[North Eveleigh] CHP and public housing / new REF demolition / air-conditioning and summer heat / SIA / Street changes / Clothing Store Precinct

Mon Sep 28 14:34:00 AEST 2026

Dear REDWatch members, supporters and agencies,

Public and Community Housing: A comparison - REDWatch Meeting 6pm 1st October

Notice to demolish buildings at 241 Cope and 6 John Street Waterloo

Waterloo South Homes NSW applies for funding for air-conditioning in new social housing

Waterloo (South) Concept Plan Response to Submissions - SIA not yet available

Proposal to open George Street Waterloo to McEvoy Street as left in left out

Homes NSW and Clothing Store Precinct Planning

Transport for NSW proposed Botany Road widening and McEvoy Street Changes

Keeping your cool in hotter summers
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.
Public and Community Housing: A comparison - REDWatch Meeting 6pm 1st October
REDWatch wants to provide clarity for tenants on the practical differences between public housing managed by Homes NSW and social housing managed by Community Housing Providers (CHPs). REDWatch has asked Associate Professor Chris Martin, a leading housing academic, to talk about the differences and what the research tells us at the REDWatch meeting on Thursday 1st October. Chris will be joined by Redfern Legal Centre's Senior Solicitor at the Inner Sydney Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Service, Alison Mackey.
CHPs have been reluctant to publicly compare what they do with Homes NSW which manages the public housing. Historically Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) which owns the housing has argued stock transfer to CHPs will deliver better outcomes for tenants than public housing because CHPs get Commonwealth Rental Assistance (CRA) for their low-income tenants and hence have more money which CHPs are expected to spend on providing improved tenancy and wrap around support. It is not clear however if this expectation is realistic or if CHPs are even obliged to do this.
There are differences between the two systems that need to be understood by tenants who want to compare the pair. Difference in appeals processes and financing lead to findings like that reported in  this recent ABC article that Community housing tenants more likely to face eviction threat than those in public housing<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-23/community-housing-eviciton-applications-public-housing/107158238>.
Also, as the Waterloo South CHPs work out a joint policy approach to management of social and affordable housing in Waterloo, it is also important for them to consider lessening the differences between what tenants from Homes NSW will experience by moving into their CHP neighbours.
So come along and find out about the differences between public and community housing and bring the questions you want answered on Thursday 1st October 2026 from 6:00 - 7:30pm at Counterpoint's Factory Community Centre 67 Raglan Street Waterloo or join us online via Zoom http://tinyurl.com/RedwatchMeetingZoom.
You can see the flyer for this meeting on this REDWatch Facebook page<https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1516494280507428&set=a.460968159393384> or pick up a poster from Navin at the Factory.
Notice to demolish buildings at 241 Cope and 6 John Street Waterloo
Homes NSW has letterboxed a notice to say it is preparing a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the proposed demolition of 241 Cope and 6 John Street in Stage 2 (South). The REF looks at possible environmental impacts from the demolition, and how these can be managed or mitigated. Due to a technical wording issue REDWatch has been advised that the letter will likely be reissued however the intent of the notice to advise people they can comment is not altered.
If you have experienced issues from the Stage 1 demolition this is an opportunity to raise issues that should be addressed in future demolitions.
You can see the REF documents and provide comment at Demolition - 6 John Street and 241 Cope Street<https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/part-5/demolition-6-john-street-and-241-cope-street> until 5pm on Friday 16 October 2026. Feedback received during the consultation period will be considered as part of the REF assessment process before a formal determination is made. Homes NSW says it will update the community of the outcome after the determination.
The letterboxed notice provides little information about what is planned for this site as detailed plans have not been developed. Stockland has earlier provided a Building 2D Scoping Report 03082026<https://majorprojects.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/prweb/PRRestService/mp/01/getContent?AttachRef=SSD-137163740%2120260804T045003.540+GMT> for the construction of an 8-storey building comprising 45 apartments and 49 independent living units for the purposes of social housing for this site. Building 2D is intended to be designed as social housing and Independent Living Units, providing housing options for Aboriginal seniors managed by Birribee Housing. In community meetings it has been indicated that this building will be the first Waterloo South building delivered and subject to planning times it may be available as early as 2029.
If you want to talk to the Homes NSW Community Engagement team or if you require assistance accessing the Planning Portal, please contact them on 1800 738 718 (voicemail) or email CommunityEngagement at homes.nsw.gov.au<mailto:CommunityEngagement at homes.nsw.gov.au> .
Waterloo South Homes NSW applies for funding for air-conditioning in new social housing
We have earlier reported that the Stockland consortium had not been asked to include air-conditioning in the new social housing in Waterloo South. At the REDWatch meeting on thermal comfort in social housing, Homes NSW advised that the Waterloo South project requirements had been set before the Homes NSW heating and cooling policy<https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/homes-nsw/social-housing-resources/heating-and-cooling-policy> was in place. That policy states that "Homes NSW will provide energy efficient reverse cycle air conditioning units and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to all new properties in all ... climate zones, where possible."
The Homes NSW Waterloo South project team will now apply for funding from Homes NSW to fund the provision of air-conditioning which was not covered by the contract between Stockland and Homes NSW. At the meeting Stockland also told people what they were doing in the design and construction to supply good thermal comfort in its build. This is important because tenants should only need to pay for air-conditioning during extreme temperature events.
Tenants welcomed the announcement but it is still dependent on Homes NSW making available the funding to do it. Tenants in the Waterloo Development Group have written to Minister Rose Jackson and CEO Rebecca Pinkstone requesting commitment to the funding with the support of organisations like Counterpoint and Shelter NSW. Council is also supporting the request with both a letter from Clover Moore<http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/Waterloo/stage1/260908cm> and Council unanimously accepting a motion<https://meetings.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/documents/s108574/Climate%20Resilient%20Housing%20in%20the%20Waterloo%20South%20Redevelopment.pdf> in support of air-conditioning in Waterloo South.
Hopefully Homes NSW will find the funds to compliment a Waterloo South build with excellent thermal properties with reverse cycle air-conditioning for when it is needed.
You can see the slides from Homes NSW and Stockland's presentation to the REDWatch meeting at Designing for thermal comfort at Waterloo South<http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/Waterloo/stage1/260903stockland/view> and their presentation to the REDWatch meeting can be seen from the 36 minute mark of the recording of the meeting at Lessening Climate Change impacts in Social Housing<https://youtu.be/qAfseiWQqqM>.
Waterloo (South) Concept Plan Response to Submissions - SIA not yet available
The Waterloo South consortium has not yet submitted the reworked Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) to the Department of Planning. Stockland in its preliminary response on the SIA<https://majorprojects.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/prweb/PRRestService/mp/01/getContent?AttachRef=EXH-118380239%2120260901T071904.032+GMT> said "the SIA and SIMP will be revised to address comments received". This has taken longer than expected. You can see the other Response to Submission documents on the Planning Portal for the project<https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/waterloo-estate-south-concept>.
REDWatch has agreed with Stockland that Stockland will present on the changes made in response to the exhibition of the Concept Plan and on the revised SIA and SIMP to the REDWatch meeting on 5th November 2026. The REDWatch AGM will be pushed back to December 3rd.
Proposal to open George Street Waterloo to McEvoy Street as left in left out
Both Stockland and Council have advised that the option of opening up George Street Waterloo to McEvoy will now be explored as part of the Stage 1 Development Application (DA) for Waterloo South. Stockland says it will model both the option of opening up George Street as Council has suggested as well as the option to keep it closed as it is currently.
As this will be part of the DA exhibition, community members will have the opportunity to comment on the proposal as part of their submissions. REDWatch was concerned initially that the opening would be dealt with in the concept plan Response to Submissions where there would have been no opportunity for community comment.
This letter to REDWatch explains Council's view on opening George Street to McEvoy Street Waterloo - 24 June 2026<http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/Waterloo/stage1/260624cos/view>.
Homes NSW and Clothing Store Precinct Planning
REDWatch has received a briefing from Homes NSW on the Clothing Store precinct. Homes NSW is undertaking market soundings and providing briefings to surrounding organisations. REDWatch would like to see the information in the briefing shared with the communities around the site and would be happy to organise a community meeting so Homes NSW can brief the community. REDWatch is strongly of the view that the community should be involved as early as possible.
Homes NSW is reluctant to meet the community until it has a proposal to be able to get comment on, which might be some way off. This also excludes community members from input into the early stage of the proposal formulation.
Currently Homes NSW proposes to operate generally within the 2008 concept plan for the site rather than pursue the later Urbangrowth attempt to lift the heights and number of apartments. When the road access was built into the site it did not follow the 2008 plan, so some adjustments will need to be made around the park. The vexed issue of what to do with the Clothing Store building itself will be one of the issues that will need to be resolved.
Homes NSW says it plans to fast track the delivery of a social housing block to the south of City West's Platform Apartments and that this might proceed independently of the rest of the development depending on the time taken to appoint a development partner.
One concern from the announcement of plans for the precinct is that all roads will remain under the control of Transport for NSW rather than Council. Homes NSW has acquired only development blocks on the site. It is not clear who will manage the park proposed to the west of the site, near Pine's Estate REDWatch will continue to push for an early community meeting.
Transport for NSW proposed Botany Road widening and McEvoy Street Changes
Followers of REDWatch on Facebook will have seen posts that Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has placed a proposal to widen Botany Road south bound between John Street and McEvoy Street, introduce a dedicated bus lane and to and make changes to the intersection of Botany Road and McEvoy Street.
The short exhibition time finishes on Monday 28 September via either the TfNSW Botany Road Feedback Form<https://yoursay.transport.nsw.gov.au/botany-bus-improvements/surveys/botanyroad_subscribe1> or by contacting TfNSW via email at projects at transport.nsw.gov.au or call during business hours on 1800 684 490.
Even though by the time you see this the exhibition may have closed Clover Moore is suggesting people raise their concerns directly with Minister Aitchison<https://www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-government/ministers/minister-for-roads-regional-transport>. You can see the letter from Lord Mayor Clover Moore to Jenny Aitchison, the Minister for Roads, along with Council's view on this Facebook post<https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1687043279449196&set=pcb.1687046479448876>.
Council has concerns about cars being diverted from state roads to local roads, that there is no traffic study that substantiates the need for a bus only lane in the a.m. against the peak hour movements. There is concern that the bus lane proposal is being used as a trojan horse to push through road widening and footpath narrowing which will have a detrimental impact on an area where there will be increased pedestrian activity. Council makes the argument that TfNSW WestConnex volumes did not eventuate and that they see no need for $22 million to be spent on this project.
In short, the changes proposed (see visual<https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/styles/content_desktop_2x/public/media/images/2026/botany-rd-and-mcevoy-st-map.jpeg>) are:

  *   A new southbound morning peak bus lane on Botany Road, between Raglan and Bourke Streets. The bus lane will start at the intersection of Henderson Road and Raglan Street and end at the intersection with Bourke and relocating a bus stop on Botany Road.
  *   A new right turn lane southbound on Botany Road for vehicles turning right into westbound McEvoy Street.
  *   Removing the right turn eastbound from McEvoy Street into southbound Botany Road on expectation that diverted traffic would likely be spread across multiple alternative routes.
  *   Widen road on the eastern side of Botany Road between John Street and McEvoy Street, removing 9 trees and trimming 7 trees to make space for the new right turn lane.
  *   The verge area being used for informal parking (around 14 spaces) on the eastern side of Botany Road will be removed to allow for the road to be widened.
Here<https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/botany-road-and-mcevoy-street-intersection-and-bus-corridor-improvements> you can see the TfNSW proposal on the Botany Road and McEvoy Street intersection and "bus corridor improvements". You can see some analysis of the proposal in Jake Coppinger's "Just one more lane: TfNSW revives WestConnex zombie Alexandria to Moore Park road project<https://jakecoppinger.com/2026/09/just-one-more-lane-tfnsw-revives-westconnex-zombie-alexandria-to-moore-park-road-project/>".
Keeping your cool in hotter summers
The first part of the September REDWatch meeting was taken up with a presentation by Abby Mellick Lopes from UTS and Stephen Healy from Western Sydney University (WSU) who were among the co-authors with other academics of the study A battleground of climate change: Summer air temperatures in social housing<https://researchers-admin.westernsydney.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/405496688/A_battleground_of_climate_change_summer_air_temperatures_in_social_housing.pdf>. You can see their presentation slides Becoming climate ready in social housing: learning to live with the heat<http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/Waterloo/stage1/260903lopesandhealy/view> or the presentation being delivered on YouTube at  Lessening Climate Change impacts in Social Housing<https://youtu.be/qAfseiWQqqM>.
One of their useful suggestions for social housing without air-conditioning is for buildings to have an air-conditioned community room that would be available whenever temperatures create stress for the tenants in the building.
The meeting also heard from Zuzia Buszewicz from the Tenants Union NSW on the push for Minimum Energy Efficiency Rental Standards (MEERS) across all rental housing types including social housing and from Chris Standen about the heat element of the current Waterloo Health Impact Assessment that he has been working on with Waterloo tenants.
REDWatch Spokesperson Geoff Turnbull has produced an article for the October South Sydney Herald on Keeping your cool in hotter summers<https://southsydneyherald.com.au/keeping-your-cool-in-hotter-summers/> based on input to the REDWatch meeting.
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/>

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