The Redfern-Waterloo Authority (RWA) will conclude its
operations shortly but the renewal of Redfern-Waterloo will continue through
the NSW Government’s commitment to future significant and positive developments
for this important area of Sydney.

The NSW Government has announced the repeal of the Redfern-Waterloo
Act 2004 but the revitalisation of Redfern-Waterloo will continue through
the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA) and other agencies.

The SMDA is part of the Government’s commitment to
urban renewal in the Sydney Metropolitan area to ensure delivery of the
objectives of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Urban Renewal) 2010
(SEPP).

The purpose of the SMDA is to drive housing and
employment in specific areas serviced by public transport and infrastructure.
As a priority the SMDA will focus on the urban renewal of Redfern-Waterloo and
Granville.

The Hon. Brad Hazzard, Minister for Planning and
Infrastructure and Minister Assisting the Premier on Infrastructure, welcomes
the change saying: “The RWA was set up as a temporary organisation and during
this time, there has been many key developments in the Redfern area through
improved redevelopment, job creation, health and community services.

“The NSW Government will continue to drive positive
change in the Redfern area through the SMDA and other agencies and will continue
to build on creating a more sustainable community.”

SERVICE DELIVERY

As a
consequence of the implementation of the Redfern-Waterloo Plan, the RWA and its
partner agencies, the following has been delivered in the Redfern area over the
last five years:

The $53 million National Centre for Indigenous Excellence;
The concept planning and sale of the Rachel Forster Hospital for
a 150 dwelling residential site valued at $70 million upon completion;
The development of Australian Technology Park (APT) including
$123 million for Media City and the $47 million NICTA Building;
The set up of Eveleigh Market;
The redevelopment of Redfern RSL ($25 million) and Gibbons St
Carpark ($35 million) for residential and commercial use;
The enhancement of the heritage in the local area through the
Redfern-Waterloo Heritage Taskforce, the Heritage Interpretation Plan and
at ATP with more than $3 million being invested;
More than 850 training and job opportunities for Aboriginal
people via the Aboriginal Employment Program including Koori Job Ready and
Yaama Dhiyaan;
The implementation of Phase One and Two of the Human Services
Plan. Phase One focused on improving health services, services for
Aboriginal people, mental health, alcohol services, youth services and
services for children and young families. Phase Two looks at improving
human services delivery for older people, people with disabilities,
migrant communities and homeless people;
Over $1 million in community grants provided by the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority;
Improved perception of Redfern-Waterloo by the wider community;
Assisting Redfern Police in the significant reduction of crime.

THE NEXT STEPS

The RWA is
rolling out a transition plan to ensure the effective transfer of RWA’s
services.

Many of the
urban renewal functions of the RWA including planning and development will
continue through the SMDA. Functions of the RWA not being transferred to the
SMDA will be carried out by other key agencies.

This work has
already started with the transfer of Development Applications to the City of
Sydney and the Aboriginal Employment Program now being supported by Australian
Technology Park Sydney Limited.

More detailed
information will be available and updated regularly on the RWA website at www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au
.

Photo: Positive development in Redfern: the National
Centre of Indigenous Excellence

Photo: Eveleigh
Market attracts thousands of visitors

Photo: Creating
jobs for the Aboriginal community

Photo:
Investing in business at Australian Technology Park

Photo: The
National Centre of Indigenous Excellence

A
message from our CEO

There have been many positive changes in
Redfern with the area retaining its diversity and community
spirit.

It is the community,
government, and non-government agencies working together that is taking this
area forward and the Redfern-Waterloo Authority is proud to have been part of
the significant changes that have occurred over the last six years. I am looking
forward to delivering more positive outcomes as Chief Executive Officer of the
Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA) to drive further urban renewal
and planning in Redfern.

On a business
and community level, it is exciting to see the Redfern brand gaining momentum
to let the wider community know about the diverse opportunities on offer in
this area. The campaign in August 2011 at Redfern Train Station with Reggie
Rabbit welcoming commuters to the area was very successful and showed that
Redfern really is an important and welcoming part of Sydney.

Recent awards
for Eveleigh Market are also helping put Redfern on the map as a cultural and
artistic destination with the Market being recognised at the Delicious Produce
Awards and in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2012. The café scene is
also thriving with new bars and restaurants opening in the area which is
creating a fantastic community atmosphere – not to mention the popular retro
furniture stores.

The Aboriginal
Employment Program continues to achieve excellent outcomes and I am pleased
that the program is now being supported by Australian Technology Park Sydney
Ltd with the aim of the program becoming self-sustainable.

I would like
to take this opportunity to acknowledge and extend my greatest appreciation for
the work of staff, past and present, from all government and non-government
organisations as well as the community for their outstanding contribution to
the renewal of Redfern.

Regards

Roy Wakelin-King

Commuters
receive a warm welcome

Redfern commuters were given a warm
welcome at Redfern Train Station on Tuesday, 9 August 2011 as part of a
campaign to promote Redfern as a thriving destination for both business and
recreation.

Reggie the Rabbit, the South Sydney
Rabbitohs mascot, was there along with Redfern ambassadors to hand out Redfern
goodie bags to promote the new Redfern brand. There was also music
entertainment and some native Aboriginal treats freshly prepared by Yaama
Dhiyaan.

Redfern cafes
also threw their support behind the initiative with take-away coffee being
served in Redfern-branded coffee cups.

The Redfern
brand has been created to promote Redfern and the surrounding suburbs of
Waterloo, Darlington and Eveleigh as a great place for both business and
recreation. The Redfern brand is an initiative of the Roll Up Redfern Group
comprising the RedfernWaterloo Authority, City of Sydney, South Sydney
Rabbitohs, South Sydney Business Chamber and the community group REDWatch.

“The Redfern
logo is in the shape of a smile to capture the welcoming spirit of the area,”
explains Roy Wakelin-King, CEO of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority. “Redfern is
home to a diverse and vibrant mix of people and there is a wide range of
opportunities on offer for visitors including sporting, business and cultural
activities.

“Redfern has a
real sense of community and continues to grow as a creative hub. By promoting
the brand, we hope to change the perceptions of Redfern and to promote the area
to the wider community.”

Spread the
word about Redfern at www.facebook.com/redfernwaterloo
and www.twitter.com/redfern .

Photo: Promoting
Redfern to the wider community

Shopfront
Improvement Program

Redfern businesses are letting the
world know that Redfern is open for business through the Shopfront Improvement
Matching Grant Program.

Black Lace,
Redfern Cellars, Labels on Sale and Michael Bremner Pty Ltd are the latest
businesses to receive a grant to remove their roller shutters through the
program that provides matched cash funding of up to $3,000 from the City of
Sydney, with additional financial support from the Redfern-Waterloo Authority
for the early adopters of this program.

The Shopfront
Improvement Matching Grant Program provides an incentive to building owners or
tenants to make improvements to a Redfern shopfront. The program aims to create
renewed interest and vibrancy along Redfern and Regent Streets, Redfern and
Abercrombie Street, Darlington. Through this program, the City of Sydney has
partnered with the Roll Up Redfern Group comprising RedfernWaterloo Authority,
the South Sydney Business Chamber, South Sydney Rabbitohs and REDWatch.

Labels on Sale
is a significant building situated on the corner of Regent and Redfern St, thus
forming a gateway to Redfern. This corner is viewed daily by up to 40,000
passing vehicles so the removal of the shutters will promote

a sense of
vibrancy and business activity that reflects the improvements happening in the
area.

For more
information or to apply for a grant please visit: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Business/CityEconomy/RedfernShopfront.asp

Photo: Before
and after: Black Lace on Redfern St

RSL
development

The development of the Redfern RSL
continues as the new building starts to take full shape.

157 Redfern ST ‘Deicota’

As part of
this development, the Deicota site will be busy over the next few months with
the building fit out to commence in November, 2011. Deicota will consist of 88
apartments, 800sqm of retail space, 1,500sqm of club space and 1,600sqm of
commercial space. This project is expected to be complete in May 2012.

7-9 Gibbons – ‘Urba’

Demolition
work at 7-9 Gibbons St including the car park is scheduled to commence in
November 2011. The development of the site includes 135 apartments, 400sqm
ground floor retail, 1,200sqm first floor retail, and 700sqm second floor
commercial space.

Photo: The RSL
redevelopment, Redfern

BEP 2
Stakeholder Engagement Report released

The Redfern-Waterloo Authority (RWA)
released the Stakeholder Engagement Report for the draft Built Environment Plan
Stage 2 (BEP 2) in July 2011.

Undertaken by
an independent consultant, Mediate Today, the report outlines the community
feedback on draft BEP 2, a planning framework for the renewal of social housing
sites in Redfern-Waterloo and South Eveleigh over a 20-25 year timeframe.

Roy
Wakelin-King, CEO of RWA, recognises the importance of feedback from the
community in the draft BEP 2 process saying, “The Stakeholder Engagement Report
concludes that a large number of respondents (across all stakeholder groups)
generally support the potential changes that draft BEP 2 outlines. The feedback
received will be used for the preparation of further studies in
Redfern-Waterloo, and as a priority, BEP 2 areas.”

THESE STUDIES WILL
ADDRESS:

The built form;
Public domain and open space;
Crime prevention through design;
Traffic;
Transport and accessibility;
The social impacts of development including the need for
additional community facilities;
Other issues raised by the community; and
The development of revised planning controls.

Community
consultation will be an essential part of the project with studies and revised
planning controls placed on public exhibition.

To view the
draft Stakeholder Engagement Report please visit www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au
.

Photo: Artist’s
impression of BEP 2. The report captures valuable community feedback

Master
Planning Expo

Housing NSW held a Planning Expo in
August 2011 for the BEP 2 Preliminary Master Planning Project. The Expo
included fun activities to encourage everyone to imagine how a Master Plan for
the area could contribute to a better place to live.

Held at
REDWater Markets in Redfern Park, Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority
(SMDA) was also be there to meet with the local community to explain more about
the role of the SMDA and the planning process for Redfern-Waterloo including:

the history of the Built Environment Plan Stage 1 through to the
exhibition of the Urban Renewal Study and Strategy; and
a map outlining the study area of the Redfern-Waterloo Urban
Renewal Strategy that indicates that the sites identified through the
draft Built Environment Plan Stage 2 (BEP 2) are included in this area.

The event was
a good way for the community to learn more about planning in Redfern-Waterloo
and to provide feedback on community consultation. The public was very
interested to find out more about the draft BEP 2 and the role the SMDA will
play in future urban renewal of the Redfern-Waterloo area.

Photo: SMDA
staff working with the community

Aboriginal
Employment Program joins ATP

The Aboriginal
Employment Program that trains young Aboriginal people in the construction,
rail, aviation and hospitality industries is now proudly supported by
Australian Technology Sydney Limited (ATPSL).

The Aboriginal
Employment Program, that manages the Koori Job Ready Course and the Yaama
Dhiyaan Hospitality Training School, run eight-week training for students and
assists them in finding employment.

The program
was originally an initiative of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority but now sits
under the ATPSL umbrella. Since the program began in 2006, more than 850
employment opportunities have been created for Aboriginal men and women.

Lawrence Kelly
arrived in Sydney from Coffs Harbour seven years ago with just $20 in his
wallet and a bag of clothes.

But after
completing the Koori Job Ready course and an apprenticeship in carpentry,
Lawrence is now working for Lend Lease as a leading hand.

“I have worked
on a variety of sites such as the new Commonwealth Bank site at Darling Walk,
Barangaroo and Royal North Shore Hospital, so I am always learning!” says
Lawrence.

“I am really
enjoying what I am doing and I am looking forward to one day becoming a site
manager.”

For more
information on the Aboriginal Employment Program visit www.atp.com.au/aboriginalemployment-program
.

Photo: Building
success: Koori Job Ready graduate Lawrence Kelly

Solar
panels complete

A solar power system on the roof of the
NICTA Building at Australian Technology Park (ATP) has been installed as part
of ATP’s sustainability strategy.

The 61 kW
solar panel system is generating approximately 93,000 kWh per year from the
sun’s radiated energy and will provide around 13 per cent of the NICTA base
building electricity requirements. This includes air conditioning for tenants
during business hours as well as power to foyers, lifts and common areas.

In addition to
generating electricity, the panels provide shading to a significant proportion
of the NICTA Building roof area. This will deliver the benefit of lessening
demand for air conditioning and electricity consumption.

Surplus
electricity from the solar power system will be fed into the public grid.

The
installation comprises 325 high efficiency solar panels. The system will
produce free and clean electricity for a lifetime of 30 years or more.

Photo: Solar
panels to reduce energy use at ATP

Call
for heritage volunteers

ATPSL is
inviting applications from people with a passionate interest in Australia’s
industrial past to join a committed team of part-time heritage volunteers. ATP
was once the site of Australia’s largest workforce for the manufacture of steam
locomotives with much of the machinery still on site. ATP is looking for:

CUSTOMER SERVICE VOLUNTEERS

To assist visitors to the ATP with wayfinding and interpretation
of ATP’s rich heritage and lead small group tours
Cataloguing of heritage assets

CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS

To work on heritage equipment, machinery and other assets. This
will involve working with light hand tools, paint brushes etc
Cataloguing of heritage assets

For an
information pack, please contact Gary Love, ATPSL’s Project Manager
Sustainability & Volunteering on 9209 4426 or email g.love@atp.com.au .

Photo: Preserving
and promoting ATP’s heritage

ATP Open
Day

An Australian
Technology Park Open Day is scheduled for Saturday, 25 February 2012 to
showcase ATP’s services and facilities.

The event will
include a range of fun activities including a rail heritage film festival. To
find out more, contact Gary Love on 9209 4426 or at g.love@atp.com.au.

AIME
high to help Indigenous youth

The Rabbitohs footy team were kitted
out in blue hoodies in July 2011 in recognition of AIME National Hoodie Day –
the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience.

Now in its
second year, AIME Hoodie Day encourages Australians to engage in a conversation
around whether Indigenous success equals Australian success. AIME delivers a
dynamic mentoring program that links mainly non-Indigenous university students
one-on-one with Indigenous high school students. The ultimate goal is to see
all participating kids finishing school at the same rate as every Australian
child.

Phoito: Rabbitohs
players wear their AIME hoodies with pride

New
Redfern home for community groups

107 Redfern St, Redfern is set to be
the new home for three local organisations with educational community classes
in upholstery and woodwork already underway at the premises.

Thanks to the
City Of Sydney’s Accommodation Grants Program, the organisations that will be
located at 107 Redfern St include:

107 Projects Inc to provide artists’ studios and associated
cultural activities;
PLACE (Partners in Learning and Community Enterprise) to
establish an education and creative enterprise centre for disadvantaged
communities including The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre; and
Tribal Warrior’s Mentor Program to run its mentoring program for
Aboriginal and Torres Islander youth.

The Bower
Reuse and Repair Centre has already set up a workshop in the building offering
training in upholstery and woodwork in conjunction with the TAFE NSW Outreach
Program. The TAFE program also offers training in carpentry, painting and
plumbing.

General
Manager of The Bower, Maaike Pullar, is thrilled that the program is up and
running saying: “We are so thankful to be located at 107 Redfern St so we can
provide educational workshops for those who may need income support, disability
support, or who may not have had access to mainstream education. The course
runs for six months and covers furniture repairs, upholstery and woodwork, and
with so many furniture stores in Redfern, we are hoping to provide restored
furniture as well as employment opportunities for students. At the end of the
course we are also planning to hold an exhibition.”

The City of
Sydney’s Accommodation Grants Program supports non-profit, locally based
organisations by giving them a new home in City-owned buildings at nil or below
market rent.

Photo:
Restoring furniture is one of the activities taking place at 107 Redfern
Street.

Eveleigh
Market wins Delicious Award

Eveleigh Farmers’ Market has won the
national award for Most Outstanding Farmers’ Market at the Delicious Produce
Awards held on 25 July 2011 in recognition of its fresh, locally sourced and
high-quality produce.

Ariana Aljinovic,
Eveleigh Market Manager, was thrilled to accept the award, saying, “Eveleigh
Market has a strict charter to ensure our customers have access to some of the
best seasonal produce. This award is a testament to our excellent producers who
are committed to growing, raising and making their own produce for the
community to enjoy.”

Food critic
Simon Thomsen sums up Eveleigh Market perfectly: “It has a strong sense of
community, fine produce direct from the people who grow it, chefs such as Alex
Herbert and Kylie Kwong regularly cooking breakfasts and a family atmosphere.”

The Produce
Awards is now in its sixth year. The judging panel included some of Australia’s
leading chefs including Matt Moran, Phillip Johnson, Cheong Liew, Alla
WolfTasker and Maggie Beer.

Eveleigh
Market has also been recognised by the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide
2012 with the Billy Kwong stall being awarded Best Street Food Stall.

For more
information about Eveleigh Market visit www.eveleighmarket.com.au

Photo:
Eveleigh Farmers’ Market offers delicious produce

Redfern
East wins award

Housing NSW has been rewarded the
national GreenSmart Residential Development of the Year Award for their Redfern
East Development.

The 2011
HIA-Boral GreenSmart Awards recognised the Redfern East project for its
environmental sustainability which the judges said, “comprehensively addressed
environmental aspects – a big achievement for such a large development”.

The project
provides 106 townhouse and unit dwellings for young families, seniors and
people with disabilities. It achieved a 5 Star Green Star rating from the Green
Building Council of Australia, and an average 7 Star Nationwide House Energy
Rating (NatHERs) which demonstrates best practice in thermal design.

Sustainability
features include the urban design, housing diversity, inclusion of open space
and a community centre, grey-water treatment system, rainwater harvesting,
solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, gas boosted solar hot water, compost bins and
worm farms.

Photo: The
Redfern East development wins national award

Redfern
Fire Station mural unveiled

Redfern Fire Station has been given a
colourful facelift with the unveiling of a new fire safety mural in June 2011
to educate the public about fire safety. Over 160 school students from across
Australia entered the competition as part of a campaign aimed at reducing
Aboriginal deaths and injuries from fires at home. Four winning designs were
chosen.

Donovan in
Year 8 from Fairfield Patrician Brothers School based his design on the fire
safety message: “Everyone should have an escape plan.” Byron in Year 5 from
Lambton Public School and Abbey from West Wallsend School expressed the
importance of not playing with matches, and Imogen in Year 4 from Lambton
Public School, used the phrase ‘Stop, drop, and roll’ to put out a fire in her
design.

Steve Russell,
NSW Fire Brigades Aboriginal Services Officer, says the main aim of the
campaign is to raise awareness of fire safety in the community with the mural
“brightening up the neighbourhood”.

Redfern Fire
Station is the fourth busiest station in NSW.

Photo: The
Redfern Fire Mural is unveiled

Saturday
in Design

More than 1,200 members of the design
community descended on Redfern for the Saturday in Design annual trade event in
August 2011 with Great Dane Furniture on Elizabeth St showing off its latest
designs and collaborations.

This year’s
event was the first time Redfern had its own designated precinct attracting
architects, designers, students and design-savvy members of the public to the
Great Dane showroom. International designer Benjamin Hubert was there running
workshops and Eveleigh Market provided food. Activities on the day included
using recycled objects to make on-off pieces and papercording.

Photo: Papercorder
Rob Pink (left) and Benjamin Hubert, international industrial designer

Redfern
has the right moves

More than 30 Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander students from across the country stayed at the National Centre
for Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in August 2011 for a NAISDA Dance College
Dance Camp. NAISDA is a Pathway Partner of the NCIE and runs accredited courses
in Indigenous Dance.

The intensive
week-long dance camp saw the group performing for family and friends, NCIE
staff and the South African International AFL team who were also staying at the
NCIE.

Since opening
in February 2010, the NCIE has grown to become a meeting place for the local
Redfern community as well as visitors from across the country. Located on the
site of the old Redfern Primary School in George Street, the NCIE offers a
Sports, Arts and Recreation Centre, Campus and Corporate Conferencing Centre.
Sports competitions include Men’s Futsal, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball,
Mixed Basketball and Mixed Touch Football. Visit the NCIE website for more
information at www.ncie.org.au .

Photo: The
NAISDA dance group rehearsing at NCIE

Redfern
takes to the stage in Turkey

The Factory Community Centre’s Yurungai
Dance Group returned triumphant from Turkey where they represented Australia at
the 2011 Seventh International Ordu (Turkey) Youth and Children’s Theatre
Festival in June 2011.

Performing two
shows to large crowds, Yurungai Dance was rapturously received. The eight
member troupe also performed twice to over 1,500 children and the general
public in a central park in Ankara, in the presence of the Ambassador to
Turkey, Mr Ian Biggs and his wife Christine. The first performance was streamed
live to air on National TV.

Yurungai Dance
is grateful to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program Public
Diplomacy Branch of the Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
through their award of funds towards the travel costs. Other funding support
was received by the Redfern – Waterloo Authority, Barnardos Australia, Clubs
Limited NSW, Housing NSW and the Factory Community Centre.

Photo: The
Yurungai Dance Group perform in Turkey

Christmas
Banner competition

Local school and youth groups will be
showing off their artistic skills and spreading some Christmas cheer at
Eveleigh Market by taking part in the Christmas Banner competition.

The colourful
and creative Christmas banners will be on display at Eveleigh Market with the
winners announced on Saturday, 10 December 2011. Market goers can vote for
their favourite banner in the People’s Choice Award.

The winner and
People’s Choice Award winner will receive $1000 each with the runners up
winners receiving $500 each.

Visit www.eveleighmarket.com.au for more
information.

This year, 11
schools and community groups will be taking part.

Photo: Alexandria
Park Community School wins the People’s Choice Award in 2010

Contact
the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority

For more
information please call 9202 9100 or email contactus@smda.nsw.gov.au or visit www.smda.nsw.gov.au.

Source: You
can download the PDF version of this newsletter from: November
2011 RWA Update – PDF Version

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
					1	2
3	4	5	61 event	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31