Minister Hazzard gives Millers Point residents a glimmer of hope, but who will qualify to remain?

September 9, 2015     James Gorman

Barney Gardner was born in Millers Point and has lived there all his life, stands in front of some of the empty houses in the area. Picture: Justin Lloyd

WHO will stay and who will be forced to leave?

An unexpected softening in the stance of NSW Family and Community Services Minister Brad Hazzard has opened the door to letting some housing tenants in Millers Point remain in their historic homes.
But a month after Mr Hazzard confirmed some positions could be reviewed, tenants are none the wiser as to who could be eligible or what criteria they may need to meet.




Central Sydney has learned since the contentious sell-off of state-owned housing at Millers Point began in July 2014, the NSW Government has generated $64 million in revenue from the sale of 29 properties. More than 280 residents have relocated voluntarily.
However, of the 412 remaining Millers Point properties approximately 100 are still occupied and many of these residents won’t give up their homes without a fight.

Millers Point Public housing terraces.

Millers Point resident Barney Gardner said he, along with many of his neighbours, were prepared to face legal prosecution by flouting the government’s March 2016 eviction deadline.
“There are quite a few of us that are going to stay and we have talked to Brad Hazzard and shown him the homes we want to be spared but he said he can’t promise anything as there are another 21 cabinet ministers,” Mr Gardner said.
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“Obviously we don’t expect the older residents to stay and fight.

“We are talking about a group of people who are prepared to go to jail if they have to.
“In other words the government and Housing NSW are going to need more than the police and their dogs to get us out of here, they will need the army.
“When you consider the facades of our homes and the number of people we will be able to get out here we won’t be making it easy for them to get in.”

Development applications have been lodged with the city by new owners hoping to renovate their newly acquired workers cottages in the suburb. Picture: Carly Earl

In August, Central Sydney reported the details of a letter sent to Sydney State Independent MP Alex Greenwich written by Mr Hazzard.
“I am actively considering the question of whether there should be exceptions, extensions or alternative measures for tenants in particular extenuating circumstances,” Mr Hazzard wrote.
A department spokesman was not forthcoming as to what these circumstances may be but said staff would continue to work towards a peaceful outcome.

Myra is blind and one of the last remaining tenants in the Sirius Tower of Millers Point.

RESOURCED: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/minister-hazzard-gives-millers-point-residents-a-glimmer-of-hope-but-who-will-qualify-to-remain/story-fngr8h22-1227518185929