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Sydney must not become enclave for the rich Sydney must not become an enclave for the rich
(about 1 hour later)
The O’Farrell government has decided to rob from the poor to give to the rich. The O’Farrell government has decided to rob from the poor to give
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. to the rich.
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. In a city with a growing problem of housing affordability, Wednesday’s
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. 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.
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 and war. It is shameful that it is government that will destroy this proud and strong neighbourhood. The Millers Point community survived the plague, the depression
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. and war. It is shameful that it is government that will destroy this proud and
The former NSW Labor government took that neglect further and began using 99-year leases to put social housing in private hands. strong neighbourhood.
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. For most of the 20th century, state governments and their
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. bureaucracies have purposely neglected the maintenance of these historic homes
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. – proving to be irresponsible and uncaring landlords.
Evicting 400 people with no clear plan to create new homes for them just adds strain to an already overburdened system. The former NSW Labor government took that neglect further and
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? began using 99-year leases to put social housing in private hands.
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. Now the current government says the neglect is so bad, and the
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. expense to maintain homes in Millers Point is so great, that it’s time to sell.
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. In the property development business this tactic is known as “demolition by neglect”, and it’s shocking to see successive governments resort
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. to these tactics.
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. 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.
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.