STATE government plans to transform East Dubbo's Apollo Estate took a step forward this week when some public housing tenants were hand-delivered letters stating their homes had been earmarked for sale.
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The plan to reduce the concentration of social housing in the estate was signalled last month when Dubbo MP Troy Grant announced 50 houses and eight blocks of land would be sold off.
Residents who received letters this week were told they would have to move within the next two years, but would be offered "alternative suitable accommodation in Dubbo".
The letters from Housing NSW Western Area Director Paul Little explained the department had considered property type and location when deciding what houses should be sold.
It said Housing NSW planned to keep most of its two and four-bedroom cottages to meet the demand for that type of accommodation, and would sell mainly three-bedroom cottages which were not in such high demand.
A question and answer sheet accompanying the affected tenants' letters described how research had shown that creating a broader social mix of public and private housing had "a positive impact for everyone".
It quoted the former Gordon Estate in West Dubbo as an example, saying tenants who had relocated from there told an independent survey they "now felt safer, there was less antisocial behaviour and they felt welcome in their new neighbourhoods".
Housing NSW said about 20 per cent of its properties were in the Apollo Estate, and selling 30 per cent of those would "achieve the best results for the community".
Relocations would take place across the next two to three years according to Housing NSW, although some would take place as soon as August.
Affected tenants were supplied with the phone number of a local relocations officer who the department said would meet with them and assist them to move to new homes in Dubbo.
Those who wished to buy their homes or wanted to shift out of Dubbo altogether would also be able to discuss those options with the department.
Housing NSW has stated it will pay for affected tenants’ moving costs including removalists, phone, gas, water and electricity reconnection and mail redirection for three months.
Dubbo residents took to social media to have their say when some Apollo residents posted on Facebook they had received letters.
“I think it just spreads the problems to the nicer parts of town,” wrote one.
“Better off leaving the troublemakers in the one area so people know where they all are and know to avoid it! Just my opinion.”
“Neither grouping them or placing them in residential areas works,” wrote another.
“Some people do not want to live a normal life and are happy to be in constant turmoil... make them find their own places to live and let the people that appreciate low-cost housing live in peace and safety”.
Another contributor wrote: “It is not safe to live there as I won’t even go to the park or the shops there, some of them never should of been moved over from the Gordon Estate in the first place.”
