[North Eveleigh] Public Meeting on Elizabeth St DA / Social Housing messaging and Inquiry / New Homelessness Strategy / Cope Street EOI / Eveleigh Bridge / Loneliness

Tue Nov 19 16:32:34 AEDT 2024

Dear REDWatch members, supporters and agencies,

Elizabeth Street / PCYC Redfern Plan Explained - 26 November 6pm

Elizabeth Street Redfern Place DA - Exhibition until 4 December 2024

Social Housing Messaging Guide

NSW Homelessness Strategy 2025-2035 - feedback until 14 Feb 2025

Transforming Cope St Redfern car park into affordable aged care

Bridge over the Railway line at Carriageworks

Loneliness Follow up
Please note - this email contains hyperlinks. This means that if you see a blue underlined word or phrase that you can click on it and go directly to a document or to get more information.
Elizabeth Street / PCYC Redfern Plan Explained - 26 November 6pm
At this public meeting Bridge Housing will explain what is planned for its development of the Elizabeth Street / PCYC / Homes NSW site opposite Redfern Oval. Bridge will speak to the Development Application it currently has on public exhibition until December 4th. You can help publicise this meeting by sharing this social media post<https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=964504989039696&set=a.460968159393384> or the flyer<http://www.redwatch.org.au/eventnotice/241126redwp>.
So come to find out how your suburb is about to change and bring your questions. The meeting will be nearby at Counterpoint's The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street, Waterloo. For those who cannot attend in person you can also join by Zoom http://tinyurl.com/RedwatchMeetingZoom<https://tinyurl.com/RedwatchMeetingZoom?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2jXy00rj4ZTmS8E61qnfLi-wRpfLEZi1QxIj7mqxCB1vlCXv4lfh5n55M_aem_Mhg8NRatO8ipMKcT3ZfuAg>.
There will be no REDWatch meeting on the first Thursdays of December or January.
Elizabeth Street Redfern Place DA - Exhibition until 4 December 2024
The documents for this DA can be accessed, and comments placed through this page on the Department of Planning website SSD-51274973 600-660 Elizabeth Street, Redfern - Mixed Use<https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/600-660-elizabeth-street-redfern-mixed-use>.
As the documents are all mixed up on the planning portal you may want to also have a look at the REDWatch website page where we made some initial comments and provided a list of unscrambled documents and links - 660 Elizabeth St Redfern (PCYC site) Redevelopment - Exhibition until 4 December 2024<http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/elizssd/241107redwe>.
You can see the media release from Bridge Housing on the REDWatch website under New DA with ambition to deliver more social and affordable housing in Redfern<http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/elizssd/241108bridge>. There is also general information on Bridge's Redfern Place Development Proposal page<https://bridgehousing.org.au/redfern-place-development-proposal/> and the Homes NSW / NSW Land and Housing Corporation's Redfern Place web page<https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/land-and-housing-corporation/greater-sydney/redfern>. Construction is planned to begin late 2025 for completion in early 2028.
No decision has yet been made if S3, the Homes NSW building with 100 units will be managed by Bridge or by the Community Housing Provider from the consortium negotiating over the Waterloo redevelopment. Bridge will place the social housing it will both own and control into S4, the same building as its 11 disability / carer units and its head office. The PCYC will be located in S1.
The affordable housing will be in building S2. Bridge is confident it can get funding to deliver an affordable housing building without private apartments and will resubmit the DA should it need to revert to building private housing. It is still not clear if the affordable housing will be in perpetuity even though that is what Bridge would like to see. Some possible funding streams require housing to be affordable for a guaranteed period potentially up to 25 years. The affordable housing will be set as a percentage of income with the federal "discount off market price" requirement used as a cap. The final picture will only become clear when funding is locked in.
Bridge proposes to provide a mixed community with the inclusion of the affordable housing, including those working with incomes towards the top end of affordable housing eligibility. Under the NSW Affordable Housing Ministerial Guidelines 2023-24<https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/843446/NSW-Affordable-Housing-Ministerial-Guidelines-2023-24.pdf> there are three income categories with the maximum income for a Sydney a couple of $116,400. This threshold is increased by $23,300 for each child and $38,800 for each adult.
The main document for the Bridge Housing exhibition is the Environmental Impact Statement<https://majorprojects.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/prweb/PRRestService/mp/01/getContent?AttachRef=SSD-51274973%2120241030T222644.430%20GMT> and the other documents are appendices that provide additional information.
You can bring any questions you have to the Factory Community Centre on 26 November at 6 pm when Bridge Housing will present on the exhibited DA and answer questions.
Social Housing Messaging Guide
Over the last few years we have seen some communities push back against social and affordable housing going into their communities. There is a need for the sector and those concerned about housing to think about how we change those attitudes. Common Cause has issued a timely practical tool for advocates, councils, and allies called Boosting local support for social housing<https://static1.squarespace.com/static/622feda0bf4f7d3815edc83c/t/6721872217f1e771d55ed34b/1730250543427/Social+Housing+Message+Guide+-+Web.pdf> which it refers to on its website as the social housing messaging guide<https://engage.squarespace-mail.com/r?m=672434d4b4bfe33c77ab6cd3&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commoncause.com.au%2Fsocial-housing-guide%3Fss_source%3Dsscampaigns%26ss_campaign_id%3D67241cb1b4bfe33c77ab2023%26ss_email_id%3D672434d4b4bfe33c77ab6cd3%26ss_campaign_name%3DSocial%2BHousing%2Bguide%2Bwith%2Bworking%2Blinks%2521%26ss_campaign_sent_date%3D2024-11-01T01%253A54%253A44Z&w=622feda0bf4f7d3815edc83c&c=b_67241cb1b4bfe33c77ab2023&l=en-US&s=IQm05AJfvt70X7cA1OhQRVJ56U0%3D>.
Most people want to live in a community where everyone has a secure, affordable place to call home. Social housing is an essential part of this vision. Unfortunately, misinformation and stigma around social housing can lead to ugly narratives taking hold. These can make it harder for local authorities to support and invest in social and community housing.
This message guide is intended for anyone aiming to build local support for social housing, and reduce stigma experienced by social housing residents. It was developed following message research conducted by Common Cause Australia on behalf of the Regional Local Government Homelessness & Social Housing Charter Group (Victoria).
So if you have concerns about social and affordable housing, or know someone who has, this guide is worth a look.
NSW Audit Office investigating social housing - submissions to 28 Feb 2025
Long-term, subsidised rental housing is provided to assist people who have extreme difficulty in accessing housing in the private housing market. The collective term for this type of housing is 'social housing' which in New South Wales includes:

*         'public housing' managed by Homes NSW (a division of the Department of Communities and Justice)

*         'community housing' managed by non-government organisations (social housing providers)

*         housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples managed by the Aboriginal Housing Office or Aboriginal social housing providers.
In New South Wales, applications for housing assistance are managed through Housing Pathways. This is a partnership between Homes NSW, including the Aboriginal Housing Office, and participating community housing providers. Housing Pathways provides a single application process, common eligibility criteria, a standard assessment process and a single waiting list known as the NSW Housing Register.
This audit will assess whether social housing is effectively and efficiently prioritised to meet the needs of vulnerable households, and whether social housing tenants are effectively supported to establish and sustain their tenancies.
The audit will assess all types of social housing - including public housing, community housing and housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Audit Office is seeking experiences or views on:

*         the process of applying for social housing (including evidence requirements)

*         the process of being offered and accepting a social housing property

*         support programs and services offered to new social housing tenants.
More information is available on the Audit Offices Social Housing page<https://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/our-work/reports/social-housing>.
NSW Homelessness Strategy 2025-2035 - feedback until 14 Feb 2025
The NSW Government through the Department of Family and Community Services has started a Consultation on draft NSW Homelessness Strategy 2025-2035<https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/nsw-response-to-homelessness/new-nsw-homelessness-strategy-2024-2034>. The Strategy's vision is to make NSW a place where homelessness is rare, brief and not repeated, because people have a safe home and the support to keep it. It is open for feedback until 14 February 2025 to homelessness.strategy at homes.nsw.gov.au<mailto:homelessness.strategy at homes.nsw.gov.au>.
A social Housing Discussion Paper that was expected to complement the Homelessness Paper is now expected in December.
The direct links to the key documents in the exhibition are:

*         The draft NSW Homelessness Strategy 2025-2034<https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0011/860870/NSW-Homelessness-Strategy-2025-2035-DRAFT.docx> (MS Word 1.9MB)

*         The consultation paper: Draft NSW Homelessness Strategy Check-in November 2024 - February 2025<https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0004/860872/Consultation-Paper-NSW-Homelessness-Strategy-November-2024.docx> (MS Word 165kb) includes questions

*         Paper #1 - Towards System Change<https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/860889/Paper-1-Towards-System-Change-Jan-2024.pdf> (PDF 0.3MB)

*         Paper #2 - Housing First - Options and considerations for NSW<https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0011/860897/Paper-2-Housing-First-Options-and-considerations-for-NSW.docx> (MS Word 0.8MB)

*         Fact Sheet #1 - Respecting the Diversity of Homeless Experiences<https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0005/860873/Fact-sheet-1-Respecting-diversity-of-homeless-experiences.DOCX> (MS Word 0.5MB)

*         Fact Sheet #2 - Why is Change Needed?<https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0006/860874/Fact-Sheet-2-Why-is-change-needed.docx> (MS Word 1MB)

*         Fact Sheet #3 - Evidence Summary<https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0007/860875/Fact-Sheet-3-Evidence-summary.docx> (MS Word 0.6MB)
The new NSW Government has been good at admitting to the shortcoming in areas like housing and homelessness, the challenge will be to find the resources among other government priorities to deliver on its aspirations.
Transforming Cope St Redfern car park into affordable aged care
The City of Sydney is calling for expressions of interest to redevelop the car park next to Wyanga into a not-for-profit aged care facility<https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/opportunities/build-run-affordable-residential-aged-care-facility-redfern> for at least 50 affordable residential aged care places. Proposals are invited from registered not-for-profit residential aged care providers to design, build and operate the facility at 49 Cope Street. The project is to be delivered by, or in partnership with, local Aboriginal community controlled organisations or Aboriginal providers, with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents and staff to be a key part of operations. Applications must be lodged by 11am Thursday 19 December.
The successful partner will acquire the site for $1 with a covenant to ensure it is used for affordable residential aged care in perpetuity. The successful party will also need to build a 55-place underground car park and hand it back to the City of Sydney which will continue to run it as a paid public car park.
The City of Sydney is also transferring 240m2 of existing space on Cope Street to Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care to keep as an outdoor area.
Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said that while housing is the responsibility of the NSW Government, the City of Sydney is being as creative as possible with land it manages to help those who need it most.
Bridge over the Railway line at Carriageworks
REDWatch, ARAG and FOE continue to follow up on the bridge proposal which Transport for NSW considers to be "unfeasible". We have been waiting since the North Eveleigh rezoning for Transport for NSW to present to the community on why it is not feasible.
Following correspondence with the Transport Minister, representations by local member Jenny Leong and a recent letter from the Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, they have agreed to present to a public meeting.
Over the last 20 years we have heard many of the reasons why it is "unfeasible" - cost, building over the main railway line, height and the need for disability grade etc. We are keen to see what TfNSW's consultants told them and then for the community to call on its own expertise to see if we can come up with responses or a proposal that addresses some of the issues used to dismiss what the community were told a previous NSW Labor Government would deliver to them through the Redfern Waterloo Authority 20 years ago.
Hopefully TfNSW will give us a date before Christmas and we will let everyone know.
Loneliness Follow up
Following our meeting on loneliness people might like to look at this recent study, conducted by COTA NSW, which surveyed over 2,500 individuals aged 50 and over to better understand their lived experiences of loneliness and isolation. The link to the COTA study is Voices of Solitude: Loneliness and Social Isolation among Older Adults in NSW<https://www.cotansw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Voices-of-Solitude-Loneliness-and-Social-Isolation-Among-Older-Adults-in-NSW.pdf>.
Also we have noticed that the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in New South Wales has posted the submissions received by the enquiry so can also see what various people and organisations have raised on the  Prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in New South Wales Inquiry webpage<https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=3066#tab-submissions>.
Regards,

Geoff
Geoffrey Turnbull
REDWatch Co-Spokesperson
Ph Wk: (02) 8004 1490  Mob: 0418 457 392
email: spokesperson at redwatch.org.au<mailto:spokesperson at redwatch.org.au>
web: www.redwatch.org.au<http://www.redwatch.org.au/>
FB: www.facebook.com/RedfernEveleighDarlingtonWaterlooWatch/<http://www.facebook.com/RedfernEveleighDarlingtonWaterlooWatch/>

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