Millers Point sales flow into south west Sydney to increase stock and chip away 10-year waiting list

MORE than $60 million from the sell-off of public housing at Millers Point will flow into southwest Sydney in a bid to bump up stock and chip away at a 10-year waiting list.

Daughter of one of the residents at a new Seniors Housing complex in Astley st , Padstow, Sharron Conlon (right) ,pictured outside her mothers unit block.

MORE than $60 million from the sell-off of prime position public housing in Millers Point will flow into south west Sydney in a bid to bump up stock and chip away at a 10-year waiting list.

Just 28 of the harbour-view apartments now sold will pay for hundreds of new properties in outer rim suburbs.

It comes after the NSW Government announced a $22 billion “building bonanza” in partnership with property developers, which would house more than 10,000 new social tenants in mixed 70:30 private to public developments.

In the south west, 12 properties have already been completed, with another­ eight under construction in Casula, Birrong, Greenacre, Revesby and Padstow.

In Padstow alone the Millers Point sales will pay for 30 new properties.

In June, builders put the finishing touches on eight self-contained units on Astley Ave near shopping strip.

The Millers Point sell-offs has already reaped tens of millions of dollars, with more units still to be sold. Pictured is several properties due to go.

The combination one and two-bedroom flats replaced just two 1950s fibro cottages.

NSW Social Housing Minister Brad Hazzard told The Express south west Sydney was “one of” his department’s priority areas for new public housing stock.

“There are almost 500 public houses in this area but we are looking to increase it and we’re certainly looking to encourage a sense of community,” he said.”

“It’s not just about building houses, it’s about building a community.”

The Astley Ave development­, for elderly tenants, was part of a broader push to fit more houses on smaller sites, he said.

Mrs Conlon, who asked to be known by her surname only, was living in one the outdated cottages for seven years before it was demolished in 2014. When the new units were complete, FACS moved her back in.

“I was very happy (to move back),” Mrs Conlon.

“I find it’s comfortable (and) I’m happy because many people know me here.”

NSW Social Housing Minister Brad Hazzard says Millers Point residents wouldn’t be moved into new south west stock unless they chose to.

Before moving to Padstow Mrs Conlon and her husband were in the private rental market struggling to make ends meet, left to wait for public housing for 10 years.

The line has grown no shorter, with about 3800 currently waiting in the Canterbury-Bankstown area.

East Hills state Liberal MP Glenn Brookes, who lived in housing commission for 28 years, said it was important to keep tenants in the same area if their properties were redeveloped.

“They have their doctors, chemists and friends all in one area. And to turn around and take someone and put them in another area — that’s like putting them in isolation and you don’t want to do that,” he said.

Mr Hazzard said the remaining­ Millers Point residents, some vowing to fight their eviction tooth and nail, wouldn’t be moved into new south west Sydney stock unless they chose to.

“That’s not the name of the game. It’s a matter of people that are already here in this community want to see their area redeveloped and grow.”