Waterloo South Residents Reject Minister’s Claims As Save Waterloo Rally Goes Ahead

Public housing tenants and housing advocates are pushing back against comments made by NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson as a rally against the demolition of Waterloo South public housing gets underway today.

The Save Waterloo rally began at midday at Redfern Community Centre before marching to the Save Waterloo Encampment at the corner of Cope and McEvoy Streets, where organisers will host a Drag Show Against Demolition from 2pm.

The protest comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the Waterloo South renewal project, which will see hundreds of existing public housing dwellings demolished as part of a major redevelopment. The first stage of the project would replace around 750 existing public housing homes with approximately 3,300 new dwellings, including social, affordable and private housing. The redevelopment is being delivered through a consortium led by Stockland.

The Save Waterloo Encampment, established in late May, has become a focal point for residents and activists opposing the evictions and planned demolitions. Earlier protests drew significant police attention as residents and supporters attempted to stop contractors fencing off parts of the estate.

Karyn Brown, a Waterloo South tenant facing eviction and spokesperson for Action for Public Housing, said residents disputed claims made by Jackson in a recent social media video promoting newly completed social housing apartments above Waterloo Metro station.

“In a social media post on Thursday June 11, ALP MP and Housing Minister Rose Jackson claims Waterloo tenants are happy with being evicted and are excited to be offered new social housing apartments above the Waterloo metro station,” says Brown. “She interviews two tenants, who claim the apartments are fault-free. Firstly, the apartments Jackson evicted 145 tenants out of apartments that are only 70 years old. They need renovating, but this is the task of the NSW government, our landlord who we pay rent to each week. It’s the government who bears responsibility for the state of public housing.”

In the social media post in question, Jackson introduces two tenants who have been relocated to other housing, and speak positively about the new housing.

Brown said tenants speaking with organisers at the encampment had reported different experiences after relocating.

“Secondly, tenants who’re speaking to the Save Waterloo Encampment tell us a different story about the Waterloo metro. They’re paying more money than the public housing apartments they were evicted from, they’re smaller, they’re ‘hot boxes’ and there is no air-conditioning, there are intrusive security cameras everywhere and there is no freedom of movement – they can only access three levels in the nine storey block: ground, rooftop and apartment level.

“The expensive student housing next to the social housing units have air conditioning. This is grotesquely unequal and like the ‘poor-doors’ in the Barangaroo tower blocks. The right of return to the tenants in the social housing to their former public homes should be granted now. The ALP should stop demolishing Waterloo, renovate the boarded up apartments and apologise to the tenants turfed out.”

The Waterloo renewal project has been promoted by the NSW Government as Australia’s largest social housing redevelopment. Government plans include more than 1,000 new social homes, over 600 affordable homes and around 1,500 private homes across Waterloo South, alongside additional social housing delivered above the new metro station. The government has also stated tenants will have the right to return once the redevelopment is completed.

Action for Public Housing spokesperson Rachel Evans said the condition of the estate reflected years of inadequate maintenance.

“Jackson and ALP MP for Heffron Ron Hoenig argue the Waterloo estate is derelict and the community is non-functioning due to drug dependency issues. The NSW government has waged a demolition by neglect strategy and denied public housing estates the maintenance they’re due.

“Further, if there are drug issues in a community, shouldn’t we be supporting people into rehab programs and delivering them wrap-around-services, counselling and training so they can get back on their feet? This state government hell-bent on demonising poorer communities, not assisting them and we demand this slander of the Waterloo community ends,” concludes Evans.

Damien Nguyen, also speaking on behalf of Action for Public Housing, argued the redevelopment represented a transfer of public housing into community housing and private development.

“This is sell-off of public assets to property developer Stockland who is set to build 1650 private homes and 1650 social and affordable homes if the ALP get away with this anti-social plan. Rose Jackson and the head of NSW Homes, Rebecca Pinkstone are trying to convince us social homes are the same as public. Social homes managed by Community Housing Providers (CHP) is a private-public partnership scam. The CHP CEOs are on $300,000 a year, tenants get evicted more readily from social housing and have less rights.”

“In a housing crisis, demolishing public housing is criminal. We now have 69,000 people on the NSW public housing waiting list. This battle for Waterloo is a fight to deliver lasting, government-led housing solutions. Sixty percent of Vienna’s people live in beautiful public and council housing. We demand this of our government. Join us at this next rally and at the Save Waterloo encampment to defend and extend public housing,” concluded Nguyen.

Speakers at today’s rally included Angeline Penrith, Karyn Brown, investigative journalist Wendy Bacon, Sydney Greens councillor Matthew Thompson and a public housing tenant involved in the Save Erskineville Public Housing Estate campaign.

Following the march, supporters will gather at the Save Waterloo Encampment from 2pm to 5pm for a Drag Show Against Demolition at the corner of McEvoy and Cope streets. Organisers are encouraging attendees to bring picnic blankets, friends and family, as well as non-perishable food donations for residents in need. Performers scheduled to appear include Felicity Frockaccino, Kiama Blowhole, Lyla Joy, Aphrodykie, Joni Vovo and Noa Nova, with organisers promising more acts are still to be announced. The free, all-ages event is intended to raise awareness of the campaign while bringing some joy and community spirit to the encampment.

City Hub reached out the Housing Minister Rose Jackson for comment, but did not receive a response by time of publishing.