By Thuy Ong Posted
The Government has unveiled the first batch of housing built with the proceeds of the contentious sell-off, and also promised houses would be built in Sydney's south-east and south-west, the Illawarra region and the Blue Mountains.
The predominately elderly community at harbourside Millers Point has been fighting eviction from their homes, and some say they know of several residents who have taken their own lives.
However, the Government argues the lucrative properties must be sold to address the state's housing shortage.
According to the Social Development Council, there are more than 56,000 people on the NSW public housing waiting list.
Waiting times for houses depend on the location, but most inner city houses have at least a 10-year wait, government statistics show.
"Families, couples, singles who have been waiting for accommodation will now have a greater chance of getting accommodation in our social housing system," Family and Community Services Minister Brad Hazzard said.
The sale of 293 houses at Millers Point - some more than a century old - is expected to generate $500 million.
Twelve properties sold to date have raised $26.8 million.
One Argyle Street house is expected to fund 13 social housing properties. The home was built in the early 1830s by whaling captain George Grimes and boasts views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Local residents fighting the sell-off plan have draped protest banners over balconies on the street.
"My great concern is for the elderly people here," said 65-year-old Barney Gardner, who has lived at Millers Point all his life.
"They say we're getting special consideration, by picking the suburb we want to [live in], but there might not be a dwelling in the suburb we want to go.
"They'll have to evict me and I'll go through the court system.
"You can take a person out of their home but you cannot replace their health and safety."
Mr Hazzard today unveiled 10 new units funded by sales at Millers Point.
A unit complex at Lurnea in Sydney's west is worth $2.8 million.
He said the properties represented a better use of taxpayers' money than the Millers Points houses, many of which required costly ongoing maintenance due to their age.
"The balancing act here is trying to make sure we free up what is a vast amount of taxpayer's dollars potentially to address all the other folks who are waiting for social housing," he said.
He said he would try to ensure Millers Point residents did not have to move too far from their existing community.
"It is a tough ask in moving from places you've been for a long while and I'm certainly asking and instructing and engaging the department to do it in a sensitive way," he said.
RESOURCED: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-16/nsw-government-says-millers-point-to-fund-housing-deal/6398552
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| Some Millers Point residents have draped banners over their balconies protesting the Government's local housing sell-off. |
Five new homes will be funded through the sale of each house sold at Sydney's Millers Point, the New South Wales Government says.
The predominately elderly community at harbourside Millers Point has been fighting eviction from their homes, and some say they know of several residents who have taken their own lives.
However, the Government argues the lucrative properties must be sold to address the state's housing shortage.
According to the Social Development Council, there are more than 56,000 people on the NSW public housing waiting list.
Waiting times for houses depend on the location, but most inner city houses have at least a 10-year wait, government statistics show.
 |
| Millers Point resident Barney Gardner, 65, said he would fight his eviction in court |
The sale of 293 houses at Millers Point - some more than a century old - is expected to generate $500 million.
Twelve properties sold to date have raised $26.8 million.
One Argyle Street house is expected to fund 13 social housing properties. The home was built in the early 1830s by whaling captain George Grimes and boasts views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Local residents fighting the sell-off plan have draped protest banners over balconies on the street.
"My great concern is for the elderly people here," said 65-year-old Barney Gardner, who has lived at Millers Point all his life.
"They say we're getting special consideration, by picking the suburb we want to [live in], but there might not be a dwelling in the suburb we want to go.
"They'll have to evict me and I'll go through the court system.
"You can take a person out of their home but you cannot replace their health and safety."
Mr Hazzard today unveiled 10 new units funded by sales at Millers Point.
A unit complex at Lurnea in Sydney's west is worth $2.8 million.
He said the properties represented a better use of taxpayers' money than the Millers Points houses, many of which required costly ongoing maintenance due to their age.
"The balancing act here is trying to make sure we free up what is a vast amount of taxpayer's dollars potentially to address all the other folks who are waiting for social housing," he said.
He said he would try to ensure Millers Point residents did not have to move too far from their existing community.
"It is a tough ask in moving from places you've been for a long while and I'm certainly asking and instructing and engaging the department to do it in a sensitive way," he said.
RESOURCED: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-16/nsw-government-says-millers-point-to-fund-housing-deal/6398552
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