REDWatch MEDIA
RELEASE
Sartor makes land claim for Redfern’s
Block
The state government has taken planning control of
Redfern’s Block from the City of Sydney
by declaring it and other surrounding privately owned lands as state
significant under the Redfern Waterloo Authority. The declaration also includes
Government land along the railway corridor.
The Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC) that wants to
develop the Pemulwuy housing project now has to get Frank Sartor’s approval for
the project to proceed. Frank Sartor has previously told the AHC that he does
not want the Aboriginal housing project to proceed. The Block was given by the
Whitlam Government to the Aboriginal Community to provide housing.
Community Group REDWatch has come out strongly in
opposition to planning control of the Block being taken from City of Sydney. “Passing planning
control to Frank Sartor who has already told the Aboriginal Housing Company who
own the Block that he does not want any Aboriginal housing on the Block is
highly provocative” Mr Turnbull said.
“Aborigines have historically been pushed off their
land by the powerful colonisers. Now the RWA want to develop Redfern they want to use the State’s
power to push them off again. But this is a special place for Aboriginal people
and they will not give up control of this place.” Mr Turnbull said.
“It is clear with the RWA taking planning control of
private land around The Block and to the East of Redfern Station that the RWA
has big plans for redeveloping the area which have not been disclosed to the
community. The Block is in the way of those plans” Mr Turnbull said.
REDWatch is joining local churches and ALP branches in
support of a Redfern
Reconciliation Bridge
walk and candle light vigil on June 9th to support the building of
Aboriginal housing on the Block. The Bridge walk will start from the RWA office at the old TNT towers next to
Redfern Station at 7.00 pm.
“Sartor taking control of planning decisions about the
Block makes it even more important that the non-aboriginal community turn out
on June 9 and show their support for
Aboriginal Housing on the Block” Mr Turnbull said.
Feelings are running high in inner city ALP branches
about the decision and Darlington and Redfern
ALP branches are supporting the march and vigil.
Trevor Davies
a REDWatch member and Darlington ALP Secretary said when told of the
announcement. “I am today ashamed to be a member of the ALP”.
“Frank Sartor and this Labor Government this day have
done the Greens a favour. Sussex St should
not bother running a candidate in this area for quite some time” Mr Davies
said.
REDWatch has invited Premier Carr to visit the block
and see the Pemulwuy project plans first hand rather than rely on second hand
accounts. So far there has been no reply from the Premier.
For Further
Information contact:
Geoffrey
Turnbull REDWatch Spokesperson
Ph (02) 9318 0824 email: turnbullfamily@stassen.com.au
Trevor
Davies Darlington
ALP
Ph:
04 0000 8338
Michael
Gravener Redfern Residents for
Reconciliation Ph: 04 0099 0301
Peter Valilis Aboriginal Housing Company Ph: 04 0080 4022
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.