Public housing in the new century is
all about building safer and stronger communities.
In recent years, the Department of Housing
has been undertaking a major program of community renewal on estates to improve
services, security, infrastructure and community involvement.
A New Mixed Community
The Department of Housing is now embarking
on a $90 million project to redevelop some of the older housing situated within
its large Redfern/Waterloo Estate into a mix of private and public housing.
This will help to rejuvenate the area and compliment the community renewal work
being undertaken on the Estate.
- In December 2002, after considerable consultation
with residents and the wider community, South Sydney Council approved a
master plan prepared by noted Architects PTW. - The masterplan allows for the development of 158
private units facing Redfern Oval on Elizabeth St and 88 new public
housing dwellings on Walker and Morehead Streets. - The new homes will replace older housing stock,
which is on an under-used site and generally in poor condition. The new homes
will better match the needs of current and future clients in the area and will
reduce maintenance costs for the Department. - The new public housing will comprise terrace-style
family homes with gardens providing private amenity for residents together
with medium density units designed for aged and disabled residents. All
existing residents will be offered alternative housing in the area and
many will eventually live in the new accommodation. - The Department of Housing will continue to
provide Intensive Tenancy Management for residents on this Estate. - The redevelopment will be done by a limited risk
Pubic-Private partnership. It is expected that the private developer will construct
the new public homes in exchange for the site on Elizabeth Street. - By including private sector residents in the redevelopment
there will be a more diverse social mix and this should have the added
benefit of supporting local businesses. In the longer term this approach
will assist in revitalizing the area. - The Department will benefit from an overall
increase in the number of bedrooms available to house more clients as well
as obtaining brand new public housing in a high demand inner city location. - Homes elsewhere on the Estate are benefiting
from extensive upgrading and further improvements under the existing Accelerated
Improvement Program are proposed. - The next step in the process is to advertise for
Expressions of Interest from the private sector for redevelopment options.
It is anticipated that the project will be advertised during October with
a decision on a shortlist based on design and other criteria being made in
early 2004. This will be followed by a transparent tender process. - The selected private partner will then obtain
detailed development consent and there will be further rounds of public consultation.
It is unlikely that construction work will commence before 2005 and for this
reason we will not be formally speaking to residents about relocation
until the end of 2004. - The Department’s proposals for redevelopment of
housing in Elizabeth St Redfern are not part of the RED Strategy. The RED
(Redfern Everleigh Darlington) Strategy Planning Framework is an initiative
of the NSW Premier’s Department under the banner of the Redfern-Waterloo
Partnership Project. Further the Department’s plans are not related to any
proposals to redevelop Redfern Oval. - The Department will be appointing a Relocations
officer who will work through the relocation process with residents. It is
anticipated that relocations will not commence until late 2004.
Who will Benefit?
We believe that everyone will
benefit from the proposed changes-tenants, the broader community and local
businesses.
- Tenants will benefit by having access to more
appropriate housing. Terraces with private open space will better meet the
needs of families and smaller dwellings will be designed to suit elderly
residents. Accommodation will be modern and mobility accessible. - The inclusion of private sector dwellings will
allow a more balanced community to emerge, which will reduce the social impacts
often associated with having a concentration of public housing in one area. - The construction project should provide extensive
employment opportunities for local people and enterprises.
Media
inquiries:
Department
of Housing Media Unit
8753 8202
Information
correct as of September 2003
[This text is taken from a
PDF file the original can be downloaded from the DoH web site from the
following link Fact
Sheet (221Kb PDF)]