The latest news from REDWatch
REDWatch is a community group which covers the Sydney suburbs of Redfern Eveleigh Darlington and Waterloo. These suburbs make up what the NSW Government generally refers to as Redfern - Waterloo. The area has been subject to various NSW Government interventions since the early 2000s and had its own Government Minister from 2004 to 2011. Interventions have included removing planning responsibilities from City of Sydney Council and having place specific interventions on human services, infrastructure and employment. This history is captured on this website. Currently the focus is on UrbanGrowth Central to Eveleigh and the proposed redevelopment of the Waterloo Public Housing Estate. Below is the latest news from REDWatch about our area and its issues.
NSW Police & Redfern Local Area Command
The Redfern LAC came under scrutiny following 15-16 February 2004 clashes between local aboriginal youths and the Police following the death of the aboriginal youth off his bike. There were a number of inquiries into the incidents surrounding these events and we have provided details of these here.
REDWatch Submission on Draft Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney to 2031
This is the July 2013 REDWatch submission on the Draft Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney to 2031.
Draft Metro Strategy Exhibition - extended until 28 June 2013
Here REDWatch has provided links to key documents necessary to understand the Draft Metro Strategy and its implications for Redfern Waterloo.
REDWatch Petition on the Metro Strategy Exhibition June 2013
REDWatch launched a Change.org petition on 3 June 2013 asking the Minister for Planning to "Please Exhibit Metro Strategy for Sydney under the New Planning System!". The details of the Petition and the link to the online petition can be found below. The comments made by people signing the petition also provide a good indication of people's concern about the continuing exhibition.
Growth targets inner city
If you live on a major transport corridor and are close to the city your area will likely be targeted to absorb the extra homes and jobs for Sydney’s growth under the Draft Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney to 2031. The Metro Strategy is to be Sydney’s regional plan. All sub-regional and local plans in the New Planning System for NSW have to be consistent with it. Geoff Turnbull looks at the issues in the July 2013 issue of the South Sydney Herald.
Metro Strategy Priorities for Central Subregion - Draft Metro Strategy 2031
The Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney contains detailed directions for subregional planning. This advice guides each subregion in helping to achieve the desired outcomes for Sydney to 2031 under the New Planning System. Attached is what the Metroi Strategy proposes for the 17 councils of the Central Subregions including the inner city suburbs like Redfern and Waterloo. File is 1.6 MB PDF.
Inner Sydney "Balanced Growth" Maps - Draft Metro Strategy
These maps show some of the priorities in the Draft Metro Strategy 2031 that impact on the Inner City. These maps are taken from Section 3 - Balanced Growth and show pages 19, 20, 21, 23 & 24. File is 6.4 MB PDF.
Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney 2031 - Sydney Regional Growth Plan
Here we have collected material regarding the Metro Strategy for Sydney 2031 which creates the Strategic Planning framework for the Sydney area which feeds into the requirements for the Subregional Delivery Plans and the Local Plans.
BPN Submission on the New Planning System White Ppaer
This is the Better Planning Network's Submission on the White Paper: A New Planning System for NSW and Associated Planning Bills. File is 825 KB PDF.
BPN Fact Sheet - Corruption and the NSW Planning Reforms
In February 2012, the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) released a report “Anti Corruption Safeguards and the NSW Planning System” (the Report) that identified six corruption prevention safeguards that would reduce the frequency of corruption if integrated into the NSW planning system. These safeguards, together with comments on where the Bills fall short, are set out below in this Fact Sheet produced by BPN. File is 204 KB PDF.
BPN Key Issues and Submission Guide
This is the Better Planning Network (BPN) Key Issues and Submission Guide for the NSW Planning Review White Paper and Planning Bills.
BPN draws the heavyweights on NSW Planning
For a volunteer-based community outfit, the Better Planning Network knows how to pull the big guns. Speaking at yesterday’s community forum was a broad array of politicians and planning luminaries of all persuasions. As Sydney state representative Alex Greenwich noted, “Any organisation that brings both the Reverend Fred Nile and myself to an event to speak certainly deserves to be congratulated.” reports Cameron Jewell for the Fifth Estate on 21 May 2013.
BPN Fact Sheet - Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD)
One of the main changes in the prosed NSW New Planning System is to remove the current Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) from the Planning Act. In NSW ESD is referenced in 60 other Acts. It is proposed to replace ESD with "Sustainable Development" without the current principles that define ESD in the Act. The Department has not been clear in public forums about this change and its importance. This BPN Fact Sheet explains the issue. File is 221 KB PDF.
BPN Forum - Issues Discussed
This is a report on the Key Issues Discussed at the Better Planning Network Community Forum on the Planning White Paper in the NSW Parliament Theatrette on 20 May 2013. File is 332 KB PDF.
Better Planning Network - White Paper (WP) Overview
This overview of the white paper (wp) was produced by the Better planning Network on 20 April 2013.
Better Planning Network Comments on New Planning System
REDWatch joined the Better Planning Network (BPN) in 2012 in recognition that the changes proposed in the Planning Green Paper required a mechanism to co-ordinate responses from community groups accross the state. The BPN brings together a diverse range of over 350 groups accross the state is diverse. REDWatch sees it as important that mechainsm like the BPN undertake work on the New Planning System as this makes more sence than individual groups duplicating this work. REDWatch supports BPN activities in the City of Sydney LGA under the banner of the Innercity Planning Network. To join this email list email innercityplanningnetwork@gmail.com
NIMBY Discussion Points
At its July 2013 meeting REDWatch held a roundtable discussion on the important and topical issue of NIMBYs. This is a PDF of the PowerPoint REDWatch used for that discussion. We have attributed where quotes come from you can follow up areas that may be of interest. File is 78KB PDF.
New Planning System for NSW White Paper - Until 30 June 2013
Here REDWatch has provided links to key documents necessary to understand the New Planning System for NSW White Paper and its implications for Redfern Waterloo.
REDWatch Submission on A New Planning System for NSW
This is the REDWatch submission to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure in June 2013 concerning the New Planning System for NSW White Paper and Draft Legislation.
Barry's Part 3A - The New Planning System for NSW?
This is the text of Geoff Turnbull's presentation to "A New Planning System For NSW: White Paper Panel Debate" organised by Sydney University Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning on 13 June 2013. Each panellist was asked to identify an opportunity and a challenge with the "New Planning System".
Planning – a new approach?
Planning and Development Application (DA) processes in NSW are changing with major implications for the inner city. The SSH asked REDWatch spokesperson Geoff Turnbull to explain some of the issues in the June 2013 issue of the Souyth Sydney Herald.
REDWatch on the New Planning System Challenges
In this panel presentation by REDWatch Spokesperson Geoff Turnbull on "Citizens and city making: Who should be involved and how?" to a forum held by the Henry Halloran Trust at Sydney University on 18 April 2013, Geoff outlines, a couple of days afterr the release of the White Paper some of the challenges for community groups like REDWatch in the proposed New Planning System for NSW.
A New Planning System for NSW 2013
Following a Green Paper in 2012 the NSW Government released their White Paper "A New Planning System for NSW" in April 2013. Here we have collected information about the new planning system including details on the 2013 Draft Metro Strategy which will become the Regional Plan for Sydney and its subregions which will become the sub-regional plans
Review of Human Services in Redfern and Waterloo
Executive Summary I / Acronyms xi / 1. Introduction 1 / 2. Needs Assessment: Strengths and challenges in Redfern and Waterloo 3 / Previous identification of ‘needs’ in Redfern and Waterloo 3 / Needs and solutions 4 / Needs and strengths 4 / 2.1 Community strengths 4 / 2.2 Demographic and socio-economic profile 5 / 2.2.1 Demographic features common to both suburbs 5 / 2.2.2 Demographic differences between suburbs 6 / 2.3 Measures of social disadvantage 6 / 2.3.1 Measures of social disadvantage for Redfern 7 / 2.3.2 Measures of social disadvantage for Waterloo 7 / 2.4 Socio-economic profile 8 / 2.5 Residential and workforce population projections 9 / 2.6 Summary of key findings from demographic and socio-economic data 10 / 2.7 Needs and issues arising from community research 11 / 2.7.1 The need for support for parents, families and children 11 / 2.7.2 The need to strengthen coordination and quality of service provision for Aboriginal and non Aboriginal communities 11 / 2.7.3 The need for community leadership and opportunities for capacity building 12 / 2.7.4 The need for strategies to ensure safety of individuals and the community 12 / 2.7.5 The need to improve services for Aboriginal people, people from CALD backgrounds and people with mental health and dual diagnosis issues 13 / 2.8 Conclusion 13 / 3. Analysing the human services system 15 / 3.1 The human services system as a whole 16 / 3.1.1 The size of the system 16 / 3.1.2 Brief summary of organisational survey assessments 17 / 3.1.3 Strengths of the system as a whole 18 / 3.1.4 Characteristics of the system 19 / 3.1.4.1 Outcome based reporting 19 / 3.1.4.2 Accountability to people who use services and the community 19 / 3.1.4.3 Accountability to funding bodies 20 / 3.1.4.4 Governance capacity 21 / 3.1.4.5 Client focus 21 / 3.1.4.6 Target Groups 22 / 3.1.4.7 Accessibility of opening hours 22 / 3.1.4.8 Capacity to meet demand 23 / 3.1.4.9 Access to information 23 / 3.1.4.10 Cultural responsiveness 24 / 3.1.4.11 Planning 24 / 3.1.4.12 Staffing 24 / 3.1.4.13 Back office services 25 / 3.1.4.14 Training 25 / 3.1.4.15 Service models 25 / 3.1.4.16 Collaboration overall 26 / 3.1.4.17 Value for money 27 / 3.1.4.18 Leadership 27 / 3.1.4.19 Integrated service delivery approaches and case management 28 / 3.1.4.20 Sector development 28 / 3.1.5 Summary of aspects across all services which require improvement system wide 29 / 3.1.6 Conclusion 29 / 3.2 The service clusters 29 / 3.2.1 Family and children’s services 29 / 3.2.1.1 Context 29 / 3.2.1.2 Existing services 30 / 3.2.1.3 Analysis of this service cluster 32 / 3.2.1.4 Conclusion 34 / 3.2.1.5 Services for families and children - Action Plan 34 / 3.2.2 Young people services 34 / 3.2.2.1 Context 34 / 3.2.2.2 Existing services 35 / 3.2.2.3 Analysis of the youth services cluster 37 / 3.2.2.4 Conclusion 40 / 3.2.2.5 Youth services – Action Plan 41 / 3.2.3 Services for Aboriginal people 43 / 3.2.3.1 Context 43 / 3.2.3.2 Existing services 44 / 3.2.3.3 Analysis of services to the Aboriginal community 45 / 3.2.3.4 Conclusion 50 / 3.2.3.5 Services for Aboriginal people - Action Plan 51 / 3.2.4 Services to address domestic and family violence 52 / 3.2.4.1 Context 52 / 3.2.4.2 Existing services 52 / 3.2.4.3 Analysis of the service cluster 52 / 3.2.4.4 Establishing an effective service system 54 / 3.2.4.5 Domestic and family violence - Action Plan 55 / 3.2.5 Health services 56 / 3.2.5.1 Context 56 / 3.2.5.2 Existing services 56 / 3.2.5.3 Analysis of the health service cluster 58 / 3.2.5.4 Health services - Action Plan 60 / 3.2.6 Employment support and training services cluster 61 / 3.2.6.1 Context 61 / 3.2.6.2 Existing services 61 / 3.2.6.3 Analysis of this service cluster 63 / 3.2.6.4 Employment Services - Action Plan 65 / 3.2.7 Services for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds 66 / 3.2.7.1 Context 66 / 3.2.7.2 Existing services 66 / 3.2.7.3 Analysis of this service cluster 67 / 3.2.7.4 Conclusion 68 / 3.2.7.5 Services for CALD communities - Action Plan 69 / 3.2.8 Services to address crime prevention and community safety 70 / 3.2.8.1 Context 70 / 3.2.8.2 Existing services 70 / 3.2.8.3 Analysis of crime prevention and community safety services 72 / 3.2.8.4 Crime prevention and community safety - Action Plan 72 / 3.2.9 Housing support and services to address homelessness 73 / 3.2.9.1 Context 73 / 3.2.9.2 Existing services 73 / 3.2.9.3 Assessment of this service cluster 74 / 3.2.9.4 Housing support and homelessness - Future directions 74 / 3.2.10 Services for people who are ageing 75 / 3.2.10.1 Context 75 / 3.2.10.2 Analysis of this service cluster 75 / 3.2.10.3 Future directions 76 / 3.2.10.4 Services for people who are ageing - Action Plan 77 / 3.2.11 Services for people with disabilities 77 / 3.2.11.1 Existing services 77 / 3.2.11.2 Analysis of the service cluster 78 / 3.2.11.3 Conclusion 79 / 3.2.11.4 Services for people with disabilities - Action Plan 79 / 3.3 Conclusions and implications 79 / 4. Changes needed to the human services system 83 / 4.1 An area of disadvantage and complex social problems 83 / 4.2 An area without a coherent effective human services system 86 / 4.3 An area lacking strategic planning in service clusters and in individual services 88 / 4.4 Monitoring and assessment of the changes needed 90 / Evaluation of collaborative programs 91 / 4.5 The coherent set of recommendations for reform 94 / Attachment 1 Human service systems, social infrastructure and locality renewal 103 / Attachment 2 Methodology and Consultation List 120 / Attachment 3 References and Previous Reports 127 /
Morgan Disney Report on Human Services
Morgan Disney & Associates undertook an Inquiry into Human Services in Redfern Waterloo for the RWPP in early 2004. The report was presented to the Legislative Council Inquiry in to Redfern Waterloo and its key recomenmdations were accepted by the Government as the way forward for Human Services in Redfern Waterloo. The work of the Human Services Advisory Committee and the Cluster Groups in 2005 were part of the implimentation of the morgan Disney report.
Inquest into the death of Thomas James Hickey
The death of T.J Hicky was the spark for the Civil Unrest of 15-16 February 2004. There was much interest in the Inquest into the death by the NSW State Coroner. The findings of the Inquest can be found below. These findings have not been accepted by the family and a campaign continues to reopen the Coronial Inquest.
Premier Carr on Future of Redfern
Extract of Speech by NSW Premier Bob Carr at The Committee for Sydney Forum on Sydney 19th February 2004. In talking about future growth centres in Sydney the Premier made the following observations on where he saw Redfern going in the next 25 years.
Link to SMH Redfern Plan Investigation Articles
Copies of most documents in the print version of the SMH can be found on the SMH website along with photos, video, illustrations, cartoon and letters.
SMH - Revealed How redfern will be Reborn
These articles were published on between November 29 2004 and December 9 2004 in the Sydney Morning Herald. The articles are drawn from leaked Cabinet documents and contain extracts from the cabinet documents and the responses made to them by the community, politicians and commentators. To provide an overview of the revelations we have placed the text of all the articles in a single file. Copies of most documents in the print version of the SMH can be found on the SMH website along with photos, video, illustrations, cartoon and letters at http://www.smh.com.au/investigations/redfernplan/index.html
NSW Cabinet
The decision to establish the RWA and a number of other decisions flowing from the RED Strategy and RWPP's activities were made by NSW Cabinet. In November 2004 some cabinet documents were leaked to the Sydney Morning Herald and these provided a rare glimpse of the Governments Plans for Redfern Waterloo. In the absence of the RED Strategy consultation reports this is one of the few sources of information about the options considered by the Government.
Understanding the NSW Ministerial and Departmental reshuffle of 19 December 2021
The December 2021 reshuffle of the NSW Perrottet Government has seen also a realignment of some parts of Government as well as changes in the responsible Ministers. Here we have collected information to make it easier for people to find which minister has responsibility for what.
NSW Government
The NSW Government owns about one third of the land area of Redfern Waterloo. The NSW Government is also involed in delivering Human Services into the area inparticular into the areas of high disadvantage. The Premiers Department's Redfern Waterloo Partnership Project operated in the area from 2001 - 2005 attempting to bring the various Government Departments together to address the needs of the Redfern Waterloo communities.
Bibliography pages 93-102
REDFERN-WATERLOO COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN Bibliography p93 / Appendix A – Consultation questions p96 / Appendix B – List of groups and individuals consulted p98 / Appendix C – Communication Strategy p99
Chapter 7 pages 85-92
REDFERN-WATERLOO COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN Chapter Seven – Planning and Environmental Issues p85 / 7.1 Introduction p85 / 7.2 Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) p85 / 7.3 The New South Wales Government and CPTED p87 / 7.4 South Sydney Council and CPTED p87 / 7.5 Redfern-Waterloo Initiatives p87 / 7.6 South Sydney Council Planning Documents p89
Chapter 6 pages 78-84
REDFERN-WATERLOO COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN Chapter Six – Health, Drug and Alcohol Issues p78 / 6.1 Introduction p78 / 6.2 Harm minimisation p78 / 6.3 National Illicit Drug Strategy p78 / 6.4 N.S.W. Government Illicit Drug and Alcohol initiatives p79 / 6.5 Redfern-Waterloo Initiatives p79 / 6.6 South Sydney Council Services and the Draft Social Plan – Drugs and Alcohol p81
Chapter 5 pages 67-77
REDFERN-WATERLOO COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN Chapter Five – Community Safety and Young People 67 / 5.1 Introduction 67 / 5.2 Young People – Offenders or Victims? 67 / 5.3 Commonwealth Government and Young People 69 / 5.4 N.S.W. Government and Young People 69 / 5.5 Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Project and Young People 70 / 5.6 Redfern Police and Young People 71 / 5.7 South Sydney Council – Services and Draft Social Plan –Young People 73 / 5.8 Youth Services in Redfern-Waterloo 73
Chapter 4 pages 55-66
REDFERN-WATERLOO COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN Chapter Four – Early Intervention Approaches to Community Safety p55 / 4.1 Introduction p55 / 4.2 Commonwealth Government and Early Intervention p55 / 4.3 The N.S.W. Government and Early Intervention p57 / 4.4 The Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Project and Early Intervention p58 / 4.5 South Sydney Council Services and Draft Social Plan p60 / 4.6 Children and Family Support Services in Redfern-Waterloo p62
Chapter 3 pages 47-54
REDFERN-WATERLOO COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN Chapter Three – Community Strengthening Activities p47 / 3.1 Introduction p47 / 3.2 Social Capital p47 / 3.3 Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Project Community Strengthening Activities p48 / 3.4 South Sydney Council Community Strengthening Activities p49
Chapter 2 pages 23-46
REDFERN-WATERLOO COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN Chapter Two – Crime Profile p23 / 2.1 Introduction p23 / 2.2 Crime and Safety in South Sydney p25 / 2.3 Motor Vehicle Theft p26 / 2.4 Steal from Motor Vehicle p28 / 2.5 Steal from Person p29 / 2.6 Robbery p31 / 2.7 Break and Enter – Dwelling p33 / 2.8 Assault p34 / 2.9 Offender and Victim Profile p35 / 2.10 Addressing Crime and Safety in South Sydney p36 / 2.11 Community Consultation p38 / 2.12 Existing Research p42
Chapter 1 pages 2-22
REDFERN-WATERLOO COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - ABORIGINAL STATEMENT - MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Chapter One – Introduction p13 / 1.1 Background p13 / 1.2 The Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Project p13 / 1.3 Framework for the development of the Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan p14 / 1.4 Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Taskforce p18 / 1.5 Redfern-Waterloo Community Profile p18 / 1.6 Redfern – Suburb Map p20 / 1.7 Waterloo – Suburb Map p20 / 1.6 Redfern – Selected characteristics p21 /1.7 Waterloo – Selected characteristics p22
Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan Evaluation 2008 - OCR Copy
This is the 2008 Process and outcome evaluation of May 2008 by Jenny Bargen of the Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan. The Plan was set up initially as part of the NSW Government's Redfern Waterloo Partnership Project with Council as the lead agency. We have replaced the OCR version of the original file with a searchable PDF version of the report. We have kept the OCR link so people can find the report from links in recent RWIUs. The File is 558KB KB PDF.
Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan Evaluation 2008
This is the 2008 Process and outcome evaluation of May 2008 by Jenny Bargen of the Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan. The Plan was set up initially as part of the NSW Government's Redfern Waterloo Partnership Project with Council as the lead agency. This file is a now a text searchable PDF. File is 558 KB PDF.
Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan
The Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan was produced by the Community Safety Task Force. While this was a RWPP Task Force it was convened and serviced by South Sydney Council. With the Council amalgamation the Safety Plan was taken over by the CoS and it currently is displayed on the CoS web site. We have included it on the REDWatch site with section details to assist you find areas of interest within the report.
RWA Page on City of Sydney Web site
This is the link to the section of the City of Sydney web site that deals with the RWA.
City of Sydney Involvement in the RWA
To understand the current relationship between the CoS and the RWA it is helpful to have a little background of some of the factors that have influenced how the relationship has emerged. From a residents perspective ideally the CoS and RWA should work together so that residents have, as much as it is possible, the same rights and proceedures under both administrations.
RWA Involvement
Given their overlapping areas and responsibilities the CoS and the RWA need to have a working relationship
CoS Agreeement with Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council
On April 11 2006 the City of Sydney and the Metropolitan Land Council signed an agreement of Cooperation. Details of the agreement and provided here
CoS DAs On Exhibition
This is the link to the map of City of Sydney Council Development Applications which are currently on exhibition. DA's under $10m previously dealt with by the earlier Redfern Waterloo Authority are now handled by Council. DA's over $10m are handled by the Department of Planning.
CoS Proposals On Exhibition and Community Consultation
This is the link to non DA's On Exhibitions - this includes councils own plans, planning agreements, traffic etc.
Botany Road Corridor rezoning exhibition until 13 December
The City of Sydney have placed on exhibition their proposed planning controls for the Botany Road Corridor until 13 December 2021.
Questions & Answers from Botany Road REDWatch meeting
At the REDWatch briefing on the Botany Road Corridor a couple of questions were asked that Council said they would respond to after the meeting. These two questions and the answers are below concerning the impact on rates and strata compulsory sale.
Map of Proposed Botany Road Precinct
This is a map showing the proposed Botany Road Precinct studied by Council to produce its 2021 Planning Proposal to increase commercial floor space, affordable housing and private residential in the corridor.
Potential Massing in Botany Road Corridor under Planning Proposal
This diagram shows the potential massing from rezoning and bonus floorspace proposed by the Botany Road Precinct Planning Proposal
Council Planning Proposal for Botany Road Precinct
On Monday 26 July 2021, Council unanimously accepted the planning proposal for the Botany Road Precinct. The proposal now goes to the Department of Planning Infrastructure and Environment (DPIE) for their assessment and approval to go on exhibition. Public exhibition is expected late 2021 or in 2022. While there may be changes made during the DPIE assessment, the Council proposal and its supporting studies provide valuable background to the area and what emerged from Councils, urban design studies and consultation. This material will be the underlying basis for the proposal when it goes on public exhibition.
Plans for Waterloo and Alexandria to create more than 15,000 jobs
This is the text of the media release from City of Sydney Council of 28 July 2021 regarding the Botany Road Precinct and the North Alexandria Precinct Planning Proposals.
Botany Road Precinct
On Monday 26 July 2021, Council unanimously accepted the planning proposal for the Botany Road Precinct. The proposal now goes to the Department of Planning Infrastructure and Environment (DPIE) for their assessment and approval to go on exhibition. Public exhibition is expected late 2021 or in 2022. In this section of the site we have provided information on the planning proposal for Botany Road.
Redfern Alcohol Free Zone Consultation Submissions due by 14 April 2006
The comments below appeared in the 6 April 2006 Redfern Waterloo Issues Update encouraging community submissions to the AFZ Consultation.
Redfern Legal Centre submission on AFZ's
This is a copy of the RLC's submission to the City ofg Sydney regarding the introduction of AFZ's in Redfern Waterloo.
Comments on Policing and AFZs from Redfern Police LAC
LAC Commander Catherine Burn has provided the following comments setting out the Redfern Police perspective regarding Alcohol Free Zones in the area.
AFZ Submission from one DoH Precinct
This submission was made by one DoH Precinct who did not wish to be identified.
Kristina Keneally's Submission on the AFZ
This is the submision from Kristina Keneally MP for Heffron regarding the proposed AFZs in Redfern Waterloo.
Aboriginal Housing Company Submission on AFZs
This is the AHC submision regarding the proposed AFZs in Redfern Waterloo.
Alcohol Free Zones in Redfern Waterloo
Alcohol Free Zones (AFZ) in Redfern Waterloo are proclaimed by the City of Sydney after public notification and evaluation of submissions. In March / April 2006 a number of areas in Redfern Waterloo were proposed as AFZs. Here we have collected some comments made in an update about the AFZ and the need for submissions as well as a response from the Redfern Police LAC Commander to the comments and some of the submissions supplied to us.
CoS Presentation on Housing Delivery Authority for Resident Action Group Briefing 27 Aug 2025
This is a presentation made by City of Sydney Planners on the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) and the Council's concerns about its impact on planning within the City of Sydney Local Government Area. The presentations shows some examples of sites going to the HDA to gain increased floorspace at the expense of the delivery speed that the HDA is supposed to be facilitating. This presentation was made to Community Groups on 27 August 2025 prior to the NSW Government introducing the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025 which proposes to make the Housing Delivery Agency a permanent part of the Environment Planning and Assessment Act.
REDWatch submission on amendments to Sydney LEP and Sydney DCP including return of some RWA areas.
This is the REDWatch Submission of 14 March 2025 on the Amendments to Sydney Local Environmental Plan and Sydney Development Control Plan. This submission includes issues related to Heritage issues on the Former Eveleigh Railway Workshops including the exclusion of important heritage items from the map and a request for the former yards to be covered by a Heritage Conservation Zone. The submission also objects to the exclusion of Rachel Forster site from the Heritage map, the exclusion of Gibbons Street reserve coming to the LEP and concerns about the 2007 late night trading areas between the Pemulwuy Project and Cleveland Street being retained.
How Should we plan for Growth - Council Presentation Slides 4 April 2024
These are the presentation slides from the City of Sydney presentation to REDWatch on 4 April 2024. This presentation has two parts. Firstly it explains and responds to the NSW Government mid and low rise proposal to increase density around light and heavy rail stops and town centres. Secondly it explains how the City of Sydney goes about planning in a different way to accommodate the density required for the City. Irrespective of what happens with the NSW Government proposal the second part of the presentation will remain relevant into the future. You can see a video on Youtube of the presentation and slides as delivered at the REDWatch meeting. The link is https://youtu.be/Nk2xjRI5LAA
Dealing with our inner NIMBY and the housing challenge
In the lead up to the REDWatch meeting with Council on "How should we plan for growth?" in April 2024, the REDWatch Update email provided the following background to the issues facing communities. As we have received good feedback on the the article we have reproduced it on our website.
A summary of the City of Sydney’s draft submission on NSW Government’s proposed changes to create low and mid-rise housing
The City of Sydney, at the request of resident groups, has supplied the following Summary of the key issues in the Council submission.
City of Sydney Presentation - NSW Government housing changes - 13 February 2024
This is the presentation given to City of Sydney resident groups on 13 February 2024 outlining the the NSW Government proposed changes to create Low and Mid-Rise Housing and how they will affect the City of Sydney.
Clover Moore to REDWatch regarding Council Community Centres
In February 2022 REDWatch became aware of questions circulating about the future of Council's Community Centres and facilities. REDWatch wrote to Council about what we had heard and asking for assurances that Redfern Community Centre and Waterloo Library would continue to service our local communities. The attached response from Lord Mayor Clover Moore provides these assurances and responds to some misinformation that is circulating. REDWatch is making the letter public so people have access to Council assurances regarding the future of council provided services in our area. REDWatch has run an optical character recognition (OCR) program across this letter so people can easily extract quotes from the letter however please check the copy against the visual text as errors can occur with OCR.
Activity Hubs Proposal
This is an extract of Sustainable Sydney 2030 Priority 6.2 that deals with the proposed activity hubs (901Kb PDF). This PDF is extracted from Supporting Documentation 06 Local Communities.
Eora Journey - Pathways from the Harbour to Redfern
This is a project Idea from Sustainable Sydney 2030 which envisages a "Cultural Walk" between Redfern and the Harbour. It includes the proposal for an Australian Indigenous Centre (837 Kb PDF). This PDF is extracted from Pages 248-9 of Supporting document 07 Cultural Creative.
References to Redfern Waterloo Area in Sustainable Sydney 2030
This document has been complied from the City of Sydney’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 Draft Plan. This compilation is designed to provide those with an interest in Redfern Waterloo with information about specific references to the area in the Sydney 2030 draft documents. Key localities are in bold. MS Word 210Kb.
City Moves to new Village Hubs & Seeks Community Input
The City of Sydney Council has divided the City into 10 village Groups in line with the proposals first outlined in 2008 in the Council's 2030 Strategy. The new Redfern Street "village group" includes the suburbs of Chippendale, Darlington and Eveleigh as well as Redfern west of Chalmers Street / Redfern Oval, Waterloo north of McEvoy and west of young Street as well as Alexandria north of Buckland and Copeland Streets.
Sustainable Sydney 2030
The City of Sydney Council commenced a long term planning project for Sydney in 2007 and made public their Draft Sustainable Sydney 2030 Plan on 26th March 2008. Following the report being considered by Council it will go on exhibition from April 17 to may 31 2008. Here we have some links to the documents on exhibition and a summary showing specific references to Redfern Waterloo.