About
REDWatch is a proud grassroots group of volunteer residents
and friends from Redfern, Eveleigh, Darlington and Waterloo. We support the
existing diversity in these areas and promote sustainable, responsible economic
and social development. We formed in 2004 in response to state government
development plans under the Redfern Waterloo Participation Project (RWPP) and
later the Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA).
Guiding Ethos
As a group, we continually look to engage a variety of
people across different communities, the nongovernment community sector (NGOs) and
those who work in government. A significant focus for REDWatch is to facilitate
a welcoming, inclusive and open space where various views and opinions can be
shared without judgment. We are also conscious of elevating marginalised voices
in all we do because, due to multiple reasons such as resource scarcity, time,
or other, many groups and identities have unequal opportunities to engage with
formal consultation processes or to obtain access to decision-makers.
We achieve our aims by remaining politically neutral. Our
non-partisan governance structure is derived from our elected coordination
committee, comprised of people from diverse political parties. To this end, we
strongly encourage people from various political parties to join REDWatch.
REDWatch is guided by the notion that the best ideas and outcomes are produced
when diverse views and people come together. You can see more about how we operate
in REDWatch Overview: Why, how and what we Do.
REDWatch Celebrates
20th Anniversary
In May 2024 REDWatch celebrated 20 years since we were set
up to monitor Government involvement in Redfern Eveleigh Darlington and
Waterloo (the area covered the NSW Government’s RED Strategy and subsequently
the Redfern Waterloo Authority and its Ministers for Redfern-Waterloo).
Our 20th Anniversary meeting saw the attendance
or messages from some of those who were active in forming REDWatch or in its
initial year. This included Tony Pooley (last Mayor of South Sydney and leader
of the “See Redfern before Frank sells it tour”); Ian Thompson (Save our Park
and key as a Liberal Party person in getting support to changes to parts of the
Redfern Waterloo Act); Elizabeth Rice (one of two planners who assisted
REDWatch); Sylvie Ellsmore (City of Sydney Councillor) represented the Greens
involved in setting up REDWatch and delivered apologies from Ben Spies Butcher
(Macquarie University Academic). A statement from Jenny Leong (now Member for
Newtown) who was also involved at the beginning was also read and
congratulations from the City of Sydney were also delivered. Reflections were
shared by many other long term active and founding members. Lani Tuitavake the
Chief Operating Officer of the Aboriginal Housing Company thanked REDWatch for
the role it had played in providing people with fair information about what was
happening in the area.
The role of key people who had been active in forming and
guiding REDWatch like Trevor
Davies, Ross Smith and
Councillor Irene Doutney
were also recognised. You can find the presentation REDWatch did for its 20th
Anniversary on the REDWatch website as REDWatch 20 years – How did we get here?
The second part of the meeting that covered some of our achievements over the
intervening years and people’s comments after the presentation can be found on
YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOqtUnzyoDo.
It was also encouraging to have Lord Mayor Clover Moore move
a Mayoral Minute at a City of Sydney Council meeting congratulating REDWatch on
its anniversary and for that to be supported and spoken to also by long time
REDWatch members Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore from the Greens and Councillor
Linda Scott from the ALP. Both parties were involved in establishing REDWatch
in 2004. The Mayoral Minute was passed unanimously by Council, which reflects well
on REDWatch’s approach of working with all Councillors across the political
divides on issues of concern to our communities. You can see the Council letter recognising REDWatch’s 20th
Anniversary which also includes the Council resolution.
Activities
REDWatch undertakes a range of activities to advance our
mission, including holding regular public meetings and forums, disseminating
timely information through our website, social media and email list, and
regularly engaging with policymakers, elected officials, senior bureaucrats and
academics to keep up to date with local issues and organise community
engagement opportunities. REDWatch also makes written submissions and media
statements on a diverse range of issues.
Furthermore, REDWatch Spokesperson Geoff Turnbull represents
REDWatch in meetings with government agencies and NGOs including in the
development, implementation and governance of the Waterloo Human Services Collaborative
and its Action Plan.
This year REDWatch has also provided expertise to external
bodies through walking tours, presentations and participation in training
sessions. Where possible REDWatch
requests a donation for this service to external groups which often helps
students and professionals better understand our area, while also providing us
with income to further our work. In the 2023-24 financial year this included income
from sessions for:
- The Rail Bus and Tram Union (RBTU) Retired
Members Association, - The University of Sydney Festival of Urbanism
and a student class walking tour - The Australian New Zealand School of Government
(ANZSOG) and - Macquarie University student class presentation
REDWatch is a member of the following groups:
- Better Planning Network
- Groundswell Redfern Waterloo
- The Waterloo NAB’s Waterloo Redevelopment Group
- The Waterloo Human Services Collaborative and it
Systems Co-ordination Group
Priority areas for
REDWatch
- Public housing redevelopments, including
Waterloo, Explorer Street South Eveleigh, and Elizabeth Street Redfern - Human Services Issues including participation in
the Waterloo Human Services Plan - Advocacy for affordable, social and public
housing - South Eveleigh heritage and public space
protection - Redfern station and southern concourse issues
- Campaign to build an active transport bridge
between North and South Eveleigh - Public land developments, such as the land
surrounding Carriageworks in North Eveleigh (Paint Shop and Clothing Store
Sub-Precincts) - Coordination with other resident action groups
to advance issues of common concern
REDWatch Coordination Committee
The REDWatch coordination group meets monthly to resource
and coordinate our activities. Office holders and Co-ord Group members are
elected each year. Those elected in 2023 were Natasha Sitanala, Geoffrey
Turnbull, Peter Rothwell, Norrie, Karyn Brown, Savanna Peake and Ben Spies
Butcher. We acknowledge their valuable contribution and recognise that changes
in people’s lives means that there is continual turnover in the Coordination
Group and that this opens up opportunities for new people to become involved and
hopefully gain experience that they will find useful in the future.
Meetings held Since July 2023
We usually meet at 6 pm on the first Thursday of the month
at Counterpoint’s The Factory Community Centre in Waterloo. This may change if
are doing a joint session with other groups, need a larger venue or a meeting
closer to a site of interest. These meetings are open to everyone and focus on
critical local challenges or broader social and political issues impacting the
local community.
REDWatch has a strong history of providing a place for
people from across the community to come together to discuss the issues,
receive information, and creating space for collective actions. As a part of
this, REDWatch requests Council and Government bodies dealing with the local
community to present to the community and answer questions in a
community-controlled space.
Below is a list our meetings and tours since June 2023.
July 2023
·
Explorer Street South Eveleigh Rezoning with the
Department of Planning
August
2023
·
On-street car charging with Ausgrid
September
2023
·
Waterloo South to Proceed and Homes NSW announcement
– LAHC and Housing Minister’s staff
·
Presentation to Rail Tram and Bus Union Retired
Workers
·
Participation case study panel for ANZSOG Federal
Senior Public Service Training
·
REDWatch runs Walking tour of Redfern & Waterloo
for Festival of “Contested” Urbanism
October
2023
·
People Power: Models that are changing
communities and cities – Kurt Iveson
November
2023
·
REDWatch AGM and Social get together
·
Community Meeting on Explorer Street Rezoning at
Alexandria Town Hall with ARAG and FOE
February
2024
·
Homes NSW starts with Minister Rose Jackson and
CEO Rebecca Pinkstone
March
2024
·
Health Impact Assessment Scoping meeting with
the Peer Educators
·
Talk to Macquarie University students on a
walking tour
April
2024
·
How should we plan for growth? With City of Sydney on proposed NSW planning
changes
·
Sydney University Architecture student walking
tour of Waterloo
May 2024
·
Draft People and Place Plan with Homes NSW
Property Portfolio (previously LAHC)
June 2024
·
REDWatch 20 year Anniversary Celebration
July 2024
·
Maintenance Changes with Homes NSW for start of
new maintenance contract
August
2024
·
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Candidates’ Forum Alexandria
Town Hall with ARAG & FOE
September
2024
·
Homes NSW on North Eveleigh’s Clothing Store announcement
October
2024
·
Ending Loneliness with Jane Massa from Sydney
Local Health District (SLHD)
·
REDWatch runs Walking tour of Waterloo for
Festival of “Public” Urbanism
November
2024
·
REDWatch AGM and Social get together