‘No Eviction’ signs posted across Waterloo opposing demolition of social housing

By AMBER GRIFFIN

Signs criticising the governments decision to knock down blocks of social housing in Waterloo have been posted all throughout the Sydney suburb. The signs are opposing a state government plan to force Waterloo Estate tenants to relocate in a proposal to demolish 749 public homes. 

The colourful signs have been posted up across Waterloo and Redfern and read ‘NO EVICTION’ and ‘NO DEMOLITION’.

Waterloo Estate resident, Karyn Brown, has lived in Waterloo for thirty years and faces losing her home due to the demolition plans. Also a member of community groups advocating for social housing, Brown explained to City Hub how the eviction and relocation from her Waterloo home will have devastating impacts on the community. 

“They do say that one day I can come back to Waterloo, but it won’t be the same, it will be different people and a different landscape” Brown said. 

She, like many others in the community were outraged when it was revealed that the government’s redevelopment proposal would evict residents from and demolish 749 public homes in Waterloo South to add just a mere 98 units.

Brown expressed concern over the wasteful nature of the proposal.

“It is an environmental travesty to put that many homes into landfill, and it’s not just in Waterloo they’re doing it all over the state.” 

“Since they first began this over six years ago it has been fairly offensive and demeaning.” 

Brown explained her perspective of why she believes the government is evicting the residents of the Waterloo Estate, stating that the land they live on is valuable, and that they believe it is ‘a bit too good’ for public housing.

“It’s a bit nasty.” 

Another Waterloo Estate resident, 83-year-old Lorraine Byrnes, says she doesn’t know where she is going to go after eviction.

“It is very stressful, I can’t leave the area that has my doctor, my pharmacy, my neighbours. Not only will I lose my home, I will lose my friends and routine, which are very important to me” Byrnes said.

“What’s so beautiful about public housing is that the community is a community that cares for each other.”

Wait times for social housing between 5 and 10 years

Housing advocacy group Action for Public Housing is working with Waterloo and Redfern residents to fight the demolition proposal, calling for the plans to be abandoned. 

“The signs draw attention to the plan to demolish public housing throughout Waterloo and show public housing tenants and private residents alike that the community supports public housing” Alistair Sisson of Action for Public Housing said. 

“We invite public and private residents of Waterloo to come together to stop the demolitions and save public housing.” 

Action for Public Housing is calling on the government to increase building new public housing without demolishing existing public housing to meet the needs of the 50,000+ households waiting for public housing in NSW. 

“The wait time for public housing in the inner city is currently 5-10 years and this entire new development will only add 98 new social housing units, a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed” Sisson said.

The outrage towards the proposal stems from Sydney’s major lack of public, social and affordable housing. Sisson told City Hub that residents face evictions and relocations, disrupting neighbourhoods and long-standing communities.

“Residents will be relocated to public housing which could have gone to someone on the public housing waiting list, which has blown out to 50,000 households in NSW and over 1000 households in the inner city of Sydney.”

Shelter NSW concerned by housing insecurity

Promoting a sustainable housing system and a secure home for all, Shelter NSW is concerned about the current residents, people waiting for social housing, and the many more suffering from insecurity in the private rental market. 

“Current residents of this long-standing public housing community, including many First Nations people, are rightly concerned about where they will live once the demolition starts” said Shelter NSW Senior Policy Officer Cathy Callaghan. 

“For many Waterloo South residents, moving away from the estate means moving away from their circles of support – their friends, neighbours, GP, local chemist, cultural connections, and other services. The disruption is huge and unsettling.” 

Shelter NSW urges the NSW Government to take a staged approach to the development, to maximise the opportunity for people to remain living locally through the redevelopment. 

“The NSW Government isn’t just any ordinary ‘landlord’ or ‘property developer’. It has the responsibility to treat tenants with decency and respect” Callaghan said.