Redfern-Waterloo Authority Redfern-Waterloo
UPDAT E OCTOBER 2007
Planning
for public housing renewal
Elizabeth Street redevelopment
Action Plan to improve Waterloo Green
Koori Job Ready Course in Construction
Rabbitohs chief says self-belief is key
Making school more interesting
Application lodged for new health centre
$50m residential development at hospital site
EXPERIENCE AN ABORIGINAL CULTURAL CRUISE
Planning for public housing renewal
The Department of Housing and the Redfern-Waterloo
Authority are working in partnership to facilitate a comprehensive social
housing improvement strategy for the area.
Work is underway on Stage 2
of the Built Environment Plan, including the aim over the longer term of
improving existing public housing stock, enhancing the mix of housing types and
tenancies in order to reduce the concentration of public housing, establishing
a more sustainable social mix and facilitating affordable housing.
The strategy will seek to
build on community strengths, recognise that high rise public housing in
particular is home to significant communities and to ensure that the physical
environment matches the community’s needs.
The NSW Government has given
a clear commitment that in developing Stage 2 of the Built Environment Plan:
- There will be no cuts to the amount of public
housing. - Current residents will not be disadvantaged.
- All public tenancies are secure.
The Redfern-Waterloo
community and public housing tenants in particular will be extensively
consulted on any proposals for public housing renewal. It is currently
anticipated that a draft of Stage 2 of the Built Environment Plan could be
available for public exhibition by March 2008.
Elizabeth Street redevelopment
The Department of Housing
lodged its Development Application with the City of Sydney on 21 June for 106 new public housing
dwellings on the eastern precinct of its Elizabeth Street
site. Details of the DA are available on the City’s website at www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au Expressions
of Interest for architectural services for the proposed development of 158
private dwellings on land adjoining the new public housing are currently being
reviewed by the Department. The proceeds from the sale of this land will be
invested in the construction of the new and improved public housing.
Photo: The Department of
Housing and the RWA are working together on Stage 2 of the Built Environment
Plan.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS
Action Plan to improve Waterloo Green
The Waterloo Green
provides highly valuable recreational and open space to the residents of Waterloo public housing
estate.
With the RWA’s support, the
Department of Housing and other government agencies have developed an Action
Plan to make Waterloo Green a safer and more user-friendly place.
The plan also adopts the
recommendations of a community safety audit undertaken by Redfern Police.
Key actions in the plan
include:
- Improving public safety and amenity on and
around Waterloo Green. - Reducing anti-social behaviour associated with
excessive public drinking. - Providing more information about services,
events and local interest groups. - Improving access to key human services.
- Making more use of meeting and activities
spaces. - Improving interaction between older residents
and young people.
For further information on
the Action Plan, contact the Department of Housing’s Waterloo Team Leader,
Warwick Sams, on 9310 8666.
Photo: One of the areas of
recreation and open space within the Waterloo Green.
Koori Job Ready Course in Construction
‘The course and this apprenticeship
have changed my life forever and for the better.’ — James Delaney
Koori Job
Ready Course in Construction • Information Sessions
The Redfern-Waterloo
Authority (RWA) in partnership with TAFE NSW South West Sydney Institute are
offering a Koori Job Ready Course in
Construction.
The course is run over 8
weeks and operates daily between 8am and 2.30pm at North
Eveleigh.
Subjects covered in the
course include:
- Construction OH&S (Induction Card)
- Restricted Height Scaffolds
- First Aid
- Forklift Operations and
- Basic Carpentry
The RWA holds information
sessions before each course.
To sign up for the
information sessions or for further information please contact Terry Kelly at
the RWA on 9202 9100.
TAFE SOUTH WESTERN SYDNEY
INSTITUTE & REDFERN WATERLOO
AUTHORITY
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT SUCESS
Rabbitohs chief says self-belief is key
In an inspiring address to Aboriginal students, South Sydney Rabbitohs co-owner, Peter Holmes a Court, stressed
the importance of self-belief. He made the comments at the recent graduation of
the Koori Job Ready Course at RWA’s
Les Tobler Construction Training Centre, North Eveleigh.
“The Rabbitohs now go
into every game believing they can win,” Peter Holmes a Court said.
“This self-belief was a prime reason for the team’s on-field success this
year,” he added, which saw them reach the finals for the first time in 18
years.
Mr Holmes a Court urged
Aboriginal graduates to believe in themselves as they transitioned into
meaningful employment and successful careers.
He received an enthusiastic
response to his important message.
Two courses have graduated
so far this year, with a third group about to start. So far there have been
more than 40 graduates in 2007. Graduation provides employment opportunities in
construction flowing from Redfern-Waterloo’s urban renewal.
The training centre is named
after Les Tobler who was instrumental in coordinating pre-employment training
programs for unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
The third Koori Job Ready course will start on 15 October 2007. For
further details, please contact Terry Kelly at the RWA on 9202 9100.
Photo: Graduates of the
second Construction Course with Peter Holmes a Court, Carmel
Tebbutt MP, RWA Staff and TAFE teachers.
Photo: Students from the
Course working on scaffolding.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Making school more interesting
A practical and environmentally sustainable building
program at Alexandria
Park Community
School is already proving
successful for students.
The new project was
initiated as a pilot aimed at Year 9 students who are disengaged in school,
offering them access to hands-on learning with a building project on school
grounds during school hours.
The RWA’s Terry Kelly helped
co-ordinate the program, ensuring the students were mentored and supervised by
a building professional. The project undertaken was the development of an eco
pond with a sustainable garden on school grounds.
Five students are involved
in the project, which has three stages. Laying of sleepers for terracing and
building a retaining wall were completed in mid-June. Stage Three, the
replacement of rotten sleepers and finalising terracing, commenced in late
June.
During the building project,
students learnt to work in a team, were mentored by a professional builder and
were taught to apply skills such as numeracy and literacy when mixing cement or
laying bricks.
Most importantly the five
students who participated in the program not only enjoyed the experience, but
felt that they had learnt a lot, particularly how to work alongside
professional people. One student, Daniel, stated: “I learnt how to
measure, how to mix cement and lay straight bricks.” Another student,
Hayden, felt the program “made school more interesting.”
The project contributes
towards the student’s credit points for work experience and is being considered
by the school as an ongoing program.
Valuable support was
provided by the Brick
Industry Training
School and the Local Community Partnership who
supplied a young bricklayer to help the students for two weeks as well as
provide material. Bunnings Warehouse also contributed to the program by
donating several bags of cement to the school for the program.
Photo: Terry Kelly
Photo: Students from Alexandria Park Community
High School taking part
in the building project.
Combatting family violence
Family violence continues to be a significant social
problem in Redfern-Waterloo, as it is in the community generally.
The Redfern Waterloo Family
Violence Taskforce is seeking to address family violence in the area. The
Taskforce has representation from both government and non-government agencies.
Achievements to date include:
- Development of a Charter for the Family Violence
Taskforce. - Mapping of support services available to the
Redfern Waterloo community. - Preparation of a Family Violence Services
Directory that is available to the general public and agencies. - Establishment of a Family Violence Services
database. - Hosting of a Family Violence Stakeholder Forum
to develop an action plan for 2007-08. - Other plans also underway:
- Developing a response model for the area that
could promptly link victims to appropriate services immediately following
an incident. - Providing specialist training for family
violence workers through the Southern Cross University’s Gnibi College
for Indigenous Australian Peoples.
A culturally specific
information resource has also been developed by Mudgingal in conjunction with
the RWA and funded through the support of the NSW Department of Community
Services to promote the Black Out Violence campaign.
For further information please contact Julie Parsons at the RWA on 9202 9100.
Need business help?
Call Redfern Waterloo Enterprise Service
Any Redfern, Waterloo, Eveleigh or Darlington
resident who has an idea for a business, or on existing business that requires
assistance, can access the Redfern Waterloo Business Service.
The Enterprise Service is a
FREE, ONE-ON-ONE & CONFIDENTIAL service with an experienced and qualified
business professional that can help on a range of business issues including:
- Business Planning
- Understanding regulations
- Financing
- Management skills
- Marketing and market research
- Mentor support
The facilitator works out of
the RWA office, Level 11, Tower 2 1 Lawson Sq, Redfern. CALL 9202 9100 TO BOOK
A TIME TO MEET WITH THE BUSINESS ADVISOR.
Redfern-Waterloo Authority
& Department of State and Regional Development
Yaama Dhiyaan
restaurant • catering • cafe
CAFE COMING SOON
Yaama Dhiyaan is a Cafe and Function Centre that
specialises in modern Australian cuisine using Indigenous produce and flavours.
YAAMA DHIYAAN is an exciting new venture offering on site function services as well
as off site catering.
It is located in the
exciting new North Eveleigh precinct at 255 Wilson Street, Darlington.
YAAMA DHIYAAN is a truly unique opportunity for people to experience the friendly
service and high standard of food offered by Aunty Beryl
Van-Oploo, an Aboriginal elder, and an exciting young
Aboriginal chef Mathew Cribb, who has over 10 years experience.
MENU
SOME OF THE CULINARY
DELIGHTS ON OFFER
- Fried Crocodile
Wontons with Finger Lime Sauce
and Snowpea Shoots - Peppered Kangaroo
Fillet with Roasted Beetroot, Rocket Salad and Balsamic Reduction - Macadamia Nut and Thyme Crusted. Emu Fillet on
Crushed Yam with Native Pepper Berry Jus - Pan Fried Chicken Breast with Bush Tomato Ratatouille and Crispy
Emu Prosciutto - Steamed Lemon
Myrtle and Poppy Seed Pudding with Vanilla Anglaise and Chocolate and Wattleseed Sauce
HOURS OF OPERATION Monday to
Sunday, 8am to 10pm
INTERESTED IN BOOKING YAAMA
DHIYAAN FOR YOUR NEXT FUNCTION OR CATERING EVENT?
Call Event Services, Matt on
8399 0924 or email mathew@yaama.com.au
URBAN RENEWAL IN BRIEF
Application lodged for new health centre
The Department of Health recently lodged its Project
Application for the new $10 million community health centre at the site of the
former Redfern Courthouse and Police Station.
Details of the application
can be found on the Department of Planning’s website at www.planning.nsw.gov.au . The
centre, which will become operational in 2009, will have a team of health care
professionals who will provide health services to the local community,
including through an outreach service. Regular services to be provided will
include drug and alcohol assessment/treatment/counselling /referral and follow
up, sexual health screening and treatment, nutrition counselling, community
development, adolescent mental health and general practitioner shared care.
$50m residential development at hospital site
The public exhibition period for the RWA’s Concept
Plan application for the proposed residential development of the former Rachel Forster
Hospital closed on 31
August.
No objections to the
development were raised by the local community and three government entities
lodged formal submissions. The Minister for Planning’s determination of the
application is expected shortly. The Concept Plan envisages a residential
development of about 150 dwellings with an estimated development cost of about
$50 million. Significant historical elements of the former hospital buildings
are to be retained and a new public park of over 1000 square metres fronting Pitt Street will be
created. The site is expected to go to market later this year and sale proceeds
will be used to fund the construction of the new community health centre in Redfern Street.
EXPERIENCE AN ABORIGINAL CULTURAL CRUISE
Set sail on a journey to discover the stories of the
indigenous people of our land and the history of Sydney Harbour.
The Tribal
Warrior offers Sydney’s Only
Aboriginal Harbour Cruises which includes informative and entertaining
commentary about significant Sydney
landmarks and their Aboriginal names and history.
The Tribal
Warrior cultural cruises operate for 1 hr 45min and also
include a visit to Clark
Island, a traditional
welcome and light refreshments.
All Cultural cruises provide
employment and training for unemployed Aboriginal people and are sponsored by
the RWA.
Cruises depart daily at
12.45pm Tuesday to Saturday front Eastern Pontoon, East Circular Quay
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM:
Sydney Visitor Centres 1800
067 676 or by contacting Tribal Warrior
Association on 9699 3491 or by email on tribalwarrior@tribalwarrior.org
FOR GROUP / CHARTER AND
SCHOOL BOOKINGS Call Sydney Learning Adventures on 9240 8552.
URBAN RENEWAL IN BRIEF
$123 million media hub
Early works are scheduled to
commence this month on the $123 million development of a major new media hub at
the Australian Technology Park.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2009 and will house the
Seven Network, Pacific Magazines and other media entities which are to be
announced in due course. 600 construction jobs will be created of which 60 have
been designated for unemployed Aboriginal people under the RWA’s Indigenous
Employment Model. The media hub will directly employ about 2000 staff, with
significant increases in new jobs and investment in Redfern as a result of the
development.
Community markets
The RWA has re-advertised
its development application for the $3 million adaptive re-use of the former
Blacksmith’s Workshop at North Eveleigh. The
proposal entails the creation of a community market, arts space and a small car
park. The revised DA has taken into account public submissions received during
the first period of public exhibition and clarified potential market operating
hours under either a weekend/Thursday night scenario and a 7 day a week
scenario.
Subject to development
approval, the community market is now expected to commence operation by mid
2008.
Plan for former Railyards
A concept plan is being
prepared by the RWA to facilitate the sale of the western and eastern ends of
the former railyards at North Eveleigh.
Planning for the site will be in accord with the Built Environment Plan (Stage
One) which was the subject of extensive community consultation in 2006. The CarriageWorks performing arts space, the Yaama
Dhiyaan Indigenous training/function centre and the proposed Blacksmith’s
Workshop/community markets space will be among those lands retained in public
ownership on the 10.5 hectare site. It is expected that the concept plan
application will be lodged in early 2008 to enable community consultation and
that relevant surplus lands will be put to the market for sale later next year.
$45m Indigenous project
Project approval from the
Minister for Planning is anticipated soon for the Indigenous Land Corporation’s
proposed redevelopment of the 1.6 hectare former Redfern Public School
to create a centre of sporting and cultural excellence. The ILC will be
investing about $45 million into what will be known as the National Indigenous
Development Centre. This exciting project, which is expected to bring
significant benefits to the Redfern-Waterloo community, is likely to be
completed in 2009.
Eveleigh Heritage Walk
A design consortium comprised
of architects Cox Richardson and
engineers Arup have been appointed to the RWA’s $6 million project to build a
pedestrian/cycle bridge linking the Australian
Technology Park
with North Eveleigh. Project managers have
also been selected following a tender process. The Department of Planning has
issued detailed requirements for the project following consideration of the
RWA’s preliminary environmental assessment.
$54m works near complete
The RWA’s $47 million
construction of its new 11,000 square metre research facility at the Australian Technology Park
will be completed by the end of this year. Following fit-out, about 600
employees of National ICT Australia and the Defence Science and Technology
Organisation will relocate to the new building in early 2008. Meanwhile, the
RWA’s $7.2 million project to build new roads and infrastructure to facilitate
the ATP’s future development is scheduled for completion in October this year.
The new main entrance to the Park will be via Henderson Road.
Need Assistance?
Redfern-Waterloo Authority
For more information or to
send us your feedback please contact the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, Level 11, Tower
2, 1 Lawson Square,
Redfern
Tel: (02) 9202 9100 Fax:
(02) 9202 9111
Mail: PO Box 3332, Redfern NSW 2016
Email: redfernwaterloo@rwa.nsw.gov.au
Internet: www.redfernwaterloo.com.au