PRESS RELEASE: SAVE MAROUBRA PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE
Action for Public Housing says NO EVICTIONS, NO DEMOLITIONS
ACTION FOR PUBLIC HOUSING PRESS RELEASE
The ALP Chris Minns state government, with Randwick Council support, are threatening to privatise public lands and demolish a long term public housing estate at 195-213 Fitzgerald Ave and 40-64 Yorktown Pde, Maroubra.
Home to many families in 33, three bedroom dwellings, a total of 99 bedrooms - the state government is set to displace and destroy another tight knit community in an unprecedented housing crisis.
The homes are only 40 years old, need some renovation and repair, but are in good condition. Seventy-six people call the estate home, with many single parents raising their children. Nearly half of the homes hold three or more family members. One third of the residents are over 70.
The government’s ‘Yorktown Parade and Fitzgerald Avenue, Maroubra - Affordable Housing Redevelopment’ plan aims to build 4, 3 storey and 2, 3-4 storey apartment blocks with 144 units, one common room and a carpark, with 94 so-called affordable homes.
‘Affordable’ housing is 80% of market rent, which is not affordable. In Maroubra a one bedroom average rent is $600 - so $480 is 80% of market rent, and clearly not affordable for a low paid worker. The 94 affordable homes will be proffered to for-profit private operators after 25 years.
The plan only contains 80 social housing bedrooms within 50 homes - 24 one bedroom, 22 two-bedroom and 4 three-bedroom apartments. Given there are 99 bedrooms in the public housing estate currently, this makes 19 less public-social bedrooms in the government's plan. So for poorer community members, a net loss.
The government will still own the land and buildings but plan to hand over management to a privately run, so-called not-for-profit social housing provider. Social housing is more expensive for residents than public housing and less secure.
The government declared the project a State Significant Development, to override any local council opposition. As it is, Randwick Council voted to approve the evict and demolish plans.
The state government has a policy requirement that public housing has to make a profit under state Treasury rules. This must stop. The state government must get rid of this policy and provide housing in the public interest not for profits.
Greens Councillor, Philipa Veitch moved two anti-privatisation amendments to the motion to approve the state government demolition plans.
The amendments proposed to keep the entire site and any development at 195-213 Fitzgerald Ave and 40-64 Yorktown Pde in 100% public ownership and management, and for the purpose of public housing; consult with current residents and ensure other housing developments on crown land are for the purpose of public housing.
Only the Greens councillors voted for the amendments, so the motion was lost.
Carolyn Ienna, Action for Public Housing activist and (former) public housing tenant of 82 Wentworth Road, Glebe, said “evicting tenants from their public homes can kill them. I was forced out of my estate and while I am alive to tell the story, my three elderly neighbours are not. The government just wants to make millions of dollars at public housing tenants expense. Another shameful profit-first act from the ALP state government.”
Karyn Brown, Action for Public Housing activist and Waterloo South public housing tenant said, “homelessness is at an all time high, the NSW public housing waiting list is at 56,000 and climbing, and the government wants to evict families from public homes and spend 7 years building mostly unaffordable homes in their stead. Appalling! Waterloo South residents stand with Maroubra tenants to resist this latest barbarity.”
Andrew Chuter, Action for Public Housing activist and mortgagee, said, “the Minns government promised not to privatise any more state assets if we elected them. They completely lied, as their repeated attempts to swindle the people of public lands through demolishing public housing estates, demonstrates. We will organise with Maroubra community members, residents and unions to resist this latest profits-first plan.”
Siobhan Patton said “housing activists have staved off anti-social developments successfully from Paddington to Glebe. When greed hits the wall of a community and compassionate common sense, we win. With this we will fight to save this senseless development in Maroubra too. “
Contact Carolyn Ienna 0415 362 793 Contact Karyn Brown 0432 409 711
Contact Andrew Chuter 0412 723 565 Contact Siobhan Patton 0448 231 312
Contact Philippa Veitch 0413 701 258