Clover Moore and The City of Sydney give $10k to Millers Point residents as fight against public housing sell-off continues

September 4th 2014


Lord Mayor Clover Moore outside of one of the Millers Point public housing properties.

The City of Sydney has provided the Millers Point public housing community with a $10,000 fighting fund for its ongoing eviction battle with the State Government. 
              
At the last council meeting, the City approved the grant to the Millers Point Community Defence Group to help fund a housing study report and the development of a community picnic.


The grant comes just three months after the City provided $100,000 to the Redfern Legal Centre to provide tenants support, advocacy and advice for the Millers Point public housing community.
The sell-off of Millers Point public housing has begun, with two homes auctioned by the State Government in behind-closed-doors events.



Millers Point is one of Australia’s oldest communities. Source: News Corp Australia

Residents and politicians gather after the sell-off was announced by the State Government earlier this year. Source: News Corp Australia

 One property sold for $600,000 above its pre-auction guide price, while the second sold for more than $1 million greater than anticipated.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the city supported one of its oldest communities.


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“Millers Point is one of Australia’s most historic communities, and many residents have connections to the area going back generations,” Cr Moore said.


“For decades, governments have eroded the social heritage of the area by relocating existing tenants, neglecting property maintenance, selling 99 year leases for social housing properties and leaving properties vacant for long periods of time.

Residents set up a protest outside the auction of the first public housing property last month. Source: News Corp Australia

“The NSW Government’s decision earlier this year to sell off the area’s public housing is a betrayal of the many families who call the area home.


“It also sends a troubling signal that other social housing estates in inner city areas like Glebe and Woolloomooloo are under threat.


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“The closed auctions that have been held over the past week are symptomatic of the lack of transparency that has marred this process from the beginning.

“Residents have continually been denied the right to consultation, and the government has failed to make any commitment about how the funds generated by the sales will be used.



Barney Gardner was born in Millers Point and has lived there all his life. Source: News Corp Australia

 Millers Point resident Barney Gardner said the community was surprised and grateful for the City’s contribution.

“It was surprising to hear that council put forward a motion to give us this money and I can tell you it was well received,” he said.


The Millers Point Spring Picnic will be held on September 14 at Argyle Place, The Rocks, between 10am and 4pm.


Organisers have also raised more than $1200 to help stage the event from crowd funding site Pozible.


RESOURCED: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/clover-moore-and-the-city-of-sydney-give-10k-to-millers-point-residents-as-fight-against-public-housing-selloff-continues/story-fngr8h22-1227047419333