Controversy grows at The Block

As the final eviction notices are served, concerns are growing about the lack of funding for The Block redevelopment.

The Pemulwuy Project, initially approved by the State Government last year, has now been dropped for a new design.

But the move by the Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC) is dividing the local community, with some arguing it is being sold out to developers.

Sol Bellear, Chair of the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern, said he does not believe the plan will go ahead because of the lack of finances.

“It is not going to go ahead because they (AHC) just don’t have the money,” he said.

Mr Bellear does not understand why the AHC is lodging a new application, after the initial concept plan was previously approved.

“It’s a big mystery. There’s no transparency with the whole thing,” he said.

“There are certain things they can’t tell me. They can’t tell me what was wrong with the old one.”

The redevelopment of The Block is estimated to cost $65 million and construction is scheduled for early next year.

CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Company, Mick Mundine, recently signed a deal with developer, Deicorp, which is currently rebuilding Redfern RSL.

He said the new plan includes a gym, commercial office space, cultural arts centre and housing for university students.

“Our goal is for the next generation of children and to make sure we pave the way to build a very strong platforms so the next generation of children will not cross that vicious cycle,” he said.

However, for over a decade, the Aboriginal Housing Company has evicted residents from The Block to pave the way for redevelopment.

Whilst there used to be 300 residents, today, there are only just over 30 left.

“Why give tenants an eviction notice when you don’t even have money to develop The Block, let alone, money for renovations or for demolishing it,” Mr Bellear said.

“The state and federal government’s have made it quite clear that they are not putting anymore money in. My concern is that they’ll jump into bed with the developer. There is a very real change that Aboriginal people will loose control of it.”

But REDWatch spokesperson Geoff Turnbull has defended Mr Mundine’s position, saying a review of the concept plan is necessary for the project to be viable.

“That was basically something that was put together that was a bit like a camel. It had to jump through a whole pile of hoops that changed over a period of time as the state government tried to stop it from what happening,” Mr Turnbull said.

Mr Mundine is seeking $1.5 million to get the new application approved and it is still unclear where $65 million for the actual redevelopment will come from.

When questioned about finances, Mr Mundine refused to disclose such information.

“If you do good things in life, then the money will appear. I cannot talk about the money side of it until maybe the end of this week or next week. And I will probably shock you all. “

But Mr Bellear said: “No bank will touch them.”

By Sophie Cousins