Decision details

Moved by Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by Councillor Scott –

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         the NSW Government has announced plans to rezone, demolish and redevelop 46 public housing homes in Explorer Street, Station Street and Aurora Place Eveleigh; 

(ii)        the Explorer Street rezoning proposal is on public exhibition until 1 December 2023; and

(iii)       Council has made a submission in response to the rezoning proposal which is publicly available on the Council website; and

(B)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         provide a supplementary submission which provides further detail in relation to the City’s expectation of community engagement and consultation in relation to current and future plans for the site; and

(ii)        draft the City’s supplementary submission to:

(a)        emphasise that robust, transparent, and open consultation with public housing tenants should be a pre-requisite of all plans to redevelop existing public housing;

(b)        include recommendations about tenant engagement in the design and delivery of the project, and better consultation with the wider community.  Best practice engagement should include involving public housing tenants in co-designing and/ or actively playing a leading role in the future plans for the site;

(c)        note that there is a high level of anxiety and concern amongst tenants about the proposal, amongst the tenants who are aware of the plans;

(d)        note that a number of the public housing tenants who live at the Explorer Street have been tenants there for more than 20 years, and that other tenants were relocated from Millers Point when this public chousing was sold, and had been told they would not be forced to move again;

(e)        advocate that, at a minimum, NSW agencies should follow the Compact for Renewal published by Shelter NSW, Tenants Union of UNSW and City Futures Research Centre, and developed with public housing tenants;

(f)         advocate strongly that appropriate sizes apartments for all existing families be renovated or built as part of any redevelopment, noting that a number of apartments currently include overcrowded families;

(g)        advocate strongly that any public housing tenants relocated as a result of the development be housed in the local area, if this is their preference;

(h)        advocate strongly for the right of return for existing tenants to be formalised, including a guarantee future accommodation will be suitable and appropriate; and

(i)          advocate that any future plans prioritise minimising disruption and the time that any parts of the site will be vacant and without housing, including advocating that in-fill and staged development be considered, if the plans are to go ahead; and

(iii)       the CEO be authorised to finalise and submit supplementary information in line with this Council decision.

Carried unanimously.

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