Waterloo Options Material Released
Finally, the
additional material for Waterloo options testing today became accessible on the
www.communitiesplus.com.au/waterloo
website. It was posted the day that focus groups for options testing started.
The material posted is in addition to the initial Waterloo
Redevelopment Options Brochure and gives additional material to
that shown to REDWatch and the WRG a month ago.
The additional
material is made up of an annotated explanation of each option and artist
impressions and perspective views of each option. There is also a side-by-side
comparison of the three options across the five key areas that Land and Housing
Corporation (LAHC) wants community feedback to focus on.
The direct link
to the options boards are below:
Option 1 –
Waterloo Estate
Option 2 –
Waterloo Village Green
Option 3 –
Waterloo Park
The thematic
boards comparing options are:
- Culture and community life
- Environment and open space (a second page has comparative artist
impressions) - Housing and neighbourhood design (a second page has comparative artist impressions) – Note LAHC has changed this file since first posted – new version has height ranges for low mid and high rises.
- Transport, streets and connections
- Shops, community services and facilities
LAHC has also
released a new Indicative Staging Plan that provides no greater
detail on staging than that provided in the initial options brochure other than
to state that a mix of housing will be equally distributed across the estate.
Waterloo SSP Baseline Investigations – Key Study Summaries
may also be of use in looking at some of the issues on the thematic boards.
Scale Models
for each of the options have also been prepared. You can see them at Waterloo
Connect and the Information Days. The models are very small and lack human
scale. They model the actual floor space allowed in each option. They are also
the only place you will get an idea of height. Contrary to expectations, LAHC
has not released the actual building heights in each model nor the associated
shadow diagrams. So, you will need to pull-out your phone, turn on the
torch and be your own sun to get an idea of what shadows the up to 40 storey
buildings will throw. [The LAHC boards provide detail of the date and time that its shadows represent. This is helpful but it does not take the place of standard shadow diagrams for the options at the standard reference times of the year such as mid winter.]
LAHC complained
about the 3D rendering and shadow diagrams undertaken by Vigilanti for WPHAG
but they are still the only indication of shadowing. With no release of heights
and envelopes, it is unlikely any more accurate shadow diagrams will eventuate.
LAHC provided height ranges in their initial brochure on the options and
Vigilanti maped the maximum heights in the absence of more accurate information
from LAHC. You can download the Vigilanti analysis through the #Welivehere2017
FaceBook page. FACS also complained about the way that the Vigilanti work
interpreted the relocation staging but other than to say housing types will be
spread across the development LAHC have not provided any information that would
lessen the anxiety for those living in the 1-6 year redevelopment zone. We
encouraged LAHC to release the heights, shadow diagrams and finer grain staging
but they have not done so.
If you plan
to feed back to LAHC during options testing; you need to look at the additional
options material above to make informed input and to answer the survey or group
questions. You will also be able to see the above boards at the consultation
events.
Options testing timeframe of concern – it maybe only 22 days!!
REDWatch is
concerned that after there was considerable backlash to UrbanGrowth’s 21 days
consultation for the Waterloo Metro, that LAHC is currently planning to close
the options consultation 22 days after the options materials were placed on its
website! The Waterloo Redevelopment Group of the Waterloo NAB negotiated with
LAHC that there would be a two month period between the start of options
testing and the release of the preferred option, and that the community would
be able to continue to respond to options after LAHC’s focus groups were
finished. With Rob Sullivan and Donna Lantavos leaving the Waterloo project
these undertakings do not seem to have been passed back up the chain. We have
contacted LAHC about the need to honour the undertakings that have been made to
tenants. Hopefully this is just an oversight and it will be fixed soon – LAHC
are looking at the issue.
The problem
arises because LAHC was of the view that it would get most of what it needed to
know from the focus groups. The WRG and Groundswell argued that everyone need
to have access to the option materials and the opportunity to input into the
process. We pushed for the options materials to be made available at the
beginning of the process, two open days, the opportunity for groups to hold
their own group discussions, and for the focus groups to be open to everyone
through an expression of interest process. In short the community wanted as
many as possible to be properly informed before they were asked to make their
contribution. If the LAHC timeframe slipped, as it has, tenants did not want
their time to participate cut short as a result.
How you can have your say about the options
Feedback
Option 1: Information Days and Pop-Ups
Attend the Community
Information Days on 13 October 2018, 10-2pm and / or 26 October 2018, 2-5pm on
Waterloo Green. All the options material will be on display and you can
make comments to the people on the stands. A free BBQ and refreshments will be
available. Pop-up consultations will also be held at various other times.
Contact Waterloo Connect for details at Shop 2, 95 Wellington Street, Waterloo waterlooconnect@facs.nsw.gov.au
or 1800 738 718
Feedback
Option 2: Survey
A survey is
online at Waterloo
consultation survey and you will be able to complete the survey
at the Information Days and pop ups if you cannot get online. To complete the
survey you really need to have the support materials in front of you because
the survey asks you a question about aspects of each of the options, which
option you prefer, what is most important for you in preparing a plan and
how you would like social, affordable and private housing mixed. You can get
a print version of the survey from Waterloo Connect or download it from the
REDWatch website here
before you do the survey.
Feedback
Option 3: Focus Groups
LAHC is holding
13 focus groups of people from different groups. Most of these will be groups
of around 10 people. If you wish to be in one of these contact Waterloo Connect
at waterlooconnect@facs.nsw.gov.au
or call 1800 738 718. You can see a timetable for proposed focus groups here.
Registering for a focus group does not mean that you will be selected to
participate.
Feedback
Option 4: Hold your own discussion
Focus Groups
will not cover everyone so if you and some friends, your church, club or social
group want to hold your own discussion then you can do so. A study guide is
being prepared, similar to the questions for the focus groups. Here is the link to download the Options consultation kit for groups. You can also contact
Counterpoint at The Factory or Inner Sydney Voice for the guide and any
assistance you may need. You can report your group’s comments to LAHC. Apart from
inputting into the process, it is likely that a group discussion will help
people in the group better understand the proposed options and inform their
discussions with other members of the community.