An ex-Gordon Estate resident has called on Housing NSW to remain steadfast in their removal of all residents from West Dubbo.

Ethel Smithson said she and many others would be “up in arms” if Uncle John Hill was allowed to stay in his West Dubbo home.

She said she was extremely angry Dubbo MP Dawn Fardell had taken a stand for the Aboriginal elder.

She questioned why Mrs Fardell had involved herself in the matter when it had been “going on for years without getting her attention”.

“I did not see Dawn Fardell standing in my lounge room,” Ms Smithson said.

“Ms Fardell did not support us when we were moved. She was elected to represent the whole community not just Johnny Hill.”

Housing NSW is currently entering the final stage of its West Dubbo masterplan. Uncle John Hill and a number of other residents have been asked to vacate their homes in favour of other accommodation throughout Dubbo.

Ms Smithson lived in Spence Street in the Gordon Estate for 26 years.

She said she was a neighbour and remains a friend of Uncle John Hill but cannot support letting him remain in his home.

“We were very good neighbours and friends but if I had to go, he has to go,” she said.

“I was in my home for 26 years. The Minister for Housing said we were all going to be relocated years ago … there shouldn’t be any special consideration for anyone.”

Ms Smithson said the department had made a commitment to move all residents from the estate and it would be unfair to make concessions for a few residents at this late stage.

“They’ve been moving people out of there for two years. I was moved and I didn’t want to go. None of us did but we didn’t have a choice,” she said.

The ex-Gordon Estate resident claimed she and other public housing residents felt threatened with eviction if they did not vacate their West Dubbo homes.

“We were made what the housing department thought were two reasonable offers. If you knocked that back you were evicted. We didn’t have a choice,” Ms Smithson said.

She said packing up her family’s home was the hardest thing she has ever done.

She believes Housing NSW only see people as renters who can be moved or disposed of.

“To the department it is just a house. But to us it is our home. If most of us have been moved from our homes then everyone else must be too. It is only fair,” she said.

keely.bell@ruralpress.com