Funding for The Block still a mystery

Almost all residents from The Block have been evicted despite an admission from the Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC) does not have the funds to redevelop.

Chief Executive of the AHC Mick Mundine said he does not have the funds to lodge the development application or begin demolition.

But despite The Block sitting almost empty, last week the State Government unveiled a multi-million dollar housing project around the corner.

Mr Mundine defended his decision to evict residents, saying it will ensure they will have homes to go to.

“I try to explain to everybody, the reason I gave them (residents) the 60-day notice is to make them homeless- then they’re on priority listing,” he said.

REDWatch spokesperson Geoff Turnbull has defended Mr Mundine’s position saying it is difficult to find accommodation with short notice.

“There’s a significant time-lag in terms of getting those people into alternative accommodation,” he said.

“They (AHC) have given people plenty of time to find places they are happy in going to.”

But Chair of the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern Sol Bellear has condemned the decision, and the project’s lack of transparency.

“The Housing Company knows that they’ve exhausted any funding streams from both the Federal and State Government. That’s why I can’t understand evicting people,” he said.

“The whole thing has been done in secrecy, that is what people can’t understand.”

The Pemulwuy project was initially approved by the State Government but was recently dropped for a new design.

Yet how the project will be funded is unknown, with the AHC struggling to secure any money.

“We have nothing at the moment,” Mr Mundine said.

“All the banks knocked us back.”

But the State Government has refused funding for the redevelopment despite unveiling a $28-million housing project in Redfern last week.

The 106-home project on Elizabeth Street is the first major public housing redevelopment in the inner city of Sydney for over 20 years.

Mr Turnbull has condemned the Government’s lack of support for The Block redevelopment.

“They (AHC) are not going to the Government to get the money because of the strings attached,” he said.

“The Government wanted to take control of The Block away from the AHC. There was absolutely no way that Mick would have not been treated badly by the Aboriginal community, because it’s Aboriginal land.”

Housing NSW could not comment on the housing status of residents from The Block for legal reasons.

“Housing NSW is not in a position to disclose information about people seeking assistance,” a Housing NSW spokesperson said.

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