Soaring rental prices in Redfern sparks concern

Redfern is undergoing rapid social change and becoming a highly sought-after location for university students and young professionals.

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Redfern rental prices soar as the inner-city suburb becomes a culture hub for young professionals and students.

However, the lower socio-economic population of Redfern has come under threat due to buying competition and raised rental prices.

These prices will continue to soar next month when a new student apartment complex opens on Cleveland Street, housing up to 440 students.

This is just one of many new infrastructures creating angst among poorer residents.

Norma Ingram has lived in the Redfern community for many years and has been active in Aboriginal affairs since 1966.

She says society needs to stop and consider the community's needs.

But other residents refuse to fight against the change.

Aunty Beryl Van-Oloo trains young Indigenous chefs at the Yaama Dhiyaan Hospitality Training Centre in Redfern.

She is in the process of setting up a new cafe after taking over the Purple Goanna on Redfern Street.

Businesses are being forced to close due to growing competition in the area, but Ms Van-Oloo is confident that her vision for the future will be successful.

"I was a part of the struggle and now I want to be a part of the growth," said Ms Van-Oloo.

Her new café, 'Pepper Berries at Redfern’, is designed to take on the growing competition in the area while training young indigenous people so they too can become interested in starting their own business.

Watch: Redfern undergoes transformation, Tara Callinan reports




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2 min read
Published 16 January 2014 4:47pm
Updated 16 January 2014 7:09pm
By Ben Henderson
Source: NITV News

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