The Social
Sustainability Assessment is only required for the Waterloo Estate and not for
the Waterloo Quarter under the State Significant Precinct Study Requirements
however Land and Housing Corporation and UrbanGrowth NSW have advised organisations
that the studies will be conducted across the entire precinct.
GHD is the Consultant for the Waterloo Estate Social Sustainability
Assessment
According to the LAHC Waterloo Consultants Table the consultant for Social
Sustainability is GHD. According to the Waterloo Requirements Table they will also feed into
aspects of Study 2 on Urban Design, Study 7 on State and Regional
Infrastructure and on Study 8 on Local Infrastructure and Contributions
GHD have earlier undertaken a Social Impact Scoping and Assessment
in early 3012 for the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA). The
SMDA’s successor UrbanGrowth NSW’s Central to Eveleigh finally released the
consultation report in November 2014 as the Report for
Social Impact Scoping and Assessment Consultation Outcomes Report May 2012.
In 2014 UrbanGrowth advised the study was being updated by GHD as part of the UrbanGrowth
Central to Eveleigh “Social Sustainability Due Diligence Study” and GHD again
talked to local service providers. The UrbanGrowth study was released as the Social Infrastructure and Social Issues Study and this gives the best insight into what has been done previously. This study however covers the broader Central to Eveleigh Study area and is not specific to the public housing estates as the unreleased 2012 study would have been.
REDWatch is of the view that
all previous consultants reports should be released as crucial background
information for the community. Government agencies argue that the earlier studies are dated and were never acted upon and would confuse people in the current consultations. REDWatch remains of the view that earlier reports must be released so the
community has the opportunity to see what has been heard earlier and what has
been missed out that needs to be picked up this time.
The Waterloo State Significant Precinct (SSP) Social Sustainability
Assessment Study Requirements
Below we have set out
the SSP Requirements as well as the Summaries from LAHC for this study – this
is set out in the Study Requirements Nominated State Significant
Precinct – Waterloo May 2017.
23. Social Sustainability Assessment
23.1. The purpose of the Social Sustainability
Assessment is to guide the implementation and scope of the project to promote
positive social outcomes through design and management recommendations and
strategies.
23.2. The Social Sustainability Assessment
(SSA) should address:
a) existing social characteristics, issues and trends for the Estate and
adjoining neighbourhoods
b) capacity for community participation in the planning process
c) the contribution of the project to improved social sustainability
d) the Waterloo Precinct Plan, including the social aspects of project
staging and delivery, urban design, provision of open space and community
facilities, state social infrastructure and services, the availability of local
social and community services, and other key issues, and
e)
consider the proposed project within the local area and its broader context
especially in respect of densities and community connectedness.
23.3. Demonstrate how the vision and relevant
principles in the City’s social sustainability policy – A City for All: Towards
a Socially Just and Resilient Sydney, and the objectives of the NSW
Government’s Future Directions for Social Housing in NSW will be realised.
23.4. Prepare a comprehensive profile of the
existing community, neighbouring communities, and the likely future community.
23.5. Prepare an in-depth social needs analysis
for the existing, neighbouring and future communities, including the use of
primary research, with at least the following groups:
- Key
population groups including (but not limited to); (i) Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander People (with separate groups of women, men, young people and
older people) (ii) older people (iii) young people (iv) children and families
(v) key groups of CALD residents (with separate groups for the main language
groups) vi) primary school children.\ - Separate
groups with users and providers of: i) community services, e.g. home care,
community transport, ii) key medical and mental health services, iii) key legal
services, iv) tenant representative groups and other local service providers
and government agencies such as Education and Justice.
23.6. Prepare a Social Sustainability Report
that:
- is
undertaken by a competent and suitably qualified social science professional
who uses rigorous social planning methodologies - includes
effective, timely and transparent public involvement, including the input of
different social groups - fully
assesses the social aspects of the project process and staging, as well as the
proposed final project outcomes - fully
describes the needs of the existing, neighbouring and likely future
communities, and how those needs will be addressed through the project to
promote positive social outcomes - fully
describes the changes anticipated as a result of the project - identifies,
where possible, examples of similar scenarios and social sustainability
measures for comparison, paying particular attention to vulnerable and key
population groups including minority groups, and different age, income and
cultural groups - identifies
direct and indirect, long term and short term social sustainability measures to
promote positive social outcomes as a consequence of the project, addressing
people’s way of life, social connections, safety, access to health and welfare
services, access to employment and education opportunities, health and culture
including measures to provide for the needs of minority groups, different age,
income and cultural groups and future generations - identifies
the relative equity of the project and associated social sustainability
measures, including how the opportunities will be accessible to different
sections of the community - considers
social sustainability over time - includes
qualitative and quantitative needs analysis - includes
a mechanism for the future review of community needs, and - makes
clear recommendations for opportunities to maximise positive social outcomes
for existing, neighbouring and likely future communities through the project.
Recommendations should refer to how the project will address the needs of
existing, neighbouring, and likely future communities and include measures that
are tangible, timely and effective, and within the ability of the Applicant/s
(alone or in partnership) to deliver.
23.7. Measures require effective and costed
implementation mechanisms and responsibilities which are agreed with key
partners and documented in a site-specific Social Sustainability Plan to guide
future stages of the project.
23.8. The City of Sydney, Department of
Education and Department of Family and Community Services should be closely
consulted in preparation of the Social Sustainability Report.
23.9.
Ensure that the historical connections and importance of the Waterloo
area to our First Nations people and means to support them and reflect them in
the design of the project, the services and employment opportunities provided
and that Waterloo continues to be a welcoming and culturally inclusive place.
LAHC Summary
of SSP Requirements
According to Waterloo Study
Requirements Summary
23. Social Sustainability Assessment
- Profile of the existing community, neighbouring
communities and the likely future community. - In-depth social needs analysis for the existing,
neighbouring and future communities including Aboriginal People (with separate
groups of women, men, young people and older people), older people, young
people, children and families, key cultural groups (with separate groups for
the main language groups), primary school children, key service providers and
tenant representative groups. - Needs of the existing, neighbouring and likely
future communities, and changes anticipated as a result of the Precinct
Proposal.
LAHC Summary of Scope:
According
to the Waterloo Summary of Studies
Social Sustainability
The Social Sustainability Study will include a review of
existing policies, and the community services needs of the existing and likely
future communities at five year intervals to 2036. It will include
consideration of the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People,
different age groups; key resident language groups, key providers of community
services and relevant government agencies.
The Study will assess the services needs of the future
community, including lower income households, higher density private residents
and people without a car. It will identify the type, role, size, condition and
usage of all existing community facilities, and assess the adequacy of these
facilities to service existing and future communities. The Strategy will
consider potential innovations and emerging best practice in the delivery of
community services.
The Strategy will identify measures to support high quality
of life, social connections, safety, employment and education opportunities,
health and culture, including measures to provide for the needs of minority
groups, different age, income and cultural groups and future generations.
It will consider all aspects of community and
social services, including health, education and emergency services and
programs available to assist social housing tenants.
Other Studies related to Waterloo Estate Social Sustainability Assessment
All of the studies undertaken as part of the SPP process including the study on the Social Sustainability Assessment flow from the official planning requirements for rezoning Waterloo Estate and Waterloo Metro Quarter. It does not cover the non-built environment aspects of particular concern to REDWatch. The LAHC summaries refer to an additional study outside the requirements on Place Making which they refer to as Study 28. In a meeting with LAHC and UG, LAHC also referred to a process to put together a Human Services Plan. LAHC also said that at the broader Communities Plus level they are putting together a study on Social Mix. We have asked for further information on these studies and for the opportunity to make input on them.
Feedback requested on Studies
With the release of the study requirements LAHC and UG are seeking community feedback about the study requirements – a Feedback Form has been provided on the Communities Plus website. REDWatch encourages community members and those with expertise in any of the study areas including the Social Sustainability Assessment to look at the requirements and to raise any issues that should be added to ensure that all aspects of concern are covered in the studies. Feedback on studies should include suggestions for issues which need to be looked at by LAHC in addition to the built environment studies.