7th
April 2006.
The Councillors,
City of Sydney Council
re: Alcohol Free Zones creation in Waterloo and Redfern
Dear Councillors,
The
GROUP is one of eleven precincts on the Department of Housing’s Waterloo
Estate. It comprises some 206 households of the total of 2502 households on the
estate. The combined precincts, along with various government agencies, form
the Waterloo Estate Neighbourhood Advisory Board. This board meets on a regular
basis to discuss, promote, and resolve issues and their outcomes affecting the
lifestyle of the residents of the area.
The GROUP membership has been very concerned over the
prevalence of Street Drinking in the area of Waterloo and Redfern and the effect it has,
and still is, having on their lifestyles. This concern was first formally
raised by the Precinct in May 2005.
The attached copies of letters sent to City of Sydney Council shows some
of the history of the’s attempts to have the issues caused by street drinking
impacting on their lifestyle resolved. The copies show the impact generated by
street drinking on their lifestyle and the implied right to enjoy it.
The GROUP was, and still is, also in contact with the
Redfern Local Area Command of the NSW Police, the local member of parliament,
the Redfern Waterloo Authority, the Waterloo Neighbourhood Advisory Board, and
the Department of Housing seeking resolution of these street drinking based
issues.
The GROUP membership is heartened by the Council’s
decision to consider the creation of Alcohol Free Zones in the Waterloo and Redfern area. The membership
actively support the creation of Alcohol Free Zones to provide a means of
reducing the impact of street drinking on those who wish to go about their
daily lifestyle routine without let or hindrance.
The membership is also concerned by the demonstrated lack of
outcome achieved by the various human services agencies and bodies servicing
the Waterloo
and Redfern area. The observed area of concern of those agencies and bodies, if
any, is centred on the physical wellbeing of the street drinker, not addressing
and resolving the causes leading to the street drinking with its resultant
impact on the individual and the community.
Yours faithfully,
XXXXXX,
Attachments: copies of three letters
sent to CoS not supplied to REDWatch