Image: Rachel Evans / Facebook
The imminent demolition of the Waterloo South public housing estate for a $4 billion private development has sparked fierce argument over how the housing affordability crisis should be dealt with.
Situated on Crown land, the current buildings contain 750 mostly-vacated units, to be replaced by 3,300 flats in a complex operated by residential developer Stockland.
The development will feature a mix of housing types; competing figures have been thrown around on the proportions. Upon completion, approximately 1,050 homes or more than 30 per cent of the total are to be social housing, a broader category than affordable housing that includes dwellings owned by community organisations. Around 700 of the units, slightly over 20 per cent, will be affordable.
In a recent ABC Radio interview, housing minister Rose Jackson did not confirm how many homes would remain affordable in perpetuity, saying that it would be determined in the ongoing planning process.
Demolition is to begin imminently and will occur in stages over about nine months.
About maximising public benefit, says minister
Jackson hailed the project. “Our government believes there is strength in housing diversity and we want to support mixed-tenure communities, where there is a range of social, affordable and private market housing.”
“When renewing social housing estates, we look to increase social and affordable housing to maximise the community benefit. What we won’t do is progress with estate renewals or redevelopments that fail to deliver a significant uplift to social and affordable housing in the community.”
Amidst protests against the impending demolition, Jackson emphasised that “no social housing residents are being evicted to make way for the renewal.”
“We are aiming to keep all residents within the local community, unless it is their preference to move elsewhere.” 130 residents have been relocated, with some moving into new social homes at Waterloo Metro Quarter.
“Any resident required to relocate for the redevelopment will be able to return when the new buildings are complete, if they choose,” Jackson said.
Government accused of breaking promise
Karyn Brown is a tenant and a spokesperson for community group Action for Public Housing. She accused the Minns Government of breaking a promise not to knock down Waterloo South.
“In 2015, the state Liberal Party announced its intention to demolish and replace it with mostly market housing and 30 per cent public housing, with an increase of only 28 public homes for the entire estate.”
“New South Wales Labor repeatedly said they would stop the demolition and promised no more sell-offs of public housing, up to the eve of the 2023 election.”
“As the Minns Government is enforcing density on councils, public housing is low-hanging fruit, as it is already government owned. Developers seem to regard it as vacant land. They are the only ones building any new housing, and want inner-city land for maximum profit.”
Brown noted that other public housing has been demolished or threatened with demolition, pointing to redevelopments or planned redevelopments in Glebe, Mascot, Arncliffe, Randwick and Maroubra.
She said that market housing will be too expensive for most people.
Greens Newtown MLA Jenny Leong said, “NSW Labor’s abandonment of their election promise to ‘Save Waterloo’ is a total betrayal of the community and yet another example of their enthusiastic embrace of the policies and politics of the former Liberal government.”
City could have done better job — lord mayor
Lord mayor Clover Moore has written to the housing minister calling for affordable housing built at Waterloo South to remain so in perpetuity.
Planning authority was taken away from the City of Sydney after it objected to the original plans in 2020. Nonetheless, Moore said it successfully advocated for the social housing proportion to be increased from 30 to 50 per cent following a change of government, but that “social and affordable housing across this site should have been taken even further.”
Greens councillor Sylvie Ellsmore recently won support from her colleagues across party lines to increase a municipal affordable housing levy on residential developments. “If the City of Sydney was in charge of this project, our planning rules would have delivered more genuine, affordable housing.”
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I’m appalled that a Labor Government would proceed with this appalling private development which will destroy communities, cause huge delays in housing those who have long been on the waiting list and is totally unnecessary. Yes, the buildings need some tlc and this should have been carried out regularly by the State Government. Instead perfectly sound housing is to be demolished to make way for what? So-called “affordable housing” which is anything but, and the small discount for tenants stops when the apartment is 15 years old. It can then be flogged off at market price. Shame
Why don’t they put new public housing on the sites at Elizabeth st, the old Fish Market site and Glebe Island (to name a few) before they start to demolish the flats in Waterloo. These sites are empty. They are ready to be developed.