The hosting of the Olympics in Sydney, at the least, has fuelled
these housing market characteristics, and at the most, led to specific
difficulties faced by tenants, boarders and lodgers, with substantial
rent increases, more no fault evictions and the closure of cheap rooms.
The NSW Government has refused
to either recognise Olympic related housing impacts, or to act to
improve tenancy protections in the face of this crisis of affordability
in Sydney. For many, this has been the key failure of the NSW Government
in the Olympic preparations period.
At the 11th hour, NSW Government agencies have moved to expend
assistance and protections for the homeless during the Games period. A
Homeless Protocol, to be shortly signed off between Government security
and welfare departments, and the opening of some additional emergency
accommodation beds for the next few months have resulted from some
intensive lobbying.
Advertisement
Community Care Services
There is little doubt that, in parts of inner Sydney, and on major
roads linking, or around Olympic venues, significant transport
dislocation will take place during the Games period. The degree of this
"transport gridlock" remains impossible to predict.
A key, unresolved issue is the disruption which will take place to
the massive number of essential home based services which are provided
to the aged, the disabled, the mentally ill and those with various other
health problems.
The fear is that some services such as meals on wheels, home nursing
and drug and alcohol will simply not be available to a large number of
clients who are daily dependent on these activities.
No special arrangements, on a city wide basis, have been able to be
negotiated with the relevant Olympics agencies.
Substantial disruptions are also expected to childcare services,
including the extra week of vacation care required because of the
extended school holidays during the Games period.
Advertisement
There remain fears that a range of bus transport, including community
buses, will be inappropriately taken from regional NSW to help address
Sydney Olympic transport needs.
Finances and legacies
The strong economic conditions of the second half of the 1990s, have
enabled state Budget funds to be directed readily to priority Olympic
spending since Sydney won the bid. State coffers were also estimated to
be swelled by over $600 million during this time due to increased
economic activity influenced by Sydney staging the Olympics.
Discuss in our Forums
See what other readers are saying about this article!
Click here to read & post comments.