PUBLIC MEETING
Are you concerned about how the
Bays Precinct development
will affect us in Glebe?
Come to a discussion of the issues on
Wednesday May 3
6-8pm
Glebe Youth Service
184 Glebe Point Road, Glebe
Our local MP Jamie Parker will open proceedings with an overview, focusing on the Fish Market, Wentworth Park
and public housing
Then participants will have plenty of time for questions
and to present their own ideas
Organised by Hands off Glebe Entry by donation
The Bays Market District
Did you know that UrbanGrowth NSW has called for urban designers to submit a master plan for the so-called Bays Market District which covers the Sydney Fish Market, land under the ANZAC Bridge along Bank Street Pyrmont, the first stage of a Bays Waterfront Promenade along Bank Street, connections to Went-worth Park and future water uses in Blackwattle Bay.
UrbanGrowth is a NSW Government State Owned Corporation which focusses on “large-scale urban transformation projects” – a developers’ paradise.
Fish Market: The lease for the concrete plant on Bridge Road ends this year and apparently the Fish Market is to be redeveloped at this site.
There do not appear to be plans for public transport so presumably there will be a large area needed for parking.
With this, the introduction of fresh food sales as well as fish and the need for new wharves, will the new development be multistory? How much of the bay will it need to use for all these facilities?
It is worrying that all the noise and attractions of cafes and so forth will then be right next to the school.
Why not develop a city beach or some other community friendly use?
The old site will be redeveloped for housing but UrbanGrowth does not appear to have any policy on providing public and affordable housing.
Wentworth Park: The future of our park is not clear. UrbanGrowth talks about “connecting Wentworth Park with the new Bays Market District” and “creating lovely connections from green open space to the new fresh food
marketplace”.
Given that Bridge Road will become even more crowded, does this mean overhead walkways? And if so, how many trees and how much green open space will we lose?
And what will happen to the homeless under the viaduct?
UrbanGrowth says they “could retain the land in public ownership” which means they are also considering privatisation, something we would need to fight so we can keep our park in public hands. Wentworth Park should stay as public land and be managed by the Sydney City Council.
Come to our public meeting on May 3 to discuss all these issues—see page 1 for details
Homes for Older Women
Older women should not be homeless in Australia. They deserve a better deal, one that recognises their contribution and respects their dignity.
It is not acceptable that there is no NSW Government priority to address the housing needs of older women, despite increasing evidence that the numbers who are homeless are growing.
Older women often are too poor to pay a mortgage, to pay market rents or even to find housing that works well for them – one bedroom accessible units close to transport and community facilities.
We want initiatives to help older women to be able to live in homes that are safe, secure and affordable. These include funding for the development of
affordable housing projects for older women and securing the financial
independence of older women.
For more information go to Homelessness NSW at admin@homelessnessnsw.org.au
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You can help make Sydney more affordable
The Greater Sydney Commission’s draft plans for Sydney will affect land use and development plans over the next four decades – particularly the chances for public and affordable housing.
We urge you to make a submission now, no matter how brief, at: www.greater.sydney/have-your-say. Responses close 31 March.
If you want help, go to www.shelternsw.org.au
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Please Help
The Glebe Grapevine is the ONLY voice in Glebe consistently speaking out for public housing and against overdevelopment by wealthy, rapacious
developers and local and state government officials who seem to be held in their sway.
The Grapevine needs YOUR HELP to continue to stand against the greed of those who seek to change our suburb for THEIR OWN BENEFIT.
DONATIONS to enable us to keep printing can be sent to P.O. Box 145 Glebe 2037 or direct credit to BSB 659 000, Account no.755116, Account name: HANDS OFF GLEBE- GRAPEVINE
Help us tell these people: HANDS OFF GLEBE

Helps us tell these people: HANDS OFF GLEBE!
WATCH OUT FOR THE IPART RENT REVIEW
The NSW Government has asked the Independent Pricing and Regulatory
Tribunal (IPART) to review social and affordable housing rent s.
This review is part of the government’s Future Directions policy which stresses the need for public housing tenants to transition to the private rental market, what the government calls “housing independence”. IPART’s review is intended to find changes to rent setting and eligibility criteria for social housing to achieve these objectives.
It is a matter of real concern that IPART will examine models that allow variation according to housing affordability, different social housing tenant households and locational factors. “Locational factors” is code for where people live.
IPART will publish a draft report in March 2017, which will set out draft recommendations and invite comments. Public housing advocates need to be ready to comment on this draft report.
IPART says it will consider the comments before its final report in June 2017.
Are we “elegant” enough for Glebe?
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Domain section on 4 March proclaimed that a new “elegance” is coming to Glebe.
Who are these elegant people? According to Roxy (the developer) and the Domain, they are anyone who can afford to buy an apartment for $730,000 to $2.83 million on the former public housing estate bordered by Wentworth, Cowper and Queen Streets.
The development was called the ‘Glebe Affordable Housing Project’. All the public housing was bulldozed to make way for 25% public, 25% affordable and 50% private housing
The project was begun by an ALP government and has been continued by the O’Farrell, Baird and Berejiklian Liberal Governments.
The location is not far from the tents of the homeless who live in Wentworth Park. The State Government is not interested in homelessness or housing affordability. Government housing policy is to look concerned about unaffordability and then to fan the housing market.
For a longer article on this issue see the website
March 2017