Waterloo
Connect Update: February 2016
Come and
visit the Waterloo Connect office at 95 Wellington Street, Waterloo, open from
Monday to Friday, or contact us via WaterlooConnect@facs.nsw.gov.au
We can
answer any questions you have and you can also provide your feedback by popping
them in the suggestion boxes in the foyers of the towers and at other
locations.
What is
happening in Waterloo?
The
Waterloo social housing estate will be redeveloped into a vibrant new community
with new and more social housing. This will be a mixed community including
private and affordable housing.
The
Government is building a new Metro station that will give the best integrated
transport outcome to serve the area, and it also means we can redevelop the
Waterloo estate with brand new and more social housing that meets people’s
needs. Sydney Metro, FAGS and Urban Growth NSW are working together to develop
these plans for the Waterloo Estate and the broader area.
Where is the location of the new Metro
station?
The
Waterloo Metro station will be built on private land, underground between
Botany Road, Wellington Street, Cope Street and Raglan Street in Waterloo, not
on the Waterloo social housing estate.
How much
of the Waterloo social housing estate is being redeveloped?
The
Waterloo redevelopment area includes the government owned land, as shown on the
map below, between Phillip and McEvoy Streets to the north and south, and Pitt
and Cope Streets to the east and west.
What is the timing of the redevelopment?
The redevelopment will not happen overnight — it will be
staged over 15-20 years. The first relocations will not take place until
mid-2017 and experienced FAGS staff will assist people to settle comfortably
into their new homes.
There is much planning to be done and some key dates we have
so far are:
·
From February 2016 to mid-2017 we will be
master-planning the area, consulting with the community and going through the
rezoning process.
·
At the end of 2016 we expect to know the staging
of the redevelopment program including the staging of tenant relocations
·
In early 2017 we will commence relocation
interviews with those tenants in the first stage of the relocation program.
·
Relocations will begin from mid-2017.
When will I need to
move? Where will I move to? Who will pay for it?
Most people will not need to move for years. The first group
of people won’t need to relocate until the middle of 2017. Relocation will be
staged over 15-20 years.
While some tenants may need to relocate on an interim basis
into other housing in the local area, many will be able to move directly into
the new social housing as the site is redeveloped.
We will do our best to make sure you only move once. In many
cases, you will move straight into your newly built home. If you do need to
move off the estate on an interim basis into other housing in the local area,
you will be able to move back to Waterloo once the redevelopment is completed.
Our staff will help you move and settle into your new home.
We will pay for moving costs. We will also cover the cost of approved
improvements tenants have made to their homes. Our relocations staff will
provide you with all the details at your interview.
As part of the relocation process, each tenant has a
relocations officer assigned to them. The officer will work with the tenant to
understand their housing needs, community and services links and preferences.
You will be provided with a home that meets your needs.
Can I relocate now?
People won’t need to move until mid-2017. We will meet with
you six months before you will have to move, so you don’t need to do anything
right now.
All other requests for transfers outside of the
redevelopment will go through the normal transfer process. Please contact the
Waterloo office on 9384 4166 for further information.
Will the Waterloo estate be maintained while the
redevelopment takes place?
We will ensure that community services and maintenance on
the estate continues during
How will you help
people with special needs relocate?
As part of the relocation process, each tenant has a
relocations officer assigned to them. The officer will work with the tenant to
understand their housing and other needs and preferences. We link in with a
variety of government and non-government support services.
What will Waterloo
look like after it has been rebuilt?
The design of the masterplan for Waterloo is about to begin.
The masterplan will show new buildings, parks, car parking and community
facilities. There will be new, and more, social housing integrated with private
and affordable housing.
Tenant and community feedback will be sought all the way
through the planning process, including the area around the new station as well
as the Waterloo estate.
If I have to relocate
to another public housing property, how will this affect my lease? Will my
landlord be the government or a community housing provider?
Whatever length of lease you have now will be the same in
your new lease. When you move to a different public housing property you will
sign a new lease. If you are on a continuous lease now, you will have a
continuous lease on your new property. If you are on a time limited lease, your
new lease will run for the balance of the term remaining on your current lease.
We have not yet decided whether the properties in Waterloo
will in the future be managed by a community housing organisation. If the
management of the properties does transfer to a community housing organisation,
you will need to sign a new lease with the lease length as outlined above.
What is the
difference between the Millers Point and Waterloo projects?
The redevelopment of Waterloo is entirely different to
Millers Point. In Waterloo we are building more than 2000 new social housing
homes with great new community facilities. In addition, current tenants at
Waterloo will have the opportunity to move back to Waterloo into newly built
homes.
The NSW Government decided not to rebuild in Millers Point
and is instead using the sales of the heritage houses to fund up to 1500 new
social housing homes across Sydney and regional NSW, helping people move off
the waiting list.
How do I stay
connected to my community?
We value and respect the existing community in Waterloo. We
will support the community through coordinated liaison with local community and
not-for-profit organisations.
How will I find out
about what’s going on and have my say?
We will involve and communicate with tenants and the
community every step of the way.
You can also drop into the new Waterloo Connect, 95
Wellington Street, from Monday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm, or email
WaterlooConnect@facs.nsw.gov.au if you have any questions.
We are
meeting with the Waterloo Neighbourhood Advisory Board (NAB) regularly.
We have
held a community forum with the Minister for Social Housing so tenants and the
wider community can give us ideas and tell us how they would like to be
involved.
We have put
suggestion boxes in the foyers of the towers, the Factory, South Sydney
Community Aid, Weave, Waterloo Connect and the local FACS office.
Map of
Waterloo Social Housing Estate Redevelopment Area
