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Sydney must not become an enclave for the rich Sydney must not become an enclave for the rich
(5 months later)
The O’Farrell government has decided to rob from the poor to give The O’Farrell government has decided to rob from the poor to give to the rich.
to the rich. In a city with a growing problem of housing affordability, Wednesday’s decision to sell off 293 homes in Millers Point is a heavy blow – and not just to the 400 plus residents who will be evicted.
In a city with a growing problem of housing affordability, Wednesday’s One of the blocks of apartments being sold was built in the 1980s. It no more needs to be sold for high-income housing than any of the other apartment blocks in metropolitan Sydney where people in social housing homes live.
decision to sell off 293 homes in Millers Point is a heavy blow – and not just All social housing tenants in inner-city properties are now put on notice. If the value of your home goes up, the government is going to put you out of your home when there’s a dollar to be made.
to the 400 plus residents who will be evicted.
One of the blocks of apartments being
sold was built in the 1980s. It no more needs to be sold for high-income
housing than any of the other apartment blocks in metropolitan Sydney where
people in social housing homes live.
All social housing tenants in inner-city properties are now put on notice. If the value of your home goes up, the
government is going to put you out of your home when
there’s a dollar to be made.
This is tantamount to social cleansing.This is tantamount to social cleansing.
The Millers Point community survived the plague, the depression The Millers Point community survived the plague, the depression and war. It is shameful that it is government that will destroy this proud and strong neighbourhood.
and war. It is shameful that it is government that will destroy this proud and For most of the 20th century, state governments and their bureaucracies have purposely neglected the maintenance of these historic homes – proving to be irresponsible and uncaring landlords.
strong neighbourhood. The former NSW Labor government took that neglect further and began using 99-year leases to put social housing in private hands.
For most of the 20th century, state governments and their Now the current government says the neglect is so bad, and the expense to maintain homes in Millers Point is so great, that it’s time to sell.
bureaucracies have purposely neglected the maintenance of these historic homes In the property development business this tactic is known as “demolition by neglect”, and it’s shocking to see successive governments resort to these tactics.
– proving to be irresponsible and uncaring landlords. Sixty properties were left to deteriorate without tenants in Millers Point, despite a desperate need for housing – there are 55,000 people on the waiting list for social housing in NSW.
The former NSW Labor government took that neglect further and Evicting 400 people with no clear plan to create new homes for them just adds strain to an already overburdened system.
began using 99-year leases to put social housing in private hands. The fate of Millers Point should give all Sydneysiders pause for thought. Do we want to live in a city that cannot make space for people on low incomes?
Now the current government says the neglect is so bad, and the We need more social and affordable housing in the inner-city, not less, or Sydney’s famous egalitarianism will be destroyed. The inner-city will become an enclave for the wealthy.
expense to maintain homes in Millers Point is so great, that it’s time to sell. New models are needed to preserve and increase social and affordable housing. In the UK, housing estates have been successfully redeveloped using a mix of social, affordable and private housing, private housing providing cross-subsidies for the social and affordable housing.
In the property development business this tactic is known as “demolition by neglect”, and it’s shocking to see successive governments resort Affordable housing schemes in Greater London deliver up to 50% new dwellings, whereas urban renewal schemes in inner Sydney rarely achieve even three per cent.
to these tactics. It is vital the government retain social housing in the inner city, particularly in places like Millers Point, where there are established, supportive and well-serviced communities.
Sixty properties were left to deteriorate without tenants in A city that turns into nothing more than an enclave for the wealthiest people might seem rich in dollars, but it would be poor in every other way.
Millers Point, despite a desperate need for housing – there are 55,000 people
on the waiting list for social housing in NSW.
Evicting 400 people with no clear plan to create new homes for
them just adds strain to an already overburdened system.
The fate of Millers Point should give all Sydneysiders pause for
thought. Do we want to live in a city that cannot make space for people on low
incomes?
We need more social and affordable
housing in the inner-city, not less, or Sydney’s famous egalitarianism will be
destroyed. The inner-city will become an enclave for the wealthy.
New models are needed to preserve and
increase social and affordable housing. In the UK, housing estates have been successfully
redeveloped using a mix of social, affordable and private housing, private
housing providing cross-subsidies for the social and affordable housing.
Affordable
housing schemes in Greater London deliver up to 50% new dwellings,
whereas urban renewal schemes in inner Sydney rarely achieve even three per
cent.
It is vital the government retain social housing in the inner
city, particularly in places like Millers Point, where there are established,
supportive and well-serviced communities.
A city that turns into nothing more than an enclave for the
wealthiest people might seem rich in dollars, but it would be poor in every
other way.