Tensions Continue To Rise In Waterloo As Residents Create Blockade & Motion Moved To Stop Demolition
The community’s fight for Waterloo public housing shows no sign of subsiding as NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong brings forward a motion condemning Labor’s demolition plans.
This motion follows as a response from Leong, who says Housing Minister Rose Jackson incorrectly claimed on breakfast radio that the buildings scheduled for demolition were already vacant. Jackson’s statement reportedly came just minutes before the first contractors arrived on site, despite 15 tenants currently living there.
Since May 24, Waterloo residents and supporters have been taking part in the rally and blockading the demolition of Waterloo South over the past three days in response to the demolition notices.
On Monday, the blockade prevented demolition teams from installing fences that would have cut tenants off from their backyards and car parks. Additionally, the Maritime Union of Australia’s Sydney branch later announced its support for the occupation on Tuesday and criticised the Minns Government’s redevelopment plans.
Many residents are living in a state of permanent uncertainty regarding the demolition plans.
“The ALP are waging a war on the poor and on public housing. They are demonising my neighbours and friends whom I have lived with for over 30 years to justify selling off public land to private developers,” says Karyn Brown, 30‑year Waterloo South resident and Action for Public Housing spokesperson. “Jackson’s comment earlier this week slandered the 15 tenants who are still living in the apartment blocks. She’s the housing minister, ordering these demolition teams to come in. Shouldn’t she know if people are still in the apartments?” Brown continues.
Another Action for Public Housing spokesperson, Rachal Evan, comments on the situation. ”The ALP keep talking about building a “mixed” community to justify their plan of giving the developer Stockland access to Waterloo’s public land. But a good “mix” in a suburb would be everyone getting a beautiful public home, ending homelessness and workers and students being able to live dignified lives. Vienna has 60% of its people living in public housing, we need this here.”
For many of the tenants, the situation has become unbearable, with the recent demolition fencing only increasing anxiety.
“I’ve been a tenant here for the last 30 years. And now I’m very anxious about what is going to happen to me, because there were so many promises and I’m still in the same place. The buildings around me are already getting fenced off for demolishing and I got even more anxious about the whole situation and what’s going to happen now. My dose of antidepressants and insulin and so on are growing up. So basically my anxiety is becoming very, very serious.” Says Michael, Waterloo South public housing resident
Leong maintains that the Labor Party’s recent actions demonstrate a clear betrayal of the Waterloo community.
“In opposition, NSW Labor promised the Waterloo community that they would save their homes and reverse the Coalition’s privatisation agenda. Now in government, they’ve abandoned this promise and are demolishing houses in one of the biggest public housing estates in the southern hemisphere and evicting the people who call it home.” Leong further notes, “The community that has called Waterloo home for decades is strong and tight knit: the Greens will stand in solidarity with them to fight against these demolitions and do everything we can to ensure NSW Labor cannot tear down homes and evict even more people in the middle of a generational housing crisis.”
As demolition fencing continues to expand and political pressure intensifies, residents and supporters say they will continue fighting.
The group is currently gathering in Martin Place for a rally and press conference.
