The development will be home to 62 affordable house dwellings for Aboriginal people, 42 units for multicultural student housing, a gymnasium, a childcare centre and community gallery. Shops and other commercial facilities will also make up the ground floor of most buildings.
The talk of change began in 1988 and CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC) Mick Mundine is excited to finally start rebuilding this year.
“We are professional developers now, so we have to think like developers planning for the future. We got to get out of that vicious welfare mentality. I think where we went wrong in the past was thinking we can’t do anything unless the government helps us. We are standing alone here and we are going to show the government and our own people that Aboriginal people are just as good as any other nationality in this country.”
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Planning Minister Brad Hazzard agree that this part of Sydney has been crying out for renewal.
“The approval will allow for the creation of a vibrant new housing, community and cultural precinct close to transport and the University of Sydney,” Mr O’Farrell said.
The AHC has contracted DeiCorp as the new designers and constructors. Investors are currently being sought with the hope of 2015 seeing the development completed.
Mr Mundine believes: “We have to show that we are Aboriginal people and we are running it … A lot of people have doubt so we have to show our own people and others that Aboriginal people are very staunch and professional.”
