The
Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC), which owns most of the houses on The Block,
had initial responsibility for its redevelopment under the guise of the Redfern
Waterloo Partnership (RWP). Partnership members included the City of Sydney Council and
representatives from the NSW Government.
The AHC led
a distinguished coalition of Indigenous leaders, community activists and
internationally respected urban and social planners over the past six years in
the development of the Pemulwuy Project, a $27 million AHC-funded redevelopment
proposal for The Block.
The
Pemulwuy Project proposal was driven by an award winning social plan for the
area and features 62 residential properties, affordable family homes, a public
civic space and commercial area, artist markets, a student hostel, a sports
facility and an Indigenous business college.
With the
introduction of the RWA Act, Minister Sartor assumed control of the
re-development, causing a political and media uproar and igniting objections
from the community, fellow ALP members, Liberal party leaders such as Peter
Debnam, and prominent radio personality, Alan Jones.
Sartor
plans to rezone The Block for business and mixed-use purposes, including only
30 residential properties – plans which favour development over Aboriginal
housing, and plans that seemingly ignore his colleagues’ prior approval of the
Pemulwuy Project and AHC and Indigenous rights for self determination.
The Block
is a culturally significant site for Aboriginal people since they began
migrating to the area in1889.
After then
it has played a symbolic role in the development of Aboriginal and Government
relations with both the Whitlam and Hawke/Keating governments extending support
and funding for the area.
Aboriginal
Housing Candle Light Vigil
Come and
support Aboriginal people’s rights to develop The Block
Thursday 10
August 6.30pm, TNT towers Next to Redfern Station
[South
Sydney Herald August 2006]