In May 2019, Transport for NSW released a plan to finally add lifts to Redfern station. This came after years and years of lobbying and campaigning by local community and stakeholder groups like Lift Redfern and REDWatch.

After strong opposition to this original plan the government came up with 4 options for the accessibility upgrade and took submissions on these.

Information about the upgrade and the 4 plans offered by TfNSW can be found on this site - Redfern Station Upgrade - New Southern Concourse.

While the strengths and weaknesses of each of these plans varies, the community believed that they failed to sufficiently:

• Take into account unsuitability of Little Eveleigh and Marion Streets as high traffic entrances
• Provide lifts and therefor accessibility to platforms 11 and 12
• Connect North and South Eveleigh and cater to pedestrian and cyclist through traffic

To represent these concerns a new community group, ReConnect Redfern, was formed by Residents of Little Eveligh St, The Watertower and REDWatch. In consultation with other relevant stake holders, including University of Sydney, Mirvac, City of Sydney councillors and Carriageworks this group came up with an alternative design option (Option 5) and presented it to TfNSW in August. You can see that presentation here.

This plan combines elements of the TfNSW plans as well as satisfying the TfNSW requirement that only one bridge be built.

There are no excuses for this project to fall short of the community's expectations. One reason given to support the sale of the neighbouring ATP site was that the funds be used to upgrade Redfern station. The redevelopment of the site is underway and it will soon house an additional 10,000 Commonwealth Bank staff, adding pressure to the already busy station.

We have written to the Transport Minister in relation to this upgrade on two occasions. On 12th June 2019 we outlined residents' concerns regarding; The unsuitability of Marian and Little Eveleigh Streets as high traffic entrances, the absence of lifts for Platforms 11 and 12 and the inadequate width of the proposed bridge. On 26th September, 2019 we wrote again to the Minister outlining features of the community plan (Option 5) and asking that it be given due consideration by TfNSW. Our office also asked that Minister Constance meet with representative from the community groups to hear their concerns.

TfNSW released its preferred plan on November 4, 2019 which is basically the same plan as originally proposed with some additional street treatments on the small residential streets where the proposal will locate the entrances and exits to the new concourse. This plan can be seen here. 

Reconnect Redfern and other local residents groups such as REDWatch have condemned this plan as not addressing the concerns of the community and residents and have called for Transport Minister, Andrew Constance to meet with them by the end of November. 

Jenny Leong MP, Greens Member for Newtown has asked the Minister for Transport to expand planned upgrades for Redfern Station to include lifts for platforms 11 and 12 to make it fully accessible.

The Aboriginal Housing Company has submitted modified plans for the Pemulwuy Project which includes aboriginal affordable housing and student housing on The Block. These plans and the submissions regarding this new proposal are currently being reviewed by the Independent Planning Commission and you can find details here.

Read in Parliament on 10 November 2016:

"I draw the attention of the House to the achievements of the Redfern All Blacks rugby league football club. The club was officially founded in 1944 and is the oldest Aboriginal rugby league football club in the country. This year the Redfern All Blacks men's team won the trophy in the grand final of the Sydney Combined Competition and very recently also won the prestigious Koori Knockout competition for the second year in a row. The Redfern All Blacks women's team made it to the semi‑final of the Sydney Metro Women's Rugby League Division 1 and were also champions at the Koori Knockout, winning the women's competition.

I congratulate all of the players, team officials, volunteers and supporters who have been part of a great year."

Link:

• Redfern All Blacks

Redfern community member and public housing tenant representative Charlotte Dobrovits has been recognised as the 2017 Newtown Electorate Local Woman of the Year.

Each year the NSW Government recognises the outstanding contribution made by women across the state to industry, community and society. Local Women of the Year are selected by their local MPs.

Published in the Central Sydney Magazine, 5 October 2016

By Heather McNab

Revealed: Drug dogs sniff out troubling trend for Redfern

RESIDENTS in Redfern are more likely to be targeted by drug sniffer dogs than neighbouring suburbs after revelations the area is among the highest for searches that come up empty-handed.

Figures released under a Greens’ Freedom of Information request show that in the last two years, police performed 1313 searches in the area – far more than the Newtown, Surry Hills or Kings Cross police commands.

Around 150 residents joined a public meeting at The Factory in Waterloo on Thursday 11^th February, to voice their concerns about the future of public housing in Waterloo.

The cause of concerns is the announcement by the NSW Government late last year that two thousand Waterloo public housing residences will be demolished to make way for a development built around the new metro train station.

Today NSW Greens Aboriginal Justice and Police Spokesperson, David Shoebridge MP, and Member for Newtown and NSW Greens Human Rights spokesperson, Jenny Leong MP, expressed serious concern at actions taken by the police in an attempt to shut down a peaceful protest marking the tragic death of Aboriginal boy TJ Hickey in Redfern.

The matter is in the NSW Supreme Court this morning at 10am.

Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong will visit a number of events across the electorate of Newtown on Tuesday, January 26^th, recognising Australia’s long and lasting Aboriginal history, and welcoming new Australians from across the seas to the local area.

Ms Leong will join the Invasion Day 2016 march, which begins at The Block in Redfern, and also visit the Yabun festival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Festival in Victoria Park Camperdown.

Today the NSW Government has announced a Sydney Metro station at Waterloo.

Member for Newtown Jenny Leong says that it’s reasonable that the local community has concerns about the implications of the decision, particularly around public and affordable housing, and transport accessibility.