Residents of Waterloo Green are once again feeling ignored.
Their requests for even basic repairs have fallen upon the deaf ears of the
Minister and Housing NSW.
Monthly pleas for basic repairs have continually been
overlooked or ignored. The State Government’s neglect and failure to act has
only fuelled the anger of residents. A letter from Housing NSW dated November
21, 2002 acknowledged the need for fences, among numerous other things, to be
mended. To this day, nothing has happened and in most cases the fencing
structures have been reduced to piles of wood only suitable for a bonfire. In
2006, Housing NSW identified the situation for a Special Project Proposal, but
there has still been no action taken, and no further information provided to
the tenants.
Simultaneously, the Redfern-Waterloo Authority has drummed
up support for the release and redevelopment of land in the area, but the existing
housing is now coming close to condemnation. The lack of action from the RWA
has stirred feelings of uncertainty within the tenant body. The Government’s
plan to combine public and private housing in the area has multiplied doubts in
the minds of residents.
The situation in the area is cause for many tenants to
question the worth of their dwellings, asking themselves how they can possess
any sense of pride or belonging where they live.
Ross Smith has
raised the issue of housing in the area numerous times with Housing NSW. “How,
in reality, does the government expect its tenants to react to them when they
treat the tenants with such blatant disrespect?” Mr Smith asks.
Successive Housing Ministers have taken the same stance.
They have maintained that “Social housing is a privilege, not a right” and,
whilst Housing Minister Brown sits on his hands, the tenants of the Waterloo
Green are feeling ever more disadvantaged.
Furthering the feelings of disempowerment are the claims
that the Client Service Officers, that once frequented the residence in
six-month intervals, have all but evaporated. It is also claimed that some CSOs
will no longer make visits to tenants unless accompanied by another officer.
The lack of concern shown by Housing NSW raises questions as
to the State Government’s commitment to some of Sydney’s most desperate people, with many
asking why Matt Brown is not performing his duties as Housing Minister. And
while the Government once stated that it had no intention of reducing public
housing in the area, it is evident that it is happy to let public housing
self-diminish.
STOP PRESS: The
Minister has announced a second version of a Plan to address the maintenance
backlog – now estimated at $1.6 billion – with a five-year time frame for
implementation and/or completion.
Photo:
Ali Blogg – An example of neglect Source: South Sydney
Herald August 2008 www.southsydneyherald.com.au