19 March 2014, Sydney Lord Mayor and Independent MP Alex Greenwich call for end to housing sell off

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich MP today voiced their outrage at the NSW Government’s decision to sell off the Millers Point social estate.
 
“This shocking sale is devastating for this strong and proud community,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
 
“Millers Point is one of Australia’s oldest communities, in the most historic place in our country. Many residents here have connections to this area going back generations.
 
“For decades Governments have eroded the social heritage of the area by relocating existing tenants, neglecting property maintenance, selling 99 year leases for social housing properties and leaving properties vacant for long periods of time.
 
“The Government promised to consult the local community on the findings of a recent Social Impact Assessment before any final decision on further sales was made.
 
“Today’s announcement will come as shock to many families who call this place home. More than 400 people have been betrayed by the Government’s decision to sell all these properties without any consultation.
 
“The community of Millers Point deserves better than this. Our city shouldn’t be a place that only has space for the wealthy.”
 
Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said that the NSW Government had failed to live up to its commitment to work with the local community.
 
“I share the community’s outrage that the Government is selling off a part of Sydney’s history,” Mr Greenwich said.
 
“Millers Point is one of the oldest and strongest communities in Sydney, and we can’t underestimate the health and mental costs, and impact on resident of today’s cruel announcement.
 
“The Government has broken their promise to the people of Millers Point that they would be consulted and that a social impact statement would be released prior to any decision.
   
“The passion and commitment of Millers Point residents and their elected representatives to maintain public housing means the government will have a fight on its hand.”
 
Despite a waiting list of over 55,000 people for social housing, there are over 60 properties vacant in Millers Point right now. Members of the community have called this practice ‘eviction by neglect’, to force low-income tenants out of the area.
 
Millers Point has yet to see any re-investment of the revenue generated by the sale of 32 local properties which have already occurred to date.

For more information call Alex Greenwich on 9360 3053.