City Hub 11 October 2018

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city hub 11 OCTOBER 2018

Sydney’s Light Rail gets heavy

by John Moyle The recent parliamentary inquiry into the CBD and South East Sydney light rail has revealed grievances from every stakeholder.

The business case for the project was put under the microscope and brought to light major budget and planning failures which will impact the state for a generation to come.

Glad the Impaler’s government has been shown to be guilty of consistent incompetence in commissioning and handling the project.

The inquiry has revealed the budget has blown out to $2.2 billion and the completion date has been moved to May 2020.

Transport for NSW Secretary Mr Rodd Staples questioned the May completion date and wanted it moved forward to December 2019, while also refusing to speculate that the budget would blow out further to $3 billion.

Meanwhile the light rail contractor Acciona Australia’s Bede Noonan was pointing fingers at Ausgrid for failing to perform essential works to move overhead electricity lines underground in Kensington and Kingsford.

Mr Noonan told the inquiry Acciona had provided the government with 45 monthly updates since construction commenced in 2015 and around half of these indicated delays.

Acciona is suing the government for $1.2 billion, alleging “misleading and deceptive conduct” over its underground utilities.

The inquiry also aired some harrowing tales from business operators and residents along the route who have been adversely affected since construction commenced in 2015.

Rick Mitry, Partner at Mitry Lawyers, is leading a $40 million class action suit brought by around 100 businesses and residents against Transport for NSW. “We had a directions hearing last Wednesday and a timetable was given for what the court would expect to happen before it comes back before the court towards the end of the month,” Mr Mitry said.

“Business owners are easily 70-75 per cent [of

Ongoing Light Rail construction is devastating small businesses and residents. Photo: John Moyle

the litigants] and the rest are residents who can only claim for psychological damages.”

A spokesperson for TfNSW said “While long term the light rail project will clearly have tremendous benefits for business, Transport for NSW understands that there have been impacts during construction to some of the 750 businesses along the alignment.

“To date the NSW Government has offered more than $12 million to 96 small businesses (to September 30) and we will continue applications from small businesses.”

Manny Tzirtilakus owns Ourororos Wholefoods Cafe in Devonshire Street, Surry Hills and is a recipient of the government handout.

“We’ve been offered rental assistance and that is

the reason why we are still open,” Mr Tzirtilakus said.

That’s where the good news ends, as he is now suffering psychological problems and has been forced to step away from his business - which is down by 70 per cent - for both health and financial reasons.

“It’s put a lot of stress on my family and my employees and if it continues I am going to have to check into some psychiatric facilities just to get my mental health back on track because at the moment it is very challenging,” Mr Tzirtilakis said.

“I didn’t sign a 5x5x5 year lease to close my doors three years into it.”

Lisa Prestridge is a Kensington resident with a daughter sitting for the HSC who lives next to the light rail route in Anzac Parade.

“This has been going non-stop since 20th January 2017 and now my daughter and I have sleep deprivation and my building has cracks,” Ms Prestridge said.

“They work all night and they are allowed to jackhammer up until midnight because that is at 85 decibels and allowable.”

The disruption continues all night, as after midnight the constructors can use a compactor which produces an allowable 80 decibel noise level.

Ms Prestridge has asked for double glazing and air-conditioning and was promised this by Minister for Transport, Mr Andrew Constance on the 23rd of May. In the room at the time Mr Constance made the promise were City of Sydney Councillor Angela Vithoulkas and broadcaster Alan Jones.

“I haven’t seen that promise and I received a letter on the 8th of August saying that they wouldn’t help with the noise mitigation,” Ms Prestridge said.

“I’m so glad that the parliamentary inquiry exposed a lot of breaches and I believe that something good will come out of it for residents and business owners.”

Ms Prestridge’s section of the project was due for completion on May 20 this year but this has now been extended to May 2020.

The fact that residents and business owners are now being heard is largely due to City of Sydney councillor and small business advocate Angela Vithoulkas who brought the class action suit against the government in August 2018.

“It would have never come to this if they had sat down and worked out compensation from the beginning and budgeted for it so that it is not a burden on the tax payer,” Ms Vithoulkas said.

Both Ms Vithoulkas and Mr Mitry warn that more trouble for the government is brewing with the light rail projects in Newcastle and Parramatta.

“I would have done this pro bono as when I met people of the class action I met some very highly stressed people,” Mr Mitry said.

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By Gabe Merkel Night roaming cats are at the centre of a conflict between residents of Randwick and their recently elected Mayor Kathy Nielson.

Cr Neilson introduced a motion, widely referred to as the “cat ban,” to the Randwick City Council almost two weeks ago and it recently passed by a vote of eight to six.

The motion establishes a committee which will look into keeping cats inside and confined, especially at night.

The policy is designed to protect local fauna and to prevent cats from defecating in public places.

Liberal Councillor Harry Stavrinos denounced the policy in an interview with News Corp, describing it as “outrageous” and saying that the police force has more serious things to do than “send people out to watch cats defecating on lawns”.

Councillor Brendan Roberts also criticized the motion, contending that it’s “not really based on actual evidence, just people’s feelings” and insisting the council “should be debating more important issues than this”.

Jim Freeman, cat lover, and a resident of Randwick, condemned the policy as extremely unfair.

Randwick Council threatens to put pussies on a leash. Photo: pexels.com

He went on to point out the potential difficulty of enforcing the regulation, saying that Council had a number of more pressing items that could be looked at and dealt with.

In addition to doubts about compliance and importance, there have been criticisms that the policy will be detrimental to Randwick cats’ emotional and physical welfare.

Locals have raised concerns

that keeping cats indoors could cause feline psychological and physiological stress as well as increase the likelihood of obesity, diabetes and a host of other diseases.

However, a representative of the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home told the City Hub that while “all cats need to exercise…this can be done indoors as well as outdoors… in the form of toys, puzzle food dispensers, scent, etcetera.”

The staff member provided assurances that an indoor cat could lead a very happy life with adequate enrichment and interaction.

While the new Council policy has some locals’ fur standing on end, it does have its supporters.

Randwick resident Christie Louise gave a strong endorsement of the policy, recalling an incident in which a neighborhood tomcat attacked her shih tzu, causing the dog to lose its vision permanently.

She also described past problems with unsupervised cats defecating in her yard and scaring her children.

Ms Louise said her other concern was that cats who are allowed to roam tend to hunt and kill native wildlife.

Cats have been identified as the contributing factor in the extinction of at least 20 Australian mammal species and, by some estimates kill around 75 million native animals every day.

While most of the deaths can be attributed to feral cats, the hunting habits of domestic cats, which are nocturnal, also takes a toll.

Despite the statistics, Randwick Council will have an uphill battle to convince cat lovers that their beloved furry friends should not be allowed to venture outdoors. city hub 11 OCTOBER 2018

3

Centennial Park heritage singled out

by Georgia Fullerton Sydney’s Centennial Park has joined the select group of Australia’s protected landmarks after the Federal Government announced its addition to the Australian National Heritage List last Tuesday.

The public parkland encompasses almost 200 hectares in the inner east of Sydney and is the 115th site to be included on the list alongside Bondi Beach, The Australian War Memorial and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The list provides acknowledgement of sites which have national cultural, historical and natural significance but are not under Commonwealth control.

Sites on the national list also often also have a state heritage listing.

Centennial Park was the venue of the inauguration of Australia as a nation on New Year’s Day in 1901, with thousands of spectators witnessing the proclamation of the Federal Constitution, unifying the six independent colonies and marking the birth of modern Australia.

A procession entered through the sandstone Paddington Gates on Oxford Street, where crowds then gathered on the slopes of Federation Valley and watched as Lord Hopetoun was sworn in as Australia’s first Governor-General.

The national heritage listing has come just in time to mark 130th anniversary of the park, originally known as ‘Lachlan’s Swamp’, but in 1888 dedicated to the first hundred years of European settlement in Australia.

At the time of the park’s dedication, Governor Lord Carrington declared it “the people’s park”.

The announcement of the national heritage listing has led resident groups and historians to call for other significant public sites to be similarly acknowledged.

Watsons Bay residents believe South Head National Park, the site where Phillip landed in Sydney Harbour, should also be considered.

The eastern suburbs community is currently in the

Centennial Park gets Federal heritage tick of approval. Photo: Supplied

midst of a campaign to stop a development proposal for buildings on the South Head grounds to be used as wedding venues by Dockside Group.

Likewise, residents of Moore Park, Centennial Park’s older neighbour, insist that now Centennial Park has its national heritage listing it is time to shift the focus to protecting Moore Park from overdevelopment.

Along with Queens Park, Moore Park and Centennial Park form the Centennial Parklands, which are managed by the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust.

The parklands have been listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register since 2000.

President of Saving Moore Park, Michael Waterhouse said “Our Association is very supportive of the [national] heritage listing of Centennial Park…

Centennial Park has very particular historical significance in connection with Federation, but

unfortunately, Moore Park is the neglected cousin of Centennial”.

A quarter of Moore Park has been lost over the years, with sections having been sliced off for roadworks and other purposes, reducing it in size from its original 153 hectares to 115 hectares.

Mr Waterhouse said, “Bisected by major roads and close to sporting stadiums, it has been the focal point for attacks by Government and its agencies who regard parkland as less important than roads and stadiums.”

Work is expected to start in the middle of next year in the Entertainment Quarter precinct, where contractors will build a new outdoor entertainment space connected to Sydney’s light rail.

This comes after a major investment from NSW Government to revamp the entertainment, sporting and community areas.

Mr. Waterhouse believes the terrible condition of the Moore Park section of the Centennial Parklands should be made a priority, “The devastating impact of the light rail works is obvious for all to see, remediation including extensive tree plantings will help the recovery, but it will be a long time before the parkland is anything like it once was”.

He listed parking and fences as some of the major issues affecting the park, claiming the continuation of car parking in connection with sporting events at the SCG and SFS has destroyed the surface of large sections of the park, limiting its use by the community.

“The parklands are intersected by fences in all directions…people wanting to use the park have great difficulty doing so, whether moving northsouth or east-west.

“These fences must go if the community is to be able to use Moore Park as it was originally intended – for active and passive recreation.”

Mr Waterhouse cited a failure from Government to fund potential improvements in the parklands, “There is a major need for a new filtration system to keep the lake clear, however despite agreeing to spend more than $700 million on a redeveloped SFS, the Government has made no commitment to fund improvements to Moore Park under the Moore Park Master Plan.

The Minister for the Environment has declined to address the issue, as with so many other things, she sits on her hands and does nothing for Moore Park.”

He said, “Moore Park is more than 150 years old, its historical significance may not be as great as Centennial Park, but the time has come for the Government to recognise that its original purpose as a place for active and passive recreation for the community is today even more important with the rapid population growth to the west of the Park.

“We call on the Government to make a preelection commitment to upgrading Moore Park for the benefit of the community.”

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Gay-hate crimes under scrutiny

By Sarah McLenaghan A New South Wales Police review has documented Sydney’s dark history of gay-hate crimes.

The investigation revealed that of 88 suspicious deaths occurring in the LGBTIQ community between 1976 and 2000, 27 were motivated by gay-hate bias.

ACON Chief Executive Nicolas Parkhill said, “These findings are alarming and speak to the extraordinarily high level of violent crimes that were directed to members of our community during this time, often going unaccounted for”.

The review was carried out by Strike Force Parrabell, a group of 10 investigators, who worked over three years to “bring the NSW Police Force and the LGBTIQ community closer together by doing all that is possible from this point in history”.

Of the 88 cases reviewed, 63 were declared solved, 23 remain unsolved and 2 were not reviewed.

The Strike Force Parrabell report documented how gay men were often attacked at ‘beats’ in public parks, beaches and toilets.

This was the fate of 31 year old John Russell who was thrown from a cliff at Marks Park, a known gay beat, in 1989.

The keys of Ross Warren were found on a rock below the same cliff, with his car located nearby and his body never found.

The body of mathematician Scott Johnson was found at the base of a cliff off North Head’s gay beat in 1988.

Mr Parkhill emphasised the ongoing effects of the violence, “This is still experienced today by LGBTI community members who continue to be victims of bias-motivated violence.

“The impact of these crimes, and the associated grief and trauma, hurt both physically and emotionally, and is felt deeply, both individually and communally.”

Inquiry shines light on Sydney’s dark gay hate crimes. Photo: John Moyle

Samantha Lee, head of the Police Accountability Practice at Redfern Legal Centre (RLC), said these social attitudes continue to impact the LGBTIQ community “Our practice frequently assists with complaints regarding police actions towards transgender people”.

“The “Bash a gay today” graffiti which appeared on a wall in Alexandria just days ago, clearly demonstrates that homophobic violence persists, and is an issue which needs constant vigilance,” she said.

The report made twelve recommendations for future policing, community engagement, training and development of bias crime indicators and processes.

Mr Parkhill applauded recommendations for the establishment of a LGBTIQ conference for police, the development and implementation of a revised system for the early identification of bias crimes, and an expanded Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer Program (GLLO).

Saba Rezae, a Senior lawyer for Sydney Criminal Lawyers, said while the recommendations in the report are “a step in the right direction”, he suggested that an independent review process may be more effective rather than having the police conduct their own investigation.

Mr Rezae raised concerns over the lack of transparency in what factors NSW Police considered in assessing whether a crime constituted an act of homophobia.

“If Police were to conduct this investigation, their limited understanding of LGBTIQ experiences and the fact that they are investigating their own reported crimes, [means] they may not reach objective conclusions.”

Ms Lee shared these concerns, “RLC has long held concerns around that lack of independent oversight when allegations of police misconduct are investigated”.

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Following the release of the Strike Force Parrabell Report the NSW Upper House responded with the announcement of a parliamentary inquiry into historic LGBTIQ hate crimes in Sydney.

Liberal party Chair of the inquiry Shayne Mallard MLC said the inquiry would be the “logical next stage” in the process of getting to the bottom of what happened in those dark years.

“I hope that there will be an acknowledgement, from the report, by the parliament, for the community, that this happened, and it was evil, and people turned a blind eye to it, and that we should never let it happen again,” he said.

Labor MLC Penny Sharpe explained how opposing sides of politics were able to come together on this issue, “Getting support across the parliament was about people recognising that this was a very targeted level of violence towards a particular group in our community and we don’t want to see it happen again”.

While Ms Sharpe acknowledged the significance of the report she also said it is important to give those impacted by these crimes a voice, “I hope that it will give a forum for family and friends of victims and some victims to talk about their experience and to seek justice in relation to their issues.

“I think it’s also an opportunity for the parliament to look at the issues in the way that police, but also other government departments, deal with people within the LGBTI community and really look forward to what are we not doing that we should be doing and what recommendations can we make to government for change?”

Commenting on the homophobic graffiti appearing in Alexandria this week, Mr Mallard warned that the issue of gay hate in Sydney is far from resolved, “Don’t think this doesn’t lurk in the dark corners of our society still”.

Ground shifts under tenancy laws

By Lanie Tindale Tenancy reforms introduced by the NSW government have not addressed ‘no grounds’ eviction laws.

The Inner West Council and advocacy groups have expressed support for tenancy reforms proposed by Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matt Kean but say landlords should not be able to evict tenants without a reason.

The reforms will allow tenants to make minor alterations to their house, impose minimum standards to make a home habitable and make provisions for domestic violence victims to end a lease immediately.

Mr Kean told City Hub he believes the reforms “strike the right balance between protecting tenant rights, while also protecting a landlord’s investment”.

The current Residential Tenancy Act allows landlords to terminate a periodic lease with 90 days’ notice, while a fixed term lease cannot be terminated with no grounds.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has joined calls to end ‘no grounds’ evictions, saying the evictions of long-term Leichhardt residents demonstrated his concerns.

“Many of them are on pensions and for some their physical ailments made it impossible to work and equally impossible to find somewhere new to live in such a short time frame,” said Cr Byrne.

“One gentleman had to leave the country he has called home for 45 years to live with his family in New Zealand.

“This is what’s wrong with rental law, and while the Government’s changes are a good step in the right direction, the changes mean little if renters aren’t also protected from unfair evictions.”

Nicole Kennedy from the Redfern Legal Centre said that the laws create a power imbalance where tenants live in substandard conditions rather than risk asking for repairs.

“No grounds evictions can affect any renter; however, these provisions have an even greater impact

Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne with evicted residents. Photo: Supplied

on people living in social and community housing,” Ms Kennedy said.

“Social housing is designed as a safety net for the most vulnerable tenants in our society, including people with disabilities, the elderly and low-income families.

“When renters in these properties face sudden eviction, inevitably they are ejected straight into homelessness.”

The NSW Aboriginal Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service [ATAAS] also wants an end to no grounds evictions but welcomes the reforms proposed, “especially better protection for survivors of domestic violence against financial harm”.

“However, many of these reforms will be ineffective because a tenant and their families can still be evicted from their homes if they attempted to enforce them,” a spokesperson said.

“It is extremely difficult for Aboriginal people to get a rental property in the private sector and the no grounds termination is yet another way that can be

used to evict Aboriginal people once their cultural heritage is known or becomes evident.”

The ATAAS spokesperson said Aboriginal tenants will more often than not, fail to raise tenancy matters such as need for repair or maintenance, due to a fear of retaliation.

A letter calling for an end to ‘no grounds’ evictions was signed by 45 housing researchers and published in The Conversation.

The letter said “[t]he prospect that a “no grounds” termination notice may be given hangs over all tenancies, discouraging tenants from raising concerns with agents and landlords.”

In response, the president of NSW Property Owners’ Association, John Gilmovich, told City Hub “Retaliatory and discriminatory evictions are already prohibited” and emphasised the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal [NCAT] has the power to overturn any termination notice given on the basis of discrimination and retaliation.

Mr Gilmovich said that ‘no grounds’ notices “are

an important element of the marketplace” allowing property owners “some flexibility to manage their [property]”.

“Removing this limited and controlled level of flexibility in managing their investments, will likely make residential property a less attractive investment, thereby further damaging supply of residential rental property over the long term, and ultimately place upward pressure on rental levels.”

Drummoyne-based Property Manager Hannah Tatum said the term ‘no grounds’ eviction was misleading.

“There’s lot of reasons given for evictions, it doesn’t just mean you want the person out for no good reason.”

The Make Renting Fair NSW campaign – whose supporters include Community Legal Centres NSW, Tenants’ Union of NSW, the Inner West Council and consumer advocacy group Choice – wants to replace ‘no grounds’ terminations with an expanded list of ‘reasonable grounds’ for ending an agreement.

Tenants could then challenge an eviction through NCAT. Ms Kennedy from Redfern Legal Centre said, “Currently all terminations utilise the NCAT process to terminate a tenancy…there would be no change to this process if the option of no grounds evictions were to be removed.

“The only change to this process is that that the landlord would be required to give a reasonable explanation for the termination.”

Ms Tatum said NCAT was “already overloaded” and landlords would have to pay for estate agents to fight eviction challenges.

“There seems to be this assumption that landlords are really rich, it’s not always the case.

“There are plenty of landlords who don’t own their own homes anyway…[For example] we had a landlord who doesn’t own their own property, only has an investment property in an attempt to try to get herself into the market.”

city hub 11 OCTOBER 2018

7

Solar moment for schools

By Michael Hitch Solar powered schools could soon be the norm in the inner west as the Inner West Council works with student leaders to help local schools maximise their use of renewable energy.

The Sydney Student Leaders Coalition (SSLC) aims to deliver solar energy panels to schools across the area and the initiative has gained support from Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne.

Cr Byrne said that he was pleased to see young people working to make changes within the community and said he was eager to begin collaboration with the SSLC to organise the solar campaign.

“I think it’s exciting to see young people taking initiative in proposing changes that they want to see within their schools and in the local community,” he said.

“Within their organisation there are now representatives from almost every high school in the inner west area and beyond, so it’s important for us to support that activity and to work in collaboration with them.”

Cr Byrne noted that solar panelling for schools would benefit the community by strengthening schools’ economic value and improving the surrounding environment.

“I think it’s common-sense that our school buildings should have solar panelling installed, solar is a better alternative simply based on economics as opposed to non-renewable energy sources,” he said.

Cr Byrne said he wanted to send a positive message to kids about the usefulness and imperative of making use of solar energy, and that having solar powered schools would do that in a very visible and practical way.

“Schools also have a lot of rooftop space, these are some of the largest buildings in the inner west, so there’s the potential for this to actually make a

Inner West students leading the solar charge for schools. Photo: pexels.com

return for the school communities and to put new energy back into the grid.”

The SSLC is a coalition of high school students who advocate for necessary change in their schools and communities.

A representative from the organisation said the group decided to launch the solar schools campaign in order to deliver significant economic and environmental benefits to the inner west.

The SSLC intends to help switch local schools to solar by using the Department of Education’s tendering program, which provides half of the funds for a network of solar panels while the school raises the other half.

The Department of Education also provides information regarding the size and type of system each individual school requires, allowing schools to prepare a budget and fundraise if necessary.

Caringbah High School in Sydney’s south is

one school identified as having already raised the required portion of funds to install solar panels under the program.

SSLC member, Harvey Hayes said that the economic and environmental benefits of the campaign could be seen from the results of Caringbah high school’s decision to switch to solar.

“For Caringbah High School after they installed solar panels, they managed to save $15, 000 a year roughly, and those savings went to social benefits for the school, getting extra equipment for the school etcetera,” she said.

“Of course, 177 tonnes of carbon emissions were also saved as well, which is such an important action for helping the environment.

“We want our schools to be helping with the climate crisis and it seems like an obvious step to help other schools within our own organisation and our own area, to install their own solar panels.”

Ms Hayes said that the tendering program’s requirement for schools to raise 50 per cent of funds would inspire community engagement.

“I think it’s actually fantastic because it really encourages communities to get involved, it just means that the other 50 percent can be provided by P&C [Parents and Citizens] or by the infrastructure school funds,” she said.

“It also provides great opportunities for communities to come together through fundraising and really to educate the students, parents and teachers on solar panels in particular.”

The ‘Solar my School’ program is considered one of the front-running solar program models being considered by Inner West Council, having already been implemented successfully by schools in the eastern and southern suburbs.

A representative from the council added that staff were still in the process of assessing the economic and environmental outcomes of various solar program models, which would be compared in a forthcoming report.

“This will be reported back to Council in late October to inform a decision on the best options for supporting schools,” they said.

Cr Byrne said that Council would need to step up and help to provide the organisation and infrastructure necessary to help shift inner west schools to solar energy.

“The Inner West Council needs to provide full coordination and brokerage of the program,” he said.

“It’s one thing to say ‘these funds can become available’, but actually coordinating the process of getting kids to propose it through their P&C groups, helping school communities to raise their contribution and the logistics of actually having the panels installed… all of that will require organisation that Council will have to take on.”

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9

Opinion

Parliamentary inquiry flushes the truth

By Peter Hehir At 9 am on Tuesday the 9th October 2018 the Parliamentary Inquiry into WestConnex opened.

This is the inquiry that Glad the Impaler did her damndest to prevent.

Following glowing reports from the RMS and The Treasury, the Rozelle community was then given an opportunity to speak. The three minute address, which was all I was permitted, read as follows.

‘In spite of the evidence that you’ve just heard, the truth is WestConnex is the southern hemisphere’s biggest preventable unnatural disaster! A catastrophe from every conceivable point of view. It is a massive waste of taxpayer funds. Experts agree it will only worsen Sydney’s traffic congestion.

Both the benefit cost ratio and the construction cost have been grossly misrepresented with the true cost estimated independently by SGS Economics at $45 billion!

There has been no governance! Had there been, AECOM would certainly have been barred from the project. Not only because of investigations into corruption with their overseas dealings, but due to their appalling track record in relation to the business cases prepared for the failed Lane Cove Tunnel, the Clem 7 Tunnel in Brisbane and the Cross City Tunnel here.

These bankruptcies have involved staggering sums, with the costs subsequently borne by the taxpayer. In NSW, over $1 billion has been paid to the operator of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel because of the failure to attract the patronage projected in the business case.

If the Government wasn’t aware of AECOM’s abysmal track record, this establishes a prima facie case of gross incompetence. If they were, then the Government was obviously seeking a company ready and willing to prepare a (word deleted on legal advice) benefit/cost ratio. Either

Inquiry finds WestConnex tunnels to be toxic. Photo: Wikipedia

incompetence or corruption. There is no other possible conclusion.

Any contract that guarantees to reimburse the operators for less than projected usage, or that precludes an alternate or competing transport corridor, is definitely not in the public interest.

LA’s 8 hours of bumper to bumper traffic in peak periods has convinced legislators there to finally stand up to the fossil fuel lobby, to abandon the freeway approach and to invest heavily in public transport.

Rozelle’s four unfiltered exhaust stacks and tunnel portals will make the White Bay region the most heavily, intentionally polluted area in Sydney, if not in the entire country.

In excess of 50 tonnes of carcinogenic particulate material will be imported from St Peters, Cammeray and Five Dock, released above

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Rozelle and will precipitate over us and the adjoining suburbs, each and every year.

The NSW Government is knowingly ignoring world’s best practice. The Premier is well aware of this and said so in the NSW Parliament in 2008.

Costs resulting from the induced and preventable morbidity and premature deaths will run into $billions. She knows this and yet turns a blind eye.

In conclusion, RAW requests that this Inquiry adopts the ten recommendations on the final page of our submission. The principal of these being that a Royal Commission be convened into WestConnex and that no further contracts be signed until the Commission has tabled its findings.

The NSW Government has a legal and moral responsibility to enhance the quality of life of its citizens and to protect them from harm.

RAW urges the members of this committee not

to simply follow the dictates of your party, but to find according to your conscience.

The life that you contribute to saving may well be your own.’

I’d have liked to have added so very much more. The way that Sydney’s least affluent demographic will bear the brunt of the $45 billion cost of the tunnels. How homes have been stolen for as little as 60 cents in the dollar.

How cancer clusters will develop in Rozelle, Balmain, Annandale and Lilyfield and all of the adjoining suburbs. I’d really loved to have put the boot into Glad for her unashamed attack on the residents of the Inner West.

How she can’t claim ignorance of the effects of the unfiltered stacks, that thousands of people will die prematurely – and that their blood is on her hands.

I’d liked to have said that the SMC and the RMS were unable to name even one expert in transport analysis or traffic management who was prepared to publically debate the merits of WestConnex.

How Peter Jones – the Project Manager for Stage 3 – threatened a walkout at the Balmain Town Hall in 2016 unless he was given the floor unopposed.

How the Community Information sessions were really just a sick joke, nothing more than a cynical box ticking exercise with all of the 13, 000 objections simply ignored. How the savings in travel time are an illusion.

That those who sit idling in the tunnels as they crawl toward the exit portals are absorbing carcinogens at well over 50 times the maximum dose.

That this travesty is only proceeding because both major parties are in the thrall of the fossil fuel lobby and are hooked on their political donations – along with the promise of sinecures for the ‘good little boys’ and girls’ who get into bed with these multinational companies.

Sad really. So much to put right. So little time.

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FEATURE

Glitz, Glam & Gay Honours

By Rita Bratovich In 2007, ACON held their inaugural Honour Awards to help raise funds for the organisation and acknowledge some of the unsung heroes in the community - there was only one award given. This year, in its twelfth iteration, the Honour Awards was held with a lavish cocktail party in the Ivy Ballroom.

The spectacular evening included red carpet greetings by Drag Royalty, Candy Box; music by DJ legend, Kate Monroe; live entertainment via the extraordinary vocal cords of Catherine Alcorn; and charismatic hosting by TV presenter Andrew Mercado. A catalogue of prizes generously donated for the silent auction included holiday and accommodation packs; dinner and adventure experiences; fashion; original artwork and much more.

“Today, the Honour Awards recognises people and organisations in the LGBTI community across 10 categories spanning the health, HIV, media, youth, entertainment, arts, business, and community sectors,” said ACON President, Justin Koonin, reflecting on how it had grown.

The awards presentation itself was an expression of unified appreciation with special accolades going to CAMP Inc, one of the earliest LGBTI advocacy groups, who received the ACON President’s Award; The Human Rights Law Centre and The Equality Campaign who jointly received the Community Organisation Award; and Robyn Kennedy, a relentless campaigner for over 40 years awarded the Community Hero honour.

The nominees in each category were chosen for their enduring dedication to welfare and causes relevant to the LGBTI community.

“As an event that celebrates how people from all walks of life are helping or inspiring others in our community, diversity is an important part of the nominations process.The Honour Awards is all

2018 Young Achiever Award recipient Bayvick Lawrence. Photo: Robert Knapman Photography

about recognising outstanding service and/or achievements from all sections of the community.

The contributions and/or achievements of nominees are also extremely important in the judging process. The Honour Awards is about acknowledging all kinds of community service, whether big or small,” explains Koonin.

Recipient of the Media Award, Dr Shirleene Robinson is certainly guilty of outstanding service and achievement. Both as a historian and a qualified media commentator she has helped highlight not only the challenges and injustices faced by LGBTI people, but also the positive impact they have had on society.

Through her work, Robinson has helped draw attention and ultimately bring change to issues such as the “gay panic defence”, gay people in the military and most recently, marriage equality in which she was an active campaigner. She says it’s

a particular honour to receive recognition from her own community and believes events like this are important for morale.

“It’s been a very difficult year in many ways for the LGBTQI community and I think that a night like this has come at a really good time,” says Robinson. “[ACON] do such incredible work across our community and this is such an important night for them to fundraise so they can continue to do that work; and they have such a proud, wonderful history and it’s really great to be able to support that. It’s a beautiful night for everyone.There’s such a positive feeling in the room.”

Bayvick Lawrance is a young Fijian fashion designer who moved to Sydney several years ago but struggled to find support as a queer Pacific Islander. This motivated him to hold weaving workshops for Pacific Islander LGBTI

youth as a way for them to share stories, be creative and feel connected. He is currently curating workshops with Campbelltown Arts Centre. For his efforts, Lawrance was presented with the Young Achiever Award.

“When I was nominated I was so excited but I was not expecting to win at all,” says Lawrance.

“I was really surprised when they called my name and as I was walking up to the stage, I just felt so…I was really honoured and really grateful.”

For Lawrance, receiving an award like this is more about encouragement than praise.

“It just kind of like puts more fire to the work you’re doing already.”

He met other nominees on the night and is full of admiration for the work they do. In a nutshell, he describes why they deserve to be honoured.

“It’s people like this that make the community stronger, because they all do different work on different levels. It’s because of them that we get to express ourselves and be free in this country today.”

Convulsively prolific writer, producer, performer, curator, Maeve Marsden was nominated for the Arts and Entertainment Award and though she didn’t walk away with the trophy (in fact, she wasn’t actually there on the night) she appreciates the recognition and the significance of the Awards.

“I went to an Honour Awards a few years ago and it was a beautiful event; it was warm and it was celebratory and I especially love that the Honour Awards celebrate community heroes and political campaigners - that’s really important.That would be the category that I’d want to support and put people forward for because I think there’s a lot of unsung community heroes. I get sung a lot!”

For a full list of award recipients, go to www.honourawards.com.au To find out more about ACON visit: www.acon.org.au

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Theatre director, Kate Champion, describes the Hayes Theatre as Sydney’s version of “off Broadway”, referring to its intimate size and low key productions. Champion is currently rehearsing a brand new musical, Evie May, by Hugo Chiarella and Naomi Livingston, featuring a stellar cast. She regards the constraints of small theatres as positives.

“I think it’s the most phenomenal experience you can have to sit that close to people performing […] It makes my skin tingle and my heart beat faster to sit two rows in front of people pulling off what they’re pulling off in front of you.”

Proximity allows for more nuanced performance and subtle details and the audience feels more connected and involved.

Evie May is a fictitious story based

on real facts and a composite of historical personalities drawn from life around the cabaret scene in Perth from around the 1930s to 1960s. Evie is a young girl at boarding school in a town outside Perth. One night she and a friend sneak out and go to the city where they discover the raucous, ecstatically vibrant nightlife of the Tivoli. Evie is immediately drawn to this bright, flickering world and begins a career as a performer.

While Champion says she and the writers did extensive research into the history and details of Tivoli and general entertainment of the time, the musical is not intended to recreate the Tivoli stage or even focus on it.

“It’s very much a woman’s story; what it was like to try and work as a woman from the 30s through

Forever & Ever

to the 60s […]There’s a lot of really great personal and social issues that are threaded through the life of a performer in the Tivoli,” explains Champion.

While some authentic songs and dances have been recreated, the set is minimal and suggestive rather than realistic. As Champion explains, “it’s almost like we’re entering Evie May’s mind as much as we are the history and the stage of her career.”

It’s not all doom and gloom, either, insists Champion.

“We’ve definitely got some laughs and some upbeat numbers … there’s serious subject matter there but there’s levity.” (RB) Oct 12-Nov 3. Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point. $50-$65+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.hayestheatre.com.au

Photo: Pedro Greig

Evie May

An Enemy Of The People

What does it mean to be a whistleblower in this day and age? Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy Of The People has been adapted by Melissa Reeves for the Belvoir stage.

In a town wanting to preference economic stability over social considerations, Katherine Stockman (Kate Mulvany) makes the discovery that the famous town water is toxic. In trying to bring the truth to light, she faces incredible adversity from within her previously supportive community.

“It’s a contemporary look at an Australian country-town that is undergoing a huge moral crisis about its own survival. It’s a microcosm of what we are seeing worldwide at the moment,” says Catherine Davies, who plays Randine.

“We have so much info at our hands that the desire to act is so present that you have to be willfully ignorant to not be aware of social issues that are happening. But we have seen many examples of how whistleblowers are discredited and treated.”

Adapted to feature a female protagonist, the play examines how it is women in particular who are silenced, undermined and discredited in their attempt to reveal the truth.

“It’s interesting to look at what a real threat is and what we do when we’re threatened as a majority,” says Davies. “Sometimes an immediate suffering might mean a greater long-term benefit but we tend to be quite short-sighted in our decision making.” (ES)

REVIEW: Maggie Stone

Photo: Robert Catto

Meet Maggie Stone, a 50-something Australian woman who is overweight and suffers from health issues. She works as a senior loans officer, is unjustifiably arrogant and has already been issued a second warning for her

inadequate treatment of prospective clients.

When she refuses to grant a Sudanese man a life-saving loan which he desperately requires simply because he is black, a set of adverse life-changing events are

a&e

Until Nov 4. Upstairs Theatre, 18 & 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills. $37-$77+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.belvoir.com.au

evoked which don’t only affect Maggie, but a financially inept Sudanese family who she has uncharacteristically befriended.

Maggie has indisputably discovered friendship for the first time, but audiences will ponder – why is she being so charitable? Is she a ‘guardian angel like a big sister’ or simply ‘a snake with legs’ on an unscrupulous mission?

A loan shark takes to the stage leading to many twists and turns which build to a momentum of violence and an explosive climax, leaving unsuspecting audiences somewhat bewildered but overwhelmingly satisfied.

Written by multi-award-winning playwright Caleb Lewis, the dry

13 STAGE 14 SCENE 15 Sounds 15 SCREEN

humour cleverly seeps through the edgy and prevalently dark storylines, with resonating themes of the need of belonging, acceptance, racism, forgiveness and the alleged double standards of charity.

Audiences may feel slightly apprehensive while watching Eliza Logan’s brilliant portrayal of Maggie Stone – will this dramatic piece prove to be a little too close to home? With the influx of asylum seekers in Australia have we all at some point felt intolerance towards these people? Is there perhaps just a touch of Maggie Stone in all of us?? (MMo) Until Oct 21. Eternity Theatre, 39 Burton, Darlinghurst. $38-$54+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.darlinghursttheatre.com

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

The Sydney Dance Company is showcasing Antony Hamilton’s work Forever & Ever for the very first time in Sydney, alongside Rafael Bonachela’s awardwinning Frame Of Mind.

“I don’t know if I’ve actually seen Raf’s work with the Sydney Dance Company, so I’m quite excited to see that. For my work, it tends always to be something very unexpected and I guess quite a surreal experience combined with technical choreography that really pushes the dances to their limits.”

This double bill will enchant audiences and explore the ideas of sound, endurance, disorder in society and the volatility of the human psyche.

Choreographer, Antony Hamilton said, “We’re working with a very deep, techno sort of perpetual beat that travels through the whole piece.

We also explore duplication, so the performers are constantly multiplying throughout the piece and the set is growing, as well as ideas of larger things around society.”

Hamilton wants the audience to form their own understanding of the performance, with an underlying aim to push the sensory experience of the audience to its limits, both visually and sonically.

“The opportunity to work with a dance company who is essentially one of the most oiled machines in the country, if not internationally, makes you just want to stretch their abilities to the fullest way possible. I guess it’s a technical exercise for me in being able to extend the potential of my own choreography with the very best artists that are around,” Hamilton concluded. (JM Oct 16-27. Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay. $20-$95+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.sydneydancecompany.com

Contributors: Emily Shen, Irina Dunn, Jade Morellini, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Olga Azar, Rita Bratovich, Sarah Pritchard, Shon Ho, Riley Hooper, Erika Echternach & Lili Sekkai, Joseph Rana, John Moyle, Angela Stevens, Will Fournier, Gabe Merkel & Lanie Tindale.

city hub 11 OCTOBER 2017

13

THE NAKED CITY

Leap Of Faith

with the Sheriff, Marla (Michaela Leisk) whose wheelchair ridden son, Jake (Nile Sturzaker) has already been targeted by the gang as their patsy. There are unexpected conversions, an unlikely romance and maybe even a miracle or two.

Morchio is very charismatic in the lead role, injecting that element of subtle sexuality and devilish charm needed to make Jonas likeable. Ennis is a tough, unflappable Sam with solid presence. Leisk does well with Marla which is an under-written role but gets some powerful moments. Rachel Gillfeather is the standout voice, belting out sassy soul as “mother angel” Ida Mae. Her onstage daughter, Ornella (Carmel Rodrigues) shares similar vocal virtuosity.

It’s a fun ride with some life lessons thrown in and accidental reference to the current social climate.

Until Oct 14.The Independent Theatre, 269 Miller St, North Sydney. $35-$47.50+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.theindependent.org.au

Project Minding Madness Project Minding Madness may be the most important theatre project you see this year.

Writer Joy Roberts has “codevis[ed] and oversee[n] the creation of the script from spoken words and workshopping,” done with real members of the Sydney community who have suffered from mental illness.The play is based word-by-word on accounts from adults who have bravely shared their personal childhood stories, which, as noted by Mrs Roberts, they may have been “holding onto for a very long time.”

What makes this play special, in the opinion of Joy, is “the power of the true stories. Knowing that every single word and story spoken is true.” In this way, it is practically a “social obligation to come and listen to these stories.”

The cast of talented and experienced actors serves as a mouthpiece for these courageously shared experiences.

Joy reminds us that people “in our communities,” or maybe even a relative or close friend, might be having a similar experience.

14

city hub 11 OCTOBER 2018

Olga Olshansky. Photo: Wayne Mitchell, Make-up - Veronica Colvin

“Our neighbours, people that we work with, [or] people we go to school with” are quietly suffering.

“Reality,” Mrs Roberts reminded me,“is bigger than theatre or anything that can be made up.”

The clinical power of sharing these stories is bigger than theatre as well, as noted by Psychologist Kerry Searle.“The right awareness and support” surrounding mental illness can lead to “the development of strengths rather than difficulties.”

A project such as this one is an important way to start conversation.

Project Minding Madness showcases for one night only, so do an important service to yourself and your community by getting a ticket. (WF) Oct 18. Giant Dwarf Theatre, 199 Cleveland St, Redfern. $22-$25+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.giantdwarf.com.au

With Coffin Ed With a prediction that koalas in NSW could be extinct in the wild by 2050, the time has surely come to look at new ways of preserving our native fauna. It’s long been advocated that restrictions on owning and raising domestic wildlife by members of the public be greatly relaxed as one way of increasing animal numbers.

In other words if a native animal, for example a bilby, were suitable to be kept as a domestic pet, then should the green light be given? Yes in theory says Dr Mike Archer, the head of the Australian Museum from 1999-2004, believing it’s worth looking at as a possible means of conservation. No says the Australian National University’s Dr Karen Viggers claiming that, “The use of native animals as pets will only ever focus on a small subset of species and will be unable to address larger biodiversity conservation issues.”

Unlike countries such as America, and many others throughout the world, the keeping of native species as pets in Australia has always been a no no with a few exceptions like certain kinds of parrots and lizards.At the same time we have a shameful record

State of Origin – Naked Tenpin Bowling Challenge

A moderately successful 1992 film starring Steve Martin, Leap Of Faith was re-written as a stage musical in 2010 by original screenwriter Janus Cercone (later revised by Warren Leight). Award winning lyricist Glenn Slater and composer Alan Menken penned the songs, but even with those impressive credits, Leap Of Faith has never been a favoured musical among critics and is not often staged.

This production by North Shore Theatre Company brings some warmth and heart to a plot that borders on cynical and characters that are pretty despicable.

Jonas Nightingale (Mateo Morchio) is a con-artist dressed in Miracle Worker’s clothing. He is travelling through Kansas with his sister and partner in crime, Sam (Taggie Ennis) and his troupe of “angels”.When their bus breaks down in a small, drought-cursed town called Sweetwater, the group decides to pitch tent, hold a revival and relieve the residents of their pitifully little cash.Things go awry when Jonas has an immediate run-in

HELLO POSSUMS! prior to 1936, when the last known creature died in a Hobart zoo, this remarkable animal would still be extant.

Perhaps the best way of conserving koalas would be to ship hundreds of them off to host countries around the world provided they could deliver the right kind of gum leaf diet.

After all we set a successful precedent back in 1837 when we exported the common brushtail possum, trichosurus vulpecula, across the ditch to New Zealand, not so much as a conservation exercise but more in the interest of the Kiwi fur trade.

Nevertheless our brushtail buddies have when it comes to the extinction of taken to the milder NZ climate with great numerous native species, in particular the gusto, so much so that they are now in Tassie Tiger and numerous bird, reptiles plague proportions – and sadly regarded as and other marsupials. It took white feral pest. settlers only a few hundred years to wipe Whilst the law states that you need a out what the traditional owners of this permit to keep a possum as a pet in New land had both co-existed and safeguarded Zealand, the regulation is largely for thousands of years. overlooked as long as you keep your We also greatly restrict the export of critter in relative captivity. Many Kiwis certain ‘iconic’ animals to other have found that possums make great pets countries. Just as China allows pandas for as long as you can adjust to their foreign exhibit under extremely strict nocturnal lifestyle. They are clean, cuddly conditions, we are equally choosy when and affectionate and best of all when they it comes to sending koalas abroad. Maybe poo they leave a dry, solid, virtually if we had shipped a few thylacines (aka odourless pellet which can be easily Tasmanian tigers) off to foreign zoos swept up and used as garden fertiliser.

Alice’s Wonderland

A charity event.An interstate bowling tournament.A nudist convention. Skin deep, they appear to have little in common. However, on October 12, they intersect at the Young Nudists of Australia (YNOA) State of Origin – Naked Tenpin Bowling Challenge.

YNOA was founded in March of 2016 as a subbranch of the Australian Naturalist Foundation (ANF) with the goal of increasing body positivity among young people. The group now has over 100 active members and counting.

For State of Origin, YNOA is partnering with the Butterfly Foundation, an organisation focused on improving body image through education on eating disorders. State of Origin is actually two events taking place simultaneously at bowling

alleys in Sydney and Brisbane.

The participants will socialise, raise money for a worthy cause, and compete to determine which state boasts the best bowlers.YNOA aims to raise $2,000 across the two events.

Though the organisation is relatively small, the message it promotes is larger than life.

Asked why nudity is important in shaping a positive body image, event organiser Matt Lennon was emphatic, “People don’t judge when everyone is in that equal nude state. In virtually all cases, it makes you realise everyone is beautiful in their own skin exactly as they are.”

YNOA believes its supportive, enthusiastic environment will help first time nudists feel comfortable in their own skin.

“We’re friendly people and always happy to make new friends… nudists are people too and are always happy to welcome new people to the lifestyle.” (GM) October 12. Ten Pin City, 92 Parramatta Road, Lidcombe. $50+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.trybooking.com/395232

Alice Cao is a young digital artist now exhibiting at The Balmain Market Galleries.

Her work is delicate and intuitive whilst at the same time being very precise.Alice has set out to prove that an artist can tell a story through digital means in the same way as with a paintbrush.

“My process is completely computer-generated.Whilst I do have a general structure, I still think the best art still needs a bit of a “go with the flow attitude.After all, art is not a science.” Alice uses Adobe Photoshop which she says is the industry standard with ‘intuitive functionality’ that best suits her work.“I start off with a quick gesture to indicate the flow - this helps me to guide the viewer’s eye and keep some motion in the picture.

Then I do a loose sketch of the idea followed by proper line art which is aided by references. Underneath this I’ll lay down some colours - I may do a few of these compositions to get the right mood. I usually merge layers at this point and try to paint like I would traditionally. I’ll do a final layer of colour adjustments and effects if needed, pop in my signature, then call it a day.”

Alice’s artwork is like

walking through an enchanted forest with mythical creatures.A pagan world in which you would expect to find King Arthur and Merlin in conference with the black knight.“I’ve just always been fascinated by fantasy and nature. I have grown up reading fantasy novels and playing games which were typically medieval based with dragons and wizards. I am enthralled by the romantic notion of riding a horse off to new adventures and unknown lands.”

Alice would love to see more digital art in physical art spaces like galleries and museums as they mostly only display traditional works. (RD)

Oct 13 & 27. Balmain Markets, 217-223 Darling St & Curtis Rd, Balmain. Info: www.artstation.com/alicecao

Birds Of Tokyo

By Jamie Apps Birds Of Tokyo have been together for 15 years now but over the course of the last couple of years they had been relatively silent when it came to new music so some fans began to question whether they may have in fact been finished.That speculation was put to rest last month with the unveiling of their new single, Unbreakable, as the theme song for the upcoming Invictus Games.

When City Hub sat down to chat with bassist Ian Berney we were given a greater insight into the reasoning behind the silence.

“We never felt like this project was

finished because there is such an incredible chemistry between the five of us but we had to sit down and have a heartfelt conversation about where we wanted to take the music next,” explained Berney.“Everyone had different perspectives but we found common ground in that we all felt we could head back into the pop world and write big beautiful pop songs that would connect on a wider stage with fans.”

That new direction took some time to settle in to but ultimately it was the selection of the Unbreakable demo as the theme song for the Invictus Games which cemented in the bands mind

that this was the right decision. “[Ian] Kenny came up with the line “cause you’re unbreakable” as a chorus and we weren’t sure whether it was right or not because at the time we could see that unbreakable as a song concept had been written many times so we tried to look for a different way to say that but we couldn’t beat that line.Then when our manager told us about the Invictus Games decision it all clicked and painted the song perfectly in what we were trying to achieve.”

For Berney the opportunity to work with the Invictus Games and the incredible athletes who participate is an “amazing” and “inspiring” moment.

“Their sheer determination and ability to create something from adversity is truely inspiring, these athletes give a new perspective on persistence so I have a lot of respect for the people who become champions of sport even though they’re missing arms or legs.”

Before performing at the Invictus Games though Birds Of Tokyo will be performing in Sydney at the Get Your Groove On festival which Berney says is going to be a “crazy show” simply because of the vast catalogue of songs the band now has at their disposal.

Oct 13, Get Your Groove On, Bella Vista Farm, Norwest Blvd & Elizabeth MacArthur Drive, Bella Vista. $75-$89+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.getyourgrooveon.com.au

Anon is the latest record from Aussie rockers Hands Like Houses and dives into the very machinations of the things that can make us all feel isolated, nameless and faceless, whether that is anxiety, heartbreak, alcoholism and many more.

Throughout the record the band have produced a wide ranging soundscape of styles which range from easy to listen introductory rock right through to vicious, angsty, hardcore rock.

The aptly titled Black is the darkest and heaviest of the 10 track offering as it explores the perils of holding a grudge.

There is something for almost everyone on this record, whether you prefer softer radio friendly rock or darker industrial rock. The evolution of Hands Like Houses is certainly something special and something which will be a joy to watch continue into the future.

(JA) WWWW1/2

Kurt Vile - Bottle It In Bottle It In is not only Kurt Vile’s latest album, but the culmination of his musical career thus far.

The album aims to capture his musical voyage by incorporating collaborations with those new and old, such as the Violators.

It is easy to see how the first single released from the album, Loading Zones, is a combination of everything that stylistically inspired Kurt Vile’s music to this point. The song brings a blend of alternative rock, country, techno, and something completely unique to the music industry, which will surely resonate with listeners.

Although the conglomeration of sounds may be a bit off putting to some, the clever lyrics and sheer entertainment value make the song’s music video worth the watch.

The overarching message can be both heard in his wily guitar riffs and seen in his video’s storyline: Kurt Vile is nothing if not a free spirit. (EE) WW1/2

American Animals

Venom

In recent years we’ve been spoiled by superhero films with depth and greater messages infused within their stories. Sony’s latest offering, Venom, unfortunately harkens back to a first wave of superficial, simple superhero ‘blockbusters’.

In this origin story Tom Hardy takes the role of investigative reporter Eddie Brock as he digs into the nefarious work of the Life Foundation and its enigmatic founder Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed). During his investigation Brock comes into contact with the alien symbiote known as Venom who quickly fuses with Brock.

It is from this fusion that much of the joy in this film radiates as Brock and Venom bicker back and forth with snappy one-liners.

Hands Like Houses - Anon

Sadly the seemingly unintentional comedy is the lone highlight of the film.

The action sequences are dark, jumbled and often indistinguishable. Had Venom been allowed to explore the R-rating, much like Deadpool, it could have had the much more visceral impact which the source material calls for.

The dialogue is bland and formulaic and ultimately the villain is little more than a bigger, badder version of Venom.

Whilst a relatively fun ride this film feels like it belongs to a bygone era. Had Venom been released during the first wave of Marvel films in the early 2000s this would have felt much more appropriate than it does now. (JA) WW

“This is not based on a true story. This is a true story” is a title that appears in the opening credits of American Animals. Though it’s not the most bizarre crime case ever, the story of four teenagers who haplessly plan to steal extremely valuable rare books from a university library is so crazy it needs to be true to be credible.

Director Bart Layton (The Imposter) uses innovative devices to recreate the story, including interspersing the action with interview clips from the actual people who are part of the story, including the four men, now in their 30s. It adds an interesting element to the narration.

The actors themselves each give an inspiring performance, with Barry Keoghan (Spencer) and Evan Peters (Warren) particularly good as initiators

of the scheme, and Jared Abrahamson (Eric) and Blake Jenner (Chas) coming on board further into the plot and adding emotional variation.

The script is terrific. It’s incredible to think that had these boys not been so naive and inept, they might well have pulled off the greatest heist in American history. (RB) WWW1/2

A Prayer Before Dawn One would think that in a cinematic world including Rocky and Raging Bull there would hardly be any room for yet another boxing movie.

One would also think with Jean-Claude Van Damme’s obsession with Thai martial arts movies no-one would think it wise to even venture

into a very similar territory.

Yet, A Prayer Before Dawn based on the extraordinary true story of Billy Moore, a young boxer incarcerated in some of Thailand’s most notorious prisons - with its brilliant film-making manages to leave a very lasting impression.

The movie deals with the daunting and horrific world of drugs, gang violence and one person’s journey to conquer his demons and remove himself from the hell on Earth that these Thai prisons are depicted to be.

Joe Cole delivers an outstanding performance as

a boxer that uses Muay Thai boxing to savagely fight his way to overcome the odds.

The movie is not an easy watch with very strong imagery used throughout, but for fans of boxing or gritty action cinema it is definitely worth a watch. (JR) WWWW city hub 11 OCTOBER 2017

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city hub 11 OCTOBER 2018