TOPIC 3 Principles of the RED Strategy, drawing comparisoted to the Redfern-Waterloo Built Environment Plan (stage 1).

YEAR 2

AURORA BRADDON 305219510

ARASH ENGINEER 305023411

KRISTINA SAHLESTROM 305043017

The RED Strategy (REDFERN, EVELEIGH, DARLINGTON AND WATERLOO) began in 2001 when the government showed interest in this site. This strategy inspired the Aboriginal Housing Company to release the Community Social Plan in 2001.This social plan stated 12 planning objectives, which were created through numerous consultations. At these meetings major issues were discussed with the Redfern community and then later published by Angie Pitts. These objectives were incorporated into the RED strategy and developed uponto create nine basic principles. The council also included means to achieving these principles. The RED Strategy plan was superseded recently by the Redfern-Waterloo Built Environment Plan, which is in its First stage.

These principles are:

1) Develop a sustainable town centre to serve the RED area.

To accomplish thisprinciple they are proposingto reduce traffic, add a retail stripto encourage businesses growth, provide additional parking, increasethe volume of people living and working in the area, and create a link between the North Eveleigh and Redfern site.

2) Capitalize on the Redfern station location in the RED area, infrastructure potential and position in the metropolitan rail system to support revitalization on Redfern station and town centre precincts.

To achieve this they are proposing toincrease the employment and connect main railway entry (Lawson Street) to the town centre so as to increase safety and make it a central hub. This way people will be encouraged to go there and that will help the business potential of the area.

3) Provide a safe and active public domain.

To complete this they want to put in extra lighting and maintain the preferred pedestrian walk and cycleways, encourage built form along these streets to maximize casual surveillance. Encourage small enterprises to open up in the neighbourhood so as to make more temporary use for shops as galleries. Develop linkage with regional open spaces and improve traffic safety.

4) Optimise social and economic return from govt. land holdings

To carry this out they propose to increase development potential of ATP, North Eveleigh and Redfern rail station by exploiting potential cooperation. Develop land north of Redfern, and west of Eveleigh, while keeping a balance and diverse mix of residents. Reuse surplus govt. land for public infrastructure to deal with future demand for infrastructure.

5)Ensure social equity in public life

To get this done they want to make the area safer and more secure, create economic opportunities for the unemployed, and increase efficiency and affordability of public transport. They want to encourage cooperation between Sydney uni and the community employment of this RED site, increase infrastructure to support social, cultural and economic capability of the community while keeping the area open for cultural diversity.

6) Foster community identity

To accomplish this there is a proposal to position Redfern town centre at the heart of the area. It will be important to develop a shared sense of place through the celebration of cultural, industrial and built heritage. This will help to increase the growth in cultural enterprises and encourage local identity.

7)Strengthen community cohesion

By beautification of streets and open spaces, social interaction will be promoted and this principle will be achieved. If the impact of physical and social barriers is reduced it will create places for community celebration and cultural expression.

Once the RED strategy was created and accepted, the next step was to have a plan drafted to be put out for public debate. Before this could occur there was a change of government power, giving Minister Frank Sarto unprecedented rule over the Redfern area. He then released the Redfern Waterloo Draft Plan in February 2006 as a replacement, which is currently open for debate in its first stage. The Aboriginal Housing Company and the community are against this proposal as it did not communicate with the current residents. There are a few similarities between the two projects due to some principles from the RED strategy being incorporated into the Redfern-Waterloo Plan. Some issues of the two plans are also shared.

The major issues that both proposals are campaigning for include:

  • Redevelopment of Redfern Railway Station (Plan out later this year)
  • Creation of pedestrian and bicycle linkages across railway lines
  • Provision of affordable housing and no reduction in public housing
  • A revitalised town centre
  • Increase in employment opportunities
  • The development of the area as a cultural precinct.

The principles that remained in the Redfern-Waterloo Plan after the RED strategy wasreplacedwere:

  • Principle number one, develop a sustainable Town Centre to serve the RED area.
  • Principle numbers two, capitalize on Redfern Station’s location in the RED area.
  • Principle numbers four, optimise Social and Economic return from Government Land Holdings.

The rest of the principles were not given the right amount of attention in this recent Plan,and were either touched upon briefly or not at all, upsetting the AHC and the Redfern community, leaving them three options. It can choose to design within the parameters of the RWP, object to the RWP, or wait for the next stage to occur.

References:

James, Col. (May/June 2005). Revitalising Redfern. Architecture Bulletin.

Redfern-Waterloo Authority (2006). Draft Redfern-Waterloo Built Environment Plan (Stage One).Sydney, Australia.

Redwatch(2006).Red “Core Principles”.

Redwatch(2006).The Redfern Waterloo Plan as seen through the RED strategy Looking Glass.

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