Everyone in Campbelltown knows that the two huge housing commission estates at Airds and Claymore are undergoing substantial redevelopment.
It is similar to what happened at the Minto housing commission area.
Housing Commission homes were bulldozed and replaced with a mix of private and government houses, in what most people considered to be a very successful changeover to a suburb now known as Minto One, pictured above.
Airds was the next cab off the rank, followed by Claymore.
On April 22 this year it was revealed more than 330 households in Claymore had been relocated as part of the suburb’s redevelopment.
A number of tenants in public housing in Airds have also been relocated due to that suburb’s ongoing transformation into a mix of private and affordable housing.
Local MP Greg Warren is concerned that relocating that many people could come with problems and wants an enquiry to look into it.
The Campbelltown MP has urged the NSW Government to conduct an independent review to assess how adequate the relocation of residents in Claymore and Airds public housing had been so far.
He introduced a notice of motion in the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of NSW this week that the house:
- Acknowledges that as of April 22 this year more than 330 households living in public housing had been relocated from Claymore as part of the suburb’s redevelopment;
- Urges the government to conduct an independent review regarding the success of those relocations;
- Demands the government do likewise for Airds, which is also undergoing a major redevelopment in certain parts of the suburb.
“In many cases, these were houses that people had called home for many, many years,” Mr Warren said.
“I understand that intention behind the redevelopment is to create a greater mix of private and social housing, but it doesn’t mean the needs and wellbeing of existing residents should be cast aside.
“An independent review would identify that pros and cons of the relocation program and ensure any mistakes that may have occurred can be rectified and avoided in the future.
“It would simply be an act of due diligence on the government’s behalf.”
Pros: You’ve removed the scum from the parts that were demolished.
Con: Some of the scum were relocated to the flats and single bedders not far from me – police around daily, sometimes several times a day. Ambos too.
Domestics constantly, which spill out into the surrounding area. Drug use increased, as well as drug dealing (blatant, broad daylight deals, without a care in the world)
I know this has some residents with emotional ties to their suburbs but no longer will their children be labelled when going for job interviews that will label them as public housing members. I think the relocation in other suburbs is a great idea (I think it’s the 1 in 4 relocation) it can only help break the labelling
It’s a bit late Greg. The Minto redevelopment was begun by NSW Labor. They set the template which is being followed in Airds and Claymore. This doesn’t make it right for NSW Libs, but these redevelopments in Airds and Claymore were begun years ago. Why complain now?
I agree with the sentiments of Greg Warren, these are lifetime homes to many people, children have their school and friends, Most residents are great tenants I see this as being all about the state government making money, which there is nothing wrong with. Has consultation with the tenants taken place?
I wish Mr Warren had also asked for an independent review of Landcom’s lack of a koala management plan as we now know that a steady flow of koalas have had to be rescued from the development, one of those being Dobbo who was reported by Prof Close during his studies and has had to be moved along with her Joey and as we all know that cutting a wildlife corridor in the middle of the Campbelltown Koala population has endangered the population because they can no longer move through the suburb between kentlyn and St Helens Park and out of Smiths Creek.
I used to reside In a Housing-Commission block of units situated at Broughton Street In Camden.
Those decrepit units built In the early 1970s either need an urgent upgrade or preferably be demolished.
As for some of those dysfunctional tenants who reside there, they should be permanently transferred elsewhere since all they do is create misery for the majority of law abiding tenants who just want to go about their lives.
.