REDWatch

The City of Sydney is consulting on where new housing should go in its area. This presentation by Council staff looks at its "Housing for All" discussion paper with a focus on what that might mean for Redfern, Eveleigh, Darlington and Waterloo (the suburbs covered by REDWatch).

This recording gives residents a good idea of where and how Council might proceed to deliver more housing in the Local Government Area. Council is at the early consultation stage of this process so feedback will likely alter some aspects of how Council might proceed. There will be more opportunities to input before Council considers changing the planning controls in about 5 years’ time.

Having an early opportunities to see what is being considered helps communities have a greater say in what happens in their neighbourhoods. You can see the REDWatch meeting video presentation and response to questions at https://youtu.be/MQKlYaMzFk4

REDWatch thanks Council Strategic Planner Christine Heather for the presentation and Ben Pechey, Executive Manager Strategic Planning & Urban Design for his responding to the questions. REDWatch apologises that the introductions and Acknowledgement of Country were not recorded due to a technical error.

CoS Housing for All - REDWatch Meeting 4 June 2026 The City of Sydney is consulting on where new housing should go in ...

For the 4th June REDWatch meeting we will focus on Councils Housing for All consultation with a presentation by Council. The City of Sydney is seeking feedback on its Housing for All discussion paper. That paper sets out where further growth should go in our Council area including in Redfern near prince Alfred Park and Waterloo near Green Square. It also seeks to encourage “more life (and living) on our high streets”, “gentle density on laneways”, “park-side living for more people to enjoy” and housing built on government owned land. It also encourages the NSW government to accelerate development on its own land and recognises the need for a diverse range of market and non-market housing.

A Council planner will explain Council’s paper and discuss what it might mean more specifically in our area of Redfern, Eveleigh, Darlington and Waterloo (REDW). You can see the discussion paper and make comments at https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/policy-planning-changes/have-your-say-on-future-homes-in-our-area

This is a public meeting and everyone is welcome. You can join the meeting in person on 4 June from 6:00 pm at Counterpoint’s Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street, Waterloo or join us on line by Zoom http://tinyurl.com/RedwatchMeetingZoom.

A few weeks ago, Geoff Turnbull, REDWatch Spokesperson, was interviewed by Belinda Barnett for her UrbanTalk Podcast on Community Voice and Advocacy in the Redfern Waterloo area. That podcast is now live on a number of podcast platforms including on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAy5sKpSQoI

In this podcast, that lasts about an hour and a quarter, Geoff responds to questions about the NSW planning system and community engagement from the perspective of REDWatch’s 20+ year involvement trying to ensure outcomes for community around planning decisions past and present in our area.

Being grilled about what REDWatch does and why is a bit of a change from Geoff’s usual role of asking these questions of others in community meetings. It does however give an overview of the why and how REDWatch does some of the things it has done and of some of our struggles with government and developers as well as some of our achievements.

UrbanTalk Podcast Episode 23 – Community Voice and Advocacy in the Redfern Waterloo Area REDWatch is one of the most well established community organisations in Sydney and has spent the last 20 years maintaining a website, sending email notificat...

Sweltering Cities are holding a Redfern Renters Submission Workshop at Redfern Community Centre at 12:30pm on the 19th of May. The NSW Government is considering whether there should be Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for rental homes in our state. The government is currently seeking feedback about what it should do. You can RSVP at https://volunteer.swelteringcities.org/redfern_renters_workshop and find out more about the issues at
https://swelteringcities.org/heat-safe-homes-nsw/

Heat safe energy efficient rentals in NSW Find out everything you need to know about the campaign in NSW to win heat safe rentals for everyone.

If you want to know about what is coming in Waterloo South there is an Online Information Session on Monday 18 May, 5pm to 6.30pm Visit www.waterloorenewal.com.au to register or email Waterloo Partnership at [email protected]

This info session will be also made available on www.waterloorenewal.com.au An earlier information session for REDWatch can be seen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqLmw_IjSWg

This is a video of the REDWatch meeting of 7 May 2026 where a representative from Stockland explained the Waterloo South Concept Plan and Rezoning which is on public exhibition until 2 June. You can also find links to the exhibition documents and other material on the REDWatch website at http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/Waterloo/stage1/260506redw

This is the link to the video https://youtu.be/LqLmw_IjSWg

REDWatch Waterloo South Concept Explained by Stockland May 2026 On May 6 2026 the Concept Plan and rezoning for the Waterloo South redevelopment went on exhibition for 28 days. This REDWatch meeting, held om May 7, provid...

Waterloo South Concept Plan and Rezoning public exhibition is underway until Tuesday 2nd June 2026. Documents are now on the Department of Planning website and the Stockland Consortium has also placed some material on its Waterloo Redevelopment website.

REDWatch has placed Guide to the documents with links on its website at http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/Waterloo/stage1/260506redw

REDWatch is hosting a public session with Stockland at 6pm on Thursday May 7. Details are in the post below this one & everyone is welcome.

Waterloo South Concept Plan and Rezoning on Exhibition until 2nd June 2026. — REDWatch - Redfern Eveleigh Darlington Waterloo Watch Group Below are some information from REDWatch about the Exhibition and how to access information and assistance.

The formal exhibition of the Waterloo South Concept Plan and Rezoning is imminent. This is the overarching plan for the redevelopment of Waterloo South as prepared by the Stockland Consortium.

Come along and find out about both the building and people aspects of this Concept Plan. This Exhibition will guide the redevelopment and mange social impacts of this proposal and later Development Applications.

Stockland will join us to explain its Concept Plan. All documents will go onto the Department of Plannings Major Projects website and feedback on the plan needs to be made directly to the Department of Planning via its portal.

This will be a short 28-day exhibition so come along and find out about it early so you have maximum time to work out what you want to say.

So join us for this public meeting on 7 May 2026 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Counterpoint’s Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street, Waterloo or join us on line by Zoom http://tinyurl.com/RedwatchMeetingZoom .

The proposed mixed-use development on the old Waterloo waterboard pumping site at 903-921 Bourke St Waterloo when on exhibition today and given the changes from what Council had already approved (D/2021/1415) locals might want to have a close look at this one.

Under the changes to planning laws to accelerate housing delivery, some developers have pulled sites from Council and put them to the state government to get larger developments not necessarily quicker ones. Under the planning changes the exhibition period has also been shortened to 14 days so this exhibition closes on April 29!

The Environmental Impact & Rezoning Statement says the major changes from what Council previously approved are:
• Young Street tower – addition of 16 storeys, introduction of retail tenancy at ground floor, introduction of communal areas, various internal planning changes, refinement to architectural expression
• Young Street plaza building – additional of 1 storey, introduction of communal areas, various internal planning changes, refinement to architectural expression
• Young Street north building – additional of 1 storey, minor reduction to the depth of the floorplate to increase separation from tower, individual basement, various internal planning changes, refinement to architectural expression
• Young Street south building – additional of 1 storey, introduction of communal areas, various internal planning changes, refinement to architectural expression
• Bourke Street north – addition of 18 storeys to the tower, introduction of communal areas, various internal planning changes, refinement to architectural expression
• Bourke Street south – addition of 4 storeys, reduction to northern extent of footprint with increased separation from Bourke Street north building, an individual basement, introduction of communal areas, various internal planning changes, refinement to architectural expression
• Refinement to the internal layout in the basement levels, to provide for an increase of 30 car spaces from the previously approved 346 to 376
• Increase of 233 additional apartments from 347 apartments to 580 apartments
• Provision of 57 of the apartments as co-living studios
• Increase of indoor and outdoor communal open space
• Provision of affordable housing contribution equivalent to 12% for the uplift
• Minor amendments to the ground floor landscape design
• Revised plan of subdivision which reflects the amended proposal as well as the VPA Deed of Novation plan titled “VPA dedications plan of proposed subdivision of Lot 102 in DP 1203640 and redefinition of Lot 1 in DP 800771 (Post DA 2021/1415)” prepared by LTS Issue 07-03-2025.

You can find the exhibition documents at https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/mixed-use-development-903-921-bourke-st-waterloo

The illustration below shows proposed rooftop common space but also shows graphically the increase sort in this application against what Council approved.

Why were Waterloo South public housing tenants situated on the future park given their 6 months’ notice of relocation letters when it could have been delayed until some new social housing in Stage 1 was built for them?

This article in the South Sydney Herald draws on questions from Evelyn Morris, a 86-year-old tenant, the planning agreement between Council and Homes NSW for the park and community facilities as well as media statements from Council and Homes NSW who were asked to address Evelyn’s questions.

You can read the article in the print edition of the South Sydney Herald or online at

Tenants in proposed Waterloo Park get relocation notices - South Sydney Herald Evelyn Morris is an 86-year-old Waterloo resident who has lived in Cooper Street for 27 years. She was an active tenant representative for many years until she lost mobility. On 26 March, she answered the door and received her six-month notice of relocation letter. Her home is where Council’s new ...