Initial Questions for Homes NSW Portfolio and Consortium Partners – Waterloo South Redevelopment May 2025

Section 1: Consortium Proposal

  • At what point
    will the community see the Consortium’s accepted proposal?
  • What are the
    key differences between the accepted Consortium proposal and the approved
    planning proposal
    ?
  • Does the Consortium
    have any concerns about the Final Design Guide – Waterloo
    Estate (South)
    and does it plan to develop in accordance with it?
  • The LAHC
    website indicates an increase of approximately 100 social housing units,
    bringing the total to around 3,100. How will these additional units be
    delivered? Will this involve:
    • Smaller unit
      sizes?
    • Increased
      density within the existing planning envelope?
    • An expansion
      of the planning envelope?
  • What elements
    have been finalised in the Homes NSW-Consortium agreement, and what
    aspects remain open to community influence?
  • Will the Consortium
    share and consult on its current redevelopment plans before the Stage 1
    (concept) development application SEARs application is submitted?

Section 2: Housing – social
infrastructure Details

  • Will the
    affordable housing be held in perpetuity?
  • Who will own
    the affordable housing?
  • Who will own
    the social housing?
  • What is the
    duration of the contract for CHPs managing the social housing?
  • Is any
    build-to-rent private housing included in the proposal?
  • Will the
    redevelopment include:
    • Community
      centre for the existing provider? (Counterpoint)
    • Has the
      well-documented concern about the location of the community centre been
      considered?
    • Student
      housing?
    • Aged care
      facilities?
    • A school?
    • Childcare
      services?
    • A facility for
      Sydney Local Health Development (SLHD) e.g. a Health One as proposed in
      the Human Services Action Plan?
    • Temporary/supported
      accommodations?
  • How will the Consortium
    support new amenities for low-income residents?
  • Will there be a
    provision for low-income child-care like at Poets Corner?
  • How will
    increased human service need from increased population be funded with DCJ
    not increasing funding in line with population increases?
  • Who is going to
    fund the staffing and operation of the new community hub?

Section 3: Staging of development
across the site

  • What is the
    schedule for development of Stage 1?
  • Will the first
    buildings in Stage 1 be social, affordable, or private housing?
  • When will the complete
    staging plan be made public?
  • How many stages
    are planned?
  • When will people
    know the location of Stage 2?
  • How long before
    Stage 2 relocations are expected to start?
  • Will Stage 2
    residents be able to relocate into Stage 1 housing?
  • At what stage
    will residents begin moving into Consortium-delivered housing?
  • Will Elizabeth
    Street be completed in time to accommodate Stage 2 relocations?
  • Will Link
    Wentworth or Bridge Housing manage the Elizabeth Street properties?
  • Can there be
    more information made available to tenants who do not have a relocations
    officer about relocation policy to help ease concerns?

Section 4: Empty Housing

  • How will Homes
    NSW ensure the safety of remaining residents surrounded by vacant units?
  • Can vacant
    properties be used for emergency housing prior to demolition?

Section 5: Planning and Construction

  • When is the
    SEARs application for the Stage 1 (concept) development application expected
    to be lodged?
  • Will the Relocations
    Stage 1 area SEARs application be submitted with the Stage 1 (concept) development application?
  • Will Consortium
    partners begin attending community meetings to hear concerns directly?
  • Do Consortium
    partners have a strategy for training staff to work with residents with
    complex needs and to collaborate with local agencies?
  • How will
    construction parking impacts be mitigated? Will measures such as green
    travel plans or tool lockers be implemented?
  • What mechanisms
    are in place for managing and responding to noise complaints?
  • Will there be
    respite opportunities for people and pets impacted by the redevelopment?
  • What plans are in place to manage
    vermin and dust during redevelopment?
  • What environmental sustainability
    measures are being incorporated into the redevelopment?
  • How will the redevelopment reflect and
    support the cultural diversity of Waterloo?
  • Will there be employment or training
    opportunities for local residents during and after construction?

Section 6: Community Consultation

  • What insights
    did the Consortium gain from reviewing previous Waterloo planning and
    consultations?
  • Will Consortium
    partners attend local meetings and events to listen to the community, or
    will Homes NSW act as the sole liaison?
  • Will Consortium
    partners engage directly with local agencies and NGO mechanisms like
    Groundswell?
  • What mechanisms
    will be available for residents to raise issues directly with the Consortium?
  • Will the Consortium
    partners join the Waterloo Redevelopment Group?
  • Is there a plan
    to establish a dedicated redevelopment reference group?
  • Will community
    consultations occur before the first SEARs application is submitted?
  • Will the
    community be able to contribute to technical studies and talk to the
    consultants?
  • Will the
    community be involved in the Social Impact Assessment so community
    concerns are also addressed?
  • Will the Consortium
    take on board Health Impact Assessment (HIA) concerns from SLHD and the
    community lead HIA when completed.
  • Will the Consortium
    support community capacity-building ahead of DA submissions?
  • Will there be
    robust pre-DA exhibition community consultation?
  • Will Birribee
    consult with local Aboriginal communities regarding housing aspirations?

Section 7: Tenant Participation

  • Soon, some
    tenants will transition to Link Wentworth social housing at Waterloo Metro.
    Will these tenants:
    • Continue to be
      represented in NAB, WWSAG, WRG, etc.?
    • Be also represented
      in Link Wentworth’s Tenant Advisory Group (TAG)?
    • Receive Waterloo
      Estate Homes NSW newsletters and event updates?

Section 8: Place Management and Human
Services

  • How will Homes
    NSW and the Consortium address current and future precinct-wide issues?
  • What will be
    the governance structure as we advance for both Waterloo South and the
    wider Waterloo public and social housing area?
  • Will there be
    an estate management plan covering all Waterloo social housing?
  • When will the
    community see an updated People and Place Plan, and when will discussions on
    the issues covered by the plan resume with the community?
  • Were any
    elements of the draft People and Place Plan included in the Consortium
    agreement? If so what has been pre-emptively decided?
  • Will there be
    an integrated Waterloo Human Service Plan bringing together current,
    development impacts and future handling of human service supports?
  • Will Link
    Wentworth join the Human Services Collaborative and share its experience?
  • Will Birribee,
    City West and Stockland participate in the Human Services Collaborative?
  • Will CHPs take
    on human service responsibilities? How will they collaborate, support and
    integrate with current trusted local services?
  • How will social
    and affordable housing be maintained to match the quality of private
    housing?

Section 9: Transparency &
Accountability

  • Can the
    community be informed about what has already been agreed between Homes NSW
    and the Consortium?
  • Will the
    Consortium commit to being transparent with the community about its plans
    and work so everyone has an opportunity to be informed and involved?
  • Will there be a
    public dashboard or regular reporting mechanism to track progress,
    milestones and community commitments?
  • How will the Consortium
    be held accountable if agreed-upon community benefits or timelines are not
    met?
  • Will the Consortium
    sign the Waterloo Renewal
    Principles
    (Waterloo Compact), which was agreed with Homes NSW?
  • Will the Consortium
    also act in accordance with the findings of the Shelter NSW and Tenant
    Union (NSW) A Compact for Renewal: What tenants want from Renewal


Source: These questions were prepared by REDWatch following a call out
for what people wanted to know now the Consortium agreement has been finalised.
We received input from our members, tenants, interested individuals and
services. We have grouped the questions to try and bring like areas together
recognising that what might be a question for some might not be a question of
concern to everyone.

These questions are being circulated prior to the proposed REDWatch
Meeting on June 5th 2025 where Homes NSW and the Consortium partners
have been invited to brief the community on the proposal and approach agreed
between Homes NSW and the Consortium.

REDWatch 23 May 2025