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Item 10.2 - Attachment 1 |
Minutes
of the Strategic Partnership Meeting with Housing NSW and Parramatta City
Council |
Strategic Partnership
between Housing NSW and
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Attendees: |
Housing NSW Attendees: |
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Steering
Group Dr Robert Lang – CEO Councillor Paul Garrard Councillor Chiang Xavier Lim Councillor Michael McDermott Councillor Glenn Elmore |
Steering
Group Ken Bone – General
Manager John Paszek – Director Resource Planning Ray Brincat – Area Director Madeleine Culbert – Director Project Development Nigel Sharpe – Project Development Alison Shearer – Director Service Improvement |
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Resource
persons |
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Councillor John Chedid – Lord Mayor |
Apologies: |
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AGENDA ITEM |
DISCUSSION/ ISSUES |
ACTION |
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1. |
Welcome and Introductions |
The
chair welcomed all to the meeting. |
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2 |
Previous Minutes and
Business Arising |
The
Minutes were noted and accepted. |
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3 |
Strategic Context Updates Strategic Context Updates |
3.1Housing NSW – Ken
Bone, General Manager Change of Government · Awaiting information on what the change of government will
mean for the future of HNSW, · There has been a reshuffle so that Housing NSW is now part
of Department of Family and Community Services. HNSW assets will sit with Department of Finance and Services · New Ministers – Greg Pearce Finance Services, Pru Goward –
Family and Community Services Government Stimulus Works · All government
stimulus works have now been delivered– the last expected to be
completed by Dec 2011 · Built 4500 dwellings to date from the stimulus HNSW Overview of
Assistance · Pressure on the housing system is still growing · Housing NSW helps 6000 new tenants per annum · Tenancy management is the smallest part of what we do · Over 80,000 instances of rental assistance per annum · Over 30,000 instances of provision of temporary
accommodation per annum · Currently struggle to help people into private rental due
to high rents and low stock · Matching dwelling type with need is a struggle. There is
not enough 1 and 2 bedroom homes and more larger homes than required. 3.2 Parramatta City Council – Dr Rob Lang, CEO Change in local members
of Parliament · Tony Issa and Geoff Lee acknowledged as new members · David Borger outgoing and acknowledged for his
contribution Civic Place · Council has acquired over
50% of the remaining land required to finalise the consolidation · Consolidation expected to
be completed by July 2011 · Stage 1 approval expected
by late 2011 · Completion of
construction of Stage 1 expected by end 2013 E-Parramatta and Parra Connect · A Strategic Framework for Development and Delivery
of a Smart City is currently being developed. There are 2 projects: · E-Parra Strategy - maximising the availability of
Council’s service on the internet, mobile applications and wireless
technology across the local government area · Parra Connect – is a related external strategy to
maximise the benefits of new technologies to the community and business
sectors of Parramatta. · Council has established a representative committee
from business and the community to oversee the delivery of this program River Foreshore Project · Council has over 20
initiatives and projects that have some relationship to the Parramatta River · The Mayor has requested
Council officers focus on coordinating and advancing these proposals with the
aim of making the river a focus for family and activity · A series of events are
focusing on the River Foreshore to activate this space, such as the Liquid
Cinema Economic Development Forum · Council has appointed Christopher Brown, former
Managing Director of the Tourism Transport Forum and founder of the Greater
Sydney Partnership as Chair of the Parramatta Economic Development Forum for
12 months · A business forum was held on the 8 March at the
Parramatta Park Royal attended by 250 guests including politicians, media,
government advisors and senior decision makers from corporations not located
in Parramatta · The major themes included the need for certainty
regarding rail infrastructure, identity development, improved liveability,
investment from the private sector, better use of tertiary assets and the
growth of higher value knowledge jobs · These issues will underpin the new Economic
Development Strategy for Parramatta, the writing of which has commenced. The
aim is to have the plan in place by the beginning of the new financial year Better Neighbourhood Program · Dundas Station Small Centre Upgrade is currently
out to tender and works are due to commence in June 2011 · Ermington and
Midson/Small Centre Upgrades – consultation has been completed and works are
due to commence in April · Epping Laneway Project has been completed · Kleins Rd Northmead Small Centre Upgrade –
construction underway with completion in May 2011 · Constitution Hill Small Centre Upgrade – concept
has been completed and is currently in consultation phase · Westmead Way-finding is in the concept design phase Cycleway Update NSW Bike Plan projects · RTA’s ten-year, $78M River Cities Bike Program,
being implemented in partnership with local governments, will fast track the
delivery of cycle infrastructure, parking facilities and cycling skills
training opportunities within the 5 to 10 km or 20 to 40 min bike ride - radius of the Parramatta, Liverpool and
Penrith city centres · The focus in the Parramatta LGA is on completing
the missing links in the Parramatta Valley Cycleway and connecting the CBD to
Westmead through Parramatta Park, Adult cycle training and bike racks as art.
Healthy Communities Grant · Council recently applied
for the Federal Government Communities Grant, which will be announced in
April · The project aims to
improve healthy lifestyles of at risk groups in the LGA · If successful, key
partners will include NSW Health, Division of GP and we would like to engage
HNSW as there are opportunities to link with people in HNSW estates to
provide programs locally. |
PCC
requested a contact person in HNSW to discuss the grant opportunity. HNSW
provided contact in Ray Brincat. |
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4 |
LEP Update |
Parramatta City Council -
LEP · Council adopted the draft LEP following Council
reports in Oct – Dec 2010 · The plan is currently under deliberation by the
State Government · Anticipated by mid year to have a gazetted plan · Recent legislative changes will need to be
incorporated into the plan DCP · Draft Comprehensive DCP has also been finalised and
will come into effect to coincide with the new LEP · It is anticipated that both comprehensive plans will
align and be implemented together by mid this year |
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5 |
Nation Building Economic Stimulus Program update |
Housing NSW – Ray
Brincat, Area Director · 3 more projects in Council’s LGA which are completed and
due to be handed over shortly– Albury St Sth Granville, Briens Rd Northmead,
and Excelsior St Merrylands · 24 developments completed in total in the Parramatta LGA,
comprising 358 dwellings · Councillor Garrard raised concerns about Housing NSW
asking people to move. Indicated a need for a more sympathetic approach that
accommodates resident’s individual needs. · HNSW reported that no one has been moved compulsorily |
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6 |
Housing Affordability Fund (HAF) Update - Wentworthville |
Housing NSW – Nick
Graham, Project Developer · Funded by FASCIA under the Commonwealth’s Housing
Affordability Fund (HAF) Round 2 · $500K funding allocated to develop a Wentworthville
Masterplan · PCG to oversee the project on a monthly basis and
includes Housing NSW, Parramatta City Council, JBA Planning · The project objectives are: · Enhance the amenity · Reduce the concentration of public housing · Facilitate the provision of improved social
services · Work with local communities to enhance
communication and strengthen neighbourhood networks · Enable the formulation of detailed planning
controls · Enable the scope of project related risks to be
identified · The Site is 9.1ha
with 194 dwellings · It is jointly owned by HNSW, PCC and the RTA · Current LEP controls 2(c) Residential · Draft LEP controls R3 Density Residential · Next steps: Community and Agency Consultation
sessions to commence in May See
Attachment on HNSW Wentworthville Presentation · Councillor Garrard raised a concern about whether the
new LEP controls will be utilised on the site or not? · Housing NSW has the power to go outside the
guidelines. |
Housing
NSW to engage with Council early on in order to address Council’s concerns
about the site. HNSW to organise workshops with Councillors at appropriate
points in project development to provide updates and seek input |
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7 |
Telopea Re-development
update |
Housing NSW – Nigel
Sharpe, Project Development · Concept - 10.9ha site, existing 530 dwellings, proposed
1900 dwellings · Objectives: · Deconcentration of social housing · Create an attractive integrated community of
social, private and affordable housing · Targeted outcomes by ownership type – Social max
30%, private approx 62% and affordable housing approx 10% · Stage 1 construction of 152 units over 3 buildings
commenced Nov 2010, completion expected early 2012 · Engagement with Community Housing Providers for
management of new social housing and delivery of approx 100 units as stage 2.
Applications closed Dec 2010. · Targeted MOU by June 2011 · Stage 2 housing to be delivered by 2014/15 · Targeting mix of affordable, rental and social
housing in both stages 1 & 2 · Next steps- to finalise majority of conditions of
Part 3A approval (July 2011) · Undertake broad market sounding to inform private
sector engagement (commencing April 2011) · Ongoing engagement with external stakeholders
(commencing May 2011) · Housing NSW engagement of private sector delivery partner(s) · Commence first stage of private sector construction
projected by 2013/14 · See attachment on HNSW Telopea Renewal Presentation
· Council raised concerns about HNSW’s commitment to
ensure the uptake of private ownership in the development and the timing of
the development of the private owner buildings · Council advised it is pursuing the Epping
Parramatta rail link · HNSW reinforced their commitment to developing
Telopea with a private/public housing mix. |
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8 |
Organisational information
sharing/updates on key housing issues |
8.1 Homelessness –Housing
NSW, Alison Shearer Regional
Homelessness Action Plan · Greater Western Sydney Region has established a
Regional Homelessness Committee (RHC) · Parramatta City Council has a key role within this
committee with the Lord Mayor being a representative on the committee · The Committee will operate from 2010 to 2014 · The next RHC meeting will be used as a workshop to
review the committee’s plans for the next year Funded projects led by
Housing NSW · South Western Sydney Youth Hub – Miller Area · Project 40 – Service Integration in the Nepean Area
· Juniperina – Juvenile Justice Program · Along with the above there are numerous other HAP
projects which are operating which have an impact on the Parramatta area Update on other Housing
NSW Homelessness Initiatives · Housing NSW continue to participate in numerous
local forums in the Parramatta area, these include: Parramatta Homelessness
Coalition, Bankstown Homelessness Coordination Group, Parramatta Homelessness
Interagency, Nepean Taskforce Against Homelessness · All existing Accord Agreement are progressing well
with various agreements in place which service the Parramatta area · Temporary accommodation models such as Pingaree
House continue to operate successfully · Supporting systemic reform of the homelessness
sector 8.1 Homelessness – PCC · The draft Homelessness Policy and Implementation Plan was
tested with key stakeholders late January 2011. Amendments now being
incorporated and it’s anticipated to be presented to Council shortly · PCC conducted its second Homeless Street Count in February
(350 homeless residents, 70 rough sleepers, 284 in emergency crisis
accommodation). Small decrease in rough sleepers compared to rough sleepers
with a slight increase in emergency and crisis accommodation · Council continues to support the Parramatta Regional
Homelessness Interagency · Implementing a new Chronically Homeless Men’s Project –
designed to assist 10 men who sleep rough in the city off the street. This is
currently out to tender. 8.2 Affordable Housing – PCC, · 3 areas of focus · Secondary dwellings - encouraging dwellings of good
design to add value to individuals and the neighbourhood · Use of Council’s own assets where appropriate to
include affordable housing options · Developing an Affordable Housing Bank to encourage
private developers to contribute affordable housing units. This includes the
development of an electronic calculator.
· Noted a number of D/A’s coming through under the AH
SEPP |
HNSW
asked to be kept informed of the progress of the Chronically Homeless Men’s
Project PCC
asked to be provided with an update of key directions and priorities for this
area when HNSW is able to do so |
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9 |
Community Concerns |
Concerns
raised : · Councillor McDermott raised the following concerns
about Telopea: o Believes the area is housing ex-prisoners, drug addicts
and a cluster of mentally ill patients o Believes there has been significant increase in the number
of ex-prisoners housed in the area o HNSW tenants and home owners are fearful of the
neighbourhood and too scared to report concerns to police or HNSW. The area
is going backwards. o Concerned there is a disconnect between senior executive
and what is happening on the ground within HNSW o Supports longer term plans to redevelop Telopea and change
the tenant mix. Asked in the short term about what can be done? What
procedures surround understanding tenant backgrounds and local tenant
allocation strategies, and what can be done to curb the arising issues? · Housing NSW response: o have the power to evict tenants, though they need tangible
evidence to go to the Tribunal which usually means the complainants providing
evidence unless Police are involved in criminal breaches o mostly unaware of tenants backgrounds as this information
can not be collected from, applicants due to privacy law, certainly don’t
know if they are ex-prisoners, but is most unlikely, and doubt that is known
in community either o are aware of the importance of Tenant Allocation
Strategies o Housing NSW has Community Development workers and
Anti-Social Behaviour officers who can work with concerned residents. · Debbie Killian, Manager CLASS PCC, reported on a
similar issue arising at Bankstown in regard to residents not reporting
unlawful behaviour due to fear. Police implemented a “ Report it don’t ignore
it” campaign which allowed for reporting without the need to be identified
and from all accounts it was considered successful. |
HNSW
to investigate the possibility of implementing a local allocation strategy
for Telopea |
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10 |
Other Business |
10.1 Save our
Suburbs Campaign · HNSW identified there are a number of properties
now occupied where the Save of Suburbs signs have not been taken down. HNSW
would like them to come down immediately. · Ken Bone provided Rob Lang with a full list of
occupied properties where the signs are still up. · PCC reported that they have been notified of 4
properties and have taken steps to remove signs from these. |
Council
staff to follow up with Councillors on this matter. |
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11 |
New Meeting Date and
Venue for the Steering Group |
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Next
steering committee meeting to be held at Housing NSW at a date to be advised. |