Im not from the area but I visit here regularly to see my daughter
& grand daughter.My daughter likes the area as she works in the city thus the distance and transport options make it very feasible.I think the area is
great for kids: parks,schools,wide choice of amentities & things to do in
general.However property prices are very high around here but that’s everywhere
these days.
I moved here from Brisbane.They are doing a lot of green projects around the area which is good.
I don’t like what their doing with the Alexandria Hotel, there is too much high rise development in the area.
I think the property prices are scary, but the area is great, as it's close to the city and has many amenities near by.
I don’t like what their doing with the Alexandria Hotel, there is too much high rise development in the area.
I think the property prices are scary, but the area is great, as it's close to the city and has many amenities near by.
17:08
I have lived in South Sydney for nearly 10 years, up in
Waterloo near the housing commission. I’m generally very happy with the area.
I’m originally from the Western Suburbs, I’m a Campbelltown boy, Macquarie Fields area, so I’m very happy with the area.
I’ve just finished being a public servant for 20 years,
spending the last 5-6 years as a temp in short 3 month contracts. Prior to
taking up temp work, I had the year off, and found it very difficult to find
work, so my attitude towards the workforce, employment and the economy right
now are pretty negative. It’s hard to keep positive, when there are many people
taking part-time jobs, temp work, that sort of thing. What I’ve read, it’s
happening a lot right now.
I’d say if we had to point fingers, it’d be the governments
fault. Federally, I don’t think we’ve seen a good government, either opposition
or government for some time now. Howard was probably the last of them, the new lot
seem to be more like uni students who, um, have no experience in life and just
carry on like children. Not showing any leadership whatsoever. So generally,
that’s a negative for the government. Although, with what I said, I’m very
happy with the Baird government at the moment.
But apart from that, living near the housing commission in Waterloo has been good. I’ve seen a little bit of crime, but not enough to
frighten me. Crime is crime, I’ve been more frightened in my home out west
than I am here.
16:35
I am an early resident of Waterloo. I have been living here for 20 years now. It’s been a long time.
In that time I have seen many changes, seen many things happen. It’s not pretty. It’s got worse and worse.
Ok, there are some good things about living in this location, such as, that it is very close to the city and that the transport system is very good. There are also some improvements such as a lot of green stuff around and increased security that we didn’t have before.
But I feel like living in Waterloo has got a lot worse over the past couple of years. Especially because there is the drug problem, a lot of drug problem. Before it was more the older people, but now with the young and old people together, we have a lot of problem with drugs. Sometimes you go to the rubbish room to take out the rubbish and the young people, they shoot up there. Such crazy stuff.
Apart from the drug problem I would not change anything about the area.
The presence of police is everywhere because it’s become very awful. I left here at 8 o’clock this morning and there’s police cars everywhere. Police come all the time. We see them on the porch, we see them on bicycles; they’re all around. But what can you do, you know? Too many problems. Otherwise, you know, in the area there’s always people around. Generally we’re okay.
It’s bad here but not too bad. It could be worse but no, no we’re used to this so you know. This is compared to my living here for 20 years. When we moved here, this building was one of the best in the area because of the people who lived here.
But a few people have died now and new and young people have moved in; most of them cause problems.
So, otherwise it’s okay here. Because for 20 years, this is home. I don’t want to move anywhere else because I know where the bus stops. It’s close to shops and the café.
It’s home and we’re used to it.
In that time I have seen many changes, seen many things happen. It’s not pretty. It’s got worse and worse.
Ok, there are some good things about living in this location, such as, that it is very close to the city and that the transport system is very good. There are also some improvements such as a lot of green stuff around and increased security that we didn’t have before.
But I feel like living in Waterloo has got a lot worse over the past couple of years. Especially because there is the drug problem, a lot of drug problem. Before it was more the older people, but now with the young and old people together, we have a lot of problem with drugs. Sometimes you go to the rubbish room to take out the rubbish and the young people, they shoot up there. Such crazy stuff.
Apart from the drug problem I would not change anything about the area.
The presence of police is everywhere because it’s become very awful. I left here at 8 o’clock this morning and there’s police cars everywhere. Police come all the time. We see them on the porch, we see them on bicycles; they’re all around. But what can you do, you know? Too many problems. Otherwise, you know, in the area there’s always people around. Generally we’re okay.
It’s bad here but not too bad. It could be worse but no, no we’re used to this so you know. This is compared to my living here for 20 years. When we moved here, this building was one of the best in the area because of the people who lived here.
But a few people have died now and new and young people have moved in; most of them cause problems.
So, otherwise it’s okay here. Because for 20 years, this is home. I don’t want to move anywhere else because I know where the bus stops. It’s close to shops and the café.
It’s home and we’re used to it.
18:22
Forty years I’ve lived in the Solander building. It hasn’t changed. It’s good, but the people change. It’s safe now, with security 24 hours. Twenty years ago it wasn’t safe. We have a Concierge and everyone must report and sign in. Twenty years ago, it started getting worse with too much drugs. Not everybody - there were some good, some bad. We had big changes for the better.
I had to change myself, I became less friendly, not saying hello to everyone, and not spending time with uneducated people who might shout at me. They might find out where I live and I’m afraid they will hurt me. That’s why I want nothing to do with them. Their business is their business.
There’s usually a lot of fights. I hear them. A couple of months ago, they threw some people off the balcony. Some people cause trouble, lighting rubbish and throwing it down the chute; they turn on the water hose and the carpets get soaked.
All housing commission is the same. They should put them together, not mix them with us.
It’s very multicultural. I’ve been here a long time. I’ve seen many things.
People say I live in Waterloo, that’s a drug and alcohol place, but I don’t care, that’s not me. It’s not my business. I turn a blind eye. I don’t want to get involved. They do something bad, they should accept it.
It’s very strict now, miss one months rent and you get kicked out.(I remember when) bread cost 5c, milk was 5c, a newspaper 2c.
I live by myself. I’ve lived there and I’m happy. People should appreciate what they have. If there’s something wrong, they’ll fix it - carpets, stove, dryers.
It all depends on your neighbours. Mine are good - one Chinese, one Thai, two Australians and we all get along well. My neighbours, we are like brothers and sisters. We’ve grown old together.
21:23
攒民族团结日活动
吴林桥
今日多元1气象新，
族群欢聚笑声频。
风姿各展歌相会。
曲艺共台舞半亲。
肤色不同成好友，
语言有别作佳邻。
身居南国享昌乐，
社会和谐万代春。
1多元即悉尼多元文化交流中心
2015年3月于悉尼
The poem is written by Mr Wu Linqiao for the celebration activities on Multiculturalism Day.
吴林桥
今日多元1气象新，
族群欢聚笑声频。
风姿各展歌相会。
曲艺共台舞半亲。
肤色不同成好友，
语言有别作佳邻。
身居南国享昌乐，
社会和谐万代春。
1多元即悉尼多元文化交流中心
2015年3月于悉尼
The poem is written by Mr Wu Linqiao for the celebration activities on Multiculturalism Day.
18:19
I work for a community legal centre for people with intellectual disabilities and I travel here for work every day from the inner west. I love the area. Waterloo has got a really strong community and a strong feeling of community and belonging. Everyone knows each other, all of the shop keepers know the locals, so it's a very good area for that.
I feel like the area is changing a lot. I've been here for six years now and it has changed a lot in that relatively short amount of time. I feel like it is good. When I first came here a lot of those shops were boarded up but now that has changed. There's a lot more interesting shops around. People are moving into the area now, I think. Young people are moving in with their families, so it's a very dynamic area. There's a lot of different people here. That's what's interesting about it; it's a massive mix. Everybody's here – Russians, Chinese and the Aboriginal community is strong here so it's a good community. I feel very lucky to be here. It's an 'on the move' community; a changing community. I love it here.
I feel like the area is changing a lot. I've been here for six years now and it has changed a lot in that relatively short amount of time. I feel like it is good. When I first came here a lot of those shops were boarded up but now that has changed. There's a lot more interesting shops around. People are moving into the area now, I think. Young people are moving in with their families, so it's a very dynamic area. There's a lot of different people here. That's what's interesting about it; it's a massive mix. Everybody's here – Russians, Chinese and the Aboriginal community is strong here so it's a good community. I feel very lucky to be here. It's an 'on the move' community; a changing community. I love it here.
19:10
I totally disagree with Tony Abbott. When I came to Australia, I thought I was very progressive. I moved to Australia from Ireland in 1984. So, in the whole Keating era. It was a long time ago, you know, but to me Australia felt really progressive and moving forward and I loved it. I’ve been in Australia for 31 years, plus I lived in Germany as a student. So I was here for 5 years, then Germany, and I’ve been back in Sydney since 1992. I think we’re in a really bad state. I think housing affordability is something that needs to be looked at but that’s just one thing. It’s a drop in the ocean. I just think we’re really going backwards. You know, I don’t think we’re progressive or moving forward. Our whole view on climate change, it’s all the same. I kind of think we’re in a very depressing stage. It should be said, I also think Australia is extremely lucky and hopefully we’ll get over it. There are definitely people who are not thinking along the lines of Tony Abbott. As you can tell I’m not a Liberal voter. Ever. But I just think a lot of the stuff we’re doing…I don’t think it’s good. I don’t think it’s progressive.
I mean, I’m okay. You know, I’m relatively okay but how they’re going to fix things like housing affordability or unemployment, I don’t know. I don’t think there is any real plan for the future with employment. I mean, if we were looking at alternative sort of sources of energy, then there would be more jobs available. I think Australia should be putting a lot more money into research and small businesses because the creation of new jobs is there and it can benefit people.
I’ve got a small business – a very small business – and I think the way you get treated by the banks and everything like that is appalling. I’ve had the bank person say to me “You’re a small business, we know what they’re like”. They don’t want to invest or help along small businesses. Yeah, I am a small business. I’m employing people. Which I am! I don’t have anybody employed with me on a regular basis at the moment though. They’re all contractors but it’s still some form of employment. There’s no kind of respect and support for it, I find.
When it comes to the big banks, I think it’s very easy for them to pick and choose what they want to invest in. I wanted to find an investment property and they were sort of making me jump through hoops and I basically said to this person, “I’ve got plans and I’ve got goals and I’m going do them with or without you”. Loyalty apparently doesn’t count for anything with them. I’ve been with the same bank for 23 years now, I’ve got a brilliant credit rating; can’t you give me what I’m due? I’m currently looking at investing. I had a couple of investments in Sydney and was working and doing really well for myself. But three years ago – before the boom – I sold everything, which was the worst thing to do and then the banks looked at me really badly so it’s like, any little misstep or poor choice, they see it as a mark against you. There’s a hesitation there because you have people saying “There’s all these young people that are getting loans and they can’t repay them” but, with all due respect, that’s got nothing to do with me.
I think the way we’re heading is wrong in terms of foreign policy is wrong as well. Tony Abbott has said that ISIS or Islamic State is after us and he’s just creating this kind of fear of the Middle East. I think they should be interviewing the people who’ve gone over there and ask “What’s going on? What can we do about it?” rather than just fear mongering. A lot of these people are very young and they’re obviously being influenced by something, but we need to know why. This whole thing with taking their passports off them? I think, get on with your politics. For the people who are making a big hoo-ha about changing the whole Australian constitution to address this, I just think it is all misdirected and just talk. I can’t stand Tony Abbott as you can tell. I can’t believe it. I’m so disappointed in how Australia is running, honestly.
I mean, I’m okay. You know, I’m relatively okay but how they’re going to fix things like housing affordability or unemployment, I don’t know. I don’t think there is any real plan for the future with employment. I mean, if we were looking at alternative sort of sources of energy, then there would be more jobs available. I think Australia should be putting a lot more money into research and small businesses because the creation of new jobs is there and it can benefit people.
I’ve got a small business – a very small business – and I think the way you get treated by the banks and everything like that is appalling. I’ve had the bank person say to me “You’re a small business, we know what they’re like”. They don’t want to invest or help along small businesses. Yeah, I am a small business. I’m employing people. Which I am! I don’t have anybody employed with me on a regular basis at the moment though. They’re all contractors but it’s still some form of employment. There’s no kind of respect and support for it, I find.
When it comes to the big banks, I think it’s very easy for them to pick and choose what they want to invest in. I wanted to find an investment property and they were sort of making me jump through hoops and I basically said to this person, “I’ve got plans and I’ve got goals and I’m going do them with or without you”. Loyalty apparently doesn’t count for anything with them. I’ve been with the same bank for 23 years now, I’ve got a brilliant credit rating; can’t you give me what I’m due? I’m currently looking at investing. I had a couple of investments in Sydney and was working and doing really well for myself. But three years ago – before the boom – I sold everything, which was the worst thing to do and then the banks looked at me really badly so it’s like, any little misstep or poor choice, they see it as a mark against you. There’s a hesitation there because you have people saying “There’s all these young people that are getting loans and they can’t repay them” but, with all due respect, that’s got nothing to do with me.
I think the way we’re heading is wrong in terms of foreign policy is wrong as well. Tony Abbott has said that ISIS or Islamic State is after us and he’s just creating this kind of fear of the Middle East. I think they should be interviewing the people who’ve gone over there and ask “What’s going on? What can we do about it?” rather than just fear mongering. A lot of these people are very young and they’re obviously being influenced by something, but we need to know why. This whole thing with taking their passports off them? I think, get on with your politics. For the people who are making a big hoo-ha about changing the whole Australian constitution to address this, I just think it is all misdirected and just talk. I can’t stand Tony Abbott as you can tell. I can’t believe it. I’m so disappointed in how Australia is running, honestly.
18:29
