A
Sustainable Vision for the Block
In February
this year the Minister for Redfern Waterloo, Frank Sartor, called for the
Redfern Waterloo Authority, the Aboriginal Housing Company and the broader
community to work together to develop a sustainable solution for the Block and
its immediate surrounds. Under its Charter, the RWA will a so facilitate
affordable Indigenous housing in the area.
There is
common ground between the Government and the Block’s
owner, the AHC. There are also some differences about the amount of housing the
Block can sustain
The
Minister is again calling on the AHC join a taskforce to develop a new vision
for the Block through constructive dialogue.
An open
letter from Frank Sartor to Mick Mundine, CEO, Aboriginal Housing Company
Dear Micky,
We’ve known each other for 20 years. We’ve worked together on community issues, council
campaigns and past redevelopments at the Block.
In the
past, whenever we disagreed we talked it through and found a solution.
Today, the
Aboriginal Housing Company intends to redevelop the Block, building 62 new
medium-density houses to replace the existing 19.
We disagree
on your development plans because the Government believes it will repeat the problems
of the past, but we’re both
passionate about making the Block a place of significance for Aboriginal
people. We both want an outcome on the Block that benefits local Aboriginal
families.
Six months
ago I proposed a joint taskforce of Government and AHC representatives, to come
up with a shared vision for the Block. The existing 19 tenancies would remain
on and around the Block, and a further 43 would be found elsewhere in
Redfern-Waterloo. Everything else was on the table for discussion.
You rejected
this taskforce, and since you have been boycotting all discussions with
Government.
My offer of
six months ago still stands. I urge you to ignore consultants and nay-sayers
and restart discussions with the Government, as a strong local voice for the
Aboriginal community.
Let’s work
together to find a shared vision for the Block, and make it a place for all of
us to be proud of.
Frank
Sartor
Minister
for Redfern-Waterloo
Welcome
Welcome to
the first issue of Redfern-Waterloo Update, a regular newsletter from the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority. The Update will keep you informed about
developments on the future of our community.
ARTICLES
INSIDE JOBS REDFERN WATERLOO
PLAN FISHING CLINIC REDFERN OVAL
Promoting
Jobs for the Indigenous Community
The Redfern-Waterloo Authority has negotiated
a jobs Compact with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union to create local jobs for unemployed residents,
particularly Aboriginal residents.
A large
proportion of people living in Redfern and Waterloo
are not in the workforce and the unemployment rate in Waterloo
is double the Sydney
average.
The RWA has
taken this program a step further by creating an Indigenous Employment Model
for use in the construction industry This includes a streamlined recruitment,
training and employment path for head contractors, a mentoring program, and
apprenticeships.
A
Memorandum of Understanding has also been signed with a number of partner
agencies such as the Naamoro Aboriginal Employment Service and the Redfern
Aboriginal Corporation.
A training
centre will be established by the RWA and TAFE NSW at the former North Eveleigh
Railyards and will initially offer on-site training in the construction and
hospitality industry.
The RWA’s support programs for Indigenous enterprise are
expected to create more job opportunities in the immediate future.
Pictured
far right at the launch of the jobs Compact Agreement are Minister Frank Sartor
and Les Tablet, Aboriginal Employment Coordinator, CMFEU, with local Aboriginal
youth, some of whom have already benefited from the Agreement. Far left is
Andrew Ferguson, State Secretary, CFMEU
Early
Success for Jobs Compact
The RWA’s ground-breaking Indigenous Employment Model has
already created 17 jobs for Indigenous locals as part of a $40 million project
to transform the former North Eveleigh Carriageworks building into a Contemporary
Performing Arts Centre. The site represents a major urban renewal opportunity
and the new Arts Centre will help revitalise the entire area.
Indigenous
Enterprise Hub to be Established
The RWA has developed partnerships
with the NSW Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD) and the
Commonwealth Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to offer more
support for the development of
Indigenous enterprise.
An
Indigenous Enterprise Hub will be established at the RWA’s
Redfern office to provide business support to Aboriginal business owners,
including workshops to be held quarterly. Following a request from the RWA, the successful school-based Young
Business Enterprise Development project will be extended to Alexandria Park
Community School
next year.
RWA Sponsor
NAIDOC Week & Koori Knockout
As part of the RWA commitment to
supporting and working with the Aboriginal community in Redfern and Waterloo,
substantial financial and in-kind contributions were made to the NAIDOC
celebrations from 4-13 July 2005.
Sponsorship
was shared between the Redfern-Waterloo Elders lunch, the Tribal Warrior men’s group cruise, the men’s
cultural workshop and traditional music and craft teaching clinic at the
Alexandria Park Family Day.
RWA is also
a sponsor of the 35th NSW Annual Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout Carnival to
be held in Redfern on the October long weekend. This is the second consecutive
year that the Koori Knockout will be held in Redfern and some of the RWA sponsorship
will provide activities and entertainment for
young people across the weekend.
The Tribal
Warrior’s Aboriginal Cultural
Harbour Cruise, to which the RWA is providing business support, was a highlight
of NAIDOC Week celebrations.
Development
of Redfern-Waterloo Plan
Work is
progressing on Stage One of the Redfern-Waterloo Plan, covering the first three
years of the RWA’s operations. A
draft will be released for community consultation later this year.
Stage One
will assist the social and economic revitalisation of the Redfern-Waterloo area
and will support the development of a consolidated, coherent and consistent
planning instrument to guide urban renewal on key strategic sites.
The sites
that have been nominated as State Significant include:
• North
Eveleigh
• South
Eveleigh
• Australian Technology Park
• Eveleigh
Street Precinct
• Redfern
Railway Station Precinct
•
Gibbons-Regent Street Precinct
• Redfern Public School
• Redfern
Police Station & Courthouse
• Rachel Forster
Hospital.
[REDWatch Adition – To assist
you understand the areas referred to above REDWatch
has provided a link to an RWA map (337 Kb) showing the where these sites are
located http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/maps/State Significant Areas.jpg
]
The Redfern-Waterloo
Plan will also incorporate a Human Services component, which has been the
subject of extensive consultation in its development phase.
In 2004,
the NSW Government undertook to reform the human services system in Redfern-Waterloo
in response to a review which concluded that services are poorly coordinated
and integrated. Currently more than 100 government and non-government human
services organisations deliver more than 190 services to the Redfern-Waterloo
community.
The overall
aim of the Human Services Plan is to produce a more efficient and effective
system, especially for high needs clients.
Restoring
Murawina on Eveleigh Street
The RWA’s vision for the Block centres on the introduction
of new and positive community facilities. Talks are underway with Murawina
Limited and the Metro Aboriginal Association about repairing and refurbishing
the former Murawina pre-school building on Eveleigh Street as a base for Indigenous
enterprise, education and youth training. The old building has been significantly
vandalised since Murawina moved to the former Redfern Public School
site in 2003.
The RWA
Board has allocated significant funding
for the project, subject to an agreement addressing a number of issues
including future uses by Aboriginal enterprises.
Youth
Hooked on Fishing Clinic
The Redfern-Waterloo Authority in
partnership with the Department of Primary Industries, other government
agencies and the Tribal Warrior Association has developed a culture camp for
young Aboriginal men.
Based on
traditional and modern fishing methods the 3-day camp is a means of confirming
and nurturing Aboriginal culture for young males in the Redfern-Waterloo area. The
participants and their supervisors will begin each day with discussions around
identity, health and current issues. Traditional dance will also be taught as
part of the cultural enrichment program.
Involving
20 young participants and their mentors, the first camp will be held in
October. A planning day was recently held by agency representatives aboard the
Tribal Warrior vessel “Deerubbun” to finalise the camp details and to
scope out the ongoing program which will include similar camps for girls.
The
“Tribal Warrior” sailing Sydney
Harbour during NAIDOC
Week, taken from the deck of the “Deerubbun”.
Ministerial
Advisory Committees Established
The Minister for Redfern-Waterloo
has approved the appointment of a number of community representatives to the
three Ministerial Advisory Committees of Built Environment, Human Services, and
Employment and Enterprise.
Out of the
more than 100 expressions of interest received from the Redfern-Waterloo
community, 6-8 community representatives have been appointed to each committee,
of which at least two are Indigenous people.
The
Committees, which also include representatives from Commonwealth, State and
Local Government, will provide advice to the Minister and the RWA for the
purposes of complying with the Government’s
objectives for Redfern-Waterloo.
Saving
Redfern Oval
The RWA has initiated talks about
the future of Redfern Oval with the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) and the
City of Sydney,
which owns the site.
The
Minister and the RWA have urged the Lord Mayor to seriously consider the ILC
proposal to buy or lease the site for a centre of Indigenous sporting and cultural
excellence which respects the Oval’s
proud rugby league history and heritage.
Unfortunately,
the ILC has been advised the Lord Mayor does no support Indigenous management
and control o£ Redfern Oval. The RWA will pursue this issue and continue talks
with the ILC about investing in the area to benefit the local Indigenous
community.
Redfern
Oval has a great history and heritage.
Need
assistance?
For more
information or to send us your feedback please contact the
Redfern-Waterloo
Authority,
Level 11,
Tower 2,
1 Lawson Square, Redfern NSW 2016
Tel: (02)
9202 9100 Fax: (02) 9202 9111
Mail: PO Box 3332, Redfern
NSW 2016
Email: redfernwaterloo@rwa.nsw.gov.au