[North Eveleigh] REDWatch Meeting / Homelessness and social Housing / Waterloo Metro 4th Tower / Friends of Darlington/ McDonalds / Big Chippo Backpackers

[Geoff Turnbull (REDWatch Spokesperson)]

Dear REDWatch members, supporters and agencies,
Happy New Year from REDWatch!

What is needed to fix homelessness and the move into social housing? - REDWatch Meeting 6th February 2024

Waterloo Metro - Developer goes for fourth tower

Friends of Darlington - Formation meeting 24 January 6pm

Do you want fries with that? McDonalds Redfern DA until 6th February

1058 bed Broadway Backpackers DA - Until 4 February

NSW Homelessness Strategy - feedback until 14 February 2025

Audit Office of NSW - Audit of Housing Pathways and Social Housing Supports - Submissions by 5pm 28 February 2025
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.
What is needed to fix homelessness and the move into social housing? - REDWatch Meeting 6th February 2024
Over Christmas and New Year there was a consultation on what should be in Homes NSW's 10 year plan. The timing did not allow agencies or REDWatch to consult widely. Two other consultations covering similar ground however are still underway.
In February Homes NSW wants feedback on its Homelessness Strategy<https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/nsw-response-to-homelessness/new-nsw-homelessness-strategy-2024-2034> and the Audit Office of NSW wants input on how people get into social housing and the supports offered to new tenants<https://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/our-work/reports/social-housing>. The February REDWatch meeting is going to look at these related areas and get your ideas on what should be said to government. Join us to hear input from a couple of agencies working in these areas and share your ideas and experience in the discussion.
The first REDWatch meeting for the year will be held on Thursday 6th February 2024 6pm 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 what REDWatch said in January to Homes NSW about its 10 year plan in REDWatch's Submission on Homes NSW Discussion Paper<http://www.redwatch.org.au/issues/public-housing/250117redw/view>. Later in this email we will provide some background on the February consultations. We are interested in your thoughts on these consultations.
Waterloo Metro - Developer goes for fourth tower
With only the Southern portion of the Waterloo Metro Over-Station development in construction WL Developer Pty Ltd, the Mirvac and John Holland venture, applied in December 2024 for planning requirements to change the rest of the development.
The initial approved Concept Plan was for three residential towers. The developer managed to get this changed so the northern building came down in height to create larger commercial floor plates rather than smaller residential floorplates to deliver the needed solar access. The developer now says that since Covid commercial development is no longer viable and it wishes to revert to a mainly residential development, but it is not reverting to the earlier approved housing plan.
Rather than do the initial commercial housing, the developers are now proposing an additional building that would house 448 "student / co-living" rooms in its own tower. Co-living is the new term that covers some student housing as well as new boarding houses. The initial proposal does not say exactly which is proposed. The student tower to the south already has 474 co-living student units.
The balance two towers would see 50 additional market residential units bringing the total to 176. The proposal maintains the minimum 5% residential gross floor area as affordable housing increasing affordable housing from 24 to 40. There is also an increase in retail space and a decrease in community space with a small amount of office space retained.
The changes, if approved, would significantly increase overshadowing on the new Waterloo Park which is approved for the eastern side of Cope Street opposite the Metro. The proposal does not increase the floor space in the redevelopment only the heights to get better solar access for the new apartments at the expense of the public park.
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> can be found on the Planning Portal<https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/search?combine=Waterloo+Metro+Quarter> along with two complementary requests for requirements to change the associated approved Development Applications. You can find more information on the planning portal through the following links:
*         Waterloo Metro Quarter - Central Precinct | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment<https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/waterloo-metro-quarter-central-precinct>
*         Waterloo Metro Quarter - Northern Precinct | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment<https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/waterloo-metro-quarter-northern-precinct>

  *   Waterloo Metro Quarter - Second Amending Concept | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment<https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/waterloo-metro-quarter-second-amending-concept>
Observant locals may notice that the illustration on the cover of the Concept DA report wrongly shows Cope Street as Copeland Street, which is a few blocks away in Alexandria.
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/ .
The application says the developer will consult community stakeholders after it obtains the planning requirements. The proposal for the planning requirements gives an initial indication of what the developer wants to do on the site but it needs to undertake studies and other consultations so the proposal that finally goes to exhibition may be different and early community input is important.
REDWatch will endeavour to organise a meeting in March where the developers can explain their proposal to the local community.
Friends of Darlington - Formation meeting 24 January 6pm
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. You will notice that it is a centre for hire rather than open to the community with Council staff. The people behind that campaign are holding a meeting to form a Friends of Darlington Group. Community groups can access Council premises at no charge and forming a group would allow for community activities without having to private hire.
So if you are in Darlington and surrounds then come along to the Friends of Darlington introductory meeting this Friday (24th Jan), from 6PM-7PM at the Darlington Activity Centre at 132-134 Shepherd Street Darlington 2008. At this meeting they will introduce themselves, draft a charter, and discuss any potential campaigns or issues in the neighbouring areas.
Do you want fries with that? McDonalds Redfern DA until 6th February
A proposal for a 24 hour McDonalds on the corner of Redfern Street and Cope Street / Regents Street next to the bower installation is generating a lot of discussion in the Redfern Residential Facebook Group and among locals. The details of the DA, on exhibition until 6th February 2025, can be found at https://eplanning.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/pages/xc.track/SearchApplication.aspx?id=2457302
1058 bed Broadway Backpackers DA - Until 4 February
While it is outside our area, REDWatch has been approached by residents in Chippendale to let people know about another City of Sydney DA of concern to locals. Tricon Group recently purchased both the Lansdowne Hotel and the adjoining old Telstra Exchange Building on Broadway. Tricon have lodged a DA, which is now on exhibition, to turn the old exchange building into a Backpackers Hostel with 1058 beds. This is the link to the DA for this proposal is https://eplanning.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/pages/xc.track/SearchApplication.aspx?id=2452042
NSW Homelessness Strategy - feedback until 14 February 2025
Homes NSW is holding 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 to homelessness.strategy at homes.nsw.gov.au<mailto:homelessness.strategy at homes.nsw.gov.au> until 14 February 2025.
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> sets out Guiding Principles and asks for feedback on them with the following questions:
1.       What do we need to consider as we implement services and system reform guided by these principles over the next 10 years?

  1.  Which principles should be prioritised and why?
The paper also sets out three outcomes Homes NSW is looking for feedback on. The areas and questions are:
Outcome 1: Wherever possible, homelessness is prevented from happening in the first place, making it rare.
1.                   To make homelessness rare, what should NSW prioritise for action and why?
2.                   What opportunities and risks are there for implementing actions under this outcome?
3.                   What types of target(s) would be most useful to measure our impact and why?
Outcome 2 - When homelessness does occur, people are quickly connected to housing and the supports they need
4.                   To make homelessness brief, what should NSW prioritise for action and why?
5.                   What opportunities and risks are there for implementing actions under this outcome?
6.                   What types of target(s) would be most useful for measuring our impact and why?
Outcome 3 - When homelessness does occur, people do not experience multiple episodes of homelessness
7.                   To ensure homelessness is not repeated, what should NSW prioritise for action and why?
8.                   What opportunities and risks are there in implementing actions under this outcome?
9.                   What types of target(s) would be most useful to measure our impact and why?
10.               General Comments
Of course you can comment on the entire draft paper. The direct links to the other documents on exhibition are:
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)

*         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.
One concern REDWatch has is the lack of focus on the supports to help people have a successful tenancy. This was a weakness REDWatch thought exists in the Homes NSW 10 year plan. The Audit Office NSW helps to fill this gap with its focus on whether social housing tenants "are effectively supported to establish and sustain their tenancies." This is a concern we have heard from many tenants.
Audit Office of NSW - Audit of Housing Pathways and Social Housing Supports - Submissions by 5pm 28 February 2025
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.
If you have experiences or views on these areas, you can share them with the Audit Office. This can be done anonymously if you wish. The Audit Office will consider all feedback provided as it conducts this audit. For more information see the Social housing<https://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/our-work/reports/social-housing> page or make a submission through this link<mailto:000600330 at audit.nsw.gov.au>.
The Audit Office of New South Wales is a statutory authority, established under the Government Sector Audit Act 1983 that conducts audits for the Auditor-General. These audits help Parliament hold government accountable for its use of public resources.

Regards,

Geoff
Geoffrey Turnbull
REDWatch 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/20250124/62703dcf/attachment-0001.html>