Exciting era for Waterloo social housing
The ageing Waterloo social housing estate will
be redeveloped into a world-class vibrant community with more social,
affordable and private housing, following the NSW Government’s
announcement of the new Waterloo Metro Station.
Minister for Social Housing Brad Hazzard said social housing will be redeveloped and boosted above the current 2000 homes.
“The Metro station will transform the Waterloo housing estate for the
better, building a dynamic community with better amenity, better homes,
better facilities, fantastic transport and more jobs,” Mr Hazzard said.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for renewal and it will
deliver better outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people in NSW.
“I can assure Waterloo tenants that if they want to remain in Waterloo after the development, they can do so.”
There will be a large increase in the total numbers of homes in the new
socially mixed community, with up to 70 per cent of new dwellings being
private housing.
The redevelopment will be staged over 15-20 years and the first
relocation will not take place until mid-2017. Experienced FACS staff
will assist people to settle comfortably into their new homes. While
some residents may need to move into other housing in the local area on
an interim basis, many residents will be able to move directly into new
social housing on the estate during the redevelopment.
In partnership with UrbanGrowth NSW, the Waterloo estate will be part of
the property portfolio offered through Communities Plus, a new and
innovative approach to generate new social housing supply through
developing Land and Housing Corporation sites with the private and
community housing sector.
Community housing providers will play a significant role in managing integration in the new community.
“This is an exciting announcement and I’m pleased to see that the NSW
Government with its great track record on building infrastructure, is
building a social housing system with better supply, better outcomes and
opportunities for people,” Mr Hazzard said.