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city hub 11 june 2015

Opposition to WestConnex ‘growing’

By Wendy Bacon The battle to stop the WestConnex motorway is intensifying, with two major protests in the last week. Distraught residents in Haberfield protested outside their local school in Sydney’s inner west last Friday June 5, while a crowded meeting in Kingsgrove Catholic Parish Hall protested the second M5 motorway through Sydney’s southern suburbs on Tuesday June 9.

The Baird government’s strategy for bedding down the project has been to divide it into segments and tackle them simultaneously by awarding contracts and forcing people out of their homes.

This has been done before a business case justifying the project or environmental impact assessments are completed or released.

Following the announcement of the M4 design, residents in Haberfield were incensed by the scale of the Haberfield interchange and the closeness of the ventilation stack to thousands of residents. Scores of people in the neighbourhood who did not expect to lose their homes have been ordered to sell to NSW Roads and Maritime Services and move out by next year.

Many residents were also shocked that the Baird government could announce a $2.5 billion contract to a Leightons Samsung consortium before the business case or an environmental impact statement is complete. While this is not illegal, it severely undermines the legitimacy of the process.

The M4 East design released last week leaves Haberfield Public School sitting about 400 metres from an unfiltered ventilation stack and only 250 metres and 450 metres respectively from two tunnel portals.

Rachel Davies protested with her children outside Haberfield Public School, saying she was concerned about the impact of fine particulate matter from the portals and stack on her children’s lungs. She said her sign, ‘We all love Dinosaurs not just for planning transport’ had been deliberately designed to convey her frustration with a government that is blindly pressing on with the tunnel without being prepared to consider public transport alternatives

Residents at the Kingsgrove meeting. Source: Facebook.com

that independent experts argue would do more to solve congestion problems.

The surprise tactics that leave residents feeling locked out from genuine consultation contrasts with the treatment afforded to commercial owners.

For example, the Briars Hockey Club at Concord negotiated for months in secret until it agreed with WestConnex Delivery Authority (WDA) that it would move from its current field at Cintra Park to another field specially constructed for it nearby.

Only after that agreement had been reached were Concord residents delivered the dismaying news that they will be left living on the edge of a noisy tunnel construction site for two years.

Similarly, as revealed in earlier City Hub reports, the NSW government negotiated with Dial-a-Dump owner Ian Malouf secretly for months before taking over his property in December. Further City Hub investigation of the NSW government tender database shows that now the massive

asbestos ridden dump is costing the public millions to guard and manage while it sits unoccupied.

WDA has paid $250,000 for a six-month contract to Squires Tunnel Pty Ltd to manage the site and approximately $357,000 to Abacus Security to guard the site. These contracts both expire well before the end of the year so are likely to be renewed.

Last week, both the Shadow Minister for Roads Jodi McKay and Greens MP Jenny Leong called for a halt to all compulsory acquisitions until the business case has been released and an EIS for the motorway is undertaken. They also both raised concerns about revelations in New Matilda that the same company AECOM that has been awarded the contract to do the EIS for the M4 tunnel has deep commercial interests in the WestConnex motorway proceeding through contracts for other stages of the project. AECOM has not responded to any questions about these contracts.

While the WDA policy of awarding contracts

before the business case or EIS is leading to accusations of secrecy and corruption of the planning process, it also makes it hard for antiWestConnex campaigners who are trying to stop the project from becoming a fait accompli.

Campaigners are responding by forming alliances across Sydney.

Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong spoke at the Kingsgrove meeting, telling City Hub afterwards that the community movement against WestConnex was growing.

“Investors will be taking note of the growing opposition,” she said.

“While the WDA and Duncan Gay are doing their best to keep communities in the dark, it’s clear that residents will not stand for this lack of transparency. Instead they are taking on the role of informing the community of the risks this outdated road, and how it will not only waste public money but also fail to meet Sydney’s transport needs.”

Convenor of the Beverly Hills No WestConnex group Kathy Calman organised the Kingsgrove meeting. She said the motorway was “irresponsible” and that she was “appalled that any responsible government would propose a transport solution that involves nine unfiltered exhaust stacks through the middle and inner suburbs of Sydney. That is one for every 3.6 kilometres.”

Following the meeting, residents queued to sign a petition calling for an immediate halt to the project, a parliamentary inquiry and the release of the full business case.

WestConnex Action Group spokesperson, Pauline Lockie said, “the Baird Government is desperately trying to paint opposition to WestConnex as an exclusively inner-city thing, but last night’s packed-out meeting was yet more evidence that this is simply not true.”

The No Westconnex Annandale group will hold a public meeting at Leichhardt Town Hall on June 16 at 7 pm and on June 19, Politics in the Pub at Harold Park hotel will cover Westconnex.

Wendy Bacon has attended anti-WestConnex protests

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By EMILY CONTADOR-KELSALL South Sydney residents have questioned the legitimacy of UrbanGrowth NSW’s consultation process over the Australian Technology Park (ATP) as it prepares to sell the site.

The sale has continually come under fire from the local community and the City of Sydney. Late last month, UrbanGrowth announced that five corporations had been invited to tender for the 14-hectare site in Redfern. The site allows for the development of commercial and mixed-use buildings of up to 11 storeys, and is a key site along the Central to Eveleigh corridor.

President of residents’ group REDWatch Geoff Turnbull said the community was amazed at the announcement that ATP was proceeding to tender as “the decision was made without there being any response to the issues that were raised”.

Mr Turnbull said there were “a whole host of issues” regarding the sale of ATP, including access to the site, density of potential developments, connectivity and heritage.

But an UrbanGrowth NSW spokesperson told City Hub that the decision to proceed with a tender for ATP was “made taking community and stakeholder feedback into account, including the City of Sydney’s review of the potential sale”.

“UrbanGrowth NSW is committed to genuine community participation in the development of an urban transformation strategy for the area,” the spokesperson said.

In December last year, the City of Sydney called for a review of ATP’s planning

The Australian Technology Park Source: wikipedia.commons

framework, and the independent review by HillPDA Consulting made recommendations on how the state government could “deliver outcomes in the public interest during the tender process.”

The report suggested that heritage buildings and assets remain in government ownership.

It also stressed input from the community, the City, and government organisations to ensure the public interest, design and heritage remained paramount in development.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said that community and Council have “significant concerns about the sale”. “[It] may put at risk a clutter of innovative businesses, public access to the site for the local community and heritage buildings,” she said.

While the UrbanGrowth spokesperson said there were already mechanisms in place to address issues identified in the HillPDA report,

Mr Turnbull said he believed ATP needed to remain in the public domain.

“I don’t think UrbanGrowth can provide the mechanisms that can stop the problems that have been identified in the Hills PDA report,” he said.

Additional measures are currently being developed to protect heritage and public access at ATP that will be “enduring and connected to the site, applying to all future owners,” according to the UrbanGrowth spokesperson.

Friends of Erskineville President Darren Jenkins also pointed to ATP as an important site for the development of informationeconomy jobs.

“We’re talking about a place in the ATP that was really set up to try to be the incubator and the sort of a hand up to those high-tech jobs of the future and those high-tech industries,” he said. The UrbanGrowth spokesperson said the Central to Eveleigh urban transformation strategy would reaffirm ATP’s role as a “key employer and incubator”.

Despite UrbanGrowth’s assurances, Mr Turnbull said the community is struggling to have faith in the consultation process for the Central to Eveleigh corridor when “at the present moment all these decisions are being made without addressing any of the issues that the community have raised, and we’ve made it most plain”.

Mr Turnbull told City Hub “[ It] may put at risk a clutter of innovative businesses, public access to the site for the local community and heritage buildings,”that UrbanGrowth has said they were prepared to have a conversation with the community about their concerns. city hub 11 june 2015

3

By LYDIA WATSON-MOORE Marrickville Council has promised almost one million dollars for its cycle infrastructure in its 2015/16 budget, a move welcomed by the growing cycling community in the area.

At the latest Council meeting last Tuesday June 9, councillors agreed to increase spending to $949,000, which Greens councillor Sylvie Ellsmore said is double the current cycle budget.

Clr Ellsmore said it was exciting that Council had agreed to support Marrickville’s developing cycling culture.

“The role of the Council is to invest in community assets, and we see bike paths as part of our core business,” she told City Hub. Clr Ellsmore said the money would be spent on several separate cycleways, as well as clear signage, shared footpaths, bike traffic lights and safer roundabouts.

John Caley, President of the Bike Marrickville community group, said that numbers of riders in Marrickville had greatly increased in recent years.

“Bike Marrickville is very pleased that Marrickville has proposed to double its spending on cycle infrastructure,” he said.

Mr Caley said cycle infrastructure was value for money, due to reduced traffic congestion, less air pollution and improved safety of riders.

Douglas Kirkham, President of the Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club, also expressed support for Marrickville Council’s budget increases.

Mr Kirkham discussed the recent Super Tuesday Bicycle Count statistics, published by the Bicycle Network, which showed tthe Marrickville LGA had Sydney’s highest rate of female riders.

“Women comprised 26 percent of commuters… women and children are much more likely to ride if they perceive it to be safe, and this usually means infrastructure,” he said.

Bicycle NSW CEO Ray Rice said that his

Cartoon: Peter Berner

Marrickville prioritises bike infrastructure

Pictured: Greens MP Jenny Leong and Marrickville councillor Sylvie Ellsmore cycling in Marrickville.

Source: Sylvie Ellsmore

organisation was thrilled to see local councils supporting cyclists, as opposed to an inadequate state government reaction.

“We applaud local councils who increase infrastructure spending on cycling, because it’s great for locals,” he said.

Marrickville’s increased funding for cycle infrastructure comes as tensions between bike riders and Transport for NSW have heightened in the CBD due to the demolition of the College St cycleway and delays to the promised Castlereagh St track.

Bicycle NSW led a protest last Thursday June 2 to lobby the government on this removal of cycle infrastructure.

Mr Rice said the rally was a success with a

large crowd, and that this sort of protesting was needed in order to see action.

“In the past we’ve taken the low key approach, had meetings with ministers, and basically we’ve been led astray,” he said.

Mr Rice said bicycle infrastructure is crucial, not only for safety, but for health of the community amidst Australia’s obesity problem.

Greens NSW MLC Dr Mehreen Faruqi spoke at the rally, and told City Hub the NSW government needs to realise bicycle commuting was becoming increasingly common.

“The government has been put on notice: cyclists and transport advocates across Sydney are fed up with their inaction in this issue, which puts cyclists at risk every single day.”

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5

Randwick’s light rail concerns

By Lydia Watson-Moore Eastern Suburbs residents have continued to express concern about the proposed CBD and South East Light Rail following the recently released construction schedule.

Residents, business owners and local councillors have said the light rail is bringing more harm than good, voicing concerns over parking, environmental destruction and congestion.

Randwick resident Andrew Roydhouse has studied the government’s proposals and believes the light rail will have less capacity than the current bus system it serves to replace.

“The government is spending nearly $2.2 billion to cut public transport capacity by nearly two thirds,” he said.

“It’s going to worsen traffic congestion, which [the NSW government] acknowledge, it’s slower to do a journey, which the minister has finally acknowledged, it eliminates nearly 1000 car spots, and gets rid of many significant trees,” he said.

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) said in a statement that ‘turn up and go’ services will arrive every four minutes in the CBD during peak hour, and every eight minutes on the branch lines.

On the Sydney Light Rail website, TfNSW said the line will “transform Sydney by offering fast, reliable journeys”.

The construction schedule, released on May 28, details the route map and timeline for stages of construction. The light rail will run through Surry Hills to Moore Park and then split, one route through Anzac Parade to Kingsford and the other to Randwick via Alison Road and High St. Construction on the Randwick and Kingsford branches is set to begin early next year, while Surry Hills will wait until August 2016.

One key concern of locals is the 24-hour-clearways to be put in place on Anzac Parade and High St. The clearways mean that cars will not be able to pull over

An artist’s impression of the light rail. Source: hasselstudio.com

or stop along these roads.

Local medical secretary Kay Jarvie said the clearway will prohibit vehicles pulling up to let out elderly, immobile patients. “[ The clearways] will prevent patients alighting from ambulances, community service transport, taxis and private cars,” she said.

Mrs Jarvie is also concerned that local patients do not realise the looming situation in High St. “When I expressed my concern at a public meeting

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about the lack of information to the public, I was informed that people can read about the light rail on the internet. However, many people, especially the elderly, do not have the internet,” she said.

Local resident and business owner Rosa Colagrossi said Anzac Parade businesses were not made aware of the clearway in initial consultations about the light rail.

The light rail’s impact on trees and the natural environment is another prominent issue. Rickie-Lee McLaurin-Smith, spokesperson from community

group Keeping Randwick’s Trees, said the group was alarmed about the proposed removal of trees.

“The light rail project’s plans to remove over 400 trees in Randwick City, with many of those trees being listed as having ‘exceptional significance’ at around 100 years old, was a shocking wake up call,” Ms McLaurnin-Smith said.

“Our opinion is that the light rail project and the NSW state government are not prioritising the preservation of our trees and parklands as they should be,” she said.

Randwick Greens councillor Murray Matson said that while the light rail was an important infrastructure development, the removal of parking, and destruction of High Cross Park are issues that need addressing.

“We’re very hopeful that the government is close to accepting the Council’s successful identification of an alternative site to High Cross Park,” he said.

“I call upon members of Parliament such as Bruce Notley-Smith. I think he now needs to get out and start putting on a lot of pressure on behalf of his community, and to back up the council when it’s pursuing these design changes,” Mr Matson said.

Mr Notley-Smith was approached by City Hub but did not reply in time for publication.

Clr Matson also identified a Council proposal to purchase the Kingsford market site from the state government to alleviate parking pressure.

“We want to use that site, and others in the area for parking that will be lost to the light rail,” he said.

“The Council’s also putting up a sum of $78 million of offset negative impacts of the light rail on our residents and businesses,” Mr Matson said.

Randwick City Council expressed approval of the light rail.

“Light rail will provide much-needed improved transport for the south east and will transform our City for the better,” Mayor Ted Seng said in a statement.

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city hub 11 june 2015

ICAC reportedly investigating City of Sydney

White Bay’s terminal illness

By Joe Bourke The City of Sydney is reportedly being investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) over its Development Application (DA) policy.

President of the Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage Society Andrew Woodhouse referred a DA for outdoor seating from the Sugarmill Hotel to the commission, asking if Council was breaching ICAC planning guidelines.

“I sent a reference off to ICAC and they emailed back saying ‘we are undergoing an assessment’, which is a polite way of saying they are having a look at it or they are investigating it,” he said.

On being approached by City Hub, a spokesperson for ICAC said they were unable to confirm or deny that an investigation was taking place. A spokesperson for the City of Sydney said they were unaware of an investigation.

Mr Woodhouse said the Sugarmill Hotel DA “alienates public land for private profit”, accusing the City of having a conflict of interest in the DA process.

“It confirms our view this council is part of the continuing problem to increased alcoholdriven problems in Kings Cross. Kings Cross has already reached saturation point,” he said.

A City of Sydney spokesperson said there was no vested interest and that Council abided by its protocols.

“As no individual Council employee has a private or financial interest in the outcome of footpath dining applications, there is no conflict of interest to prevent staff from assessing them.

Council abides by its protocols regarding independent assessment,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also told City Hub that the City had received nine submissions opposed to the Sugarmill Hotel’s footway application.

By emily contador-kelsall Residents surrounding the White Bay cruise ship terminal remain concerned about its adverse health impacts, despite the state government promising they are on track to reduced cruise ship pollution.

The terminal was a pivotal issue in the lead up to the state election, and the Baird government committed to regulating the pollution. Minister for the Environment Mark Speakman said that from July 1 2016, cruise ships in all NSW ports will be required to use fuel with a sulphur content of 0.1 percent or less.

Currently in NSW, up to 3.5 percent sulphur content in fuel is legal.

Mark Collier is an active campaigner against pollution from cruise ships in the White Bay area. He told City Hub that schools close to the terminal at White Bay no longer allow their students to do PE classes in parks nearby when ships are docked because “of the wheezing and coughing and asthma the kids experience as a result of their activity and exposure to the ships’ exhaust poisons”.

“At White Bay, more than 1,000 [students] go to schools within 600 metres of the source of these poisons emitted from ships tied up at the terminal,” he said.

“Progress is slow and several deadlines that [the state government] proposed for action have not been met. The opposition and lack of cooperation of the major cruise operator in Australia… has been a hampering factor in timely progression.”

Mr Collier said shore-to-ship power is the “fix that’s required”, as ships can turn off their engines while berthed instead of running their engines for the duration of their stay, which was formerly the case at

both Circular Quay and White Bay. But, pollution is not the only problem surrounding the terminal. Noise is another issue, as ships “consistently break the maximum noise limit regulations,” according to Mr Collier.

Mr Speakman said in a statement that the state government is “on track to deliver low fuel regulations for cruise ships”. He announced last Wednesday June 3 that community consultation was open on a new draft regulation that “follows concerns raised by residents living near the White Bay cruise terminal about emissions from cruise ships”.

Responding to community concerns, the Port Authority of NSW announced on May 27 that cruise ships were banned from docking overnight at White Bay cruise terminal until the state government enforces regulations on pollution.

“After the regulation is in place, vessels will be able to berth overnight at White Bay only if they are in compliance with the regulation,” read a statement from the Port Authority.

Mr Collier deemed this announcement as welcome but “not that significant”, as “no overnight stays are scheduled at White Bay until the week before Christmas”.

Greens member for Balmain Jamie Parker also welcomed the action but said in a statement that “it raises serious concerns about the Government’s commitment to phase out dirty high sulphur bunker fuel from July 1 this year”.

Leichhardt Council “cautiously welcomed” the news but called for more action “urgently”.

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city hub 11 june 2015

7

Millers Point housing residents face ‘harassment’

By LEANNE ELAHMAD Millers Point residents have complained of feeling ‘bullied’ and ‘harassed’ and continue to fear losing their homes in wake of the state government’s announcement last week that more properties were being sold.

The Family and Community Services (FACS) Department is currently working with tenants to relocate them to other housing communities as more auctions are scheduled to take place.

Barney Gardner, a member of the Millers Point, Dawes Point and the Rocks Housing Tenants Group believes the way in which current residents are being treated is morally wrong.

He outlined a number of cases where “harassment tactics” were being used by security guards patrolling the residences.

“Why do they have to come into an empty property next to the elderly and start slamming doors well into the night?” Mr Gardner said.

“There were also two incidents where tenants challenged the security when they tried to get into their screen door.”

He also told City Hub of incidents where leaf blowers were used in the hallways, describing them as “a form of intimidation” to current residents.

A FACS spokesperson confirmed in a statement that “FACS has also received complaints about security officers making noise and disturbing people when entering properties to complete checks on the properties late at night. The security staff have been reminded to be as quiet as possible as some properties are still occupied in the area.”

According to the FACS, SNP Security, the company patrolling the area has been briefed about the precinct and they “are aware that older people reside in the local area”.

Lindsay Ash, a Redfern Legal Centre worker offers help and advice to the residents of Millers Point housing community.

Source: wikipedia.commons

She did not confirm any cases of harassment but said “tenants who live there have a right to peace, comfort and privacy and any interference to those would be a breach of that right”.

As part of the relocation process, FACS has a policy where each tenant is interviewed individually, their needs are assessed and a new home is found accordingly.

John McInerney, Chairmain of the Millers Point Resident Action Group said he believes most of the tenants have been offered reasonable alternatives.

But after community consultation he said most of the remaining residents are scared of being bullied out.

The auctioning off of Millers Point housing has

pushed its residents straight to the top of the NSW housing list which Mr McInerney describes as being “immoral”.

“It’s unfair to all others on the housing list,” he said.

Mr Gardner agreed and also said, “housing is bending over backwards to try and get us out but for people like myself this is where I’ve been all my life and this is where I want to stay”.

The reasonable housing alternatives appeal to current residents because they are usually bigger than the spaces they have been living in according to Mr Gardner.

He believes most residents agree to these new places because they fear if they don’t take what is offered

they will be evicted or left with less appealing options.

These ongoing auctions in Millers Point and The Rocks are part of the NSW Government’s initiative to reinvest proceeds from the sales into the construction of over 1,500 new social housing dwellings across Sydney and Regional NSW. Brett Newman, CEO of Government Property NSW said “the extraordinary level of market interest in Millers Point properties is testament to their unique potential and historic significance”.

But the 130 tenants who have remained at the Millers Point housing residences are still hopeful of a positive outcome from a recent proposal submitted to the Minister for Family and Community Services Brad Hazzard.

Local representatives, Sydney State MP Alex Greenwich, Lord Mayor Clover Moore and Deputy Lord Mayor Robyn Kemmis, also met with Mr Hazzard to discuss the impacts of the government’s relocation program.

“We asked him to reconsider evicting a number of the remaining Millers Point residents who are old, disabled or have lived in the area for years,” she said.

“He was sympathetic, but stressed that Cabinet had already made its decision. Regardless, he said he would consider what we had said and come back to us.”

Mr Hazzard’s predecessors did not meet with advocates for Millers Point housing residents.

Mr Gardner and Mr McInerney are both members of the Community Working Party and continue to advocate suggesting “there’s enough room for them” to stay at Millers Point while the government could continue to sell off the larger houses.

“Why can’t the poor live with the rich? Keep the diversity, there’s plenty of dwellings,” Mr Gardner said.

Mr Newman announced the sale of three more properties from Millers Point for a total of $5.4 million last week, bringing the total to 19 properties generating more than $43 million.

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city hub 11 june 2015

Community stresses ‘proper planning’ for Bays

Amalgamation ideas merge in Leichhardt

By Joe Bourke The amalgamation debate has intensified as the June 30 deadline for local councils to submit their proposals demonstrating they are ‘fit for the future’ draws closer.

Leichhardt Mayor Rochelle Porteous criticised the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s (IPART) final ‘Methodology for Assessment of Council Fit for the Future Proposals’, which was released last week.

Clr Porteous said that aside from scale and capacity, every benchmark was a “financially based quantitave measure”. She listed community opposition to mergers, loss of local representation, loss of local identity and local accountability as important factors that IPART had left out.

“These factors are far too important to be treated as secondary considerations to the financial benchmarks and should take much greater prominence in the assessment process,” she said.

The release of the methodology follows Leichhardt’s firey council meeting last week, where Labor and Liberal councillors joined to move a motion suggesting a fallback position of a merger between Canada Bay, Leichhardt and Ashfield.

The move was widely criticised by members of the community, Greens councillors and Independent councillor John Stamolis, who said the councillors who passed the motion “deserted the community at a critical time”.

Labor councillor Darcy Byrne told

City Hub that Labor councillors were firmly against amalgamations, but were exploring “the only merger option which is not an economic basket case”.

“The financial analysis, which the Council and the Mayor have not made available to residents until forced to, shows that the Leichhardt, Ashfield and Canada Bay merger would result in far lower rates and better services for our residents, than merger of all six Councils,” he said.

Clr Byrne also released advice he received from Council’s Director of Corporate Services Matthew Phillips.

Mr Phillips said that the stand alone proposal was the best option, but that the Leichhardt, Canada Bay and Ashfield merger was the best scenario of any merger he had modelled, noting that he had not modelled every combination.

Former Independent Mayor of Leichhardt Maire Sheehan spoke at last week’s meeting, later telling City Hub she didn’t have an objection to the motion.

“It’s not that I’m madly keen necessarily but I don’t have an objection to it. From my perspective, it’s better to be open and upfront about what you’re doing… So I think it’s good that someone comes up and says ‘let’s have this conversation and let’s have it openly,” she said. Ms Sheehan also said that Leichhardt was perfectly viable as a stand-alone Council, and that it does “a really good job in terms of that mix of managing services and community advocacy”.

By Leanne Elahmad Locals, planners, council members and advocates gathered at Leichhardt Town Hall last Sunday May 7 to discuss UrbanGrowth NSW’s plans for the Bays Precinct and the impacts it will have on the community.

The Bays Precinct has been the centre of controversy as UrbanGrowth has continually come under fire from the local community for the proposed density of the precinct.

The Bays Community Coalition invited guest speakers to engage the community in a range of topics including issues posed by the light rail infrastructure and the lack of planning for childcare, schools and sporting facilities.

Former Mayor of Leichhardt and member of the Bays Community Coalition Maire Sheehan said one of the most prominent problems was that the community were finding that data was “inaccurate” and were left to make assumptions, like whether there is a need for more schools and other facilities or not.

Transport was another issue raised on the day. Nathan English from EcoTransit Sydney advocated for the need to focus on introducing environmentally friendly transportation, stressing the benefits of ecofriendly public transport on both economic and health levels.

“Private motoring is the most expensive way of getting around, and fuel is only becoming more expensive,” Mr English said.

Mr English also questioned the high cost of building light rail in Sydney and said Sydney’s light rail was more expensive than anywhere else in the world.

BaCC Meeting. Photo: Maire Sheehan

Stephanie Croft, a researcher and parent discussed the importance of keeping schools in development plans because a continued influx of people to Sydney would see more schools reach capacity, meaning primary and secondary schools will be in high demand.

“When planning for schools it’s important to look at numbers of what they’re proposing to put in the area,” she said.

“We need proper planning – we need schools with spaces for learning and playing.”

Van Le is also a researcher and advocate for more childcare and before and after school care. She argued that working

parents should not have to bear the burden of finding a place for their child at different childcares to accommodate them five days a week.

Glenn Vurge who works with various sporting clubs and helps to plan for sporting fields, believes active open space and sporting infrastructure is being ignored.

“A footpath or a nice tranquil walkway or pocket park is not usable active open space,” Mr Vurge stated.

While speakers at the meeting explored different views and possible solutions to the various problems posed by the Bays Precinct, attendees stressed that continued advocacy is needed to achieve these visions.

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9

arts FEATURE

Video Games As Art BY jamie apps With the proliferation of smartphones and entry into the gaming space becoming easier, more and more people are playing games and beginning to see them as the creative and artistic endeavour they are.

First it is important to understand the cultural significance of the video game industry in our society. The most common misconception when people think about gamers is their age, which according to the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association of Australia’s (IGEA) Digital Australia report in 2014, was 32-years-old on average. Regarding the sheer size of the gaming community, the same report found that 93% of households had at least one device for playing games and that 65% of Australians played video games, often for approximately an hour per day.

With these figures in mind, the Australian Council For The Arts has begun funding video game based arts projects. One such project is by Catherine Fargher, who was given a grant to help develop her highly successful childrens’ theatre show into an interactive multi-platform gaming format.

“I’m working with a screen director and multi-platform producers to create a games platform, TV episodes and an interactive storybook,” said Fargher. As part of the month-long DoDarlo festivities, Fargher and her collaborators at Hero Videogames are running Game Prototyping With Dr Egg, an event for children to come along and get a small insight into the games development industry, whilst also testing out the prototype of their new game The Dr Egg Adventures.

Coming from a theatre and writing background, Fargher herself has had the opportunity to learn about the artistic and creative side of the game industry throughout the development process: “I saw some pretty amazing games like Alice:Madness Returns, Thomas Was Alone and Monument Valley. Games [that], especially in terms of the artwork and the worlds that developers create, have an exceptional level of imagination and creativity built into them,” she said.

When asked whether he believes video games are given the credit they deserve, Hero Videogames cofounder Ravindra Naidoo said: “I think they are starting to now, whereas before they hadn’t.”

Another group of young creatives looking to break the stigma associated with gaming is Pygmy Tyrant, a game development company founded by four friends following a group project at college. For most developers in this industry the hardest part is conveying to non-gamers how much creativity and passion goes into each project.

“With other creative efforts you need to learn one individual skill, such as writing or painting, whereas with games there are so many different tools that go into it, so it’s extremely hard to get that across to people,” said Willis Smith, cofounder and developer for Pygmy Tyrant.

PLAYMADE - Local Goods And Games Night will be hosted by The Pygmy Tyrant, and coincides with the release of their fourth game Punch Elite, which sees them returning to their creative passions to create a “really gamey (sic) game” after having to

EVENTS: DoDarlo - Game Prototyping With Dr Egg (Food supplied

by Greenhouse Cafe) Jun 20, Spunky Bruiser, 68 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, www.dpb.org.au Ravindra Naidoo, Catherine Fargher, and Peter Liang. Photo: Chris Peken

bottle some of their creative juices to create their most successful release to date Punfound, a simple word game. “Events like this are extremely valuable to us because they help us connect with the local community and display our games,” said Smith.

The final event of the three will see 25 year veteran video game composer and world record holder Tommy Tallarico bring his Video Games Live show to Australia. This show brings video game music to life through a full symphony orchestra synchronised to video game visuals.

Tallarico has seen the games industry grow and develop a significant cultural standing over the years: “I’m 47 and my generation was the first to grow up on video games, so now that my generation is having

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kids you’re seeing our culture evolve to where at one point or another everyone has played video games,” Tallarico said.

The video game industry according to Tallarico mirrors the film industry in terms of their growth an acceptance within society, “the first video game, Pong, came out in 1972 and it was black and white with no sound or acting. Then we got sound and colour and it’s only over the last decade that we’ve gotten great storylines and character building. So it’s kind of like we’re at the point the film industry was in the 50s and 60s.”

Tallarico explained the concept behind his show by saying “the mantra of our show is to not only show how creative and artistic games are, but also to introduce young people to an appreciation of the arts and

DoDarlo - PLAYMADE Local Goods And Games Night Jun 17, Darlo Village Hotel, 234 Palmer St, Darlinghurst, www.dpb.org.au or www.pygmytyrant.com Video Games Live Jul 30, Enmore Theatre, 130 Enmore Rd, Newtown, www.videogameslive.com symphony. For us the most rewarding part is the thousands of letters and emails we receive from parents saying that their child has asked to take piano or violin lessons so they can learn the music of Zelda or Kingdom Hearts after seeing our show.”

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The Cosmetique Clinic is a dental surgery that not only delivers top dental care, but also pays special attention to the cosmetic needs and desires of their clientele. The clinic uniquely merges general dentistry with cosmetic facial procedures, so that clients can receive the best results.

Founder Dr. Harris Carter has worked for over 20 years as a principle senior dental surgeon and implantologist, and has established himself as a reputable and dedicated pioneer in his field. Dr Carter is also one of the only dental surgeons in Australia using an innovative new technology called KaVo DIAGNOcam, an x-ray free imaging method that safely identifies tooth decay, cracks and more. His use of breakthrough technology allows for procedures to be as accurate, non-surgical and minimally invasive as possible, leaving patients with a smooth and comfortable dental experience.

The Cosmetique Clinic also practices the latest and most advanced treatments like the Philips Zoom Whitespeed, which uses the most leading light accelerator, allowing patients to achieve their whitest smile in only 45 minutes. The practice also offers specialist services such as aesthetic and reconstructive 3D implant guided dentistry, sleep dentistry, Invisalign Orthodontics, smile rejuvenation, crowns, bridges and veneers, family, general and children’s dentistry.

Dr. Harris Carter aims to provide the highest level of dental health care along with the best cosmetic treatment for each patient.

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It is located in a state of the art facility at 65 Pirrama Road Pyrmont, and is opened 7 days a week from 8am – 8pm. www.cosmetiqueclinic.com.au

Matt Blatt: Play by design A peek into Matt Blatt’s flagship showroom in Alexandria reveals a combination of the iconic pieces the brand is known for and a selection of exciting original designs. The floor space is shared with Rolling Stones Babushka dolls, meerkat statues, futuristic pendant lights and even a dinosaur – Boris the Blattosaurus Rex. Owner Adam Drexler said “Kids love him”.

And adults? “Adults don’t understand why he’s there, but they’re glad that he is.”

This eclectic mix is all part of Matt Blatt’s effort to bring playfulness back into interior design.

“Above all we want to have fun and bring fun into people’s homes. And for us that starts with the presentation of our showrooms. We don’t necessarily want people to ‘get’ it, but we do want people to be amused by it,” said Drexler.

“We’re serious about quality and style, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously”

said Drexler who,together with his wife Deborah, established the brand over 15 years ago from a warehouse in Marrickville.

Since then the brand has grown to boast three Sydney showrooms, as well as two in Victoria and two in Queensland, with plans for further expansion on the horizon.

And the fuel for this momentum? “A sense of delight and discovery is what drives us. And, of course, the dinosaur also helps.” www.mattblatt.com.au

Tempe power couple take out Franchisee of the Year Swapping Subway buns for batteries three years ago, Greg and Gina Georgaros became proud owners of the first Battery World store in Tempe.

More than 200 franchisees, team members and suppliers attended a National Conference on the Gold Coast where the couple was celebrated as Franchisee of the Year 2014.

“It was just wonderful,” the couple described the experience.

“We love this area and share this award with our customers. It is not enough that we just sell batteries, we really make sure we are a business that is about terrific customer service. Never in a million years did we think we would win but we are absolutely stoked.”

For Greg, opening his first store meant he could combine his passion for mechanics with business.

Being a proud Holden man and his love for working with cars made being recognised as the best store in Australia even better.

Battery World General Manager Rowan Hodge said winning the award meant you did not have to come from a technical background to own and run a Battery World store – and win an award along the way.

“If we have a whole network of Ginas and Gregs we will be unstoppable,” Mr Hodge said.

In order to win the Franchisee of the Year award the Georgaros’ had to meet key criteria, such as a very high mystery shopper satisfaction rating, sales and customer growth, team coaching, superb relationships and strong local community engagement.

Battery World Tempe is located at 595-615 Princes Highway Tempe. Phone: 95731830

Greg and Gina Georgaros

city hub 11 june 2015

11

EAT & DRINK

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ROCKS & CBD The Gantry Restaurant & Bar Raw materials are a focus at the refurbished Pier One Sydney Harbour.

Interior designers Bates Smart have done wonders with reclaimed timbers; while in the kitchen, Canadian Chef Chris Irving pays reverence to the bounty of our seas. On a blustery evening, it’s his handling of land critters that beckon, from Venison Tartare ($20) to brutally satisfying Smoked Bone Marrow ($16). Rustic Beetroot Homefries ($8), salt-crusted slabs of earthy-sweet beetroot, provide a good stick-to-your-ribs supplement to judiciously sized mains, including the ultrapretty Jumjum Muscovy Duck ($36) with citrus glaze, carrots and purslane. End with

$$$ - mains between $22-$30

the deceptively simple Fresh Austral Figs ($15) - dessert elevated to near perfection.

11 Hickson Road,Walsh Bay (02) 8298 9910 thegantry.com.au Modern Australian,Wine $$$$ O Bar & Dining Head Chef Darren Templeman is now cooking in this iconic Harry Seidlerdesigned location. Some dishes, like creamy Burata di Buffala ($29) play with expectations, substituting crisp chicken skin where you might expect crackers; while others, like House-made Soy Tofu ($30) with dashi spiked with aged Korean soy, are gloriously uncompromising. Owner Michael Moore’s health focus can still be found in delicate Pink Snapper Sashimi ($32) or lettuce boats of Rump Steak ‘Tartare’ ($35) topped with crunchy puffed

$$$$ - mains over $30

tendon. In the hands of Head Bartender Andy Calderon, innovative cocktails like Pete the Peruvian ($18) & The Kingsford ($18) are in keeping with this high altitude location.

Level 47,Australia Square, 264 George Street, Sydney (02) 9247 9777 obardining. com.au Modern Australian, Cocktails $$$$ EASTERN SUBURBS & BEACHES

Little Jean Double Bay has had a little makeover, and riding on the coattails of the impressive InterContinental Hotel, is Little Jean.

Relaxed and streamlined, it’s like a firstclass airport lounge, so keep it classy with freshly shucked Sydney Rock Oysters

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Mappen Bondi Junction

By Alex Harmon A DIY noodle bar where you self-serve your fresh crispy tempura and toppings, sauces and water, it’s got the bustle of a traditional Tokyo style diner, but the with the warmth of Sydney hospitality.The servers giggle sheepishly as you peruse the menu, made up

($20/6) and Prosecco ($9.50/glass) from Victoria’s High Country.The café (bistro by night) is by the guys behind the Golden Sheaf’s bistro, and showcases seasonal, sustainable produce. Bruschetta ($16) with house-cured salmon is fresh and filling, while Steak Frites ($28) are Frenchy and chic like the clientele, smothered in maître d’hotel butter. On the lighter side, Roasted Cauliflower Salad ($18) is perfectly balanced with creamy tahini and yoghurt dressing. 1 Kiaora Road, Double Bay (02) 9328 0201 littlejean.com.au Modern Australian, Café $$ Stillery Inside this luxurious Double Bay bar, decked out in pale blue and marble with stately gilt settees, Bar Manager Aaron Gaulke commands an impressive array of gins. While the subtle saffron notes of

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NEWTOWN & ENVIRONS Knuckles Sandwich Bar

It’s the inkblot test – whether you think of a knock to the face, or a succulent hock of pork.This sandwich bar lies amongst factories in the industrial fashion precinct of Alexandria.Their Veal Schnitzel Ciabatta Roll ($12) made fresh to order with lemon aioli, rocket and Parmesan demonstrates it’s seriously the only decent place to get a sanga on McEvoy Street. However don’t neglect the burgers! The popular Cheeseburger ($10) has a golden sesame milk bun that reminds me of the old school milk bars.

Speaking of which, you must order a side of Hand Cut Chips ($3.50) and the Belgian Chocolate Milkshake ($6.50) to wash it down.

88 McEvoy Street, Alexandria (0403) 821 117 knucklessandwichbar.com.au Café – $-$$

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Boudier Saffron Gin ($13) are best sipped straight, many gins benefit from lengthening with tonic. In that department this bar also excels, offering up many choices from artisan syrups like Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. Small Batch Tonic to East Imperial Tonic.

The latter is perfect against the nutty sesame of The Cambridge Distillery’s Japanese Style Gin ($22), and also well matched by Charred Fremantle Octopus ($16) with hunks of mortadella from Executive Chef Julien Pouteau’s tasty bar menu. Level 1, InterContinental Hotel, 33 Cross Street, Double Bay (02) 8388 8388 intercontinental.com/Doublebay Bar, Bar Food, Cocktails $$$

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mostly of ramen, rice bowls and salads, with a couple of great Japanese beers (Orion and Sapporo). Join up as a member of the Mappen chain and get a side of edamame, salad and sake for only $3 – an offer that is hard to refuse.The teriyaki is on point, whether you go for the Teriyaki Salmon ($8.50) with rice, or the lighter, fresher Teriyaki Chicken Salad ($7.90), they’re both delicious and at food-court style prices, you really feel like you’re winning.The Curry and Beef ($7.70) comes with udon noodles and tender stewed beef in the typically sweet Japanese curry sauce. It’s one of those tempting winter dishes, made all the more comforting when you couple it with a few throw-backs of the house sake.You can even throw in a hard-boiled egg for $1.20. Found on Spring Street, Mappen Bondi Junction is no-frills style eating in a licensed restaurant; so cheap and fast, you’ll think you are abroad.

Shop 5, 183-193 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction (02) 9388 0609 mappen.com.au Japanese $

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By Ryan Kennedy A good location can often lead to a few cut corners— especially when it comes to city pubs. So it was a pleasure to find out that Martin Place Bar takes pride in not only producing good food, but in sourcing free range produce.With an impressively long bar, and sizeable wine list, bar snacks are bite-sized and moreish.

Prawn Tostadas ($12) are grill-smoky yet sweet with a

lingering chilli warmth; and there is an excellent fried crust-to-aromatic-filling ratio in balls of Pumpkin and Thyme Arancini ($10). Full marks for the delightfully porky house made terrine, part of a Charcuterie Board ($24), that goes down rather nicely with a glass of the big and peppery Cake Wines Cabernet Sauvignon ($11.50 glass/$55 bottle). More substantial fare comes in the form of the elegant ‘Cone Bay’ Barramundi ($25), the cooking right on-point, and earthy with new potatoes and a cauliflower puree; or the hefty, bone-protruding goodness of a 300g ‘Northern Rivers’ Rib Eye ($30). Corned Beef ($18) proved a bit home-cooking for me, but my Swedish dining partner was transported back to the Motherland. This is unpretentious pub food with appreciable sophistication, and if you’re after a more liquid dinner, they have just opened a cosy new cocktail lounge.

51 Martin Place, Sydney (02) 9231 5575 martinplacebar.com.au Bar, Modern Australian, Pub Bistro $$$

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Firedoor “It’s big, it’s heavy, it’s wood. It’s log…” Ren & Stimpy aren’t the only ones obsessed with logs. Firedoor’s log is the first gnarly object to catch your eye, right after the fancy sliding door spits you unceremoniously into the Surry Hills warehouse, your arm awkwardly half-raised. Fink Group backing makes this the perfect sibling to Bridge Room; oozing the same casual luxury. Ned Goodwin has curated a great wine list, and Bar Manager Phil

INNER WEST Forest Lodge Hotel Festooned with fairy lights, vintage photos, and boasting craft beers on tap, the Forest Lodge Hotel—or Flodge as I once lovingly knew it—has come a long way from stale beer and aromatic football socks.Where there were once VB jugs, rusted-on locals, and footy on the TV, there’s now Craft Beer Tasting Paddles ($15) featuring hoppy Murray’s Stone Kicker Ale ($7) and smoke’n’barley flavoured Draughty Kilt Scotch Ale ($9).And I’ve got to admit—things have changed for the better – especially with perfectly cooked Kangaroo Fillet ($26) with earthy beetroot, walnut and goats cheese salad, and the famous madrasstyle Fish Curry ($20), mild and elegant,

The end of one-way communication between you and your barista is nigh! After ruling out their native Hong Kong for high rents and fledgling coffee culture, this triumvirate of owners - Roy Yu, Kit Tran and Bruno Koo – selected Sydney for their first customer-focused coffee concept.The spacious Chalmers Street setting sits opposite Central Station, and is drowned in afternoon light. A star-shaped flavour chart invites you to direct the barista using aroma, sweetness, acidity, body and aftertaste. It’s translated into adjustments in time, temperature, grind size and single origin bean, producing your customised Latte ($4), accompanied by Kujin The deft hot-plate work here is less about theatre, and more about the food. The chefs are Japanese and the cuisine Osakastyle. The teppan grill is hot, and the udon are hand-made.

Scalding-hot off the grill comes Osaka-style Okonomiyaki ($18) with pork and egg noodles. It’s a sticky, umami-rich taste of real Osaka. Similarly grill-hot is the Eggplant ($14) topped with miso and cheese. While I was sceptical of blowtorch-burnished Grilled Oysters ($9) with miso mayo, they are a smoky, briny revelation. Murky and gently spicy, the winter-special of Red-

McElory delivers it with aplomb, steering me into a lovely blend chardonnay and Chenin blanc, the 2011 Lammershoek Roulette Blanc ($77).The long banquette provides a vantage point to view the open kitchen, where Chef Lennox Hastie puts the skills he learned at Spain’s Etxebarri to good use. Employing wood fire and variety of different logs (including nectarine wood), he gently coaxes the best out of your dinner. Jersey Curd ($16) balances smoky creaminess with pickles. Seafood options, from barely-set WA Marron ($46) to plump Pippies ($32) with garlic and chilli, prove menu highlights; the latter necessitating Wood Fired Bread ($7) for mopping up tasty, briny juices. Meatier options, like Lamb Rump Cap ($48) with perfectly cooked borlotti beans – form an ideal bridge to dessert: root vegetables made super delicious as roasted Spaghetti Squash ($16) with pepitas and pumpkin ice cream.

23-33 Mary Street, Surry Hills (02) 8204 0800 firedoor.com.au Modern Australian $$$$

with a slab of crisp-skinned salmon.

117 Arundel Street, Forest Lodge (02) 9660 1872 forestlodgehotel.com.au Pub Bistro $$-$$$ The Balmain Hotel With dumplings one buck each on a Thursday night, most patrons are tucking into steaming bamboo baskets—but The Balmain Hotel also has new dishes to try.

Salty creamy goodness is doubled down in smoked cheese-enriched stuffed zucchini flowers and aromatic jalapeno croquettes, each irresistibly deep-fried and crispy.

Throw in some fluffy Peking duck steamed buns, and you have one tasty Share Plate for 2 ($35). But this is a pub, and pubs live and die by their classics. Fortunately the Balmain Burger ($18) stands and delivers with classic charred Australiana complete with grated beetroot. Fluffy little ice cream

Haven

By Jackie McMillan jackie@alternativemediagroup.com

buns - Salted Caramel Sliders ($12) – have a nice hot-cold dynamic against warm chocolate sauce. 74 Mullens Street, Balmain (02) 9810 7500 thebalmain.com Pub Bistro $$-$$$

GREATER SYDNEY Cottage Point Inn Descend onto one of the leafy green fingers that protrude into the Hawkesbury. Parisian born Chef Guillaume Zika delivers a modern, fad-resistant menu. Line-caught Snapper Carpaccio ($28) utilises familiar ingredients - strawberry sauce vierge and celery – united by white balsamic to transport the dish somewhere new.

Spatchcock ($45) scratches the old roast chicken dinner itch, but lands

palate-cleansing dried currants.While sugar is offered, it comes with a plea: taste your coffee first! (You were given the opportunity to enhance the natural sweetness of the brew.) After dabbling in Filter Coffee ($6) – not my cup of ‘tea’ – I’m convinced the best expression of the work of world champion Taiwanese coffee roaster, Jake Hu, is the 8-Hour Cold Brew ($6). Now while the focus is coffee, Chef Thomas Taylor ensures food isn’t neglected.

His Pork Belly Kimcheese Burger ($19) shines from bold use of the healthy Korean staple, tangled with coriander, grated apple, radish and sesame-dotted omelette. And if you’re not completely over-caffeinated; the Masfogato ($13) updates the affogato with a brownie and frozen mascarpone.

30-34 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills (02) 9281 9300 havenspecialtycoffee.com.au Café $-$$

Brown Miso Simmered Udon ($16) showcases their pleasingly dense udon, great with a frosty Sapporo ($8) in your hand.

1/41B Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay (02) 9331 6077 kujin.com.au Japanese $$ DiWine Newcomer DiWine is tucked between perennial favourites, Lucio Pizzeria and Phamish, in the Republic 2 courtyard.

Owner/chef Vittorio Esposito is making pasta in-house, and it shows in Strozzapreti with Swordfish ($26). From the decent, inexpensive by-the-glass list, the 2012 Bertani Soave

Sereole DOC ($11/$44) gives you a taste of the Italian seaside when taken with sweet, fleshy Figs ($10) with prosciutto and Gorgonzola. Spot-on cooking keeps Mussels in Black Pepper Broth ($15) plump and briny.

Buddy up your bivalves with beer – clean and well-balanced Sardinian Ichnusa ($7) or an even better artisanal Birra Gjulia TOZ ($14). Finish with a straight-ahead Beef Tagliata ($26) – charred on the outside, and pleasantly pink within.

248 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst (02) 8354 1086 diwinesydney. com.au Italian $$$

Osaka Bar Sydney has undergone a quiet Japanese revolution. Sushi trains have made way for izakayas, Japanese-style pubs where food accompanies drinking. Slick kushiyaki bars have appeared; and regional Japanese cuisine has landed.This spot celebrates the dishes of Japan’s second largest city, Osaka, famous for inexpensive street food. It’s the birthplace of Takoyaki ($8.50/8), and the gooey-centred offerings here are the bomb. Just keep your on-tap Suntory Premium

looking beautifully contemporary. Under a fluffy shaved foie gras, the Grilled Wagyu Rump Cap ($48) is balanced by plump blueberries, king brown mushrooms, and roasted onion and lemon puree. Fabulous wines like the textural 2013 Château Petit Roubié Picpoul de Pinet ($83), and a ripper Raspberry Salad ($19) dessert, cement my affection for this unique spot.

2 Anderson Place, Cottage Point (02) 9456 1011 cottagepointinn.com.au Modern Australian $$$$ DARLO, KINGS X & SURRY HILLS Mafi Mitlo Slide into this subterranean M.A.S.H. unit to eat Arabic street food. Start with beer, and if

Malt ($8.50) handy; they’re served piping hot.You also need to try their pressed, rectangular oshizushi.This Osaka specialty is made using cooked fishes and a less-vinegary rice mix.The BBQ Eel ($18.50) version stuffed with shitake mushrooms then topped with cucumber, egg and chives, proved excellent, and much easier to handle with chopsticks.

Konamomo – flour-based dishes - including tasty Ika-yaki ($8.50) squid pancakes, are also popular with the people of Osaka.Alongside golden-crumbed deep-fried stuff on sticks - kushikatsu – from moist Zucchini ($1.50) to Potato Croquettes ($2.50), they make excellent drinking snacks. In that regard you’ll find plentiful sakes, including Uragasumi Junmai ($29/720ml), and Japanese whiskies like the fabulously smooth Nikka from the Barrel ($21/glass). Balance bar bites with Hokkaido Pumpkin and Prosciutto Salad ($8). Chef Kazu Nakatani is renowned for his saucing (different with every dish) so his special steak-sauce with Grilled Wagyu ($10.50) is your final must-try.

Shop 15, Llankelly Place, 24-30 Springfield Avenue, Potts Point (02) 8970 1143 osakabar.com.au Japanese $$

on-tap Aussie options like Coopers Pale Ale ($6/330ml) don’t grab you, get the affable staff to nip next door for the Lebanese 961 Red Ale ($8.50).Yes, this is an offshoot of the formidable Kazbah empire, owned by Zahi Azzi. He’s put his stamp on the menu using his mother’s excellent recipe for Kibbeh ($8/4 pieces). Sambousek ($8/4 pieces) are also impressive, especially with strong garlic Toum ($6.50) or super-smoky Baba ($7.50).

Kale Tabbouleh ($12.50) is fabulous, nudging out Grainy Fattoush ($13.50). Round out your meal with fragrant Chicken Shawarma ($14.50) and surprisingly good Chips with Harissanaise ($6.50).

9/15 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross (1300) 529 224 mafimitlo.com.au Lebanese $ Rosan Enter the world of the Japanese salaryman at this intriguing traditional Japanese

FOOD NEWS

restaurant tucked into downtown Darlinghurst. Exchange meishi (business cards) at the communal table over a Suntory Premium Malt ($11) beer, before enjoy a lace doily of Chef Hiroshi Miura’s Thinly Sliced Imperador ($26). Super pliable pancakes wrap around tender Rosan Duck ($15/4), while Steamed Prawn Dumplings ($10/4) impress with the intensity of bisque-like (head and shell) flavour.

Choose an individual sake cup for your clean, dry Asabiraki Junmai Ohkarakuchi Sujin ($28/300ml), and enjoy it with Deep Fried Whole Flounder ($18).The crunchy fried fish skeleton bowl transforms into a wonderful edible drinking snack.

Shop 107, 46-50 Burton Street, Darlinghurst (02) 9357 2240 facebook.com/RosanJapaneseCuisine Japanese $$-$$$

By Jackie McMillan Flour, butter, sugar, peanut butter, eggs and salt - the reassuring ingredient list of the Peanut Butter and Sea Salt Biscuits [RRP $10/150g] is something your grandmother would recognise, but my Nanna never made biscuits quite like these! Noted food writer and home-cook extraordinaire, Stephanie Clifford-Smith has graciously released the products of her labour to the public, in a boutique range that currently extends from sweet biscuits to pickles. Stephanie tells me: “I started Clifford Smith Handmade as a way to do even more cooking, always my greatest love, but do it on my own terms. I’ve always enjoyed preserving and baking so the chutneys and biscuits were a no brainer. Sure there are lots of these things on the market already but nothing quite like these flavours, being produced in small batches with freshly ground spices.” Her round and complex Indian Eggplant Pickle [RRP $12/330g] leaves a satisfying tingle in the mouth. To fully appreciate the long, satisfying palate length, you will have to still your hand from immediately reaching out for more - no mean feat! cliffordsmithhandmade.bigcartel.com

bar fly

By Amie Barbeler

The Gantry “Thanks for warning me that this place was fancy,” my date snarks as we enter the bar. “I might have ditched my hoodie and Kmart jeans for a dress if I’d have known we were going to posh it up.” Perfectly framed against the backdrop of Sydney’s harbour is The Gantry: a gorgeous bar/restaurant with pretty cocktails and an even prettier view over Walsh Bay. We start off with a cocktail off the bar’s Winter menu that’s so new it doesn’t even have a name yet. It’s a decadent and punchy blend of chai-infused vermouth with cognac and chocolate bitters. I’m hereby christening it The Sweet Tooth Vermouth ($18). Foodwise, we settle on The Gantry’s Beef Short Rib Burger ($24) with havarti and a dill pickle, which we enjoy almost as much as we

enjoy eavesdropping on the rich lovers who sip Champagne and canoodle on the couch in front of us.

11 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay (02) 8298 9910 thegantry.com.au city hub 11 june 2015

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT You could be forgiven for thinking we were back in 1977, with all the excitement coinciding with the release of the new Star Wars film at the end of the year. The pop culture juggernaut has found its way into video games, Lego and now finally - burlesque.

Beginning in Australia in 2011, the Star Wars themed burlesque show was tailored for small, intimate venues. Since then however, the show has proved massively popular entertaining more than 35,000 fans and travelling all across the country. As of 2013 the conscious decision was made to expand the production and cater for a bigger and better show.

Russel S Beatie, who originally oversaw the 2011 shows, has told audiences to expect old favourites such as seductive storm troopers, a bodacious Boba Fett, a Darth with a dark side as well as many more surprises.

Unfortunately The Empire Strips Back has an extremely limited season here in Australia before heading over to Europe and America for an indefinite period. They say if imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then surely burlesque is the sexiest. Don’t miss out. (BM) June 13.The Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Road, Newtown. $60 + b.f.Tickets & info: http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/ show.aspx?sh=EMPIREST15

MDMA: Modern Day Maiden Aunt Award-winning singer-songwriter and rock-cabaret performer Geraldine Quinn comes to Sydney (with corsets, teasing combs and a succession of impressive, hyphenated titles in tow) to perform for us for the first time in the better part of a decade with her stand-out show MDMA: Modern Day Maiden Aunt.

“My show is about the fact that I am the only child out of seven children in my family who isn’t married and doesn’t have children, and I have 19 nieces and nephews so my brothers, sisters and their various spouses have done a very good job of contributing to the overpopulation of the planet,” says Quinn.

With song titles like ‘The Kid Is Not That Cute’ and ‘Don’t Put Your ‘Vadge On The Net’, MDMA is inspired from a series of real life conversations and cautionary social media interactions with Geraldine’s family, friends and foes.

This show is not so much a two-fingered salute to

those who think that a life is less fulfilled without bearing your own offspring, but a celebration and acknowledgement of the role extended family can play – with tongue firmly planted in cheek and some ‘dick jokes’ to boot.

“Other people’s presumptions of what women are supposed to do and whether or not they do want children become more pronounced the older you get – whereas you just thought you were writing rock cabaret songs, wearing crazy costumes and teasing your hair up and having quite a nice time,” says Geraldine. (AM) June 16 & 17, Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Avenue Potts Point, $35-$40, available as part of the 3 and 5 show package deals for The Hayes Theatre Co Cabaret Season. More info: http:// www.hayestheatre.com.au/cabaretseason-2015/geraldine-quinn-mdma-modernday-maiden-aunt.html

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city hub 11 June 2015

14 STAGE 16 SCENE 17 SCREEN 18 Sounds

Lore

by Bangarra Dance Theatre Bangarra have built a reputation as an amazing Australian dance company whose choreography melds traditional and truly innovative expression.

Lore is their latest offering, and features a double bill of stories about the land and sea. They’ve been crafted by established choreographer Francis Rings along with up-and-comers Waangenga Blanco and Deborah Brown.

Tara Gower is a senior dancer at Bangarra, and had this to say about the components of the upcoming show: “I.B.I.S. is.. a lighthearted look at the great people up there and the ins and outs of island life.

There’s a bit of traditional in there, too.... It’s a big contrast to Sheok, which is more dramatic.”

Sheok explores the story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from the beginning of time. “The leaves represent our future, the trunk is our present, and the roots are our past. [It’s] life as a circle, where our culture is strong from the beginning.”

Gower has been with Bangarra for 10 years, and says the company know her better than her family do: “We innately have this connection that’s beyond words. We share indigenous blood, there’s an undercurrent there without having to say anything. We can communicate without having to say a word.”

Gower says that the strength of the Bangarra family comes from developing their dance through sharing different experiences. “Young dancers bring their own bloodlines and artistry…we’re from all over, we always look to see how we can help each other and share.” (HC)

Photo: Edward Mulvihill

The Empire Strips Back

June 12 - 27, Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point. $31 - $97.Tickets & info: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/ whatson/lore.aspx

Battle of Waterloo Battle of Waterloo is at its heart a story of hope and the ability to dream beyond what is in front of you.

This Kylie Coolwell play tells the tale of two sisters; Sissy, played by the incredibly talented Shareena Clanton and Cassie, played by Shari Sebbens who is best known for her outstanding performance in The Sapphires. As Cassie’s boyfriend arrive back home to Redfern after three years on the inside, the sisters must decide whether to settle for the life they have or to work hard and achieve their goals.

Shareena Clanton’s role as the eccentric Sissy was a break for the actress from the intensity of filming television hit show Wentworth. She has wanted to work with the Sydney Theatre Company and this is a dream role for her. The play aims to change your perceptions and transform your reality. Shareena states, “there is no play around like it, it is giving the audience a new generation of theatre.” (LB) Until June 27. Wharf 1 Theatre, Pier 4 & 5, Hickson Rd, Circular Quay. $55.Tickets & info: https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/whats-on/productions/2015/battle-of-waterloo

Arts Editors: Jamie Apps - Alannah Maher Sub-Editor: Charlotte Foster For more A&E stories go to www.altmedia.net.au and don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter at @AltMediaSydney

Contributors: Brendan Modini, Carmen Cita, Craig Coventry, Greg Webster, Hannah Chapman, Jacob Harrison, James Harkness, Lauren Bell, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Matthew Bernard, Mel Somerville, Michael Muir, Olgar Azar, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Sinead McLaughlin, Siri Williams, Athina Mallis, Leigh Livingstone.

The Umbilical Brothers KiDSHoW! After spending a year in the United States working with the team from Sesame Street, the unforgettable Umbilical Brothers make their long awaited return to Sydney with their new show. It includes all of the elements of your typical kids show from singing and dancing, to audience participation and storytelling, however it takes an unexpected wrong turn, “to the point where it SERIOUSLY SHOULD NOT be watched by children” describes David Collins.

“It’s a kids show that’s probably just crazy enough to NOT be watched by kids,” explains Collins. Having said that, the other half of the comedy duo, Shane Dundas, added: “this is us trying to do a kids show, but it just goes horribly, horribly wrong”.

The duo who have been together for over two decades now and continue to play off of each other with snappy quick wit, often making this reporter laugh during our conversation. They are certainly not short of new material.

“We just try to make each other laugh, the same thing were doing in year one we’re still doing in year 24-and-a-half, and that usually makes the audience laugh,” said David. “The stuff we find funny is getting weirder and weirder, more and more bizarre and left of centre.” Shane added “It’s like music, when you start doing an album of hits and then move onto concept albums, and I think that’s where we’re at, comedy concept albums.”

“I think it’s really overdue, it’s been a while since we’ve been here.

We’ve been working this show up over the last year and half to [make] sure it was hot stuff before we brought it to Sydney and I think it’s ready to throw at Sydneysiders now,” said David. (JA) Jun 19-27, Roslyn Packer Theatre, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, $46.90-$49.90, umbilicalbrothers.com

Benefit Concert for Nepal

Venus in Fur

There’s a real power struggle at the heart of this play.Two very dynamic individuals who have very strong ideas about how to live an authentic life, and they clash. It’s about power and sexuality.

Venus in Fur is a provocative work, it’s quite a dangerous play.

People can expect to be entertained, charmed and challenged.

It’s very funny, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily an easy night at the theatre.The play asks you to come to it and invest in it. But overall it’s incredibly intelligent and incredibly funny. It will speak to a lot of people.

It flips between genres. It’s demanding, but that makes it rewarding.When asked how she deals with the sexuality required of the role,Anna Houston who plays Vanda, explains: “You just have to commit to the story and being in the moment.As an actor you can’t really hold anything back, you have to really give yourself to the storytelling. Sexuality is a really important part of telling that story, in making that literal for the audience.The sexuality is no different to the comedy or pathos, it’s just another ingredient that’s in the mix.

Sexuality is defined in many different ways and what’s sexy or THEATRE & PERFORMANCE GODFACE An experimental and physical work brought to us by Matriark Theatre. Playing at The Old 505 Theatre as part of Freshworks, a program designed to bring unconventional works to the stage, the performance has been described as The Mighty Boosh meets Adventure Time.“The story is about a young girl who goes to a city called Godface, a place populated by gods in all strata – there are gods that live on the street, gods that are chefs and gods that own businesses.The girl enters Godface with the purpose of challenging for the role of leading god in the annual god elections,” told member of Matriark, Scott Parker.With an ensemble of roughly fifteen puppets and five performers, it may appear modest on

thrilling or provocative to some is not to others.The hope is that everyone comes away from the play with something different.”

She continues:“It’s a great experience for an audience to have talking points post show. I hope people have a good robust chat about it, with different interpretations of the story, different ideas about who these people are and what they want to do to each other - that’s a good pay off.” (MS) Until July 5. Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst. $30-$45.Tickets & info: www. darlinghursttheatre.com or 02 8356 9987.

the outside. However with an extensive behind-the-scenes production crew and ambitious script, Godface is sure to impress. (MB) June 9-14,The Old 505 Theatre, 505/342 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, $22 concession $25 adult, Tickets: http://www.trybooking. com/Booking/ BookingEventSummary. aspx?eid=130210 RE:MEMORY Presented by Suitcase Civilians as part of Freshworks, the performance focuses on memory and what we have to gain by looking at the past.This piece includes audience interaction where only 10 people are permitted per performance. Director Sepy Baghaei said it started as a solo theatre performance through the inspiration of people re-telling their memories.“I began interviewing friends on the topic of their ‘best and worst memories’. I recorded their

responses, and used those recordings to devise a solo show.” She describes the show as a “very sensory experience” and hopes that audience members will be surprised by what they experience on the night. (AMal) June 16 – 21. Old 505 Theatre, 505/342 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills. $22-$33.Tickets & info on this and other Freshworks performances: http://www. venue505.com/theatre MISTERMAN Referencing the grand old men of Irish theatre, Misterman is ‘off-the-wall’. Directed by Kate Gaul and starring Thomas Campbell, it’s a one-man show about a small Irish town beset by sin and one man’s Christian attempt to redeem the people of the village. Playing a number of characters, Campbell approached it with Walsh’s stage instructions at the forefront.“It’s highly scripted,” he explains, allowing him to move within

The Paddington Uniting Church in conjunction with the Mid Season Recital group will be hosting a benefit concert for the Nepal earthquake victims. The night will be full of talented performers and various entertainment such as musical acts, poetry recitals and instrumental pieces.

There will be a list of special guests attending the evening. These guests include the Aria award-winning Sally Whitwell, tenor Brad Cooper from Opera Australia and singer Jeannie Lewis.

Sydney composers Peter Urquhart and Caroline Thompson have contributed original works to be performed by Donna Cain, Helen Kwon and the Aurora String Quartet.

the characters and their boundaries, and also working with long-time collaborator Gaul. Irish theatre has a “very sarcastic twist,” says Campbell.

“There’s a sense of humour, which I love, that wants to rile and challenge people.” Misterman is sure to provide.

(OA) Until June 27, the Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling St,Woolloomooloo. $22 - $32 (Earlybird $20).Tickets & info: http://www.oldfitztheatre.com/ misterman/ BEYOND THE NECK This play by Tom Holloway is at its heart a tale of grief and how it ripples through people’s lives. It is set ten years after the devastating Port Arthur Massacre and through the eyes of four strangers, it shows how grief never truly leaves you.This beautifully written play gets its title from the stretch of land you travel through to reach Port Arthur.

The cast is led by David Ritchie, well

In April this year an earthquake shook the small country of Nepal where close to 9000 people died and 23,000 people were injured. This earthquake also triggered an avalanche on Mt Everest killing 19 people.

All proceeds from the benefit concert will be donated to ROPKA, an International Swiss-based Relief Organisation to fund the rebuilding of the small village of Lapundanda where 100% of families have lost their homes.

Light refreshments are included and alcohol is available at the bar. (AMal) June 18, 8pm. Paddington Uniting Church, 395 Oxford St, Paddington. $35-$55. For reservations contact: alisonmarshall1984@bigpond.com

known stage and film actor, who leads a great cast of newcomers, as they play a combination of chorus and character roles to produce a powerful commentary on grief and death. David says it is unpredictable, brilliantly written and complexly thematic. He also states “it is totally engaging and unlike anything you have seen before”.

Whilst the play does deal with grief and death Beyond the Neck is also a story of hope. (LB) Until June 13,The King James Theatre, 644 King St (corner of Bray St Newtown), $27 – $33, $23 for groups of 10 or more. Bookings & information: www.kingsttheatre. com.au EDUCATING RITA The powerful and uplifting story of a working class hairdresser (Catherine McGraffin) looking to broaden her horizons through education, and Frank (Mark Kilmurry), a jaded academic looking

for a means to support his drinking career. Rita’s love for learning rekindles Frank’s passion for English Literature, but will she steer clear of the pretensions and trappings of bourgeois academia? McGraffin comes to the role of Rita with a deep familiarity and love for the character after staring in the production by Anna Cottrell and Anna Crawford.“It has been immeasurably wonderful to play, learn and perform in both the rehearsal room and the theatre,” says Catherine.

“My only critique of the place is that the view can make it difficult to concentrate!” This beloved modern tale of the liberating power of education and the erosive effects of lives half-lived is not to be missed. (JH) Until June 28, 2015. Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli. $25 – $69, Bookings: 02 9929 0644 or www.ensemble.com.au. city hub 11 June 2015

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T H E N A KED CIT Y

WELCOME TO WORLD DETENTION EXPO!

By Coffin Ed, and Miss Death and Jay Katz It’s no secret that Sydney and Australia at large love to host the big international events – showing off our wonderful country and reassuring ourselves that we are a great global player. Okay we may have missed out on the World Cup, for the time being, but there are other opportunities still to be explored.

Ask yourself – what is this country really good at, and what do we lead the world in? There’s really only one word that comes to mind and it’s not cricket. It’s “detention” - and in recent years we have refined the art of locking up refugees, be it in our home based hellholes or in cahoots with those great democracies like Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

The world is currently experiencing a flood of refugees, like we have seldom witnessed, particularly those fleeing from wars in the Middle East and encroaching on European shores. Now is the time for Australia to show the international community just how it should be done as we host the first ever ‘World Detention Expo’.

And what better place to hold it than Sydney Harbour’s very own Alcatraz: Cockatoo Island, which comes ready equipped with its own Nauru style tent city. In recent years Cockatoo has been home to a number of ill-fated film and music festivals with nobody able to pull off the definitive successful event.World Detention Expo would change all that as the Island showcases every aspect of the world wide refugee

incarceration industry.

For starters we would invite all our good friends like Nauru, PNG and Cambodia to host their own pavilions, complete with authentic mock ups of the

facilities they offer. Expo patrons would be playfully frisked and interrogated and kept under constant surveillance (Sarah Hanson-Young style) as they inspect the various showcases and leave with a goody bag of

quinine tablets and miniature stretcher beds. Naturally the big detention industry contractors like Transfield and Wilson Security would host the grandest most impressive pavilions, wooing the international trade with wine and canapes as they screen colourful riot footage on giant LED screens.

The Australian Government would kick in by inviting all international visitors to partake in a unique overnight detention experience.You would leave in a leaky fishing boat from Circular Quay, and purely as a bit of theatre, be constantly turned back by Australian Border Control as you approach the Island. Eventually you would be landed and confined to the expansive tent city for the night. No upmarket ‘glamping’ here, as the tents are stripped back to the absolute basics and your food arrives in a cheap plastic bucket.

Forget about any socialising or hanky panky on the night as a team of burly Nauruan security guards maintain a strict decorum. In the morning you are bussed to the other side of the island to meet with Cambodian officials in a mini size mock-up of Phnom Penh. For just a small brown paper bag donation you are offered complimentary Cambodian citizenship plus a selection of colourful postcards from Angkor Wat. It’s just one of the many delights of World Detention Expo, and yes kiddies are especially welcome.There’s even a lock up crèche for the day, complete with barb wire fencing and absolutely nothing for the kids to do.

So grab your “Stop The Boats” bumper sticker, your Lonely Planet Guide to Cambodia and a dictionary of Nauruan slang – Gulag 2016 awaits!

AFTERGLOW: The Great Speckled Bird PACT Theatre Company is presenting AFTERGLOW this June, a presentation from two emerging artists who will showcase their solo performances.The first performance is The Great Speckled Bird. Ryan McGoldrick, with the help of two musicians, will showcase a multimedia presentation and performance.

The Great Speckled Bird is a piece that deals with the idea of myths and beliefs and how this can be affected in the digital age.The performance includes digital animation and wildlife documentation. McGoldrick, as well as being a performer and a theatre maker, is a current PhD candidate for the University of Wollongong. Ryan and his piece were chosen by PACT when a member of the theatre saw his performance and asked him to be a part of AFTERGLOW.The Great Speckled Bird is a new type of performance piece which is both innovative and exciting. (LB) June 17 - 20. PACT Theatre, 107 Railway Parade, Eveleigh. $15-$20.

Tickets & info: http://www.pact.net. au/2015/04/the-great-speckled-bird/

exhibitions MODERN ABORIGINAL ART AT THE GALLERY – POTTS POINT Since opening its doors in Bronte in 2010, The Gallery Shop has been one of Sydney’s premiere galleries to showcase contemporary Aboriginal Art. Due to popular demand, The Gallery Shop is excited 16

city hub 11 June 2015

to announce the launch of its second space, The Gallery – Potts Point. Exhibitions will change monthly, showcasing Aboriginal artists from remote community art centres throughout Australia.

Nicola’s close work with remote communities has given her access to curate and bring exceptional new works to the city. The current

exhibition is Billy Benn and Conway Ginger’s My World, a contrast of pleasures, with Ginger’s whimsical etchings and watercolours playing with the bold complexities of Benn’s more established work. My World will run till June 26. (JH) 35 Orwell Street, Wednesday to Friday, 11am-6pm and Saturday, 10am-4pm. Details: www.

thegalleryshop.com.au.

HEIDI YARDLEY: MEETING THE SHADOW Yardley will present her debut exhibition Meeting the Shadow at the Arthouse Gallery. This exhibition has been inspired through printed material from the 60’s and 70’s, embedded with monochromatic tones and various textures. Her oil

paintings and charcoal drawings are a personal interpretation of faded memory, reinvention and supernatural inference. The exhibition title is a reference to Carl Jung’s psychoanalytic exploration of the ‘shadow self’ as the darker side of the human mind. This presentation of Yardley’s work is an intricate look into her interpretation

of the ‘shadow self’ and the psychology behind it. For those who are a fan of contemporary art or want to know a little bit more, this show is a great start for you. (AMal) Until June 20, Arthouse Gallery, 66 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay. More info: http://www. arthousegallery.com.au/

Entourage The boys are back and it’s like they never left.The enduring bromance between Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his entourage, Eric (Kevin Connolly), Drama (Kevin Dillon) and Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) is now living large on the big screen.

Entourage series creator and the film’s writer/ director, Doug Ellin, knows how to give fans what they want – fast cars, hot girls, angry Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) and more cameos than viewers will keep up with. Blink and you’ll miss a lot of them.

The appeal of the television series was that it was inspired from real Hollywood escapades and viewers could live the celeb lifestyle vicariously through the boys. Entourage the movie feels like a two-hour episode – a do-over for the somewhat disappointing series finale, where the characters begin with a fresh slate so loose ends can be left

neater than they were at the end of season eight.

Vince makes a risky career move and gets in trouble over a girl, Sloan and Eric have a rocky relationship,Turtle punches above his weight, Drama struggles for fame, and Ari is off his meds.

Sound familiar? It’s the formula for the TV show’s success but unfortunately it feels like everyone is wasted in their roles; watered-down versions who have to share their spotlight with the endless cameos and party girls. Even angry Ari isn’t all that angry. It’s a shame because over-the-top and exaggerated is what fans love.

There are plenty of laughs, in-jokes and elements from the series to make Entourage an enjoyable flick for fans, including a revamped opening title sequence with that trademark theme tune. Oh yeah! (LL) WWW

LAST CAB TO DARWIN This low-budget Australian road-trip film surrounds a dying cab-driver called Rex who drives 3,000 km from Broken Hill to Darwin, hoping to take advantage of new euthanasia laws.

But whilst on this incredible journey, he meets people who force him to re-evaluate his life and ultimately realizes that before he dies he must live life to the fullest, sharing it with loved ones.

Michael Caton is a natural in the lead, supported

by Oscar nominated Jacki Weaver in the role of a Northern Territory doctor who is a passionate ALOHA This romantic comedy written and directed by Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire) feels at its heart like a love letter to Hawaii, wrapped in a romcom, wearing a lei. It’s enjoyable on the surface, and doesn’t take itself too seriously, but a contrived narrative makes it difficult to invest in the central characters and their relationships.The always-delightful Emma Stone is pleasant to watch as the eager young fighter pilot tasked with babysitting Bradley Cooper’s disgraced military contractor.With strong leads backed by Bill Murray, Alec Baldwin, Rachel McAdams and John Krasinski, it’s hard to imagine Aloha wouldn’t be a hit.

Unfortunately the depth lacking in the characters and the script is only momentarily found in beautiful snippets of Hawaiian culture and legends – all too briefly showcased in a subplot that is lost among many competing subplots. (LL) WWW

advocate for euthanasia.

This rewarding and very topical comedy/drama explores themes of belonging, mateship, loneliness and family, and movie-goers will experience a rollercoaster of emotions, laughing one minute and crying the next. (MMo) WWW1/2 June 6-8, showing at selected cinemas as part of the Sydney Film Festival, $19.50, Tickets & info: sff.org.au

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Set in Victorian England, this British romantic drama surrounds Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), a headstrong and fiercely independent farm owner who attracts the affections of three very different men – a sheep farmer (Matthias Schoenaerts), a sergeant (Tom Sturridge) and a prosperous bachelor (Michael Sheen). Adamant that she doesn’t need a husband, she impulsively marries and this sets off a chain of tragic events that changes all their lives. Mulligan is perfectly cast as Bathsheba and works well with Schoenaerts who plays Gabriel, one of her love interests.The sexual chemistry between them is exuberant. Incurable romantics should be captivated by this sweeping romantic tale and especially by the very predicable but satisfying conclusion.(MMo) WWW½ INFINI This ambitious Australian sci-fi film is set in the 23rd Century.

When a catastrophic accident occurs on a mining station in outer space, a rescue team is deployed to save lone survivor Whit Carmichael (Daniel MacPherson), but a deadly alien force awaits.This respectable deep space disaster film is obviously filmed on a smaller budget than its Hollywood counterparts, but is equally as suspenseful and frightening. Immaculate sets, impressive CGI and good performances from a talented cast should allure and satisfy sci-fi enthusiasts.This film will be readily available digitally from May 8 on many platforms including iTunes, Google Play, Quickflix,Telstra, Foxtel On Demand and Dendy Direct.

(MMo) WWW CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA This German-French-Swiss coproduction is a brilliantly written and intense drama which focuses on an actress’s emotional upheaval once she has signed on for the resurrection of a stage play. Many

viewers will be exhausted by the depth in themes and perplexed by the complexities in characterizations and storylines, but lovers of fine cinema should be absorbed and challenged by these intricacies.

Beautifully filmed in the stunning and remote regions of the Alps, this is a performance driven film with the talents of three exceptional actresses also including Kristen Stewart. (MMo) WWWW HUMPBACK WHALES 3D Audiences join the expedition as scientists traverse the oceans of the world in search of humpback whales and make new discoveries about their feeding and mating habits.

Narrated by Ewan McGregor, this documentary which is exclusively filmed in the 70mm IMAX format for giant screens is insightful and educational.

In all its grandeur, this production translates to an exhilarating and rewarding experience for the entire

family. (MMo) IMAX, Darling Harbour, $17 – $23, imax.com.au WWWW KUMIKO,THE TREASURE HUNTER This drama explores the ideal that obsession can lead to disillusionment and a slow path to self-destruction.

Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi) is depressed and lives a lonely and mundane life in Tokyo. Upon viewing a discarded copy of the 1996 film Fargo, she obsesses over the illusion that the hidden fortune exists and embarks on a desperate search to America.

She loses touch with reality and ultimately fantasy leads to danger.

Comic elements are welcoming and stem from the delightful and quirky characters Kumiko meets on her journey.

Beautifully filmed, especially scenes in the frozen Minnesota wilderness, this film thrives from its originality.

(MMo) WWW½ SUNDAY Sunday opens on what

appears to be a couple in a physical and emotional paradise. This atmosphere is soon completely shattered; we have been watching a flashback. No longer a couple and separated by distance, Australian Charlie (Dustin Clare) arrives in Christchurch hoping to win back Eve (Camille Keenan) and contend with the arrival of what usually is considered a bundle of joy.

Throughout the film we are not treated to grandiose scenes of adventurous and comedic wooing but instead revel in the reality of the characters situation. It is easy to relate to them because the actors play them with such honesty, we often find ourselves siding with one but also understanding the motives of the other.

Shot in an earthquake ravaged Christchurch; the terrain also adds an element of either hope or impending disaster.You’ll just have to find out! (BM) WWW city hub 11 June 2015

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Sydney Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE

By Jamie Apps The Sticks: What began as weekly event in a small Redfern bar has quickly grown into an exciting new project for this Sydney electronic trio, as they perform a unique brand of live improvised electronic music that pushes the boundaries of post-produced beats and free improvisation.

Thu, Jun 11, Red Rattler Mike Waters: It came as a complete surprise to his friends, family and colleagues when Waters revealed he had been writing beautiful songs in secret over the past decade whilst also working in the corporate web-development world.

Fri, Jun 12, Oxford Art Gallery Gallery Bar Gay Paris: Having awoken from their slumber, Gay Paris return with a new album and are more hungry and driven than ever to perform their signature pounding, gruff, guitar driven sound for fans once again.

Sat, Jun 13,The Metro Theatre Sal Kimber & The Rollin’ Wheel: Following the release of their haunting new single Stumble In The Dark, this five piece outfit is set to put the wheels in motion on a seven date tour stopping in Sydney this weekend. Described by Rolling Stone as “Australiana soaked alt-country at its finest” - this is a show not to be missed.

Sun, Jun 14, Newtown Social Club

Reece Mastin

Sydney Chamber Choir: Founder Nathan Routley returns for the first time since giving up the baton in 2006 to conduct the 40th anniversary concert, celebrating creativity inspired by loss and death. Also returning are 26 former choirists for this special performance of Brahms’ German Requiem. Accompanying the choir will be two pianos to bring a full voice to the performance.The choir will also be debuting a new work by former member Clare Maclean on the night.

Sun, Jun 14, Great Hall of Sydney University

By jamie apps Most people will recognise the name Reece Mastin from his time on X Factor but recently the young man has taken a huge leap with his career, moving over to independent record label Social Family Records. Since his time on the show Mastin has grown both musically and personally taking on an ambassadorial role with the charity White Ribbon, an organisation working to stop violence against women.

When speaking about his decision to move across to Social Family Records Mastin had this to say;“the benefit with Social Family has been that I have 100% control creatively. So it’s been good for me to let myself go a little bit and do what I wanted to do.” To which he added with a laugh,“the only bad thing is that if everyone hates it it’s all on my head.”

With this new direction, Mastin has been able to explore his passion for rock and roll as he

Steven Isserlis with Connie Shih: Musica Viva this weekend will see internationally renowned cellist Steven Isserlis and Canadian pianist Connie Shih combine in an impressive double-billing, performing works by four great composers united by their love of all things French.

Mon, Jun 15, City Recital Hall Angel Place Musica Anonymous: Bringing together Adelaide’s award-winning Zephyr Quartet and acclaimed New York-based, Sydney-born soprano Jane Sheldon to pay tribute to unknown composers. Exploring the intimate emotions and wonderful legacy of folk music given to us by unknown composers throughout the ages, and goes on to question the future of traditional folk music.

Wed, Jun 17, Sydney Opera House

attempts to find his “own individual sound”.

Recently Mastin released his first EP Rebel And The Reason with his new label, and it’s clear that progress has been made towards finding his own niche market and sound.

Following the recording of the EP a quick writing expedition to the US was on the cards to expand his knowledge and create material for an upcoming album.“We went over for about two weeks and have about ten or eleven songs to throw into the pile. Now we’re looking at picking the tracks and getting it recorded to

hopefully have out by the end of the year.”

As a man Mastin has grown considerably as well, undertaking an ambassadorial role with White Ribbon.“The more I’m learning about violence against women and studying it, the more I realise how intense it is and how much it is going on. People don’t talk about it, especially us as men, so it’s important to let people know it’s ok to talk about it and stand up to say ‚no’ if we see it going on.” According to statistics from White Ribbon, one in four children witness violence against women in their home and on average one woman a week dies at the hands of an ex or current partner, showing that this is an extremely important issue in Australia.

“I wanted to bring the issue to peoples attention, and because my audience is predominantly young girls, plus I’ve got three sisters as well so I’d hate to see any woman I know in any of those scenarios,” said Mastin whilst speaking about his confronting Rebel And The Reason video clip.

Jun 12, Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville, $35+b.f, factorytheatre.com.au

Du Blonde: Welcome Back to Milk

Oisima: Nicaragua Nights

This sophomore album sees the singer shaking off any suggestion of chamber pop and folk music in favour of distortion and driving drums.

Vocally, Du Blonde is a contradictory mix of tough mellow, smooth yet solid.The singer’s recent trips to the US add a distinctly American flavor some songs. IfYou’re Legal is part beach-psych and part punk, and After The Show has some 1950s rock n’ roll throwback. (HC) WWW1/2

I have never been to Nicaragua, but I hope this is what it sounds like at night time. Grovers lament warps brass and voice spilling into the night from a local club, mashing together like the memory of an exciting evening verging on, but not crossing the line, into an uncomfortable dream. Piano keys tinkle calm and repetitive against sporadic saxophone, outlining the delicate balance in the music and the places it evokes. In this album are the reasons to travel, the experience, the sights, sounds and tastes that differ from our regular surroundings wherever you are. WWW

FREEWILLASTROLOGY

by Rob Brezsny

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “To look at a thing hard and straight and seriously -- to fix it.” Aries author Henry James said he wanted to do that on a regular basis. He didn’t want to be “arbitrary” or “mechanical” in his efforts. I invite you to make this perspective one of your specialties in the coming weeks, Aries. Pick out a tweaked situation you’d like to mend or a half-spoiled arrangement you want to heal. Then pour your pure intelligence into it. Investigate it with a luminous focus. Use all your tough and tender insight to determine what needs to be transformed, and transform it.

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Drug expert Jonathan P. Caulkins estimates that Americans are stoned on marijuana for more than 288 million hours every week. A U.N. report on global drug use concluded that Canadians consume weed at a similar rate.

Among Europeans, Italians are number one and the French are fourth. But I encourage you to avoid contributing to these figures for the next twelve to fourteen days. In my astrological opinion, it’s time to be as sober and sensible and serious as you ever get.

You have the chance to make unprecedented progress on practical matters through the power of your pure reasoning and critical thinking.

18

city hub 11 June 2015

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I think it’ll be better if you don’t engage in much sacrifice, compromise, or surrender in the next two weeks. Normally they are valuable tools to have at your disposal, but for now they may tend to be counterproductive. Judging from the current astrological omens, I suspect you need to be more commanding than usual, more confident in your vision of how to take action with maximum integrity. It’s time for you to draw deeper from the source of your own power, and express it with extra grace and imagination.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I propose a Friends Cleanse. It would be a threeweek-long process of reviewing your support team and web of connections. If you feel up for the challenge, start this way: Take inventory of your friendships and alliances.

If there are any that have faded or deteriorated, make a commitment to either fix them or else phase them out. Here’s the second stage of the Friends Cleanse: Give dynamic boosts to those relationships that are already working well. Take them to the next level of candor and synergy.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You will soon be escaping -- or maybe “graduating” is the right word -- from your interesting trials and tribulations. In honor of this cathartic transition, I suggest you consider doing a ritual. It can be a full-fledged ceremony you conduct with somber elegance, or a five-minute psychodrama you carry out with boisterous nonchalance.

It will be a celebration of your ability to outlast the forces of chaos and absurdity, and an expression of gratitude for the resources you’ve managed to call on in the course of your struggle. To add an extra twist, you could improvise a rowdy victory prayer that includes this quote adapted from Nietzsche: “I throw roses into the abyss and say: ‘Here is my thanks to the monster who did not devour me.’”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): After Walt Whitman published Leaves of Grass in 1855, he made sure it would get the publicity he wanted. He wrote anonymous reviews of his own book and submitted them to several publications, all of which printed them.

“An American bard at last!” began the glowing review that appeared in one newspaper.

According to my reading of the astrological omens, Virgo, you now have license to engage in similar behavior. You will incur no karma, nor will you tempt fate, if you tout your own assets in the coming weeks.

Try to make your bragging and self-promotion as charming as possible, of course. But don’t be timid about it.

C

d

e

f

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If you carry out the assignments I recommend,

g

you will boost your charisma, your chutzpah, and your creativity. Here’s the first one: Try something impossible every day. Whether or not you actually accomplish it isn’t important. To merely make the effort will shatter illusions that are holding you back. Here’s your second assignment: Break every meaningless rule that tempts you to take yourself too seriously. Explore the art of benevolent mischief. Here’s the third: Clear out space in your fine mind by shedding one dogmatic belief, two unprovable theories, and three judgmental opinions. Give yourself the gift of fertile emptiness.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the 16th century, roguish French author Francois Rabelais published a comic novel entitled The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel.

In the course of his satirical story, a learned teacher named Epistemon takes a visit to the afterlife and back. While on the other side, he finds famous dead heroes employed in humble tasks. Alexander the Great is making a meager living from mending old socks.

Cleopatra is hawking onions in the streets. King Arthur cleans hats and Helen of Troy supervises chambermaids.

In accordance with the Rabelaisian quality of your current astrological aspects, Scorpio, I invite you to meditate on the reversals you would like to see in your own life. What is first that maybe should be

h

last? And vice versa? What’s enormous that should be small? And vice versa? What’s proud that should be humble?

And vice versa?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): There’s no better time than now to ask the big question or seek the big opening or explore the big feeling. People are not only as receptive as they will ever be, they are also more likely to understand what you really mean and what you are trying to accomplish. Which door has been forever locked? Which poker face hasn’t blinked or flinched in many moons? Which heart of darkness hasn’t shown a crack of light for as long as you can remember? These are frontiers worth revisiting now, when your ability to penetrate the seemingly impenetrable is at a peak.

i

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The writer Donald Barthelme once came to see the artist Elaine de Kooning in her New York studio. Midway through the visit, loud crashes and bangs disturbed the ceiling above them. De Kooning wasn’t alarmed. “Oh, that’s Herbert thinking,” she said, referring to the metal sculptor Herbert Ferber, who worked in a studio directly above hers. This is the kind of thinking I’d love to see you unleash in the coming days, Capricorn. Now is not a time for mild, cautious, delicate turns of thought, but rather for vigorous meditations, rambunctious

j

speculations, and carefree musings. In your quest for practical insight, be willing to make some noise. (The story comes from Barthelme’s essay “Not-Knowing.”)

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sidney Lumet was an American director who worked on 50 films, including 14 that were nominated for Academy Awards, like Network and Dog Day Afternoon. Actors loved to work with him, even though he was a stickler for thorough rehearsals. Intense preparation, he felt, was the key to finding the “magical accidents” that allow an actor’s highest artistry to emerge. I advocate a similar strategy for you, Aquarius.

Make yourself ready, through practice and discipline, to capitalize fully on serendipitous opportunities and unexpected breakthroughs when they arrive.

k

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “It is not only the most difficult thing to know oneself, but the most inconvenient one, too,” said American writer Josh Billings. I agree with him.

It’s not impossible to solve the mystery of who you are, but it can be hard work that requires playful honesty, cagey tenacity, and an excellent sense of humor. The good news is that these days it’s far less difficult and inconvenient than usual for you to deepen your self-understanding. So take advantage! To get started, why don’t you interview yourself?

l

Kings Court Massage Kings Court is the only place to have twenty two massage rooms and eleven hot tubs, spas, and bubble baths.

Wall to wall beautiful ladies, pool tables and luxurious leather lounges. You can have a coffee while you meet the ladies and enjoy the friendly atmosphere.

Approachable managers help you choose a lady for your massage. There is a fair queuing system and no hidden charges or credit card fees. We are just along from Central Railway at 261 Parramatta Rd Glebe, NSW 2037 Phone 02 9660 0666 Its a $9.00 Taxi Ride from the CBD Visit our web site at

www.kingscourt.com.au We are open 9 am to 1 am and 24 hours on Weekends. There is a 20% discount from 9 am to 12 noon & FREE ENTRY before 9 pm each day.

After 9 pm a $20 entry fee forms part of the pricing structure and also protects the massage ladies from insincere callers.

Parking is available in the Broadway Shopping Centre near our discreet rear entrance at 18 Grose St Glebe, 2 hrs free.

Check out the website:

www.kingscourt.com.au for information, funny stuff and pictures of pretty women. There are no photos of the regular girls as they are too shy and we don’t provide full service.

Also check out Big John’s Facebook to see a mixture of really funny pics, photos, stories and links to the best pages of our website. This is updated regularly:

www.facebook.com/KingsBigJohn Kings Court Massage: Where the first time customer can meet the first time massage girl!

VACANCIES Kings Court is the best place to learn adult massage. You can work with us part time or casual and you are paid cash daily. Work times can suit students or young mothers. When you start we get one of the regular girls to show you how to do your first massage. We have off street parking for ladies with cars and for your interview you can park in the Broadway Shopping Centre near our discreet rear entry with two hours free parking. The 18 Grose Street Glebe NSW 2037 address is the best way to find us using GPS plotting. Ring us on 02 9660 0666. Some ladies from out of town stay over when they visit. We have the bestest and sweetest customers of any place. The website is www.kingscourt.com.au On the home page have a look at, “Is this your first time” and see the ten tips that help customers to understand how we do business and how they must behave towards our girls.

Hi, this is Big John the owner of Kings Court.

Big John says: These cartoons really are based on things that happen!

Juice Magazine printed an interview with a star drummer (name changed) from a major group from the USA and we made our full page cartoon from the words he had actually said. When asked about his trip over here they printed it exactly as above, except for the last panel.

It seems that from time to time guys just want to meet normal ladies and have a nice time being polite. They come to Kings Court Massage and enjoy the relaxing informal atmosphere in the lounge, spa and massage. It really

is a very nice experience and you can sit naked in the spa with a pretty girl and have champagne at no extra charge. It is about half the price of going to similar places where they offer more. We have very nice, normal “girl-nextdoor” types here and because we don’t allow the girls to have their privacy invaded they remain as sweet young things and do not toughen up. You will leave with a smile on your face and a tremble in your knees!

The best new thing we have at the moment is all the really funny stuff on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/KingsBigJohn

city hub 11 June 2015

19

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