Redfern-Waterloo set on safety

Council has bowed to community pressure and agreed to consider a future for the Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan.

‘We’re very happy with the outcome, and we hope that the negotiating time will take weeks rather than months, and then be put before the community,’ said REDWatch President Geoff Turnbull.

At a recent REDWatch meeting, Council representatives pledged to work with the Redfern Local Area Police to devise a future community safety plan, following the success of the original Safety Plan from 2004-2007.

Statistics from the Redfern Police Local Area Command indicate that the original plan led to a 26 per cent drop in break and enter crimes, a 24 per cent drop in stealing, a 14 per cent drop in robbery and a seven per cent drop in theft, over three years.

“It was successful, but the concern in Redfern Waterloo is that the evaluation of the Safety Plan expects that there will be something ongoing in the area,” said Mr Turnbull.

“Redfern is a great area, it’s so well located and it’s changing, but there’s still this perception that it’s dangerous. It’s getting better but it’s far from perfect, and still not as safe as some parts of the city that are only ten minutes away, so we do need specific attention here still.” Said Redfern resident Chloe Sharpe.

Currently, Redfern and Waterloo are covered under the City-wide Safe City strategy, which offers the same plan to every Local Government Area.

“We believe that this is an appropriate forum in which to address community safety concerns. We will continue to work with the Redfern and Waterloo Community, but our resources are finite and we can’t offer the intensity of support to every community at every time,’ Said Council, in an earlier response to calls for more specific attention for Redfern and Waterloo.

“It’s absolutely essential for commerce and community to float, to have a feeling of safety. Anything that recognises the local differences and the local needs can only help an existing blanket plan,” said Mary Lynne Pidcock, President of the Redfern Chamber of Commerce.

While it has resolved to take more action, Council stands by its efforts in the area so far. “Many elements of the Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan continue to be delivered, and additional programs have also produced real results,” said a Council spokesperson.

The ongoing support includes a new Redfern Police Local Area Command Community Safety Precinct Committee (CSPC), The Redfern Community Drug Action Team, Redfern Neighbourhood Advisory Board, Waterloo Neighbourhood Advisory Board,  and Public Housing Forums run by Lord Mayor Clover Moore.