Hundreds of extra public, affordable homes close to Sydney CBD proposed under revised Waterloo Estate redevelopment plan – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

Nearly 500 extra social and affordable homes will be built close to Sydney’s CBD under revised plans for the rejuvenation of one of Australia’s biggest social housing estates.

The Waterloo Estate, home to almost 2,500 people, has been earmarked for redevelopment under controversial plans that would involve the demolition of the precinct’s towers, terraces and single-storey cottages.

Under the previous NSW Coalition government’s plans, the site would be offered to developers on the proviso up to 34 per cent of the 3,000 new homes were social and affordable housing.

But the Minns Labor government announced on Monday it would increase that to 50 per cent, taking the number of social and affordable homes from 1,074 to about 1,500.

At least 15 per cent of the new social and affordable properties will be used by people from the Indigenous community.

There are more than 51,000 people on the public housing waiting list in NSW.

Premier Chris Minns said the “huge backlog” meant it was important to make more public housing available in development plans.

“We think it’s a model for the future across…