At HNSW meetings a staffer takes people aside to discuss their problems
away from the broader discussion but seldom do even these conversations make
any difference. Almost universally tenants say that if HNSW could address basic
problems, like maintenance, safety issues, troublesome neighbours and
appropriate allocations, many of their concerns would disappear.
One safety problem is removal of discarded syringes. Currently NSW
Health has concerns about going onto HNSW land to clear away sharps reported to
them and until this is resolved needles lie around longer than need be or are
shoved into cracks and vents. Many syringe dumping spots have been highlighted
in the Redfern and Waterloo Safety Audits.
While the discussion goes on about the proposed Redfern needle
dispensing machine, public tenants are pushing HNSW and NSW Health to put
sharps bins into Redfern and Waterloo public housing replicating the successful
introduction of sharps bins at Northcott public housing. The main problem seems
to be Redfern Waterloo is in a different Area Health Service to Surry Hills.
Geoff
Turnbull is Spokesperson for REDWatch.
Source: The South Sydney Herald April 2012 – www.southsydneyherald.com.au