The
Premier of NSW, Mr Bob Carr, today
announced a powerful new Redfern Waterloo Authority would be established as
part of a 10-year plan for community renewal and to upgrade infrastructure in
the area.
“This
is a radical plan for an area that has entrenched, complex social
problems,” Mr Carr said.
“It
is designed to shake-up the area and provide a plan to renew the last part of
the city fringe.
“There
are a myriad of services and programs in the Redfern-Waterloo area.
“We
need one Minister and one Authority responsible for them,” he said.
The
Minister for Energy and Utilities, Science and Medical Research, Mr Frank
Sartor, will have responsibility for the new Authority, which will be similar
to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.
The
Redfern Waterloo Authority will administer a Redfern Waterloo Fund and manage
public infrastructure, land and properties in the area.
It
will consist of a Board, a CEO and staff. The Minister will nominate members of the Board.
The
Authority will pursue public-private partnerships, which will help with
community renewal in the area.
Areas
deemed to be of state significance
will be called in under the Environmental
Planning and Assessment Act 1979. ,
The
Minister responsible for the Redfern-Waterloo Authority will coordinate all
State Government funding within the
area.
The
Australian Technology Park (ATP) will be transferred from the Sydney Harbour
Foreshore Authority to the new Redfern-Waterloo Authority. The ATP is already
home to the NSW Cancer Institute. Mr
Sartor will develop the ATP into a biotechnology hub.
Mr
Carr said we need a co-ordinated government
approach to this area. “We will work with the local community to achieve
this, and build on the work already done.”
“The
Redfern-Waterloo Plan is comprehensive approach that will provide a package of
initiatives, ranging from infrastructure, social services and community
renewal,” Mr Carr said.
“More
details will be released in the near future.
Mr
Carr said Mr Sartor’s science and medical research responsibilities, local knowledge
and skills in local government mean he is ideally suited to running this Authority.
Mr
Sartor said community renewal of the area is critical.
“This
has to be achieved through prosperity and community building,” he said. Mr
Sartor will discuss potential opportunities for the site known as the Block
with various community groups.
The
Redfern-Waterloo Plan will see:
• The major redevelopment of the Redfern Railway Station, including the
development of a significant town
centre, with commercial and retail
activity within a railway concourse;
• A new pedestrian bridge across the
southern arterial roads of Gibbons and Regent Streets at Redfern;
• A new pedestrian and bicycle
bridge to link the Australian Technology Park
with North Eveleigh;
• Extending the entry requirements for the Australian Technology
Park to encourage further
commercial activity;
• Optimising use of Government land;
• Increasing rental or home ownership housing opportunities;
• Investigating the renewal of
public housing estates;
• Developing a cultural strategy to
support economic and urban regeneration; and
• Working with the City of Sydney Council and the
Commonwealth Government on community
renewal.
Legislation
establishing the new Redfern-Waterloo Authority will be introduced into NSW
Parliament this session. The
Authority will be up and running in the new year.
The
Australian Bureau of Statistics rates Redfern as the fifth poorest suburb of Sydney’s 526 suburbs.
Nearly 60 per cent of Waterloo’s
residents are unemployed and are benefit dependent. In Redfern 12 per cent of
its households in 2001 survive on less than $200 a week.