Waterloo renewal project

The Waterloo renewal project will enhance the strength and diversity of Waterloo, a unique urban village on Gadigal Land.

The renewal will deliver new homes, community places, and green spaces which prioritise the health and wellbeing of social housing tenants and more sustainable mixed communities.

Project objectives

• More and better social housing. Deliver more and better social housing in mixed communities to meet the needs of tenants now and in the future.
• Positive outcomes for tenants. Create a place that supports tenants’ health and wellbeing and and manages change over time.
• Outcomes for Aboriginal people. Prioritise outcomes for the Redfern - Waterloo Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community through planning, delivery, and operations.
• An authentic sense of place. Building on Waterloo’s past and current strengths to create an authentic, distinctive, and welcoming place.
• Environmental sustainability. Support a community that is resilient to climate change and carbon positive.
• Strong collaboration. Collaborate with the community, not-for-profit and private sectors to deliver social and housing outcomes. 

Modern new housing

Homes NSW is working with the Stockland consortium to renew the Waterloo Estate to help address the housing crisis. This gives more people access to a place to call home.

The current homes and facilities are:

• nearing the end of their intended lifespan of 40-70 years
• becoming difficult and expensive to maintain
• not meeting contemporary accessibility and sustainability standards
• not meeting many tenants' specific needs.

The new social housing will meet modern accessibility and sustainability standards. The building and outdoor space designs minimise energy, water, waste, and urban heat effects. These standards include:

• the minimum ‘Silver Level’ Liveable Communities Design Standard
• a minimum 6-star Green Star communities rating accreditation.

More open space, shops, and community facilities

The community also wants open space, better facilities and shops that suit their needs. These are all important elements of a vibrant community.

Part of the success of mixed housing communities is that social and private housing are indistinguishable. For more information, explore Good design for social housing and the Homes NSW dwelling requirements.

We will be delivering more social housing in Waterloo south compared to what is currently there. In addition, there are 70 new social homes at the Waterloo Metro quarter, and around 95 more social homes will be delivered nearby at Elizabeth Street, Redfern.

The project capitalises on the new Waterloo Metro station, which opened in 2024. This means tenants and the community have easy access to services and amenities. 

The renewal of the estate will be staged over the next 30 years. This will enable a coordinated approach that minimises disruption for existing tenants.

How the project will meet the needs of First Nations people

The Gadigal people of the Eora Nation are the Traditional Custodians of the place we now call Waterloo. We also acknowledge the significance that Waterloo and the surrounding suburbs in South Sydney have to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities that call it home or have connections there.

The renewal of Waterloo South will focus on cultural inclusion, housing outcomes and greater support for Aboriginal people.

We are committed to supporting and improving outcomes for the Aboriginal community, and to respecting and celebrating the integral role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait culture and heritage plays in the area.

We will collaborate with:

• partner community housing providers
• the Aboriginal Housing Office
• local Aboriginal community

to identify opportunities to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people through the project's:

• design
• planning
• delivery
• operational phases.

This includes:

• working with Birribee Housing to deliver for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tenants:
  • 20% of all new social homes
  • 15% of all new affordable homes
• ensuring that culturally appropriate asset and tenancy management services are available.

We will also prioritise Aboriginal procurement and workforce participation during construction to create more job opportunities for the local Aboriginal community.

Areas of the Waterloo renewal project

The Waterloo renewal project is made up of three related stages: Waterloo south, Waterloo central and Waterloo north.

Waterloo south

Waterloo south covers about 65% of the Waterloo Estate and is the first stage of the renewal. It will be redeveloped over the next 10 to 15 years.

The NSW Government is working with consortium partners to deliver Waterloo south.

The consortium is made up of:

• Stockland
• Link Wentworth Housing
• City West Housing
• Birribee Housing.

New social and affordable housing in Waterloo south will be managed by partner community housing providers:

• Link Wentworth Housing
• City West Housing
• Birribee Housing.

Waterloo central and north

Once the renewal of Waterloo south is underway, Homes NSW will work with Stockland, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, and the City of Sydney on future plans for Waterloo central and Waterloo north.

Get in touch

The Waterloo Connect Office at Shop 2, 95 Wellington Street, Waterloo is open Monday to Friday, between 10am and 4pm.

Please contact the team at (02) 9384 4134 or email WaterlooConnect@homes.nsw.gov.au

The Waterloo Homes NSW Housing Office is located at 232 Pitt Street, Waterloo.

Please contact the team at (02) 9384 4166.