Redfern residents continue to wrangle with the State government’s housing plans

Redfern residents have raised concerns over housing at a community meeting for Housing NSW’s Preliminary Masterplan.

Residents identified multiple issues with the Built Environment Plan 2 (BEP2), which aims to achieve a mix of 60 per cent private housing and 40 per cent social housing across Redfern and Waterloo, including the relocation of 700 dwellings.

Sydney Area Director for NSW housing, Kathy Roil, insisted dislocated tenants would be given a preference as to their future residence.

“Noone is sent a letter and told to leave,” she said. “When people leave they want the right to come back, but only 10 per cent are usually interested a year later.”

Ms Roil said the Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) plans to vacate 35 properties across a 12 month period, but Geoffrey Turbull, spokesperson of Redwatch, believes the movement will be a problematic and expensive exercise.

“It is worrying when the RWA say it is just 35 people per year… it’s not as easy as it sounds. They won’t have the resources because it is becoming increasingly expensive in the inner city area,” he said.

“NSW Housing doesn’t have the money to maintain their own buildings because of the state and federal governments so the only way to afford new public housing is to sell off part of their land.”

There were also questions over the ongoing funding of the BEP2, with one resident questioning whether the Masterplan will be funded and guided by the government or multinational corporations.

“There is not an answer anyone can give you yet,” Ms Roil replied. “We need to look at options.”

Locals demanded the RWA preserve the natural environment in order to curb anti social behaviour and crime in the area.

“Have you decided how much of the environment you will preserve?” One resdient at the meeting asked.

“It would be wrong to take away one inch of green space.”

Residents were assured that parks and open spaces were essential to the development and there were no plans to sell off conservation areas.

Ms Roil said the RWA welcomed community engagement and unrestricted feedback for the Preliminary Masterplan.

The plans will be released June 2012.

By Millicent Caffrey