and Blacksmithing sparks community interest (SSH). The history of this successful campaign can be seen on the REDWatch website at ATP's Operating Blacksmith's Shop including the Stateline follow up transcript Getting Shunted..

Dr Lucy Taksa has provided us with some clarification concerning earlier Open Days at Eveleigh. The Open Day in 1999 was supported by Premier Bob Carr, who launched the Eveleigh Employee Register for Dr Lucy Taksa. Bob Carr’s father worked at Eveleigh and the 1999 Open Day was to celebrate the site's history and to recognize its human heritage, particularly the contribution of its employees. You can read the SMH article about the 1999 event in Teaching Heritage. A second Open Day was hosted by ATP and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority during Heritage Week in April 2001, to launch the video: Steam Power (produced by Dr Taksa and Summer Hill Media). Lucy Taksa is still hopeful that the Workers’ Wall proposed, alongside the Eveleigh Employee Register, might be taken up by the RWA and there has been some indication from the RWA that they are prepared to consider the possibility.

Eveleigh Rail Yard Heritage

Following the campaign to save the Heritage Blacksmith at the ATP, there has been a renewed interest in the former Eveleigh Railyards site and its heritage issues. Following discussions with a number of people over the last few weeks Geoff has put together a quick heritage overview of the issues in Heritage Overview of the Former Eveleigh Railway Yards – September 2008. While there are heritage issues that are specific to various parts of the site, there is also a need for heritage groups to co-operate across the site and this overview is aimed as a starting point to get interested parities together to discuss the issues. If you are interested in attending a meeting about such issues, please let Geoff know at mail@redwatch.org.au.

ABC’s Stateline of 19th September 2008, following on from the ATP Blacksmith’s Open Day, picked up on the broader heritage and ATP development issues, including the future of the LES. The transcript of the program can be downloaded from Getting Shunted. Regrettably the video of the report, with very humorous cartoon representations of Ministers Sartor and Keneally, is not available on the ABC’s website.

Those with a heritage interest should also read the section regarding the North Eveleigh Heritage Interpretation Strategy in the section below.

RWA’s North Eveleigh Concept Plan

In the last update we reported on Minister Sartor’s walk around North Eveleigh. At the Built Environment Ministerial Advisory Committee (BEMAC) in early September, prior to the change of Planning Minister, the RWA expected to have finished working through all the submissions and have its Preferred Concept Plan back to the Department of Planning around the middle of September. The RWA has said it will publicly release its revised North Eveleigh proposal as soon as possible and will provide a briefing on key changes from the earlier proposal following the community consultation.

In line with the walk around with Minister Sartor, the BEMAC was advised that the RWA is looking to create usable open space near the western end of the site and around the fan of tracks. There will be some reduction in density, but there will also be redistribution of floor space from the western extremity to elsewhere in the site. It is not clear what might have come from the DoP’s engagement of their own traffic consultants to revisit the traffic issues associated with the proposed development.

One issue which was crystallised at the BEMAC meeting was that the housing blocks earmarked by the RWA for affordable housing will be excluded from the site before it is put up for sale. Until the details are available as to which blocks will be held back, it is not possible to know how this might impact on the University of Sydney proposals. There maybe for example an affordable housing block held back in the middle of a proposed Sydney University playing field for example.

The BEMAC was also told that the RWA were no longer proposing to develop an Affordable Housing Programme as proposed in their Affordable Housing Contributions Plan. The view was that the media release by Minister Sartor, that the RWA would put its affordable housing into North Eveleigh, was sufficient. So all you need to know about the RWA’s Affordable Housing Programme can be found in the North Eveleigh Concept Plan and the Minister’s media release which we have earlier summarised in Affordable Housing and the RWA North Eveleigh Concept Plan May 2008.

It now seems clear that the RWA plans to put all its affordable housing funds (derived from the CUB site and raised from contributions on Redfern State Significant sites) into North Eveleigh, rather than waiting to use them for any future redevelopment of public housing facilitated by Stage Two of the BEP. This has implications for the proportion of the site that will be available to the University for their campus expansion plans if they were to successfully purchase the site. It would probably also mean that whoever buys the site will have to pay out the affordable housing contribution and like Frasers at Broadway the buyer will be unable to provide their own affordable housing in lieu of the contribution. If the University continues with its plan to include some affordable housing on the site it may pay top dollar to do so, as it will also have to pay out the levy for the RWA to provide affordable housing on its retained portion of the site.

The BEMAC meeting also received some clarification on the Heritage Interpretation Strategy (HIS). This turns out not to be a full blown HIS. It was described more as the principles across the site that need to be taken into account when the individual purchasers develop the Heritage Interpretation Strategies for their individual part of the site. We are very apprehensive about this approach as so much will depend on how specific the HIS principles are and what DoP and RWA can do to ensure that they are properly taken up. It is imperative that there be a robust HIS across the entire North Eveleigh site as it, with South Eveleigh, constituted one large site and it needs to be interpreted in that way. It would be a heritage disaster if the RWA’s approach effectively leaves each buyer to interpret their part of the site in isolation rather than as part of a heritage interpretation the entire site.

Bruce Lay, who was on the Ministerial walk around, followed up with a report to the RWA and DoP on the Golden Grove St access case - Stapleton Transport (PDF 69KB). With the changes in cabinet Bruce and Sarah Lay have also written to Carmel Tebbitt and Kristina Keneally trying to keep the issues raised with Minister Sartor on the agenda. Here you can read Bruce and Sarah Lay Letter to Kristina Keneally (PDF 73 KB). Bruce reports that he met with the RWA to discuss the Stapleton Transport paper but that he did not get any indication that the RWA was seriously prepared to look at moving the entrance to Golden Grove Street.

As soon as the RWA’s amended proposals are available we will post details on the REDWatch website for those who use the RSS feeds or who check the website changes section regularly. Hopefully the RWA will post the changes as soon as they go to the DoP and not wait until after the DoP’s determination of the Concept Plan before details of the RWA’s final proposal is made public.

Sydney University 2020 MasterPlan

Sydney University’s Open Day received a steady stream of people with many taking up the opportunity of a guided tour from Shepherd Street through the University. The University put out a USyd Draft Campus 2020 Masterplan Community Fact Sheet 1 - August 2008 (PDF 1.8MB) and also a USyd Feedback Form on Draft Campus 2020 Masterplan (MS Word 59KB). If you were unable to make it on the day or did not complete the form then you can still put in your feedback. The questions cover a range of issues about the redevelopment and the kind of relationship residents want with the University, so we encourage everyone to take the opportunity and make their comments.

The University was hoping to have the details of its Masterplan up on its website in a more user friendly way in early September so residents could use this information to make their feedback. Regrettably if you Google the Masterplan you will still get nothing on the Uni’s own site and can still only get the material via the REDWatch site. One Sydney Uni student expressed his bemusement that after a number of months he could only find out about what was happening at his Uni via the REDWatch website. Pro Vice Chancellor (PVC) Richmond Jeremy also expressed his frustration at not being able to get information up on the University website. One downside of this delay is that the University’s new drawings that do not remove the Paint Shop and Little Eveleigh Street private houses are not publically available. The link to download the University’s 2020 Masterplan is Campus 2020 Masterplan (March 08). (PDF 10.1 MB).

On top of this delay the new Vice Chancellor has decided to re-organise the University Administration. The reorganisation removes all Pro Vice Chancellors and creates Deputy Vice Chancellors (DVC) within a new structure. Campus Infrastructure and Services, of which Richmond Jeremy is PVC, appears to be broken up in the reorganisation, with the aspects connected to Campus 2020 probably being split over three new sections. In terms of high level strategy input to the University 2020 MasterPlan, it will probably sit within the Vice Chancellor’s office and with the Director of Planning. In terms of capital development and finance, it is likely to fall under the jurisdiction of the Chief Operating Officer and DVC, and in relation to community dialogue, it may sit under public relations with DVC External Relations. Hopefully it will be clearer in the next month if and where working with the surrounding community will fit into the new structure.

No further information has been made available about Sydney University Major Project to Consolidate Abercrombie Street Precinct which will be the first of Sydney University’s new Darlington redevelopments. In our initial discussion with the University they were hoping to have this ready by late August and then we were told that there would be discussions with the community about it. Hopefully the University will initiate those discussions soon before its plans are finalised to go to the DoP. We certainly do not want community consultation to be confined to the public exhibition feedback.

City News has run a couple of articles on the University’s plans with North Eveleigh campus could mean homes for cash-strapped students and University promises more beds and fewer cars.

ATP Noise Complaints Continue

The ATP noise issue still drags on. There was a meeting at the Liquor Administration Board on 30 July 2008 chaired by Mr. Armati. You may recall following the last BEMAC we reported that the RWA / ATP were moving to internal noise monitoring. Janice Murphy, one of the complainants present at Liquor Administration Board meeting, reports that during the meeting Mr Armati stated that in his experience internal noise monitoring of venues has proven unreliable, while at the same time the ATP is arguing that if it monitors the functions inside the rail bays there is no need for it to monitor within our homes should residents request this. Mr Armati stated he would be recommending to the Secretary of the Liquor Administration Board that monitoring be done inside resident’s homes if the resident request it. The RWA / ATP, through their solicitors, have appealed against Mr. Armati's recommendation and have asked that the ruling exclude internal monitoring of residents’ homes. The complainants are waiting for the actual ruling of the Secretary of the LAB who will look at all the arguments taking into account the Chairman's recommendation.

On Saturday 13^th September 2008 a further event was held at the ATP which gave rise to a further complaint by Ms Murphy. Her account below was taken from a letter she subsequently wrote to the Premier:

“Saturday (13/9/2008) there was extremely loud noise including music, people yelling and shouting, and loud speaker noise. After putting up with this all evening, at 10 p.m. or thereabouts I phoned the feedback number mentioned in their flyer. The RWA/ATP Govt. representative advised she was inside and not aware of what was happening outside the venue! I then arranged to meet her and found they had "dodgem" cars outside bays 10-14 with loudspeakers, music etc. The RWA/ATP Govt. representative said she didn't know this was going to happen as the promoter hadn't mentioned it in their "schedule"! She said she would look into the matter and asked for my home phone number, she then phoned me at home and advised she would resolve part of the problem immediately and the rest within approximately 1/2 hour. I was then surprised to receive a phone call from the promoter (they were given my phone number by the RWA/ATP Govt. representative) they said, amongst other things, that they had paid a lot of money to hold the function at the Australian Technology Park. I suggested they take that issue up with the management of the venue. This sort of intimidation of residents is completely unacceptable and upsetting, but typical. Noise of various levels was audible until midnight.”

The June BEMAC was told that the RWA had developed a new Noise Issue Management Plan that would address the problem, however this has still not been made public and as can be seen from the material above the issue drags on.

Asbestos Contamination Issues on the ILC’s NIDC Development

When work started on the former Redfern Public School site the ILC found that the site contains larger amounts of buried sheet asbestos than originally assessed. While asbestos in the bonded sheet form poses a minimal health risk the ILC has needed to undertake a five week decontamination process on the site. The ILC statement on the issue can be seen at National Indigenous Development Centre Site Remediation Works - Asbestos.

While a number of residents in Cope Street are adamant that they did not get notices about the NIDC exhibition, the RWA told the BEMAC that they were certain that the DoP had written to surrounding residents. It is not clear what has happened. We can confirm that in the recent case of the Pemulwuy Project we as landowner received notice from DoP of the exhibition.

The Central ran an article about Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin Groundbreaking Indigenous youth centre for Redfern.

RWA Built Environment Ministerial Advisory Committee (BEMAC)

We have dealt with some aspects of the last BEMAC in reports above on issues like North Eveleigh and the Large Erecting Shop. Below is some additional information provided at the meeting about other RWA sites:

North Eveleigh Blacksmith Shop Upgrade and Markets - There is a delay of six weeks on construction, so it looks like the markets will not start until next year and that all we may see before Christmas is an Open day. Following problems with vibration while compacting, the floor will now be concreted. The RWA through ATP has started looking for stall holders

Eveleigh Pedestrian & Cycle Bridge (Heritage Walk) - Only six submissions were received although it was also covered in some of the North Eveleigh submissions. At the beginning of September the RWA was waiting for submissions from CoS and RailCorp before forming their response to the submissions.

Community Health Centre - Rachel Forster site has been paid for so Health Department now has the money to build the replacement Health Centre.

Australian Technology Park – The ATP is looking at subdividing for the new blocks so they have delayed taking another block to market for a while. NICTA (Australia’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Centre) is in the process of moving in to their new building at ATP and discussions are underway for new tenants for their existing space in bays 15 & 16 at the ATP. The Channel Seven Building is progressing quickly; it is expected that the basement car park will be finished mid 2009 and building completed early 2010. The RWA / ATP were pleased a lease has been negotiated with Wrought Artworks.

Built Environment Plan Stage 2 – The RWA has completed its work and BEP2 is now with Housing NSW so they can test the assumptions before it goes off to cabinet for approval for exhibition. No time frame was indicated.

Redfern Town Centre – The RWA is drawing up a brief for preparation of a Development Control Plan for the Town Centre which will try and put together arrangements for consolidation so this does not have to be done on a case by case basis as project applications are received.

Redfern Railway Station - RailCorp is working up a business case for funding, so nothing is likely to be made public until funding is guaranteed so we probably will not see anything until after the budget next year.

Chippendale & Frasers’ Amended Concept Plan

Things have also been very busy down on the former Foster’s Broadway site over the last few weeks with the amended Frasers Concept Plan being on exhibition. Frank Sartor was busy in his last days as Minister. Not only did he do a walk around North Eveleigh but he also met with resident representatives about the CUB site. In the Combined Chippendale Community Groups Update - 1st September 2008 residents reported that “In summary, the Minister gave us a good hearing and we are hopeful the meeting will facilitate some positive changes. We took along to the meeting the attached image (Frasers' photomontage) which highlights how massive the bulk and scale will be. In short it set the tone for the meeting. In particular the Minister appeared sympathetic to concerns about the bulk and scale of the building(s) along Abercrombie Street, describing it as a “blob”. The Minister promised further dialogue and suggested he facilitate a meeting between Frasers, the “Expert Design Panel” and the community representatives ASAP.”

The Combined Chippendale Community Groups Update - 25th September 2008 reports that a meeting with the new Minister for Planning was set up and that Fraser’s have also organised a meeting about the open space on the site. There is also other news in their latest Update that will be of interest to people in Chippendale. You can find out more about the activities surrounding the Fraser’s site and Chippendale by emailing communityworkingparty@yahoo.com.au and asking to be added to CCCG email list.

Frasers have lodged a Modification - CUB Remediation and Transitional Works (MP 07_0163 MOD 1 - The modification seeks to clarify: the sequencing of the remediation works to be carried out on the site; the treatment of Block 11 once the remediation works have been completed; and technical wording of conditions relating to temporary groundwater extraction and odorous materials management. The associated documents can be downloaded from the DoP website at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/register2006.asp#gma.

Souths’ Manoeuvrings Revealed

Those who have been following Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court’s involvement at Souths will be aware that not everything announced with great fanfare has come to pass. In an earlier update we looked at the death of the no pokies campaign which was finally killed off at the Leagues Club’s AGM. We were hence also interested in Roy Masters article Peter's backing out of the rabbit hole in which he writes that Peter Holmes a Court's plan for a debt-free Souths Leagues Club hasn't worked out that way either. The article goes into considerable detail about the property arrangements and where it has left the Leagues Club. The article also refers to Peter Holmes a Court purchase of two units overlooking Redfern Park. This $3.06 million purchase was also covered in the SMH’s brief Peter Holmes a Court.

In other Souths’ news RWA CEO Robert Domm has been elected at the AGM to the Souths’ Leagues Club Board - www.southsleagues.com.au/board.html.

HNSW Booking System for Waterloo Community Rooms, Neighbourhood Centre & Waterloo Green

Housing NSW has introduced a booking system for community use of the community rooms and functions on Waterloo Green. The new arrangements include Waterloo Community Rooms in: Dobell - 250 Pitt Street; Marton - 149 Cope Street; Solander - 180 Pitt Street; Matavi - 3 Phillip Street; and Turanga -1 Phillip Street. Requests to use the community rooms at Matavai and Turanga will need to demonstrate that they specifically meet the needs of older residents, who live in the buildings and in the wider community of Waterloo. The Waterloo Neighbourhood Centre at Shop 5, 95 Wellington Street can be booked as can Waterloo Green at Raglan Street & Phillip Street.

While public tenants will not require their own insurance outside bodies will need their own public liability insurance. HNSW have been asked to look at the possibility of an insurance option similar to that available for Council venues that would allow groups without insurance to use the rooms for a small insurance fee. For more information and booking forms contact the local Housing NSW office at Drysdale, 232 Pitt Street, Waterloo 2017 or telephone 9310 8666.

State Government Changes

Since our last update Redfern Waterloo has a new Minister. Local Member for Heffron, Kristina Keneally MP has replaced Frank Sartor and become both the Minister for Planning and the Minister for Redfern Waterloo in the new cabinet. The reshuffle also saw the Arts Ministry, which is responsible for CarriageWorks, going from Frank Sartor to Premier Nathan Rees who will be assisted in the Arts portfolio by Virginia Judge. One of the Premier / Arts Minister’s first functions was at CarriageWorks - Rees comes to Eveleigh for kids. Local Member for Marrickville Carmel Tebbutt MP, in addition to being Deputy Premier, is also Minister for Climate Change and the Environment and Minister for Commerce. Here is the full list of NSW Ministers.

Early media coverage of the approach of the new Minister for Planning and Redfern Waterloo include Keneally tight-lipped on key planning projects (City News), NSW Planning: Right Wing and a Prayer? (City Hub) and Keneally: Sartor’s planning reforms to continue (Central). REDWatch has put some questions to Minister’s Keneally and Tebbutt for the October South Sydney Herald that should give an indication of their thinking on specific Redfern Waterloo issues.

New Faces on City Council

Council elections have seen Clover Moore’s Independents increase their hold on City of Sydney Council. With five Councillors, as well as Clover as the Lord Mayor, they have six of the ten positions. The new councillors on Clover’s ticket are Robert Kok and Di Tornai who join re-elected councillors John McInerney, Marcelle Hoff and Phillip Black. The other winner out of the election was the Greens with Irene Doutney joining a re-elected Chris Harris allowing the Greens to be the only other group that can put and second their own motions to council. The big looser was the ALP who had no councillors re-stand and who have had their representation cut from three members to one. The ex President of the NSW upper house, Meredith Burgmann will be on a steep and busy learning curve as the sole ALP member who will sit with the Liberal’s sole member Shane Mallard who was re-elected.

The referendum on wards was defeated. Three Councillors now live in Redfern – Clover Moore, John McInerney and Irene Doutney. Suburbs surrounding Redfern Waterloo were also well represented with Chris Harris (Chippendale), Phillip Black (Surry Hills) and Di Tornai (Zetland). You can see further details and photos of the new councillors at www.sydneymedia.com.au/html/3721-city-election-results-announced.asp?orig=Home.

In the lead up to the election and its aftermath things have been quite at CoS as can be seen by the record low number of items on consultation at the end of this email. Council did manage to squeeze in the Redfern Park and Art Opening on 31st August 2008 prior to the election which received a good turn out.

Metropolitan City of Sydney Subregional Strategy

Submissions have now closed on the NSW Subregional Strategy for the City of Sydney. You can see details of the CoS council concerns in Clover’s eNews article Sub-Regional Strategy Fails City's Future which as a link to the CoS Submission. You can also read the REDWatch Submission on Sydney City Draft Subregional Strategy Sept 2008 which picks up more on REDWatch’s Redfern Waterloo concerns with the draft strategy.

Sydney Airport Five Year Review of Airport Master Plan - until 16 December 2008

One of the issues noted in the Sydney Subregional Strategy is the need for government to deal with the increased traffic between the city and the Airport / Port Botany. Sydney Airport has released its latest five year review of the Airport Master Plan for public consultation. The revised plan forecasts an increase to 78.9 million passengers, 402,000 aircraft movements and over one million tonnes of freight annually by 2029.

The Master Plan assumes that there will be no changes to the curfew, aircraft flight paths, the aircraft movement cap, access arrangements for regional airlines and no new runways. However, the Airport remains outside state and local planning frameworks, and involves proposed land use zones that have no equivalent in local or state government planning documents. You can view the Preliminary Draft Master Plan 2009 at www.sydneyairport.com.au/SACL/Corporate+Information/Master+Plan.

Erskineville & Woolworths the Battle Prepares for Court

The appeal against CoS planning decision against the proposed Woolworths development in Erskineville goes to Land and Environment Court 24-27^th November 2008. A community meeting is being held at 7:00pm on 15 October 2008 at The Holy Trinity Church for the purpose of discussing the resident’s role at the hearing and the court process generally. For more details visit www.erskinevillevillage.org. The Central reports in Erskineville shoppers not so spoilt for choice that a 2300-square-metre store was approved for Fountain St, Alexandria, which they claimed was destined to be a Woolworths.

In other Erskineville news, the mural about Olympian Peter Norman, who stood up for human rights at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, has also had some more media attention including in the Central’s Memorable moment hidden from view.

Sydney Childrens’ Festival - CarriageWorks 27 September – 11^th October 2008

In the October school holidays, Sydney Children’s Festival rocks into CarriageWorks and transforms every corner of this immense building into an artistic playground for Sydney children aged 5 – 15. There are loads of performances, workshops and free activities for every child to get stuck into.

MEET DINOSAURS At The Petting Zoo meet Erth’s awesome prehistoric creatures, from cute baby dinos to teeth-gnashing giants. Ancient life-like dinosaurs are alive and mostly friendly (!) in this fun, educational and unique performance event that will delight children of all ages.

CIRCUS FUN You’ll want to run away with the circus after Aerialize’s new circus show, Jungle Fever, a wild adventure tale inspired by characters from The Jungle Book and Tarzan. Aerialize’s highly skilled youth and professional circus performers will astound you as they swing and swoop from the rafters, and wow you with their daring trapeze, acrobatics and clowning - and then try it yourself in the circus skills workshops.

STORYTELLING Be inspired by some of Australia’s leading children’s authors – Andy Griffiths will have you rolling on the floor with his delightful and disgusting stories, Matt Ottley gets the creative juices flowing with his wacky cartooning workshop, and Richard Tulloch teaches the art of excellent storytelling to keep ‘em all on the edge of their seats.

ARTS WORKSHOPS Heaps of workshops will be all fun and games for budding performers and artists… dance, act, paint and create your day away!

EXHIBITIONS Explore the fantastical, whimsical and interactive visual art exhibitions – everything from giant red megaphones for you to climb inside, colourful paintings by local kids, and an elephant themed interactive playground. Children can even add their own artwork to the growing festival mural.

COMPETITION Calling all budding photo-journalists! We are searching for the most talented up and coming snappers to win the chance to be an Official Festival Photographer… win a workshop with leading Australian photographer, Lisa Tomasetti, and your images exhibited at the festival.

For more information Click here to visit the Sydney Children's Festival website and enjoy the school holidays!

Safety Issues and Waterloo Shops – 30^th September 6pm Factory

The Factory’s Housing Communities Assistance Programme (HCAP), residents, the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Sydney and the Waterloo Community Safety Action Group (formerly ‘Waterloo Green Action Group’) are working together to address some of the safety issues around the Waterloo area; particularly Botany/Raglan Street shops. Local business and those stakeholders (who are concerned about these challenges) are invited to attend a dialogue about community safety issues faced by local businesses and other ‘appropriate’ stakeholders in the Waterloo area.

Beth Jewell and John Maynard from the City of Sydney have both visited businesses and discussed their concerns about ongoing issues around the Waterloo Shops. Michael Shreenan, the HCAP worker at the Factory, has been asked to convene the meeting which it is hoped will be able to identify what the current challenges are, explore the possibility of collaborative action to tackle these concerns, and see how businesses and residents can work together on such issues. If you require further information please contact Michael at the Factory (9698 9569) or Beth Jewell at CoS (9288 5521). The meeting is at The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street, Waterloo.

REDWatch Monthly Meeting – Wednesday 1^st October 2008 6pm

The departure of Minister Sartor has caused some people to suggest the RWA should now be wound up. If that happens will Redfern Station get upgraded in the near future? REDWatch is developing its view to put to the new Minister for Redfern Waterloo so come along and have your say about what you want from the post Sartor Redfern Waterloo Authority. There have been lots of changes in the last month so come and find about what is happening in Redfern Eveleigh Darlington & Waterloo between 6pm and 8pm at The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan St Waterloo.

PEEPSHOW: Chippendale … behind Closed Doors – 19^th October 2008

PEEPSHOW is an “open day” for visitors to interact with the Chippendale community and it is growing like topsy. So if you are a Chippendale business and have not registered for the Chippendale Business Directory and Map you are encouraged to do so. If you are someone who wants to know about what goes on in Chippendale then keep an eye on www.queenstreetstudio.com/peepshow.html and come along on the 19^th October 2008.

Meet the New Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce President – 22^nd October 2008

The new president of the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce (RWCC) for the next two years is Mary Lynne Pidcock who recently set up Resource 88 Centre for Sustainable Practice at 88 Pitt Street Redfern with Architect Caroline Pidcock. The first Chamber of Commerce Networking function will be held on Wednesday 22nd October 5.30pm – 7.30pm at 88 Pitt Street where Caroline and Mary Lynne will share their vision for the Centre and explain some of the reasoning which supported the decision to locate their new venture in Redfern. If you are a business in the area and would like to attend please RSVP by Monday 20th October to info@resource88.com.au.

Matt Jones from Social Alchemy became Vice President, Geoffrey Turnbull from Stassen Australasia became Treasurer, with Peter Valilis taking on the role of Acting Secretary as this position was not filled at the AGM. Other executive members include the Aboriginal Housing Company’s Michael Mundine Snr, local Chemist Mualla Akinci and Peter Valilis who also works at the Aboriginal Housing Company. Chris Curtis remains on the executive as Immediate Past President.

The RWCC AGM on 26th August 2008 was followed by an informative presentation from Martin Butterworth from Space Syntax about how analysing movement patterns around an area can improve economic activity. The presentation focused on some of the major barriers to movement in Redfern Waterloo from main roads and the railway lines. At the end of the presentation there was general agreement that the RWCC should work towards seeing a movement study undertaken in Redfern with a view to addressing the problems caused by these barriers.

In the Media

In addition to the various media articles about the area already mentioned, Inner Sydney Voice in their spring edition ran a major feature on What is happening in South Sydney? They also introduced Pam Marsh as Regional Council's New Executive Officer.

Following the latest RWA Update and other comments, Babana found it necessary to answer the question Who controls Babana?. You can download Babana’s monthly newsletters from www.myspace.com/babanaboriginal. With Aboriginal employment being an important part of both RWA and CoS activities, City News asked local indigenous leaders about the Federal Government’s plan to use its $76 billion nation-building infrastructure program to tackle Aboriginal unemployment in Plan to boost Aboriginal employment . The Sydney Morning Herald reported on the Bid to make Metro land council solvent while the Syron’s Blackfella’s Dreaming received coverage in City News’ Urban art archive in jeopardy and in Central’s Historic art to stay.

In other articles, Housing NSW’s plans to improve landscaping around the Waterloo Green were covered in Central’s Residents: upgrade wont solve issues, Central asked the question what was wrong with the old health centre at the Rachel Forster Hospital site in Row over new Health Centre, while ABC news reported that Redfern base to simulate Harbour attacks about the new $8.5 million Defence research facility. Police media reported on Operation Laser 2 - Redfern a police initiative in Redfern Waterloo which is “part of an ongoing initiative to drive down all types of crime within the local community making it a safer place”. Finally Central reported In the record books with bronze that Redfern Olympian Robin Bell became the first ever Australian to stand on a slalom canoe podium when he won a bronze medal in the C1 slalom race – see all things are possible in Redfern Waterloo!

South Sydney Herald September 2008

As usual we have placed some of the articles from the September 2008 issue of the South Sydney Herald that relate to Redfern Waterloo on the REDWatch website or you can download the entire issue for September ( MB PDF). The lead story in the South Sydney Herald in August was Sorry state of public housing – What’s going on? and reporting of Minister Sartor visits North Eveleigh. Other reports included Blacksmithing sparks community interest, Burgmann on the Block and “Access is a right, not a privilege” about the need for the still undelivered Redfern station upgrade. The SSH editorial Farewell Leanne reported on Leanne Fraser saying goodbye after nine years as owner and manager of Appetite Café in Regent Street, Redfern. The successful Village to Village buses were covered in On this bus the classical music’s a bonus, as was Cleveland Street’s Britannia Hotel in Old pub faces new bar. The impact of changes in tobacco laws was covered in Cigarettes – now you see them ….as was an update on the Yiu Ming Temple still in trouble.

The premiere of “This Is Our Country Too” was covered in Intervention into the pride and integrity of Aboriginal people, as was Singing in the Spring - The Sydney A Cappella Festival 2008, “… the song is writing me” Artist Profile: MjWoodbridge and ‘Guwanyi’ - Indigenous Writers’ Festival. The SSH Café of the Month: Bush ’n’ Berry Indigenous Art Café got a run as did Souths end talk of relocation by building own beach. The problems for Chippendale residents of getting a safe crossing across City Road were covered in Residents’ concerns passed over. In the then upcoming council elections they ran a profile on Clover Moore – Independent - Mayoral Candidate and a mayoral guide to Telling candidates apart. The SSH put two questions to the second candidates on the tickets, one about 2030 and the other about community consultation in CoS Council 2008 Candidate profiles. Lyn Turnbull who provided the questions for the SSH said “Irene Doutney’s responses to the questions indicate that the local community will be well served by councillor with such a grasp of the issues that matter”.

When the October issue of the South Sydney Herald is available we will also put the Redfern Waterloo articles on the REDWatch website. If you set up a RSS from the REDWatch website you will see these and other additions as soon as they are made.

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

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

Local News - RWIU

RWIU 29 February 2012

Large Erecting Shop Zoning Removed

22 June 2011

RWIU 18 March 2011

RWIU 3 February 2011

RWIU 2010

RWIU 18 December 2009

Keep up to date between emails on the REDWatch website

Australian Technology Park Conservation Management Plan Revision — Feedback Requested ASAP

Darlington Pedestrian Cycling and Traffic Calming Plan Study Available - Goes to Council in Early 2010

City of Sydney Darlington & Inner West Update

M5 Expansion into South Sydney – RTA requests feedback by 19 February 2009

Redfern Waterloo Built Environment Plan Stage 2 (BEP2) Update November 2009

Miller Films approved to go to CarriageWorks

Redwater Markets – 3rd Saturday of Month Redfern Park

Survival Day SSH Fundraiser Harbour Cruise

South Sydney Herald December 2009

South Sydney Herald November 2009

South Sydney Herald October 2009

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

RWIU 13 October 2009

RWA announces Community Grants Programme up to $5,000 pa

Eveleigh Markets hit a high while Questions asked

City of Sydney LGA Crime Comparisons

Animation Studio headed for CarriageWorks – Exhibition until 21 October 2009

Darlington Traffic Study

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

South Sydney Herald September 2009

South Sydney Herald August 2009

South Sydney Herald July 2009

Have your say – Summary of Current Consultations

RWIU 17 August 2009

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

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

Opportunity for International Rail Heritage Conference delegates to visit Eveleigh

Will Aldi come to Redfern or Waterloo?

Redwater Markets – 3^rd Saturday of Month Redfern Park

Monthly Community Markets 3^rd Sunday Redfern Park– Next Saturday 17th October 2009