[North Eveleigh] Waterloo Relocations & REDWatch 6 March / Darlington / Waterloo Metro and coming meetings / RWA SEPP Change

Fri Feb 28 13:05:47 AEDT 2025

Dear REDWatch members, supporters and agencies,

Waterloo Relocations start in south west of estate

Initial Comments on Relocations Announcement

REDWatch Meeting - 6 March - Homes NSW on Waterloo

Friends of Darlington Community Run Open Day - Sat 8 March 11am-2pm

REDWatch Meeting - 27 March - Waterloo Metro's new plans

Joint Election and Bridge Meetings soon with ARAG and FOE

Council regains planning control over more of Redfern and Eveleigh
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.
Waterloo Relocations start in south west of estate
Waterloo South tenants living in the two block surrounded by John, Cope, McEvoy, and Mead Street to the South of the estate were hand delivered relocation notices on 27 February advising them that they will be relocated within the next six months. Here is the Waterloo South - stage 1 relocations map (PDF, 706 KB)<https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/626325/Waterloo-South-staging-map.pdf>.
This is a copy of the Waterloo South - Stage 1 relocation letter and Factsheet<https://communications.homes.nsw.gov.au/link/id/zzzz67bfd7fe96b8a716Pzzzz66b2e39bbca56307/page.html> tenants received. Each tenant was assigned a relocations officer in their letter who will work with them through the relocation process.
Letters were also sent to Waterloo South tenants not in Stage 1<https://communications.homes.nsw.gov.au/link/id/zzzz67bfd7fe985bb394Pzzzz66b2e39bbca56307/page.html> advising they will not be moving now and that they will know more about the next stages of relocations over the next 2 years. Letters were also sent to Waterloo Central & Waterloo North tenants (6 high-rise buildings)<https://communications.homes.nsw.gov.au/link/id/zzzz67bfd7fe9a972438Pzzzz66b2e39bbca56307/page.html> reiterating that they will not be moved for at least 10 years.
Additional materials have been added to the Homes NSW Waterloo web site<https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/land-and-housing-corporation/greater-sydney/waterloo>. These include:
Written materials

*         Waterloo South - stage 1 relocations map (PDF, 706 KB)<https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/626325/Waterloo-South-staging-map.pdf> (1 Page)

*         Relocation process explainer (PDF, 593 KB)<https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/626324/Waterloo-relocations-process-explainer-doc_February-2025_Web.pdf> (2 pages)

*         Relocation fact sheet for tenants (PDF, 256 KB)<https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/626323/Relocation-fact-sheet-Waterloo-South-relocations_updated-1.pdf> (4 Pages)

*         Relocation frequently asked questions (PDF, 167 KB)<https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/626357/Waterloo-South-Relocations-FAQ-final-2.pdf> (6 Pages)

*         Relocation and support guide (PDF, 1733 KB)<https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/626322/HomesNSW_Waterloo-South_relocation-and-support-guide_February-2025_10_FINAL_ACCESS.pdf> (26 Pages)

Relocation Explainer Videos:

*         Relocation explainer video (English)<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzuydrMtBsY>

*         Relocation explainer video (Simplified Chinese)<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H6Cqj3b97w>

*         Relocation explainer video (Russian)<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt9qJxCsYTk>
Homes NSW should be congratulated for making sure the tenants being relocated were advised first. Before material was made public on the Homes NSW Waterloo website, the next to know were tenants outside the relocation area. For tenants this is a pleasant change from earlier media led announcements.
Initial Comments on Relocations Announcement
The Stage 1 site currently covers 150 existing public housing units and includes the locations proposed in the planning controls for two 33 storey towers, the community centre, small park, part of the George Street retail strip and other buildings up to 13 storeys.
The community has not yet seen what the Stockland consortium has proposed to Homes NSW as part of its successful bid. Changes to the approved concept plan can be requested throughout future development applications as we have seen with Waterloo Metro. The next stage of planning is expected to be a Stage One DA setting the consortium's proposal and the proposed locations of social, affordable and private housing. Hopefully the community will see what Stockland has suggested well before formal exhibition of a Stage One DA in 2026/27.
It is of concern that some tenants only received the letter and factsheet because their relocation officers were not available on the day to meet them. It seems as if a flyer for services (provided by Kinchela, Counterpoint and Redfern Legal Service) that Council is funding to assist tenants through relocations was also not provided to those advised they were being relocated. The Homes NSW funded role for Redfern Legal Centre was mentioned in the Factsheet provided.
The Relocation and support guide<https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/626322/HomesNSW_Waterloo-South_relocation-and-support-guide_February-2025_10_FINAL_ACCESS.pdf> released by Homes NSW on page 5 provides some demographic data on Waterloo South tenants. The report states that at January 2025 719 (of the 749) properties in Waterloo South were tenanted with 1,013 residents. Of these 75% were single persons, 60% were aged households with tenants aged 55+ (or 45+ for Aboriginal tenants) and 22% have lived in their homes for over 20 years.
The summary also states that 22% are Aboriginal, which is higher than the general Aboriginal figures often used for inner city public housing. The 2021 Census figures on where Aboriginal or Torres Straight Origin people usually live found 415 people lived in Redfern and 576 lived in Waterloo and Zetland. If the figures were comparable, it would indicate that up to 40% of Aboriginal people in Waterloo and Zetland live in Waterloo South. This underlines the importance of getting both social and affordable housing options in place to retain, and where possible, regrow a diverse Aboriginal Community in Redfern Waterloo.
REDWatch has concerns about the support aspects associated with the relocations as outlined in the relocation documents. The plan is very much built around the relocations officer helping people step by step through the household's individual housing and supports needs.
As a result the Q&As throw no light on many of the policy questions raised by tenants around relocations. These broader policy questions are left to links and references to relevant policies rather than there being an attempt to construct Q&As that responded to the kinds of frequently asked questions (FAQ) raised by tenants in places like the Waterloo Redevelopment Group. In the absence of responses to FAQ Waterloo South tenants outside the first relocations area, who are without a relocations officer, are likely to continue to have those questions into the future while those facing relocations will not have had access to policy information before they sit down with their relocations officer.
While REDWatch welcomes that Homes NSW is providing resources for an independent tenant advocate, Homes NSW has resisted calls for providing additional social work support. Homes NSW seems to expect that this can be provided through the relocation officers and existing services. The Council's support to three organisations during relocations is small and does not fill the gap.
Most local services are funded by DCJ for Targeted Early Intervention (TEI) for children and families, meaning they are not funded for most people in public housing who come looking for support. The Waterloo Human Services Collaborative<http://www.waterloo2017.com> has been trying to improve human service coordination and identify gaps in the human service system. We are aware from these meetings that access to supports for tenants are often problematic with multiple referrals before they find a service which then might have a long waiting list. This fractured service system is now expected to be the backstop for the Homes NSW relocations team. If the relocations team has such a magic wand then they need to join the Waterloo Human Service Collaborative and show others, including in Homes NSW, how to make the support system work!
Some time ago REDWatch, Council, DCJ and LAHC and other services were on the reference group for a Waterloo Health Impact Assessment (HIA) conducted by Sydney Local Health District. The study looked at research around the impact on public housing tenants arising from estate redevelopment. It focused on the period after the announcement through to relocations and recommended that action should be taken well before and during relocations. LAHC and DCJ were not happy with the results and even after they got agreement to change the recommendations, they stopped the report from being officially released. You can see an account of this from 17:23 to 21:05 minutes in on this recent talk on Designing Public Policy with David Lilley<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exrxZHxuNiM>.
It is very difficult to have confidence in relocations planning where recommendations from a Health District HIA have been ignored. Like Brad Hazzard at NCIE we seem to be still in the "trust us we are really good at this" territory even if Homes NSW is doing some things it has not done before for Waterloo. It is hence not surprising that local community organisations are looking to restart a community lead Waterloo HIA to monitor the impacts of relocations and those that have just been told that they will find out more about when they have to move within the next two years.
Based on what has happened in other relocations, services know that death rates of older people go up around relocations. In Minto we understand that domestic violence rates went up and that people who were currently surviving in their current premises had to fall back on external services to replace what was being provided by their community. We also know that the stress and anxiety about the future manifests in many different ways. These broader impacts of relocations seem to be missing from the current Homes NSW individualistic relocations strategy.
REDWatch is further worried on the human services side that Homes NSW has not released a report it commissioned on responses to its People and Place Plan which was supposed to deal with the human services aspects of the redevelopment and inform the negotiations with the consortium. In the submissions seen by REDWatch, stakeholders raised many concerns in their submissions that remain unaddressed.
While REDWatch hopes that the relocation supports work as outlined in the released documents, we are not convinced that they will. We are sure that local human service bodies will be monitoring the process closely to identify issues that need to be addressed.
Action for Public Housing and Community Dignity Respect have issued a media release opposing the relocations and calling a media conference for 12 pm on Saturday outside Waterloo South Neighbourhood Centre, so media coverage is expected.. You can see that media release as part of Action for Public Housing's event on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/events/1322048245514442/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A%5b%5d%7D>.
REDWatch shares concerns about the impact of estate redevelopments and would prefer to see different approaches taken, however with the government committed to this redevelopment, our comments below will primarily focus on what government is doing and how it is doing it.
REDWatch Meeting - 6 March - Homes NSW on Waterloo
With the commencement of relocations REDWatch has asked Homes NSW to provide the community with an update on the Waterloo South Project and other Homes NSW changes.
This REDWatch meeting will be held at 6 pm on Thursday 6th March 2025 at Counterpoint's The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street, Waterloo. For those who cannot join the discussion in person you can also join by Zoom http://tinyurl.com/RedwatchMeetingZoom<https://tinyurl.com/RedwatchMeetingZoom?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2jXy00rj4ZTmS8E61qnfLi-wRpfLEZi1QxIj7mqxCB1vlCXv4lfh5n55M_aem_Mhg8NRatO8ipMKcT3ZfuAg>.
Homes NSW will want to talk about relocations, but there are a number of other areas REDWatch would like an update on such as what will happen to the empty places people move out of while we are all wait for the consortium to get planning approvals and start in 2027. REDWatch also would like a progress report on negotiations with the consortium, when will people see what the consortium is proposing for Waterloo South and when can they talk to consortium members? What has happened with People and Place, has the feedback provided by the community been taken on board? How was People and Place used to inform what the consortium has been asked to deliver and when will the community see the revised plan?
The redevelopment and relocations are not the only areas that Homes NSW now has responsibility for. Homes NSW has replacing Mission Australia in running Tenant Participation, which covers the Neighbourhood Advisory Board and its various parts, as well as training and community activities across the estate. There is also a new Sydney District that roughly aligns with the City of Sydney Council area, coming in April around Housing Services which is supposed to be a key player in the Waterloo Human Services plan which is currently in a hiatus due to all the Homes NSW changes.
With all this coming together within Homes NSW how does the community have discussions with Homes NSW about a spread of issues rather than just what Homes NSW has as its current communications priority?
Friends of Darlington Community Run Open Day - Sat 8 March 11am-2pm
The opening of the Darlington Activity Centre<https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/hireable-indoor-spaces/darlington-activity-centre> followed a community campaign to get this centre open and available again. Currently it is a "for hire" venue, but there is an arrangement for it to be used at no cost by local groups. Friends of Darlington is a new group set up to facilitate community activities in the Centre. If you would like to lead a community activity, see some specific activity in the local area, or support this new group and its aims then contact friendsofdarlington at gmail.com<mailto:friendsofdarlington at gmail.com>
On March 8th from 11am to 2pm the group is arranging a drop in session at the activity centre. It is for people who may be interested in some activities already suggested as well for people who might like to run or be involved in other activities. Activities currently proposed include, a Darlington Stitch Club, Community Harvest, Art and Craft group, Yogai Pranayama / Medication group and a mental health group. Some other ideas have been raised, but they need people who are prepared to run them.
So come along to the Darlington Activity Centre at 132-134 Shepherd Street Darlington on March 8th to meet some of the locals and let us know what you can offer or what you would like to be involved in.
REDWatch Meeting - 27 March - Waterloo Metro's new plans
REDWatch has had to move its April meeting forward a week so we can get the relevant people from Mirvac / John Holland to present on their new plans for the Waterloo Metro Over Station Development. These plans will increase overshadowing over the Waterloo Park to the east of the Metro. At the time of the initial plans for the Metro site the developers could treat the area east of Cope Street as residential but since the Waterloo South rezoning this site should now need to be treated as public open space and assessed accordingly.
This REDWatch meeting will be held at 6 pm on Thursday27th March 2025 at Counterpoint's The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street, Waterloo. For those who cannot join the discussion in person you can also join by Zoom http://tinyurl.com/RedwatchMeetingZoom<https://tinyurl.com/RedwatchMeetingZoom?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2jXy00rj4ZTmS8E61qnfLi-wRpfLEZi1QxIj7mqxCB1vlCXv4lfh5n55M_aem_Mhg8NRatO8ipMKcT3ZfuAg>.
You can see the Waterloo Second Amending Concept DA_Scoping_Dec24<https://majorprojects.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/prweb/PRRestService/mp/01/getContent?AttachRef=PDA-79199719%2120250113T045326.715%20GMT> request on the Planning Portal<https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/search?combine=Waterloo+Metro+Quarter>. The Department of Planning has now issued its study requirements (SEARs) which includes the requirement to: Provide a solar access analysis of the overshadowing impacts of the development within the site, on surrounding properties and public spaces (during summer and winter solstice and spring and autumn equinox) at hourly intervals between 9am and 3pm, when compared to the existing situation and a compliant development (if relevant).
We understand the City Council staff also shares our concern about increased overshadowing of the new public space.
You can see a summary of the changes and the changes in building envelopes proposed on the REDWatch Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EhEqFsKgx/ .
Joint Election and Bridge Meetings soon with ARAG and FOE
As we enter the Federal Election REDWatch, Alexandria Residents Action Group (ARAG) and Friends of Erskineville (FOE) are planning for our usual Candidates Forum. We are aiming for a date in early April, subject to when the election happens and we will advise details closer to the date.
We have also been advised that Transport for NSW (TfNSW) will be in a position in April to brief a community meeting organised by REDWatch, ARAG and FOE on the Transport for NSW studies on a bridge connecting North and South Eveleigh and why TfNSW do not believe that the Bridge, first promised by Government in 2004, is not feasible. The three groups have a long running Build the Bridge campaign<https://actionnetwork.org/letters/build-a-bridge> that has been supported by Council and Jenny Leong the local state MP.
Council regains planning control over more of Redfern and Eveleigh
As part of the Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) planning changes in 2006 large parts of Redfern were removed from the control of Council and declared State Significant meaning the NSW Government made planning decisions about these areas rather than Council. You can see the map at the end of the RWA's time here<https://eplanningdlprod.blob.core.windows.net/pdfmaps/SEPP_SRD_RWA_SSDS_001_20110907.pdf>.
In December 2024 the Department of Planning issued an updated map for Redfern<https://eplanningdlprod.blob.core.windows.net/pdfmaps/SEPP_SRD_RWA_SSDS_001_20241107.pdf> removing some areas from being State Significant. The City of Sydney are in the process of including these areas back in Council's Local Environment Plan<https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/policy-planning-changes/your-say-updates-planning-controls-related-greening-amenity-parking-design-excellence> (LEP) as part of a wider update of its LEP - submissions are open until 14 March. Of course there are new mechanisms in place to declare state significant sites, so removal from this map does not mean that Council will necessarily end up controlling development outside the revised state significant areas.
The main changes in the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) (Planning Systems) 2021 State Significant Development Sites Map - Redfern-Waterloo, involve removing areas that have been redeveloped since 2006.
One of the noteworthy retentions as state significant is Gibbons Street Reserve / Marion Street Park alongside the Gibbons Street bus stops. This links to Redfern Station where a development is proposed above platforms 11 and 12. The community and residents of "The Watertower" successfully fought in 2006 to have this area retained as a park. It is hence concerning that it still needs State Significant protection while we await Transport for NSW plans for the over station development.
The proposed redevelopment of the Large Erecting Shop retains its State Significant status, as does Homes NSW land in Explorer Street and Rowley Street and South Sydney Rotary Park. Only the existing roads have been removed in this location.
All of North Eveleigh remains State Significant with only the already built Platform Apartments in the Paint Shop precinct removed. This site is to be developed now by Homes NSW. A small bit of road near Macdonaldtown Station has also been removed. The main railway corridor remains state significant. Interestingly the railway corridor between Lawson Street and Cleveland Streets has also been retained.
Removed are the Regent Street - Gibbons Street Town Centre Corridor opposite Redfern Station. The old Rachel Forster site and the majority of the old Australian Technology Park (ATP), which was redeveloped as South Eveleigh has mainly been removed, with only Transport and Ambulance facilities and a bit on the oval retained as State Significance from the old ATP area.
For an unknown reason the Redfern Street Medical Centre retains its state significance while other completed areas have been removed.
The most contentious use of the RWA controls was to try and stop Aboriginal Housing on The Block. With the building of the Pemulwuy project the State significant designation has been lifted from The Block and adjoining areas, even though some of the non-Aboriginal owned sites in this area have not been redeveloped. In this area the Lawson Street terraces return to the Council LEP, while a very small area on Cleveland Street near Abercrombie Street remains state significant for an unknown reason.
The Redfern Public School site that became National Centre for Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) has also been removed. The NSW Aboriginal Land Council were given this site by the Federal Land and Sea Corporation, but any redevelopment of this site will now not happen under the old State Significant RWA SEPP.
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/>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.redwatch.org.au/pipermail/northeveleigh/attachments/20250228/8ee057f8/attachment-0001.html>