State government plans revealed that the 9 km pipeline
needed to connect the city water tunnel with the new desalination plant will
extend almost 1 km under Ashmore
Street in Erskineville.
This has caused concern for residents, including those at
the Erskineville Housing Estate, which is bordered on one side by Ashmore Street.
82-year old Hal Alexander, a tenant of 12 years, said he is suspicious of what
the government is promising for Ashmore
Street, especially after the unsuccessful attempt
to build private housing on the estate in 2002.
Ms Keneally reacted to the claims in the Telegraph by door
knocking along Ashmore Street
to assure people that “the worst case scenario would be some disruption to
parking on Ashmore Street.”
In a visit to the Erskineville Housing Estate she especially assured Mr
Alexander and 24-year tenant, Veronica Jones, that the estate wouldn’t be
turned into a pumping station or threatened in any way.
However, Greens candidate for Heffron, Ben Spies-Butcher, told the SSH that “residents are
overwhelmingly concerned, not only over the local implications over the pipe,
but also the environmental implications of a desalination plant.” He has called
for a public meeting to discuss the desalination plant, and says the Greens
favour a “combination of stormwater harvesting, stronger water efficiency
standards, increased rebates for water tanks and tighter water restrictions.”
The State government has hedged its election bid on the
desal plant, despite approving it originally in 2005 and then going back on its
decision to build it last year. Ms Keneally said that they “definitely will”
build it if they win, despite its potential to provide only about 9 per cent of
Sydney’s water
supply. The opposition is officially opposed to a desalination plant and is
running on pumping recycled water back into the water supply for all purposes,
including drinking.
Spies-Butcher also had another challenge to Keneally.
Whether he can win the seat or not, he wants to at least raise the issues. Last
month he held a media conference in Waterloo.
Among others present were Greens Upper House Member, Sylvia Hale, and local public housing tenant, Irene
Doutney. Ms Doutney said to the Herald that “public housing residents in
Redfern and Waterloo
need to be told the truth. Despite the Redfern-Waterloo Authority announcing
its intention to redevelop public housing in the area two years ago, we are yet
to see the plans. It is intolerable that residents are not being told what will
happen to their homes.” Irene Doutney supports the call for certainty. “To live
in public housing is to live in fear and insecurity with constant rumours of
building sales and relocation. Since the establishment of the RWA, with its
much publicised redevelopment plans, these fears have greatly increased,” she
said.
The local Member for Heffron, Kristina Keneally, has
responded to this call by the Greens for the Government to come clean. Her
response was strong and passionate. “The Greens are in a sorry state if they
have to resort to baseless claims designed to scare public housing tenants.
This is usual Greens claptrap in South Sydney
– to scaremonger, to make up wild fantasies and to be opposed to policies that
seek to help economically vulnerable people access education, training, skills
and jobs.”
“If Sylvia Hale or the Greens candidate in Heffron spent any
time with public housing tenants or on the estates in Redfern and Waterloo, they would know that the Government’s commitment
to public housing in this community is strong and clear: all public housing
tenancies in Redfern and Waterloo
are secure. We will not decrease the number of tenants or dwellings,” she said.
Ms Keneally went on to point out that “the Iemma Government
has invested over $20 million in public housing, either upgrades or new stock,
and over $13 million in affordable housing in Heffron over the last 4 years. If
Sylvia Hale or the Greens candidate in Heffron spent any time reading the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority’s plans for the area, or participating in
consultation on these plans, they would know the facts.
The RWA’s Built Environment Plan
– which was
publicly exhibited and underwent extensive consultation
– does not
seek to redevelop any public housing.”
Source: South Sydney Herald March 2007