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citynews.net.au
May 1, 2014
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What’s next after Millers Point? BY Triana O’Keefe
Following the recent decision by the NSW government to sell off the Millers Point housing commission units, community members and local councillors alike are raising the question that’s on everyone’s minds. What will be next on the chopping block? Greens Councillor Irene Doutney believes that by looking at the rationale behind the Millers Point sale, the question has already been
answered. “The way I see it is if we use the same argument for selling off Millers Point [which is land value], then we can only expect to see more sales in the future.” Cr Doutney expressed her concern for the public housing units in Redfern, Waterloo and Woolloomooloo. “Look at the potential profit from the sale of those units. It would be naïve to believe they are safe.” Lord Mayor Clover Moore
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Planning, intended to sell off other high-value public housing properties in inner Sydney, a has also expressed concern spokesperson said she was “not over further sales, based on the prepared to rule anything out,” government’s argument that the and that “no decisions have cost of repair and maintenance been made by the government of the Millers Point housing to sell any of those other commission blocks had become properties.” unsustainable. But, the Opposition and Cr “Does this mean all inner Moore have warned tenants city social housing, like in of the potential risk as the Glebe or Woolloomooloo, government continues to sell where people also live in 19th homes to reverse a deficit of century homes is also under $330 million in the public threat?” housing system. When asked if Pru Goward, “All public housing tenants in the inner city are now put on the NSW Minister for
notice that if the value of your home goes up, the government is going to put you out of your home.” Woolloomooloo public housing resident Arthur Hammond describes the sales as “evil”. “Things are getting so unfair. They are just lucky we are a civilised society,” Mr Hammond said. “What I want to know is who else is behind the curtain. It wasn’t just one person calling the shots and we deserve to know.” When asked if he was worried Woolloomooloo would
be next, Mr Hammond told City News it wasn’t far from their minds. “After Housing NSW [a department of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services] took over as the landlords, it has just gone downhill. We just don’t know where it will end. “We all understand our homes have high property values but we have lived here for decades, even when they were not as highly valued. They shouldn’t be allowed to just put us on the streets.”