Green Bans plan for Millers Point

A meeting on Monday night concerning the future of public housing in Millers Point, Dawes Point and The Rocks has been told a reintroduction of Green Bans may be necessary to safeguard residents’ homes.

The meeting, hosted by City of Sydney Councillor Linda Scott and NSW Shadow Minister for Housing and Local Government Sophie Cotsis, canvassed the prospect of Green Bans in response to reports that the area’s 250 heritage-listed homes will be sold off by the State Government.

Green Bans, which are a form of strike action taken by trade unions and labour groups, involve construction workers refusing to work on a site for social, environmental or conservation reasons.

Green Bans saved many historic buildings and districts of Sydney in the 1970s, and have been credited with preserving The Rocks; preventing the North-Western Expressway – which would have razed parts of historic Glebe, Annandale and Leichhardt; and protecting the Kelly’s Bush Reserve at Hunters Hill, among other victories.

Cr Scott said similar strong action was needed to protect the Millers Point community.

“It’s clear the State Government wants to evict these residents, who form a community which has existed here for more than a century,” she said. “A Green Ban would prevent that from happening.”

Ms Scott said the housing was valuable as both a social and heritage resource.

“It’s valuable socially, and the residents must not be forced to leave their community, where their social networks, and above all their homes, are located.

“It’s also valuable as a significant heritage site. We’re talking about one of Australia’s most historic precincts.”

Ms Cotsis, meanwhile, said if the State Government was allowed to proceed with a sell-off, there was no telling where it would end.

“If they can do this here, they can do it anywhere. Next it could be public housing in Redfern, Erskineville, Potts Point, you name it,” she said. “I’m concerned that this is part of a plan to change Sydney’s demographic mix and move public housing tenants out to the suburbs.”

State Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich said he would support “anything that prevents a sell-off” but said Green Bans should be reserved as “a last resort”.

“NSW Land and Housing are currently doing an evaluation process … at this stage I think it’s best to work with them and try to get a positive outcome for residents,” he said.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who has a long history of opposing a Millers Point sell-off, said: “The houses in Millers Point are not simply an asset to be sold off to benefit a budget bottom line, they are people’s homes, and Millers Point is a strong community.”

Ms Moore said she had written to the ministers responsible for public housing – Greg Pearce and Pru Goward – who have so far failed to reply.

Minister Pearce told City News: “Much of the Land and Housing Corporation’s portfolio at Millers Point is poorly suited for social housing, many are heritage-listed and cannot be modified to meet modern requirements, particularly access requirements, and are expensive to maintain.

“Inevitably when considering the future of Millers Point, the government needs to consider it in the context of all the surrounding area, including [Barangaroo].”

The Minister claimed it was “premature” to “speculate” on the options at this stage.

“Currently, there are no developed options on the table for discussion,” he said.