source: The Age November 29 2004
The NSW Government has a secret $5 billion plan to redevelop
Redfern by seizing control of Aboriginal housing on the Block and
letting developers take over two-thirds of the area's public
housing estates.
Under the 10-year plan, the Government will privatise $540
million worth of public assets in a bid to double the area's
population to 40,000, create 20,000 new jobs and give the CBD room
to expand.
In a major piece of social engineering, 20,000 new private
renters and owners will be brought in to balance out the 7000
public housing tenants in the area, many of whom are poor, old and
disabled.
In February Redfern was racked by riots after Aboriginal
teenager TJ Hickey died, falling from his bike while fleeing
police.
