Decision details

The original motion was moved by Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by Councillor Weldon.

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         the NSW Labor Government is currently undertaking the largest social housing project in the country, in Redfern and Waterloo, doubling the current social housing, with all social housing owned by Homes NSW;

(ii)        over the past seven years, the City of Sydney has worked with the community to improve the plans including to achieve more Social and Affordable Housing on the Waterloo Estate;

(iii)      in 2019, Council endorsed an alternative approach to the Government’s preferred masterplan for the entire Waterloo Estate with lower buildings with more sunlight and ventilation, 50 per cent social and affordable housing, sustainable retention of the Matavai and Turanga buildings and a larger 2.2 hectare park;

(iv)      the final planning controls included improvements as a result of years of planning, urban design analysis and advocacy, including lower buildings with better amenity, more generous streets and a larger park;

(v)       after years of steadfast advocacy, in August 2023, the NSW Premier and Minister for Housing announced their commitment to provide 50 per cent of the housing at Waterloo South as Social and Affordable Housing (with a minimum 15 per cent of this housing dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) – an increase from the approved 33.5 per cent Social and Affordable Housing by the former NSW Government;

(vi)      that we want to see Social and Affordable Housing maximised on all housing redevelopments on public land and we absolutely opposed the former Coalition NSW Government’s Communities Plus model of 70 per cent market and 30 per cent Social and Affordable Housing;

(vii)     that we welcome the current Labor NSW Government’s shift away from the Communities Plus model in redevelopment of public land;

(viii)    in January 2024, the Lord Mayor wrote to the Minister for Housing asking her to consider upgrade and refurbishment of social housing stock over demolition;

(ix)      private market homes will be sold to families and people trying to get into the housing market. Like all apartment owners, people will buy in as part of a strata;

(x)       the NSW Labor Government are following the internationally best recognised model of mixed tenure, undertaking “sustainable in-fill” and all new builds will be disability accessible as well as sustainable and modern; and

(xi)      the NSW Government has announced that it has awarded the contract to redevelop Waterloo South including 30 per cent public housing, 20 per cent ‘affordable’ housing; and 50 per cent private housing; and

(B)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the NSW Government:

(i)         reiterating again that the public land should stay in public hands and not be privatised;

(ii)        advocating again for renovation and sustainable in-fill to be prioritised to ensure the delivery of increased housing on the Waterloo estate and all future redevelopments of NSW Government owned land;

(iii)      advocating for higher standards of disability access; and

(iv)      requesting that the NSW Government release details of the financial arrangements of the Waterloo South project, including the value of the land and housing proposed to be privatised.

The amended motion was carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (9)     The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Chan, Davis, Ellsmore, Gannon, Kok, Scott, Weldon and Worling

Noes (1)     Councillor Jarrett*.

*Note – Councillor Jarrett abstained from voting on this matter. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 10.4 of the Code of Meeting Practice, Councillor Jarrett is taken to have voted against the motion.

Amended motion carried.

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