Public housing tenants in Millers Point make desperate plea to stay despite Government sell-off plans

Posted yesterday at 5:30pmFri 22 May 2015, 5:30pm      

Photo: Some Millers Point residents have draped banners over their balconies protesting the Government's local housing sell-off. (ABC News: Thuy Ong)      

 Related Story: NSW Government says Millers Point to fund 'five-for-one' housing deal

 

Related Story: National Trust slams Millers Point public housing sell-off

Map: Millers Point 2000

Public housing tenants facing eviction from their homes at Millers Point in Sydney have met with NSW Housing Minister Brad Hazzard in a last-ditch attempt to avoid eviction.

 

The State Government is selling off nearly 300 properties in the inner-city suburb and using the expected proceeds of about $500 million to build 1,500 new homes across the state in Sydney's south-east and south-west, the Illawarra region and the Blue Mountains.

The residents told the Minister there are enough vacant properties in Millers Point to accommodate the remaining 120 residents, most of whom are elderly.

One of the homes was auctioned yesterday for a record $4.2 million and the NSW Opposition said every dollar from that sale should go back into public housing.

The predominately elderly community at harbourside Millers Point has been fighting eviction from their homes, and some said they know of several residents who have taken their own lives.

Long term residents plead to stay in Millers Point

One of the local residents, 81-year-old Florence Seckold, was born in the area and has lived there all of her life and has been told she may have to leave.

"But I don't want to. This is my home. This is where I live," Mrs Seckold, a widow, said.
"How long am I going to live for?



Photo: Florence Seckold is fighting to ensure she and other long term Millers Point residents can stay in the area. (ABC: TV News)      

 

"Leave us here. That's all we ask.

"We're not being defiant, we just want to finish off what's left here in Millers Point."

Another long-term resident, 88-year-old Myra Demetriou, was too frail to make today's meeting but also pleaded with the Government to be able to stay.

"I'm hoping that they'll leave those of us who can't move about too quickly where we are," Mrs Demetriou said.

"I'm angry, wouldn't you be?

"There's just tears everywhere. It's terrible."

After the meeting with Mr Hazzard, Mrs Seckold said she was satisfied with the outcome.

"It was very productive as far as that went and I think he [Mr Hazzard] will do the very best he can," Mrs Seckold said.

Mr Hazzard said he would consider the plight of the remaining residents of Millers Point, but also said the Government was committed to their public housing program.

"I'm certainly happy to go away and think about those ideas," Mr Hazzard said.

"But at the end of the day it is about 58,000 people on the housing waiting list and we do need as much money as we can get to try to get as much new housing as possible.

"But perhaps there's a balance and I'll look to see what I can do."

The Government has already unveiled some new public housing units funded by the sales, but the Opposition's Tanya Mihailuk said more affordable accommodation needed to be built.

"It's not clear yet how much of the money that the Government is receiving for Millers Point will be going to new stock," Ms Mihailuk said.

"NSW Opposition has asked the Government to formally provide information, on precisely how much of that money is actually being transferred to new housing stock."

RESOURCED: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-22/millers-point-residents-meet-government-minister/6490120

#‎savemillerspoint