REDWatch MEDIA
RELEASE
“See Redfern before Frank Sells It”
Parliamentarian’s Tour 12.30 – 2.00 4th May 2005
Community
Group REDWatch has issued invitations to all NSW Parliamentarians to come on a
bus tour of the sites likely to be sold by Redfern-Waterloo Minister Frank
Sartor to fund the Redfern Waterloo Authority and its redevelopment of
Government infrastructure in Redfern-Waterloo.
Possible
Sites include Redfern Public School closed a couple of years ago, the Rachael
Foster Hospital Site, the recently vacated Redfern Police Station and the soon
to be closed Redfern Court House.
REDWatch
spokesperson Geoffrey Turnbull said “REDWatch believes that is unfair for
suburbs like Redfern and Waterloo to be expected to fund the building of state
assets like a major Railway Station and renewed Public Housing by flogging off
scarce inner city public land and some of the old government sites which are
very much part of the area’s history. We are sure that it wouldn’t happen in
Vaucluse or Pymble so why should it happen in Redfern and Waterloo”.
“At a time
when people are talking about the lack of space in Sydney for recreation and
sporting activities why would you sell of scarce public land to make up for lack
of up front government funding” Mr Turnbull said.
The SMH of
April 11 2005 broke the story that Minister Sartor was seeking a $36 million
loan from the NSW Government to fund the new Redfern Waterloo Authority until
sales of public land could be made to inject funds into the self funding
authority.
A copy of
the email to Parliamentarians follows for your reference.
For Further
Information contact:
Geoffrey
Turnbull
Trevor
Davies
REDWatch
Spokesperson
REDWatch
Tour Organiser
Ph Wk: (02) 9318 0824
Ph:
04 0000 8338
email: turnbullfamily@stassen.com.au
REDWatch
is a residents and friends group covering Redfern Eveleigh Darlington and Waterloo (the same area
covered by the Redfern Waterloo Authority). REDWatch monitors the activities of
government activities such as the RWA and RWPP and seek to ensure community
involvement in all decisions made about the area.
REDWatch
meets on the 4th Sunday of the Month at 2pm at the Redfern Community Centre.
A free
email update service on Redfern Waterloo issues is also available from
COPY OF LETTER TO PARLIAMENTARIANS
Dear
Parliamentarian,
“See
Redfern before Frank Sells It” Parliamentarian’s Tour – Lunch Break 4th May
According
to recent media reports (SMH April 11 2005) Minister Sartor has gone to state
cabinet seeking a $36 million loan to fund the Redfern Waterloo Authority until
he can sell off Government
Land to fund the RWA and
the “regeneration” of Redfern Waterloo.
REDWatch believes
that is unfair for suburbs like Redfern and Waterloo to be expected to fund the
building of state assets like a major Railway Station and renewed Public
Housing by flogging off scarce inner city public land and some of the old
government sites which are very much part of the area’s history.
We are sure
that it wouldn’t happen in Vaucluse or Pymble so why should it happen in
Redfern and Waterloo.
So before
some of Redfern and Waterloo
is sold of we invite you to join us on for a tour of some of our wonderful old
heritage buildings.
We have
hired a bus which will be outside Parliament house to leave at 12.30 on 4th May
and will have you back in time for Legislative Assembly Question time.
Your tour
guide will be Tony Pooley, former Mayor of South Sydney. We will provide
background on the four most likely sites as well as refreshments at the Redfern
Legal Centre which is near the historic Redfern Court House which is soon to be
closed.
The Redfern
Legal Centre is housed in the old Redfern
Town Hall (which is owned
by the Sydney City Council so can’t be sold off by Frank!).
We will
finalise the program a week out and will let you know further details closer to
the time.
Seats are
limited so we urge you to get in early and book your seat by ringing Trevor on
04 0000 8338.
We hope to
see you on the 4th May in Redfern-Waterloo before Frank sells some of it to
fund the Redfern Waterloo Authority its still to be finalised Redfern Waterloo
Plan.
Regards,
Geoff
Geoffrey
Turnbull
For
REDWatch
C/- PO Box 1567,
Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
Ph
Wk: (02) 9318 0824 Fax: (02) 9310 2746
email: turnbullfamily@stassen.com.au