CITY HUB March 2021

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LINDA’S LABOR OF LOVE Linda Scott enters Sydney’s mayoral race

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HubNEWS

Metro-Minerva Theatre resurrection deemed viable (See p. 10)

The other side of the rainbow

BY ALLISON HORE his week a 90-meter rainbow footpath which runs along the area of Prince Alfred Park known “Equality Green” was unveiled in Surry Hills.

T HubARTS: Reuben Kaye “I like to think of myself as a diamond. I’m shiny, I love to be polished and I’m best being fingered by the very wealthy.”

(See p. 20)

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But its reveal, through a photoshoot on the Lord Mayor’s personal facebook page, has raised concern among other councillors.

The footpath was painted in rainbow colours in celebration of marriage equality following a suggestion by the Surry Hills Business Partnership. When the idea was brought before the City of Sydney council in November, it had unanimous support.

Equality Green in Prince Alfred Park is a significant location for the pride path as it’s where 30,000 people gathered to hear the results of Australia’s same sex marriage plebiscite.

Independent councillor Kerryn Phelps, a key figure in the marriage equality campaign, told City Hub she and her wife Jackie were amongst the crowd on the day to hear the result. She said it was a moment they had “worked hard to achieve for two decades.”

“When Jackie and I visited the site today we were reminded of the overwhelming emotions of that day in 2017, of elation and relief,” she said.

“Elation because the majority of Australians had voted YES, and relief that the horrible and distressing time of the brutal “No” campaign and the postal survey was over.”

But when the much anticipated footpath was revealed this week it wasn’t through council social media pages or a public opening, it was through a promotional photoshoot for Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s social media page.

Dr. Phelps said neither she nor Christine Forster, who is also a member of the LGBTQI+ community and was also a key figure in the marriage equality campaign, were invited to share in the moment it was revealed.

“This is an issue Jackie and I worked on for two decades and you would think, at the very least, that the two LGBTQI councillors would have been invited to what is an extremely important and emotional place for us and our families,” she said.

Kerryn Phelps and her wife Jackie Stricker walk on the rainbow footpath in Prince Alfred Park. Photo: Supplied

UNUSUAL BUT NOT UNPRECEDENTED

Dr. Phelps said Ms. Moore posting the reveal on her own social media profiles as opposed to council ones was “an unusual move” as it was a “historic initiative” all of council should be proud of. But she noted this was not the first time this has happened.

“Projects like this are City of Sydney projects. All councillors assess the merits, and vote on them and we take an interest in the impact they have on our various communities,” she said.

“Yet they were “launched” and opened by Clover Moore without other councillors even being told about it, let alone included.”

When Jackie and I

visited the site today we were reminded of the overwhelming emotions When approached for comment, Ms. Forster agreed with Dr. Phelps’ sentiment and said “it’s a pattern of behaviour for the Lord Mayor to exclude opposition councillors from such opportunities.”

“The rainbow is supposed to be for the entire community, not just Clover’s cronies,” she told City Hub. The timing of these private openings in the lead up to the City of Sydney council election, which will be held on Saturday 4 September 2021, has also

raised eyebrows among Mayor Moore’s challengers.

Dr. Phelps said while “there is no doubt that Clover Moore has been a strong ally for the LGBTQI community,” the use of Equality Green and the rainbow path for Ms. Moore’s personal political purposes was offensive to her and many others.

CLOVER MOORE RESPONDS

Responding to the criticism, a spokesperson from the Lord Mayor’s office clarified “there was no official event or launch to be invited to” and said councillors were kept in the loop on the project’s progress.

“Councillors are kept up to date on the completion and delivery schedule of all City projects via weekly update reports from the CEO. They received a detailed memo about the rainbow footpath and timeline for delivery in January,” the spokesperson said.

Ms. Moore said the photoshoot on the rainbow footpath was not planned as an opening event, rather, it was done after the pathway was already opened to the public.

“The rainbow footpath was painted over the weekend and open for the public to enjoy on Monday afternoon. After seeing some wonderful photos of dogs and people enjoying our new footpath on Equality Green, I popped down on Tuesday to get a photo too,” she explained.

She said she hopes the footpath will serve as a reminder both to how far the LGBTQI+ community has come as well as “the distance yet to travel toward equality.”

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HubNEWS

Council clashes with State

BY ALLISON HORE fter lengthy discussions, the City of Sydney council has voted to support a revised version of the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC)’s proposed redevelopment for a public housing estate in south Waterloo.

But the LAHC has fired back at council for their delay in approving the development, leading to bitter debate between the two levels of government.

Councillors voted unanimously on Monday night to approve the LAHC’s proposal to redevelop the housing estate at Waterloo South, but only with extensive revisions.

The NSW Government first began developing plans to redevelop 12 hectare housing estate in 2011. But disagreement between the council and the NSW Land and Housing Corporation stalled progress on the development.

Sydney’s Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said the delays and the revisions were necessary to provide good outcomes for both current and future Waterloo residents.

“Throughout this long and complex process, the City has listened to and advocated for good outcomes for the Waterloo community,” Mayor Moore said.

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Concept art of the City of Sydney’s proposal for the Waterloo estate. Photo: City of Sydney

“Our emphasis has always been on increasing the amount of social and affordable housing as part of the redevelopment, ensuring high quality streets and public spaces, maximising access to sunlight, and delivering sustainable and accessible buildings.”

Waverley Council Update

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REVISED PLANS

The revised plans came after an assessment of the state government’s proposal to build nine 20-to-30-storey towers on the site. Peter John Cantrill, the City’s urban design program manager, said the government’s

plan would lead to poor outcomes for residents.

“We believe the changes we have made will lead to a better living environment for residents, without reducing the number of homes built,” Mr. Cantrill said.

Continued on page 5

HubNEWS

over Waterloo Estate

(Continued from page 4)

Under the revised plans council is proposing three high-rise buildings, instead of nine. Council says their plan would also give residents more access to sunlight and wider, easier to navigate and accessible streets and walkways.

A large park proposed next to Waterloo metro station would provide more green space for residents.

“Our amended proposal, a collection of mostly medium rise buildings, provides a safer, more accessible and greener design. It increases the number of social housing dwellings without reducing the overall number of homes created,” explained Ms. Moore.

The City of Sydney says under their revised proposal there will still be a 23 percent increase in the number of social housing dwellings on the estate. In real terms, this would mean an increase from 749 to 920 dwellings.

The city’s proposal also suggests 10 percent of the affordable housing stock in the development be set aside for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households. This comes after the City of Sydney voted unanimously in support of a motion put forward by Councillor

Philip Thalis getting behind a campaign for Aboriginal affordable housing in the Redfern and Waterloo area.

Compared to the LAHC’s proposal which was quickly slammed by the community, the City of Sydney’s rework of it has been met with a mostly positive response.

BITTER POLITICS But housing Minister Melinda Pavey accused the city of putting “politics before people” by delaying the approval of a number of social housing redevelopment proposals across the city.

A note prepared by her office said there are more than 1000 social housing dwellings awaiting approval, including in Waterloo South, Elizabeth Street in Redfern and Cowper Street in Glebe.

Minister Stokes said the council’s decision would “prolong the stalemate,” but that he believed the proposal put forward by the City of Sydney was “superior” to the one created by the LAHC. He said the LAHC is “mistaken” if they believe he will act in their favor.

“The plan that the city have gone with is much better than the one that was originally put forward by LAHC, so having

A great start at I N T E R N AT I O N A L G R A M M A R S C H O O L

this process of mediation and discussion has produced a much better outcome, but it’s still not an outcome which is acceptable to both of the parties,” Mr. Stokes said.

“The time is now for us to make progress on the Waterloo proposal, and it’s important we get on with the job of renewing public housing, capitalising on infrastructure investment, and creating great places.”

We believe the changes we have made will lead to a better living environment for residents The Waterloo Public Housing Group agreed with Minister Stokes that the City of Sydney’s proposal was better than the one being put forward by the LAHC. They believe the city’s plans will provide “better community and urban outcomes, lower building heights and affordable and social housing targets of 50 percent compared to LAHCs plans for 35 percent.”

“The community wants the “best” result, not the “fastest” result,” a spokesperson from the group said.

“This is a 20 year major development, with the final outcome that will

permanently change our city for the next 50 years. An extra month or year of serious consideration is warranted.”

They said the council’s rework of the proposal should not be framed simply as a stalling tactic, but should be given serious consideration by all parties involved.

“This is what the community has been asking for all along and the City’s plans should be given serious consideration rather than being written off as a roadblock,” City of Sydney councillor and mayoral candidate in the upcoming local government elections, Dr. Kerryn Phelps, says it’s important the people living in the development are not forgotten during the political back and forth.

“Behind the headlines and various government announcements, live thousands of Sydneysiders, each with their own stories of struggle and triumph, strength and vulnerability, who have lived in limbo for over five years,” she said.

“Let’s not forget this is about the people, not the politics.”

The proposed amendments will be placed on a 60-day exhibition for public feedback before plans are approved.

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HubNEWS

Win for affordable housing in Waverley

TANYA PLIBERSEK FEDERAL MEMBER FOR SYDNEY Waverley Council say changes to state government policy will make it easier for councils to levy developers.

Photo: Waverley Council

HERE TO HELP As your local representative, I can assist with enquiries or problems you have with Federal Government departments and services like Centrelink, immigration, superannuation, Child Support payments, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS), Veterans’ Affairs, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the National Broadband Network (NBN), universities, employment, training, Commonwealth funding and grants.

STAYING IN TOUCH To keep up to date with my activities (incuding my mobile offices), issues and events - both locally and nationally, please subscribe to my eNews at tanyaplibersek.com.

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES My office can arrange messages of congratulations for people who live in my electorate and are celebrating their golden (50th) and diamond (60th) wedding anniversaries; and 90th and subsequent birthdays. Please allow for 6-8 weeks for congratulatory messages from dignatories.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE My office offers Justice of the Peace (JP) services on Mondays (2pm-4.30pm); Tuesdays (10am-1pm); and Thursdays (2pm-4.30pm). Please contact my office to make an appointment.

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BY ALLISON HORE averley Council has won a five year battle to give councils in metropolitan Sydney more power to levy developers for losses in their local government area’s affordable housing stock.

Previously, in order for councils around Sydney to receive a monetary contribution from developers who had removed affordable rental housing for a high-end development, councils had to prove the property was considered “affordable” on the 28th January 2000.

This meant councils were missing out on levies from developers for removing properties which were not considered “affordable” by 2000s standards, but are considered affordable today.

Waverley Council has successfully lobbied the government for the date to be scrapped from the Affordable Rental Housing State Environmental Planning Policy (ARHSEPP).

“Trying to prove that a rental unit was deemed affordable housing 20 years ago when there’s little or no available rental data meant councils including Waverley were losing affordable housing supply with no means of creating more,” Mayor of Waverley Paula Masselos explained.

“In the last few years alone, our council has lost more than $3million in potential monetary contribution payments to offset the loss of affordable housing in Waverley at a time when housing affordability generally has emerged as a critical issue of state significance.”

Waverley Council began advocating to change the ARHSEPP in 2017 and rallied the Planning Institute of Australia for their help to bring the issue to the attention of the department. From the first of February, the date was cut from the policy.

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“I am very proud of Waverley Council’s Strategic Town Planning team for making it their mission to bring about this significant policy change and make a real difference to the lives of thousands of families in NSW,” said Ms. Masselos.

“I also applaud the Department for taking this step.”

NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

In Waverley, affordable housing is lacking. In a housing report put together by council, they agreed “the current forms of affordable housing supply are not going to meet the relevant demand”.

In the last few years alone, our council has lost more than $3million in potential monetary contribution To qualify for affordable housing in the Waverley council area, a household’s total income must be between $68,640 and $118,300 per year. Households must also be able to demonstrate they have lived in the council area for at least the past 3 years or lived or worked in Waverley for at least 5 of the past 10 years.

Although Waverley remains one of the wealthiest local government areas across the state, with 39 percent of households considered “high income households,” the household income to house price ratio has risen from 4 in 1994 to 12 in 2016.

The Waverley Council says the change to the ARHSEPP will allow councils to build up their affordable housing stock.

ADDISON ROAD COMMUNITY ORGANISATION

By Mark Mordue

All over the world, March 21st is marked by a United Nations supported event known as ‘International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’. Only in Australia has it been rebranded as ‘Harmony Day’, diluting its relevance.

Addison Road Community Organisation CEO Rosanna Barbero says, “It’s meaningless to do this, especially given our history and the treatment of Indigenous Australians. So, while the rest of the world is talking about racism and discrimination, in Australia the message is be ‘harmonious’, to keep your head in the sand and don’t make waves.”

On Sunday March 21st, Addi Road, along with the Inner West Council and Inner West Multicultural Network, will be holding a major event at our centre in Marrickville. There will be music, food stalls, speakers and open conversation acknowledging the true meaning and spirit of the day. Former SBS presenter and Addi Road ambassador, Craig Foster, will reflect on his work with refugees and the state of civil society in Australia. Warren Roberts, a Thungutti and Bundjalung man, will facilitate one of his Yarn Circles, intimate and powerful conversational gatherings that aim to promote greater understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

bold new anti-racist campaign devised by the Inner West Multicultural Network in partnership with Addison Road Community Organisation.

Other elements include a video and an art exhibition created by Liz Deep-Jones called We Bleed the Same that is happening later in the year, and a university-hosted website where stories and experiences of racism will be documented. Local councils from all over the Australia are also expressing an interest.

through our television sets or mobile phones, it’s eradicated in every local street, every local cafe, every community park, every local library.

And a fair and equal life for all is built, conversation by conversation, in our buses, not on them; in our local businesses, not on their poster walls in every interaction that we have at a local level … [As] the great Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘we must be the change that we wish to see in the world.’”

The Inner West Multicultural Network first developed their #RacismNotWelcome campaign in response to a worrying increase in racist attacks in our community during 2020.

There is research-based evidence for this rise in racism, including the ‘I Am Not a Virus’ report from the Asian-Australian Alliance documenting 377 incidents between April and June, 2020 alone. Incidents symptomatic of a wider and deeper problem.

It's in this spirit of being the change we wish to see in the world that we invite you and everyone in our community to come along on March 21.

Come along and acknowledge the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination with us. There is no harmony in racism, but there is power in our union when we come together to fight it.

EVENT DETAILS 2-6pm, March 21st at Addi Road 142 Addison Road, Marrickville.

More info: www.addiroad.org.au

“We must be the change that we wish to see in the world”

Entertainment will include Colombian musicians in Covid exile, La Boheme; the drumming collective, Bondi Sunset Music; and a dance group and a singing group from our strongly represented Fijian community. There will also be an open mic for poets and rappers to let loose on the theme for this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: ‘Youth standing up to racism’.

As the rapper and podcast maker Kween G observed, “My four-year old daughter started pre-school at a centre in Marrickville last year.

She was so excited to make friends, to learn, and to have educators to support her. When I picked her up from her first day, I asked her, ‘How was school?’ She said some girls told her that she couldn’t play with them because she’s brown. She told me she wants to be white so that other children can like her. I still have the conversations with her. But I can’t be the only one teaching my daughter about racism and how to defend herself. She had been denied the justice she deserves, but yesterday when she stood in from of the ‘Racism Not Welcome’ sign and took a picture with a big smile I felt that she got the justice she deserved.”

You may have meanwhile seen street signs declaring #RacismNOTWelcome erected at key locations across Sydney’s Inner West. The City of Sydney is now taking up the idea and the signs will soon appear all over the city. Along with our celebration on March 21st, it’s part of a

Craig Foster reinforced Kween G’s words in a strong speech given to the Inner West Council.

“Why must we act to install these #RacismNotWelcome signs across the Inner West? Because as worthwhile as prominent national campaigns are, racism is not fought

Morning Tea to celebrate 30 years of multicultural childcare Opened by Bob Hawke in 1988, the childcare centre at Addison Road Community Centre has provided the multicultural community of Marrickville and beyond with support, recognition and social connection for more than 30 years without ever being formally celebrated.

Over this time it has supported some of the most marginalised and ‘invisible’ members of the Inner West community, including working families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds across several generations. This

vital history is important to note in relation to federal support for childcare as a women’s rights issues.

Our morning tea will bring together families, educators, community workers and neighbours, and many multicultural organisations that have been based at Addi Road since 1976. Current and former staff, childcare workers and advocates, families and friends are all invited.

Morning Tea: 11am, Saturday 27th March, Gumbramorra Hall, Addison Road Community Centre.

More info & RSVP: CITY HUB MARCH 2021 7 Mina, programs@addiroad.org.au or 9569 7633

HubNEWS

Pride protesters take over Oxford Street Protesters carrying flags of all colours of the rainbow line up on Oxford Street.

Photo: Allison Hore

BY ALLISON HORE rotesters took over Oxford Street on Saturday, ahead of the Mardi Gras parade, in an effort to put the politics back in pride.

Despite police threats to shut down the protest earlier in the week, at around 2pm hundreds of protesters carrying pride flags of all sorts descended onto Taylor Square, the center of Sydney’s LGBTQI+ community.

The rally was organised by activist group Pride in Protest, who have long lamented the “pink washing” and “sanitisation” of Mardi Gras. They estimate up to 3,000 people showed up for the protest, but more conservative guesses have the group closer to 1,000 people.

Among the issues the protesters hoped to draw attention to are a One Nation education bill which would outlaw mention of gender diversity in schools, treatment of LGBTQI+ refugees in Australian detention, the rights of sex workers and Indigenous deaths in custody.

The crowd assembled in Taylor Square heard from a diverse range of LGBTQI+ speakers including Indigenous people, refugees, sex workers and politicians.

Mark Gillespie, a 78er, also spoke at the rally. He said the crowd turning out, despite police threats to fight for justice, gave him hope for the future.

“I’m going to get a little emotional because as I stand here on this occasion I am recalling the first Mardi Gras,” he told the crowd.

“Those of us who were active politically in the 60s and 70s, like me, we had an

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energy and we knew where it came from.

I remember that night where we broke through the cordon of police, and we called out ‘off to the cross’, I remember what was fuelling us was- and I think it’s fuelling you today- is this desire for justice.”

POLICE OPPOSE THE MARCH In the lead up to the protest, organisers say NSW police had formally opposed the protest citing coronavirus concerns and public health orders, despite NSW seeing zero COVID-19 transmissions for over a month. 36,000 people were also set to descend upon the Sydney Cricket Ground for the official event later that same evening. Protest organisers called the double standard “hypocritical”.

However, widespread backlash from the LGBTQI+ community, Labor and Greens politicians and human rights organisations led NSW Health to grant the demonstration an exemption from the public health order limiting Sydney protests to 500 people.

This is the first such exemption that has been granted by NSW Health, Health Minister Brad Hazzard refused to give an exemption to an Invasion Day rally in Sydney in January. Pride in Protest touted the decision as a win for the right to protest in the state, but said the exemption didn’t really address the root of the issue which is the “over policing” of Mardi Gras.

“This is a massive win for not only the right to protest but for the queer community to say that the fight against transphobia and homophobia cannot wait,” they said in a statement.

“The police will not stand in the way of our community demanding our rights this Mardi Gras.”

PUTTING POLITICS BACK IN PRIDE The official parade had a sprinkling of political messages. The First Nations group leading the parade themed their entry “Black Lives Matter”. Members of protest group Extinction Rebellion made a showing, carrying an effigy of Gladys Berejiklian behind jail bars labelled “koala killer”- a reference to a controversial planning policy.

As I stand here on this occasion I am recalling the first Mardi Gras The NSW Police float was also briefly held up by political satire group, the Department of Homo Affairs, who fittingly dressed as cricket umpires and stood in the path of the marching officers holding a “Cops Out- HOWZAAAT!!!” banner. The four members of the group were each slapped with $165 fines for their stunt.

But compared to the radical origins of Mardi Gras, the official parade was mostly sanitised and corporate-friendly.

Speaking in front of protesters on Saturday afternoon April Holcombe, from Community Action for Rainbow Rights, said it’s important these radical origins of pride are recognised and honoured.

“Mardi Gras, the original Mardi Gras, was a protest. Stonewall was a riot.

And that’s how we can be where we are today, but we still have so far to go and we need to remember that,” she said.

“It was protest, it was mass action that got us to where we are today, and it’s going to be protest and mass action that gets us the rest of the way.”

Following the speeches at Taylor Square, the protesters took to the streets, marching down Oxford Street towards Hyde Park. Leading the way for marchers was a group of activists carrying a huge pink, white and blue transgender pride flag. Organisers say it’s the largest trans pride flag in Australia.

When protesters reached the intersection between Oxford, College and Wentworth Streets they came to a halt in an attempt to prolong the group’s occupation of the street.

Police issued formal move on orders to the protesters at the front of the procession, and they continued into Hyde Park. There, organisers thanked the attendees for coming along and sending a strong message that politics belongs at pride.

“We have made sure that pride has taken over the streets, that there has been a real mardi gras,” said Evan Gray, a member of the organising team and spokesperson for Pride in Protest.

“The police came out in force, but we beat them in the courts and the streets.

It’s not the police that keeps us safe, it’s the community - we can do anything when we unite together,” Pride in Protest said on Facebook.

HubNEWS

Bringing back the stars to Bondi

BY ALLISON HORE he stars above Bondi are set to get a whole light brighter following a motion which passed through Waverley council last month.

With so much of Australia’s land mass uninhabited or untouched, the country has much more dark space than other parts of the world. But in Sydney, like all major cities, light pollution- the adverse effect of artificial light at night- is a big issue.

But Waverley Council is looking into ways to reduce light pollution along Sydney’s iconic coastline.

Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said council will be “looking at ways” they can reduce light pollution in both public and private spaces “to ensure that we continue to respect the natural environment and enhance form without impacting wildlife.”

Light pollution is caused by three main factors; light shining upwards and bouncing off clouds and particles in the atmosphere, direct glare and indirect reflection off surfaces. And as more people install energy efficient white-light LED light bulbs, the issue is exacerbated as they emit shorter

She said the next step for the council will be coming up with official policies to reduce light pollution and working with international bodies to develop best practice guidelines.

“We will now work on developing a Dark Sky Policy as well as consider joining the International Dark Sky Association and consider establishing a Dark Sky Reserve along our coastal margins and in its park,” she said.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) describes themselves as “the recognised authority on light pollution and is the leading organisation combating light pollution worldwide.”

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The dawn sky above Bondi beach. Photo: Wikimedia

wavelengths of light in the blue spectrum.

One of the very visible impacts of light pollution is an effect called “sky glow,” this is when the skies become orange at night and stars are not visible.

Around 30 percent of light produced goes up into the sky leading to the sky glow effect.

Less visible impacts of light pollution include the disruption of migratory paths of native wildlife including turtles, seabirds and moths.

FINDING SOLUTIONS

Some of the ways light pollution can be reduced include eliminating upward spill light by direct light downwards, switching lights off when not required, using energy efficient bulbs, ensuring lights are not directed towards reflective surfaces and using warm light colours.

“Our Creative Lighting Strategy incorporates many of these measures as part of our functional and sustainable approach to lighting,” explains Mayor Masselos.

 We will now work on

developing a Dark Sky Policy

The group’s vision is to see that “the night sky, filled with stars, is celebrated and protected around the world as a shared heritage benefiting all living things.”

More information about how this will look in practise for the Waverley council area will be released as work on the council’s Dark Sky policy progresses.

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Report deems Metro revitalisation “feasible”

BY ALLISON HORE report released last week concluded it would be “feasible” for a much-loved Art Deco theatre in Potts Point to be resurrected.

The conclusion is welcomed by the community whose impassioned pleas saw the building receive heritage listing last year.

The feasibility study was commissioned last year by the City of Sydney and Create NSW to investigate the possibility of bringing the Metro-Minerva back to life as a theatre.

The report, put together by Hawkridge Entertainment Services, concluded “it is clear that a commercially operated theatre provides a return that can be used to provide a return on capital costs which may be attractive to an owner/ operator.” Similarly, the report said a government owned venue with a long term commercial lease would be viable.

The Art Deco building, which opened in 1939 as The Minerva Theatre, received state heritage recognition in December last year. Though the heritage listing guarantees the building will not be subject to unsympathetic renovations, it did not necessarily mean the building would be restored to use as a theatre.

However, the study recognising the viability of restoration brings the curtains at the Minerva another step closer to reopening.

which “align[s] with a range of current policies from the City of Sydney, the state government and various industry groups.”

The report suggests a new theatre in the area could bring back foot traffic, which has fallen significantly since the heyday of the Cross, for pre and post show dining and entertainment.

“Theatres and live performance venues have generally shown to have a positive economic impact on their surroundings,” said the report.

“Numerous studies have outlined the positive economic effects that these venues can have on the local area, the wider neighbourhood and the state.”

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CONCLUSION CONTRADICTS PREVIOUS FINDINGS

Given its many lives a lot of work would need to be done to the building for it to be used as a theatre again. Current owners, Abacus Property Group, said they had “sought professional advice from theatre operators” on how the building could be restored and they deemed it wouldn’t be viable.

Works needed to be undertaken would include the mammoth task of

MORE DIVERSE LIVE SHOWS

The Metro Minerva in Kings Cross. Photo: Wikimedia/Nick D

rebuilding the original sloped gradient of the current floor level for appropriate audience seating and viewing.

But the new report, released this week, came to a different conclusion.

It concluded reviving the theatre is viable, would provide a return on capital costs and generate great interest from producers and promoters. The report also indicated potential economic benefit and job creation more broadly for the Kings Cross precinct.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore hopes the owners will consider the conclusions reached by the report.

“I encourage the building’s current

owners to read the study and recognise that the best use of this state heritage building is as a theatre,” said Ms. Moore.

The best use of this state heritage building is as a theatre “In returning live theatre to the Minerva they would make a significant contribution to the Kings Cross area and Sydney’s cultural life!”

The report found restoring the venue would have a positive impact on Kings Cross’s night time economy, a motive

Within the theatre industry there was also enthusiasm about the idea of revitalising the Minerva. The report says the cost of revitalising the theatre would be “substantially less than” the cost of a new 1000 seat theatre.

Before the seats were taken out of the theatre to transform the space into offices, past information shows there were approximately 1,022 seats in the auditorium, with 617 in the stalls and 405 in the dress circle.

“The limited number of theatres in Sydney has been a talking point and area of frustration for producers for a long time,” said the report.

“One of the outcomes of this is that generally larger and established musicals are able to access the larger playhouses (Capitol Theatre and Sydney Lyric Theatre) however newer musicals are not often given the opportunity to establish themselves in this setting.”

There is no plan in place as of yet for the theatre to be reinstated, however the study shows actors taking to the state in the Metro-Minerva again as they did eight decades ago would not just be “viable”, but also beneficial.

“Lavish, dark and cheeky” - The Age Australia

24 – 28 March darlinghursttheatre.com/reubenkaye 10

CITY HUB MARCH 2021

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE OPTUS MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION WITH 5G AT: 13-17 Bellevue Rd, Bellevue Hill NSW 2023 (RFNSA Site No. 2023001) 1. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment and associated works as follows: 3 new panel antennas (2.8m long) at 33.7m in height 3 new panel antennas (0.64m long) at 33.3m in height 12 new remote radio units (RRUs) Ancillary equipment including but not limited to; new mounts, new fibre and electrical cabling, replacement of 1 GPS antenna • Reconfiguration of existing equipment

• • • •

2. Optus regards the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”), based on the description above.

3. In accordance with Section 7 of the C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to Daniel Trees of Visionstream at daniel.trees@visionstream.com.au or Locked Bag 2015, South Brisbane QLD 4101 by 25 March 2021.

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE THE EXISTING MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION AT RANDWICK RACECOURSE Telstra Site ID: Randwick Racecourse – RFNSA number: 2031015 Telstra proposes to upgrade the existing mobile phone base station on a freestanding H structure at the Randwick Racecourse 43 Alison Road, Randwick, NSW 2031.

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE OPTUS MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION WITH 5G AT: 120-126 St Johns Rd, Glebe NSW 2037 (RFNSA Site No. 2037003) 1. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment and associated works as follows: • 3 new panel antennas (0.82m long) at 20.95m in height • 3 new panel antennas (0.64m long) at 20m in height • 12 new remote radio units (RRUs) • Ancillary equipment including but not limited to; new mounts, new fibre and electrical cabling, replacement of 1 GPS antenna • Reconfiguration of existing equipment 2. Optus regards the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”), based on the description above.

3. In accordance with Section 7 of the C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to Daniel Trees of Visionstream at daniel.trees@visionstream.com.au or Locked Bag 2015, South Brisbane QLD 4101 by 25 March 2021.

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE EXISTING MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION WITH 5G AT NOVOTEL HOTEL, 100 MURRAY ST, PYRMONT NSW 2009

The proposed upgrade will utilise NR3500 (5G) technologies to improve the capacity and quality of wireless mobile services the Randwick Racecourse locality and surrounds.

The proposal comprises of the: - Removal of three (3) existing panel antennas - Installation of three (3) new panel antennas - Removal of twelve (12) Remote Radio Units (RRUs) - Installation of nine (9) Remote Radio Units (RRUs) - Removal of six (6) combiners - Installation of six (6) combiners - Removal and installation of associated ancillary equipment.

The proposed upgrade to the existing facility involves:

Telstra regard the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”) based on the description above.

Vodafone regard the proposed installation as Exempt Development under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 based on the description above.

This notification is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of Section 7 of C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code.

In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposa Should you require further information or wish to comment, please contact: Jessie Zhao from Nokia Solutions & Networks on 0406 001 832 or at communityrelations.vha@groups.nokia.com

by Thursday 25 March 2021.

Further information can be obtained from Garrett Wong at Aurecon (on behalf of Telstra) on 03 9975 3208 or email: Garrett.Wong@aurecongroup.com and at www.RFNSA.com.au/2031015 Written submissions should be directed to Garrett Wong, Aurecon Australasia via email to: Garrett.Wong@aurecongroup.com or via post to: Garrett Wong, Aurecon Pty Ltd, PO Box 23061, Docklands, VIC, 8012 by 5pm on 25 March 2021.

12

CITY HUB MARCH 2021

• Installation of four new Vodafone 5G antennas to be located on the new mounts; • Replacement of four existing panel antennas with new panel antennas on the new mounts; Antennas will measure no more than 2.8m long; • Reconfiguration of existing and installation of new ancillary equipment, including RRUs, GPS antennas, cabling and other items associated with safety and operation of the facility; • Reconfiguration and installation of equipment within the existing equipment shelter.

Further information may also be obtained from www.rfnsa.com.au/2009004.

LINDA SCOTT ENTERS MAYORAL RACE Linda Scott wants to transform Sydney into a fun, progressive city and has mayor in her sights

BY ALLISON HORE s the City of Sydney elections approach, more challengers for the top job are emerging.

This week, Labor councillor Linda Scott announced her intention to run for mayor and to “build Sydney back into a fun, fair and sustainable city for the future.”

Ms. Scott, a member of the Labor party, was first elected to council in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016. During her time on the council, she says some of her achievements include advocating for more affordable housing and green spaces, increasing early education and care centres, new skate parks, and boosting city funding for climate change action.

No stranger to the top job, Ms. Scott served as the City of Sydney’s Deputy Lord Mayor for one term in September of 2018. She defeated fellow councillor Christine Forster of the Liberal party to take out the position.

As well as serving on council, Ms. Scott is the first female, and first Labor, president of Local Government NSW. And, in November last year, she was elected unopposed to be President of the Australian Local Government Association, having been a board member since 2017.

Councillor Scott told City Hub these roles have given her valuable insight into how local governments can best work with other levels of leadership.

“They’re really fantastic roles where I’ve developed a lot of experience in understanding not only the ability of local governments, but also how to do so best in conjunction with state and national governments,” she explained.

“It’s very important when people are elected to leadership roles that they focus on delivering for the future.”

Ms. Scott says she is unashamedly progressive and should she be elected, she will be “a Lord Mayor for Sydney’s future, not our past.” At the same time, she says through her roles in the local government peak bodies she has been able to work effectively with politicians across the political spectrum.

“I would bring progressive values to the role and I am not ashamed of being a

A

Labor councillor Linda Scott stands on the steps of Town Hall. Photo: Mark Dickson

progressive leader. But, it’s also incredibly important to be able to work with other levels of government and all stakeholders to deliver outcomes,” she said.

COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE ACTION

Among the progressive policies Ms. Scott takes pride in, is her commitment to climate action.

It was Councillor Scott who was first to move a motion for the City of Sydney to declare a climate emergency, leading to the city adopting stronger climate policies. She said there is not only work the council can do to reduce their emissions, but also more work can be done to support individuals in the community who want to minimise their own carbon footprint.

One practical way she thinks the city could enable people to reduce emissions is by allowing terrace houses and other historic buildings to install solar panels.

“It’s 2021, and if you wish to put solar panels on your terrace house roof, there are many parts of the city where our planning controls still prevent that,” she said.

“These regulations have to be removed to enable people to take the action they need to take.”

Another key part of Ms. Scott’s mayoral platform is social justice. She said supporting vulnerable people within the community is especially crucial as the city moves on from the pandemic.

 The city needs new leadership to ensure we build the city back to the best it can be “We need to ensure that our most vulnerable communities are protected and supported, I’ve long been an advocate for people who are sleeping rough to receive more support, and those in public housing to ensure that they continue to be able to live in the city,” she said.

CULTURE AND VIBRANCY

Through her role as president of Local Government NSW president Councillor Scott successfully negotiated for a doubling in public library funding for every council across the state.

Ms. Scott said this is part of her commitment to creating spaces and cultural institutions which celebrate the

diversity of the city and where people can come together.

In 2016, Ms. Scott promised to transform the T2 building at Taylor Square into a museum celebrating the city’s LGBTQI+ history. This followed a motion she put to council to begin storing and documenting artefacts of Sydney’s LGBTQI+ community, laying the groundwork for a museum. Unfortunately the idea was knocked back.

“I’ve long advocated for an LGBTI museum in the City of Sydney, although that also was rejected by a majority decision of council,” she said.

But should she win the election, Councillor Scott says she will do what she can to support cultural institutions and to revive the city’s struggling nightlife and live music scene.

“I’m very committed to making sure Sydney is a fun city for the future, and very passionate about live music as a drummer who doesn’t get to play very often anymore,” she said.

“As the city we should do everything we can to ensure that we have a great global, cultural city.”

In the race for mayor Ms. Scott faces stiff competition. Incumbent Lord Mayor Clover Moore is a campaign power-house and she’s seeking a historic fifth term as mayor. Also in the running this year is independent councillor and former member for Wentworth, Kerryn Phelps.

Ms. Scott said she acknowledges many of the reforms made by Lord Mayor Clover Moore have had a positive impact on the community, but said after 17 years in the role it’s time for a fresh face in the top seat.

“As we need to drive the city of Sydney’s recovery from COVID, it’s time for new leadership,” she said.

“We know that COVID was an enormous shock, especially for global capital cities like Sydney [...] The city needs new leadership to ensure we build the city back to the best it can be.”

Local government elections in NSW are held every 4 years but due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 elections were postponed. The City of Sydney council election will be held on Saturday 4 September 2021.

CITY HUB MARCH 2021

13

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE EXISTING MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION WITH 5G AT 103-109 GEORGE ST, REDFERN NSW 2016 The proposed upgrade to the existing facility involves: • Installation of three new Vodafone and six new Optus 5G antennas (nine in total) to be located on the new mounts; • Replacement of the existing panel antennas with new panel antennas on existing and new mount; Antennas will measure no more than 2.8m long; • Reconfiguration of existing and installation of new ancillary equipment, including RRUs, GPS antennas, cabling and other items associated with safety and operation of the facility; • Reconfiguration and installation of equipment within the existing equipment shelter.

Vodafone and Optus regard the proposed installation as Exempt Development under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 based on the description above.

In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal.

Should you require further information or wish to comment, please contact: Jessie Zhao from Nokia Solutions & Networks on 0406 001 832 or at communityrelations.vha@groups.nokia.com by Thursday 25 March 2021.

Further information may also be obtained from www.rfnsa.com.au/2016005.

14

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 88 Bayswater Road corner Waratah Street, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011 (Payphone ID: 02936824X2) The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 139 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011 and is approximately 40 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02933105X2) Reference Number 44784 Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by: 27th April 2021 To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal.

Please send us your comments in writing to: Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 1 Mitchell Road corner Henderson Road, Alexandria NSW 2015 (Payphone ID: 02969983X2)

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 457 Oxford Street opposite George Street, Paddington NSW 2021 (Payphone ID: 02936116X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 5 Henderson Road, Alexandria NSW 2015 and is approximately 330 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02969943X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 339 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021 and is approximately 360 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02936161X2)

Reference Number 44789

Reference Number 44792

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

27th April 2021

27th April 2021

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

CITY HUB MARCH 2021

HubNEWS

Homeless and bored B

BY LIAM WEBSTER oredom is the most curious universal experience. At some point in our lives, we all get bored.

Some people become frustrated, some overeat, others find creative outputs.

You might even be bored right now. We often take boredom for granted because there are limitless outlets to channel our time into.

But what if this wasn’t the case? What if your opportunities to relieve boredom were non-existent?

In his 1933 memoir, Down and Out in Paris and London, George Orwell stated that “enforced idleness [is] one of the worst evils of poverty”. He speaks about having days and weeks with nothing to do besides walking around. The burden of vacant time and a limited access to meaningful activity manifested into a perpetual state of boredom.

Orwell’s vivid account begs the question, is there a legitimate correlation between homelessness and boredom?

Rough Edges is a community organisation which serves the homeless and marginalised community in Darlinghurst. Photo: Supplied Recent research would indicate found that boredom is synonymous with Andrew was forced into an imposed life (such as food and shelter) prior to that there is. In 2019, Canadian a lack of connection, an isolation that routine to cope with the sheer amount facilitating a path out of idleness. professor C.A. Marshall published separates an individual from the rest of of unoccupied time. With limited Dr. Jane Currie is currently formulating a paper that delved into this very society. possessions and a lack of employment, her own research to improve available correlation. She found that boredom individuals must do what they can to “The internalised shame makes solutions. She works at St. Vincent’s was a “frequent problem” amongst the stay occupied throughout a day. This is individuals feel unworthy.” hospital in Kings Cross, contributing PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE OPTUS to homeless population, stemming from the most concerning aspect of boredom. a homeless vulnerability index, amongst This separation prevents individuals MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION WITH 5G too much unoccupied time and an Where meaningful activities are nonother projects. from engaging in meaningful activity, AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS inability to easily relieve it, due to low existent, we turn to counter-productive instead trapping them with their own “Any one of us is at risk of becoming socioeconomic PROPOSAL status.

TO UPGRADE OPTUS ANDsolutions.

VODAFONE MOBILE PHONE BASE Existing Facility (Level 10), 1-19 Oxford Street, Rooftop Facility, Lakes Business Park, Building 2, thoughts without aHills viable means to homeless,” says.

Surry NSW 2010 2-26 Lordshe Street, Botany NSW 2019 But what is boredom?

STATIONMarshall WITH 5G AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS Optus Ref: S0209, www.rfnsa.com.au/2010024 escape.

Extended periods of boredom Optus Ref: S0490, www.rfnsa.com.au/2019001 This is the sentiment that continues to offers this definition: “the Facility, aversive Rooftop 209-211 Harris Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009 1. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G 3. drive can cause further emotional distress  The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G her work.

Optus Vodafone Ref: S0969, www.rfnsa.com.au/2009003 experience of wanting, but being and associated as follows: andequipment a frustration at works one’s own situation, equipment and associated works as follows: 1.

The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment and associated works as follows: Dr. Currie had her own thoughts on unable, to engage in satisfying • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.81m in length) • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.59m long) • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.81m long) a frustration that can boil over into She perceived that rough activity”.

• Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.68m boredom.

• New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.75m long) violence towards oneself and others. long) with three new 4G panel antennas (1.5m long) sleepers are in fact extremely busy in Long• believed to simply be an and antenna mounts Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.68m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (2.1m long) New aancillary equipment including remote radio often units, cabling their own routine, and that boredom sets We • are judgmental society and “existential nuisance” of the upper • Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within • Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.68m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (1.83m long) and antenna mounts possess preconceived biases towards in within transitional housing. Where the equipment shelter • New this ancillaryresearch equipment including remote radio units, cabling and antenna mounts classes, highlights the • Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within Whether walking endlessly, or others, simply by seeing how someone a major stress (shelter) is addressed, • The antennas are at rooftop level and there is a slight increase in • Reconfiguration of existing on thecan facility and within the equipment shelter nefarious effects that equipment boredom the equipment shelter; the antennas are at level 10 plant room drugs, acts• or looks. But as Daniel says, “you the overall scale of the facility • The antennas arethe at rooftop level and there is a slight increase insearching the overall scalefor of the facility boredom appears some individuals can be lost, indicating Optus regards the proposed installation as a low-impact facility in cause amongst disenfranchised. to encourage antisocial behaviour, • Optus regards the proposed installation as Exempt Development must accordance alwayswith ask why”. (Low-impact Facilities) that the the Telecommunications Rooftop Facility, 48 Chippen Street, Chippendale NSW 2008 a change in environment may not These effects were found to include in accordance with State Environmental Planning Policy Determination 2018 based on the description above Optus Vodafone Ref: S2145, www.rfnsa.com.au/2008003 exactly what Marshall discovered in her If an individual is behaving violently, positively contribute to meaningful substance internet addiction, (Infrastructure) 2007 based on the description above 2. The proposedabuse, facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment research. and associated works as follows: Existing Monopole, 19 Harris Street, instead of judging them as a violent time use. The transition period can be reduced mental physical health, • Installation of threeand (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.75m long) Pyrmont NSW 2009 Rooftop Facility, 65-71 Belmore Road, person, ask why they are acting that Andrew now has a place and works with extremely high risk as individuals are Optus Ref: S5576, www.rfnsa.com.au/2009001 three (3) new 5G panel antennas (1.35m long) and• inInstallation some ofcases, criminal activities.

Randwick NSW 2031 way.

Is it a product of frustration?

The Rough Edges, a community centre for often not occupied, leading to a re-entry • Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.69m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (2.1m long) Optus Ref: S0041, www.rfnsa.com.au/2031005 2. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G effects of substance use?

Both factors marginalised a guide into antisocial behaviour. equipment and associated works as follows: • Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.68m long) with three new 4Gpersons, panel antennasas (1.5m long) on 4. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G FINDING ROUTINE trace back to the boredom experienced their ‘urban • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.59m long) • New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling and antenna mounts exposure’ walks.

Itequipment is evident that more care and associated works asappropriate follows: • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.81m long) To discover moreof about this on the facility and within the • Reconfiguration existing equipment equipment employment, shelter amongst the homeless population. This is• needed.

So much is still unknown Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.59m long) Through Andrew is more • Installation of one (1) new 4G panel antenna (2.69 m long) • The antennas are at link, rooftop Ilevel and there is a this slight increase in the overall scale of the facility underappreciated discussed research is so important in shifting • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.81m long) about the role of boredom upon other engaged in meaningful activity, a crucial • Replacement of two (2) existing 4G panel antennas (2.53m long) Rooftop Facility, 134-138and William Street, Wooloomooloo NSW 2011 idea with individuals across Sydney attitudes.

The more that is understood, • Provision for three (3) future panel antennas (up to 1.5m long) impacts of homelessness, but its role is step in quelling the feeling of boredom. with two new 4G panel antennas (2.69m long) Optus Vodafone Ref: S8901, www.rfnsa.com.au/2011002 the Northern Beaches.

• New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling the • more effective the solutions can be. evidently profound.

There is clearly a need to highlight and Provision for three (3) future panel antennas (up to 1.5m long) 3. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment and associated works as follows: and antenna mounts Andrew, who used to sleep rough around • New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling address the source of occupational Within Sydney, the homeless experience • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.75m long) • Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within and antenna mounts the Kings Cross/Darlinghurst area, (1.35m long) injustice. Through employment, • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas FINDING SOLUTIONS is unbelievably the equipment shelter nuanced, as every • Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within explained that ofboredom was prevalent • Replacement three (3) existing 4G a panel antennas (2.53m long) with three newsuch 4G panelas antennas (1.83mcan long)renew individuals Andrew Outreach centres individual has their own story and their • The antennas are at rooftop level and there is a slight increase in the equipment shelter such as CNB are • Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.53m long) with threeof newpurpose 4G panel antennas long) in aspect of his experience. a sense and (2.78m belonging essential in facilitating meaningful overall scale of the facility ownthe‘why’.

• The antennas are at rooftop level and there is a slight increase in • New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling and antenna mounts the overall scaleproviding of the facility employment • Optus regards the proposed installation as Exempt Development “It was a product of having nothing to do society. activities and The work of Daniel Peterson and Dr. • Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within the equipment shelter • Optus regards the proposed installation as a low-impact facility in in accordance with State Environmental Planning Policy and hating [my] life,” he said. support for individuals experiencing Belonging is evidently a component of Currie is so important in ensuring that 4. Optus and Vodafone regard the proposed installations as Exempt Development in accordance with State Environmental Planning Policy accordance with the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) (Infrastructure) 2007 based on the description above homelessness.

During a normal carried boredom itself. I spoke about this with homeless and at-risk individuals can feel (Infrastructure) 2007day, basedhe on the description above Determination 2018 based on the description above everything owned, searched Daniel Manager Homeless But providing holistic care is difficult. included as a meaningful member of 5. Notification he is being undertaken in accordancefor withaSection 7 of Industry Code Peterson, C564:2020 Mobile Phone Baseof Station Deployment 5. Notification is being undertaken in accordance with Section 7 of Industry Code C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment. place to wash his clothes, looked for on the proposed Services atinvite Community Northern Whilst boredom appears to be a primary society.

6. Members of the public may obtain further information work, and we you to provide written comments about the 6. Members of the public may obtain further information on the proposed work, and we invite you to provide written comments about the proposal. Further information should be directed to Optus’ representative c/- James McIver, Catalyst ONE Pty Ltd; phone: something to eat andand/or triedcomments to score Beaches (CNB). driver of distress, it is important to proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to Optus’ representative c/- James McIver, Catalyst ONE Pty Ltd; phone: I only hope that they can receive the 02 4022 9533; email: consultation@catalystone.com.au and post: PO Box 1119, Crows Nest NSW 1585 by 26 February 2021. drugs.

02 4022 9533; email: consultation@catalystone.com.au and post: PO Box 1119, Crows Nest NSW 1585 by 26 February 2021. address the dominant stresses in one’s funding they need.

For homeless individuals, Daniel has

It was a product of having nothing to do and hating [my] life

CITY HUB MARCH 2021

15

16

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE TWO PAYPHONES

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE

It is proposed that two coin and card payphones be removed from: Outside 1 Kings Cross Road corner Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 (Payphone ID’s: 02938008X2 and 02935734X2)

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 40 Bayswater Road corner Ward Avenue, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011 (Payphone ID: 02938012X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 100 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 and is approximately 70 metres away from the payphones that are proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02936188X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 18 Kellett Street, Potts Point NSW 2011 and is approximately 100 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02935836X2)

Reference Number 44780

Reference Number 44782

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

27th April 2021

27th April 2021

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 134 Oxford Street (outside Darlinghurst Courthouse), Darlinghurst NSW 2010 (Payphone ID: 02936830X2)

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 79 Bayswater Road corner Kings Cross Road, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011 (Payphone ID: 02936823X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 185 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 and is approximately 50 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02935844X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 84 Roslyn Gardens, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011 and is approximately 90 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02935830X2)

Reference Number 44781

Reference Number 44783

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

27th April 2021

27th April 2021

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

CITY HUB MARCH 2021

HubNEWS

Rediscovering the Witch of King’s Cross

BY RACHEL CLARK itchcraft and the bohemian alternative lifestyle have grown in popularity in recent years, especially on social media. Online wiccan and bohemian influencers have turned the lifestyle into a fashion statement, one that is widely celebrated rather than feared.

But in Sydney, there is one woman who started it all - the Witch of King Cross.

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Nearly forgotten to the distant memories of Kings Cross past and merely a footnote in history Post-war Sydney between the 1940’s to the 50’s was a vibrant city stuck between the old and the new. King Cross had a growing bohemian culture which manifested one of the most colourful figures of all time – Rosaleen Norton.

She was an artist, witch and driving force within this new lifestyle.

An overall controversial character, some

could say she was born to be a witch from an early age showing signs of her abilities including visions and a witch’s mark on her left knee.

Her teachings and ideology were heavily influenced by the writings of English occultist Aleister Crowley. Being a practitioner of Neopaganism witchcraft she developed her own form of trance and sex magic.

With her core worshipping based around gods from the ancient world.

Such as Hecate, Lilith, Isis and at the centre the Greek god Pan. All of which were the driving inspiration for her artworks.

Rosaleen was a woman who lived free of society’s expectations and challenged the ideals of Christianity.

She was often scrutinised by the tabloids and criminalised by police facing charges over her artwork.

Including, the involvement of a court case with a famous devotee Sir Eugene Goosens in 1956.

BREAKING GENDER BOUNDARIES

Never identifying as a feminist, Norton continuously defied cultural norms. She occasionally dressed in men’s clothing,

Rosaleen Norton works on one of her famous occult sketches. Photo: via WRSP

predominantly pictured wearing all black and even wore a pointed hat in photographs.

Rosaleen would eventually retire from public appearance in the 1970’s and died from colon cancer at the Sacred Heart Hospice for the Dying, in Darlinghurst in 1979.

Remaining a witch until her dying age she was truly one of the original founders of modern witches based in Sydney. Nearly, forgotten to the distant memories of Kings Cross past and merely a footnote in history.

Luckily her extraordinary life has been rediscovered once more by film maker Sonia Bible. Through limited footage of her rare interviews, the articles of her life and last chance interviews of those who once knew her. The Witch of Kings Cross is now gaining the legacy she deserves.

A woman who’d be revered in today’s world is now being remembered as a ground-breaking bohemian woman, who challenged the norms and helped push Australia into the freedoms of the sexual revolution.

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 302 Bourke Street corner Patterson Lane, Surry Hills NSW 2010 (Payphone ID: 02936178X2)

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 160 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000 (Payphone ID: 02929004X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 191 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 and is approximately 70 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02936827X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 379 Kent St Sydney, NSW 2000 and is approximately 80 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02929006X2)

Reference Number 44779

Reference Number 44768

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

27th April 2021

27th April 2021

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

CITY HUB MARCH 2021

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COFFIN ED’S NAKED CITY

BIRTH, DEATH AND RESURRECTION

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ost historians, architects and town planners would agree that Sydney is one of the worst, if not the least planned cities in the world. Unlike Melbourne and Adelaide which were laid out in grand grid patterns with impressive broad thoroughfares, much of Sydney’s streets evolved from the routes of narrow cattle tracks. Over the past two centuries we have become slaves to this lack of colonial insight and much of the city’s development has been ad hoc and chaotic.

There are many other contributing factors, but the ongoing legacy appears to be a process of urban malaise followed by either radical renewal or at least the promise thereof. Sadly it’s the latter which appears to linger frustratingly for years as areas of the city that have fallen on hard times are touted for regeneration.

The classic example in recent years is Oxford Street, Darlinghurst - once a lively strip of retail, restaurants, night clubs and gay culture. Those halcyon days have since long departed and with numerous vacant shops and endemic dilapidation, the area has hit a kind of rock bottom.

The past 15 years have seen a number of initiatives to revive the street, none of which have had any significant impact. The latest is a $200 million plan by the TOGA Group and Sydney fund manager AsheMorgan to develop an extensive mixed retail precinct. The plan includes some 1600 square metres of cultural and creative spaces designed to lure start-ups to the

area. Let’s hope there are a few bucks devoted to the revegetation of Gilligan’s island and its restoration as one of the city’s most significant cultural icons.

Elsewhere in Sydney urban renewal is either on a furious charge forward as in the Zetland/Green Park neighbourhood or has permanently stalled with little hope of rejuvenation. Millions are currently being spent on the development of Central Station and the new Metro hub, but what of the actual rail gateway to the city. Take a trip from Newtown to Central via Redfern station and it’s like you are entering the South Bronx, circa 1975 or the set of Blade Runner III. The bleak landscape of crumbling railway sheds

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 30 Pitt Street corner Bulletin Place, Sydney NSW 2000 (Payphone ID: 02925240X2)

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 2 King Street corner Forbes Street, Newtown NSW 2042 (Payphone ID: 02956513X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 5020 Alfred Street corner Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000 and is approximately 110 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02925103X2) Reference Number 44767 Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by: 27th April 2021 To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to: Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

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combined with every patch of bare concrete anointed with the city’s least inspiring graffiti, are hardly the kind of visual welcome that a city like Sydney should extend.

Those arriving by rail from interstate must wonder just what awaits them and even everyday commuters must dread that two to three minute journey through the apocalypse.

The State Rail authority, which owns much of the buildings and vacant land needs to get with the City Of Sydney Council for a much needed redevelopment of the eastern side of the line. One suggestion to conceal the gut wrenching ugliness would be to green the entire area with vines and other prolific foliage. If we can green an entire building as has been done at One Central Park, it should not be difficult to turn the Newtown/Central rail corridor into something that welcomes commuters into the CBD, rather than freaking them out. Forget about reclaiming half the golf course at Moore Park, Clover – turn your attention to beautification of the major commuter entrance to this city.

If you are about to enter the concrete jungle how about a few miles of real jungle to ease the pain. A green Sydney welcome to thousands of rail travellers everyday would be a huge morale booster and could even become a major tourist attraction. With hundreds of trees planted wildlife could be attracted and bird spotting would be infinitely preferable to the current onslaught of mindless graffiti. Even a minor improvement to the current eyesore would be a step in the right direction

CITY HUB MARCH 2021

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: In Georgina Street and corner of 92 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042 and is approximately 260 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02955053X2) Reference Number 44769 Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by: 27th April 2021 To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to: Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 182 Phillip Street near King Street, Sydney NSW 2000 (Payphone ID: 02923106X2)

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 41 Castlereagh Street near King Street, Sydney NSW 2000 (Payphone ID: 02922311X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 99 Elizabeth Street near King Street, Sydney NSW 2000 and is approximately 80 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02923305X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 39 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000 and is approximately 50 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02922336X2)

Reference Number 44766

Reference Number 44746

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

27th April 2021

27th April 2021

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 197 Elizabeth Street corner Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000 (Payphone ID: 02926707X2)

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 199 George Street opposite Alfred Street, Sydney NSW 2000 (Payphone ID: 02925141X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: In Hyde Park, 120 Elizabeth Street corner Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000 and is approximately 20 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02928330X2)

The next nearest coin and card payphone is located: Outside 1 Alfred Street corner George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 and is approximately 10 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

(Payphone ID: 02925136X2)

Reference Number 44761

Reference Number 44765

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

27th April 2021

27th April 2021

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

CITY HUB MARCH 2021

19

HubARTS

PAUL STANHOPE: A NEW REQUIEM: After 20 years Paul Stanhope’s new requiem is finally complete (See p.22)

BY JAMIE APPS he wildly popular Hamilton musical is set finally open in Sydney next week. Cast member Victory Ndukwe (who will be playing Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson) spoke with City Hub ahead of the premiere.

“We really thought that it wasn’t going to happen,” explained Ndukwe. “Only just recently we thought we’d be playing to a reduced capacity. So there was a real fear that we weren’t going to make it.”

For Ndukwe the opportunity to perform this show is so special because of its music, its cultural impact and the opportunity it provides for actors of colour to showcase their talents.

“I first encountered the show through the soundtrack so I was drawn in by that... I really resonated with how groundbreaking it was. I feel that [Hamilton] encourages a whole different demographic of the population to come into the theatre, which is why it has become such a massive hit around the world.”

With its cast being predominantly people of colour the show also has a special significance for Ndukwe.

“I grew up here from about 14 years old when we landed in Wodonga from South Africa and I never saw people who looked like me on television. So I think this is going to be a great thing for the younger generation coming up to know that it is possible to see people like them on stage. For me it’s a

Photo: Joan Marcus

HAMILTON T NO: INTERMISSION FESTIVAL Appropriate. Photo: Rene Vaile

BY IRINA DUNN rtistic Director Carly Fisher says that No: Intermission, a one-act play festival, was designed with two goals: “to provide opportunities for Sydney’s emerging actors to work creatively and network with one another, and to bring debut productions to the Sydney stage.”

The festival was launched in 2019, but had to “take intermission” in 2020, for obvious reasons.

Fisher wears several hats in this festival.

She is the Producer, the Co-Curator

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alongside Rosie Niven, and also Director of two of the productions.

Apart from providing a chance for creatives – from playwrights to performers, directors to designers – she also wanted to expose Sydney audiences to brand new works including two from female Australian writers and two international writers whose scripts were selected from 600 submitted by playwrights in 14 countries.

In particular, she says she is really excited to be bringing Girl Shut Your Mouth back after taking it to the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2020 where it received great critical acclaim and 5-star reviews.

Fisher hopes that audiences find something challenging in the shows and learn something from the experience.

“More than anything,” she says, “I just hope audiences love the shows and join us to celebrate the return of theatre!”

Mar 17-27. Chippen Street Theatre, 45 Chippen Street, Chippendale. $27-$32+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.theatretravels.org

magical thing because it gives talented people who don’t look like everybody else on stage a chance to showcase their talents.”

When asked what audiences can expect for the show Ndukwe said, “if people are coming to see exactly what they saw on the Disney+ version, that is not going to be the case. Every company of Hamilton puts on their own version of the show... I would say it is definitely worth your while to come and see it. Watching the Disney+ version is fantastic, but just like you favourite band seeing it live is a whole other thing. Come and see this show, it might change your life.”

Mar 17-Sep 5. Lyric Theatre, 55 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont. $70-$200+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.hamiltonmusical.com.au

REUBEN KAYE AT DARLINGHURST THEATRE and got five stars in the Adelaide Advertiser, which I

BY JAMIE APPS was very excited about because they never give five resh off an award winning and critically acclaimed stars. The show speaks to a lot of the experiences of run at the Adelaide and Perth Fringe Festivals the a population that has been locked up, a population wonderfully funny and camp Reuben Kaye is set to that has been locked down, and a population that return to Sydney’s Darlinghurst Theatre. has been sold on wellness, mindfulness and Reflecting on 2020 Kaye said he survived the all of these industries that feed on the misery torrid year that was thanks to “optimism, of humanity to try and fool us into thinking Lexapro, a very good mental health plan, and we need to self-care, self-love, self-actualise a subscription to Vintage Cellars.” Despite this and self-realise instead of looking around and young in cheek answer Kaye explained that the seeing that the world has failed us a hurdles of 2020 also provided an incredible little bit. But it’s also funny.” amount of inspiration for his latest When explaining the evolution of show. his shows Kaye described the “The lockdowns were sort of process as “continually like a joke writing boot camp,” putting pressure on said Kaye. “I was able to a lump of coal trying write a whole bunch of new to make a diamond.” material and this brand new That resulting diamond show - which just won the being himself, of course.

Photo: JAX MOUSSA award for ‘Best Cabaret’

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CITY HUB MARCH 2021

“I like to think of myself as a diamond. I’m shiny, I love to be polished and I’m best being fingered by the very wealthy.”

These upcoming shows at the Darlinghurst Theatre are particularly exciting for Kaye because these will be the first run of shows in Sydney where he feels his voice is at peak fitness following vocal surgery.

“My last gigs at the Darlinghurst Theatre were the first time I had sung since I had vocal surgery in the UK. Those last gigs were really momentous and exciting for me to test out the voice but I’m really excited to come back now with a show fit set of pipes.”

So for anybody still contemplating whether or not to attend Kaye says, “Get on down. I am the Lamborgini of cabaret. I’m red, I’m shiny, I’m expensive, and on a good day I can fit four Italians inside of me. Why wouldn’t you want to see this award winning cry for help!?”

Mar 24-28. Darlinghurst Theatre, 39 Burton St, Darlinghurst. $55+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.darlinghursttheatre.com

HubARTS

TREVOR ASHLEY DIVA DEGUSTATION Photo: Christian Trinder

BY MARK MORELLINI t’s going to be flamboyantly entertaining at the Ensemble Theatre as cabaret and drag artist Trevor Ashley returns to the stage making a meal with iconic stars Cher, Shirley Bassey, Liza Minelli, Judy Garland, Eartha Kitt, and Carol Channing.

“For me, it’s being able to highlight some of the divas that I haven’t necessarily done before and that I’ve always wanted to do. I’m picking them off a menu on the night and it’s going to be fun. There will be many songs about food and songs which these divas have never performed.”

But will anything sacred be left untouched? “I don’t think anything can be because I think with comedy you want

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everything to be a surprise, to have no qualms in parodying or satirising anybody and I think that we all have to be able to have a sense of humour about that.”

Ashley explained that his talent in writing comedic material comes naturally as he has been doing it for so long. A lot of it is situational, it’s also about being topical and making the classic divas contemporary or making them say something about current times.

“If you love a show tune, if you love divas and a good night of comedy, laughs and wonderful belting songs come along as you’ll have a great time!” (MMo) Mar 21-29. Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St Kirribilli. $60-$65+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.ensemble.com.au

REVIEW

THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS

BY RENEE LOU DALLOW et another fabulous whodunnit presented by The Genesian Theatre Company, The Secret Of Chimneys, is a classy, well paced production which has the audience enthralled from beginning to end. A beautifully designed set, portrays an elegant sitting room looking out onto a garden path, which, provides the perfect backdrop for an assortment of characters to enter and exit. The characters are a diverse lot ranging from dyed in the wool aristocrats, to foreign agents, devoted servants, Scotland yard detectives and even royalty.

The actors really have a lot to play with in this one and made the most of their

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CAPTAIN COOK CRUISES

BY OLGA AZAR n a recent cruise aboard Captain Cook’s newly refurbished Sydney 2000, a group of young influencer-looking types sashayed into the Harbour Bar, dressed in casual expensiveness. Nearby an older couple, seated beside the floor-to-ceiling windows, were enjoying the view and the treat of an upcoming harbour cruise. Pre-COVID, a cruise around Sydney Harbour might have seemed like an excursion no selfrespecting Sydneysider would entertain. After all, it’s a touristy thing to do, right?

Turns out a cruise around Sydney Harbour is probably not only for tourists, but for locals who might have overlooked how pleasurable and civilised the experience can be. The cruise company is intent on attracting locals, and among its initiatives is a partnership with Mumm Champagne. Yes, you read correctly: Mumm. It’s a real humdinger: for one-andhalf-hours, Mumm champers and a seafood plate are served high-tea style, tiered with ocean delectables, including oysters, calamari, salmon blini and chips.

Whilst enjoying the smooth, panoramic ride around the harbour with casually impeccable service.

“Sydneysiders and interstate visitors are looking for

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new and different experiences in the shadow of an extremely difficult 2020,” General Manager of Captain Cook Cruises, Anthony Haworth said. “What better way to celebrate our 50 years of sailing on the best harbour in the world than by joining forces with a like-minded premium brand like Mumm to provide our guests with the best on water experience in Sydney?”

Guests are seated in the Mumm lounge to enjoy

opportunities to scene steal in roles that seemed to demand that they do so.

Standouts were Jack Elliot Mitchell as the laconic yet deeply passionate Monsieur Lemoine, Sandra Bass as the wise and witty Lady Caterham and Rachele Edson as the perfectly poised Virginia Revel.

Director Molly Haddon has brought this old play, which was actually a novel first and had been lost for quite some time, to life with the help of a dedicated team of creators. Lighting and sound could not be faulted and the costumes, designed by Susan Carveth, were simply impeccable.

Until Apr 17. Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent St, Sydney. $30-$35+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.genesiantheatre.com.au

REVIEW

not only the victuals, but also the experience of the scenery of the harbour which is really is one of the gems of the world, and one that locals sometimes take for granted. Understated live music from a rotating stable of performers adds to the experience.

The multi-deck ship boasts a host of other cruising options, including a boarding fee of $15 for a cruise and then enjoying drinks and bar snacks with prices comparable to any CBD pub – minus the noise and sticky carpet.

So round up your besties, or your best, for an elegant excursion on our spectacular harbour. There is much joy to be found in rediscovering our own backyard bay, and this cruise is a grand place to start.

Captain Cook Cruises Mumm Grand Cordon Champagne and seafood platter are $89 per person.

All departures for the Mumm Harbour Bar leave from Darling Harbour, King Street Wharf No.1 at 3:00pm and return at 4:30pm. Guests are welcome to stay onboard for additional Harbour circuits while purchasing drinks and food from the bar or restaurant.

For further information and bookings call (02) 9206 1111 or visit www.captaincook.com.au CITY HUB MARCH 2021

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HubARTS

HOPE D PAUL STANHOPE: A NEW REQUIEM

BY LINC JENKIN risbane based singer/songwriter Hope D’s 2021 is off to one cracking start with tickets for her seven city headline EP tour selling out in just a few days and additional demand requiring second shows to be added to the majority of the tour stops! City Hub had a chat with Hope about her 2021 so far and what it was like putting together her debut EP Cash Only during the pandemic.

Hope’s work is based on such personal experiences and I was wondering if it was daunting to put that stuff out there, even though you know there’s a good chance that the end result will end up helping someone going through a similar kind of experience, “Oh absolutely and that’s the biggest reason I started putting out music that was so personal to me because the songs that I had heard that were personal to someone else and the way that I took those certain songs in my heart and appreciated them and they made me feel so much more comfortable with myself and the situation that I was in. I knew that was a big step for that person to put out something so incredibly personal and I wanted

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BY JAMIE APPS fter over 20 years award-winning composer and former Sydney Chamber Choir Music Director Paul Stanhope is set to unveil his latest work, a requiem dedicated to Richard Gill and Russell Mills.

Creating such a large, momentous and important piece has certainly been a passion of love for Stanhope, and one which he has taken great pride in capturing the memories of the men in the very essence of the music.

“I tried to capture elements of the people who commissioned or are being commemorated in the piece,” explained Stanhope. “In regards to Russell I’ve tried to capture some of his social justice concerns in the piece, in a subtle way.

The Sanctus is dedicated to Richard Gill to celebrate his life, and that one really does reflect elements of the person.

The Sanctus is a really exuberant and uplifting hymn of praise to match with Richard’s outgoing personality and extrovert nature. It also celebrates his amazing life work.”

Reflecting on the composition of such a grand piece over the course of such an extended period was actually something which Stanhope explained was actual crucial to it success.

“Requiems take a lot of conceptual thinking to consider what are the meanings behind the music. So I don’t think I could have don’t that when I was 29-30, they require a level of maturity to undergo that journey and this piece has

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CITY HUB MARCH 2021

allowed me to have a conversation with my older self and more recent self.”

Obviously though after over 20 years of working on the piece the sense of accomplishment to have finally completed the work was immense, even if it was hard to ultimately distinguish when exactly that moment occurred.

“I’ve got enough experience now to know that when I get to the double bar line the piece is still not finished,” said Stanhope.

“There was a process where once the piece was ‘finished’ it was still unfinished until I had done further revisions. So it was nice to be able to put some movements in the drawer and return to them later to give them a bit more work.

Eventually though you get to a point where you think ‘I don’t think I can do anymore to this’ and that is when it’s time to let it go. Although, I am still doing a few small tweaks in rehearsal.”

With a requiem traditionally being a piece of music reserved for a funeral service we wanted to clarify whether that meant the piece was inherently dark or somber, to which Stanhope answered, “There are certainly elements of sadness but there are also elements which are celebratory or give hope and optimism alongside the more reflective moments about grief.

Ultimately the music is uplifting even though the themes may be somewhat somber with the end result being a celebration of life.”

Mar 13. City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Pl, Sydney. $50-$75+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.cityrecitalhall.com

to be that person for someone else.”

Hope’s voice has a timbre that you don’t hear very often and I was intrigued to hear that that aspect of her voice is one that she had consciously worked on to differentiate herself from more traditional modern singers of her generation, “I got really into Hobo Johnson a few years ago when he released Peach Scone and he has a very unique way of using his voice and that’s something that I’ve taken on recently and I’ve been playing on that a lot and it’s really cool because it does take me away from the other majority of musicians that are still so beautiful but sing in a more traditional way.

That’s why I love playing on it as well and I like surprising people with that uniqueness to my voice and the way that I deliver lyrics.”

Hope’s Cash Only EP is out now on all digital platforms to stream and purchase and is also available to preorder on vinyl!

Tickets to her popular tour are still available thanks to additional shows being added - head to www.hopedmusic.com to check the dates or purchase tickets.

CHASE ATLANTIC - BEAUTY IN DEATH

BY JAMIE APPS ustralian-born trio Chase Atlantic deliver their third album, Beauty In Death, from the glitz and glam of Los Angeles. With this new record the trio once again blur the lines between pop, R&B, trap and alt-rock.

Beauty In Death represents the groups first outing on their new label, Fearless Records, which is incredibly apt as they continue to be fearless when it comes to experimentation. Throughout the

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record Chase Atlantic utilise rap beats but also infuse those with saxophone elements, soulful lyricism, and psych-pop sounds.

This leads to an incredibly unique record, which is both intriguing for new listeners as you are immediately captivated by the quirkiness. Longtime fans will get more of what they already love from the band.

While there are not true standouts on this record there are also no utter letdowns in the genre bending 12 track offering.

WWWW

HubARTS

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

BY MARK MORELLINI he African American fight for civil rights and justice resonates highly in yet another American film that explores the racism and brutality people of colour have tolerated from the law enforcers.

Judas And The Black Messiah is a biographical drama with a predominantly black cast that

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explores the events leading up to the betrayal of Fred Hampton, the chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, in the late 1960s by black FBI informant William O’Neal.

The Black Panther Party was an African American revolutionary party founded in 1966 and its prime function was to watch and protect their own communities from police brutality.

The film is dark and gritty with an abundance of violence and bloodshed, and the credibility is enhanced by the addition of archival footage.

The high production values cannot be understated, notably the powerful performances from the high caliber cast, but it should prove to be a long and exhausting cinematic experience for those moviegoers not knowledgeable or interested in the subject matter. (MMo) WWW1/2

THE REUNITED STATES

BY PATRICK MCKENZIE n The Reunited States, filmmaker Ben Rekhi deftly tackles a topic that is often framed as a problem without a solution: the United States’ endemic political bipartisanship.

The film profiles a number of individuals that have a shared political goal, to figuratively and literally ‘reach across the aisle’ of American politics to bridge the political and racial divides that have characterised much of the nation’s political discourse for the last decade.

Rekhi takes an original and engaging approach to America’s political situation, intimately focusing on relationships and stories emblematic of wider issues that have characterised much of the nation’s political discourse for the last decade.

Rather than confront the issue from a systemic or ideological angle, Rekhi’s lens is decidedly more

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personal, following the specific stories, experiences, and efforts of the people attempting to change the political fabric of America one impassioned conversation at a time.

Among them are an independent politician, a ‘post-partisan’ political entrepreneur, a lifelong Republican couple determined for a greater perspective, and grieving mother Susan Bro. As the Mother of civil rights activist Heather Heyer, who was tragically killed while counter-protesting in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017, Bro’s story serves as the emotional core of the film, and makes for some of its most touching moments.

Although occasionally verging on didactic, The Reunited States is undoubtedly genuine, and is a compelling watch for those curious for a refreshing take on American politics.

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THEN YOU CAME

BY MARK MORELLINI omantics should be mesmerised by this enchanting film that surrounds an American widow from Nantucket who intends visiting 20 locations from her favourite 20 movies and finds love with an Innkeeper in Scotland.

She wants to make new memories and describes herself as “blonde, 5 feet 6 inches, of a certain age and ordinary in every way”. But what is her hidden agenda in visiting Scotland? She gave up her dreams once for a man – should she do so again?

Craig Ferguson and Kathie Lee Gifford are absolutely adorable as Howard and Annabelle, the couple who meet, enjoy

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one another’s company, and playfully follow to see where the flourishing attraction leads. Elizabeth Hurley has a supporting role as Howard’s fiancée Clare – is she only after his assets or are her intentions being misconstrued by his friends?

Then Came You is a delightfully humorous, feel-good movie overloaded with Scottish charm and wit that unashamedly feels like a 90-minute cinematic travel brochure owing to the picturesque filming locations.

Audiences should have just as much fun watching this film as the cast obviously had in making it. (MMo) WWW1/2

NEST OF VAMPIRES

BY JAMIE APPS n this independent English film an MI5 agent travels from London to small-town England in search of the people who murdered his wife and kidnapped his only daughter.

While this may seem like an English, budget spin on Liam Neeson’s cult favourite Taken series it quickly adds in new twist. During his investigation Kit Valentine (Tom Fairfoot) uncovers a ruthless vampiric cult that is heavily embroiled in human trafficking. We also later learn Kit himself has a mysterious past.

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Overall this film fails to manifest the intrigue and mystery that its premise suggests. The plot struggles to find a balance between being mysterious and blatant. Whilst watching I couldn’t help but feel it would have worked play up the human trafficking element early and then leave the vampire reveal for a final shocking act.

The budget constraints also do show through, which can be forgiven but also makes you wish this had more financial backing to truely live up to the promise.

W1/2 CITY HUB MARCH 2021

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