City Hub 15 February 2018

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city hub 15 FEBRUARY 2018

End of line for Bronte bus

BY MICK DALEY Bronte residents are fuming over a NSW Transport Department decision to axe their direct 378 beach-to-city bus service last year.

A Change.org petition begun by Bronte resident Gaby Naher, a literary agent who commutes daily to the city, has garnered over 550 signatures. It objects strenuously to the cancellation of the service, which leaves commuters with longer journeys fraught with dangerous interchanges.

The petition reads in part: “Our children will no longer have a single bus trip to their schools in the inner city, our infirm will no longer have a single trip to St Vincent’s Hospital, our elderly will no longer have a single trip for shopping in the city and the convenience of being able to ride a single bus to work will for many of us be replaced by a lot of dead time at the Interchange.

“We call on our Local member, Bruce NotleySmith, to reinstate Bronte’s own bus, the 378.”

Gaby Naher says that letters to the Department have been dismissive of her objections and those to local member Bruce Nottley Smith have been ignored. She said the decision has provoked anger and frustration from Bronte residents who foresee great difficulties and even tragedy in the wind.

“At the beginning of November my somewhat older neighbor spoke to me in some distress because her husband had been handed a flier talking about changes to the bus service,” Naher told the City Hub. “I got on to the Transport NSW website and read about the changes and immediately called NottleySmith’s office to say ‘it’s unacceptable to lose that public transport that has been operating since 1910’.

“The only reply I got was confirmation of the cancellation. I decided to start a Change. org petition in frustration because I thought if we didn’t act quickly changes would be made and there’d be no public outcry or discussion about it.”

NSW Transport axed the 378 beach-to-city direct bus service, leaving Bronte residents with the indirect 379. Photo: Paula Masselos

Fellow Bronte resident Judy Ebner says the changes are ‘ridiculous’ and make her regular journeys dangerous.

“Since the buses have changed we have to catch the 379 bus, then to get the 440 to Broadway you have to change at Bondi Junction. However it’s not easy. You have to walk to the bus stop near the corner of Oxford St and Newland St. It’s a very dangerous crossing for the elderly or someone a bit slow going across. It’s a steep little hill up Newland Street to the lights at the intersection of Oxford St and of course cars are picking up speed, so the traffic is very fast and there’s going to be an accident one day there. I’ve seen some very close shaves.

“There’s also a lot of confusion on the part of tourists with the naming of 379. You see them get off on the corner of Bronte Rd and Birrell St and they think they’re somewhere near Bronte Beach, because it has the same number as the bus to North Bondi.

“It’s just crazy. Who has worked this out?

Someone who’s sitting at a computer who

doesn’t catch buses. To have two buses with two completely different destinations called the 379 is more than ridiculous.”

In response a spokesperson for Transport NSW said that last year it had altered some routes to ‘better reflect customer travel patterns and help improve the reliability of local services, including services to Bronte.’

Waverly Council estimates that there are between 75,000-80,000 people living in the 379 bus catchment area. It did not have a figure for how many people ride the buses, but Labor Councillor Paula Massella says she made this issue part of her election platform.

“I’m calling a meeting in the next couple of weeks of interested people who might want to join me in setting up a group to look at how we can bring back the 378,” she told the City Hub. “Generally people are finding this new 379 service very unsatisfactory. There was huge demand for the 378 and it was extremely well used, as was the 440 when it went between Bondi and Bronte.”

Councillor Masella observed that the 440 service has been privatized and this could be seen as a worrying sign of the State government’s agenda to privatize other public transport services.

“If you have a look at the evidence on the ground you couldn’t be blamed, if that’s what you thought.

The 440 is part of Region 6 now and that’s part of the inner west Sydney privatization service. Also, for example, Transdev has been given $20million to run eleven trials, including one in the eastern suburbs for an on-demand bus service, but there are issues with that because you can’t take prams on them.

“Why should people have to be pushed onto a private bus service and more to the point, why should people have to have twenty minutes added to their commute and be offered a service that’s inferior to what they had before?”

The Department of Transport spokesperson told City Hub that, “the high frequency of bus services on Oxford Street, including routes 380, 333, 440, M40 and 352, ensures that transfer times at Bondi Junction are minimised. These services are all available from Grafton Street.

“The decision by the NSW Government to put the contract to operate Region 6 bus services in Sydney’s Inner West out to competitive tender is not related to the delivery of services in any other areas.”

Gaby Naher says the change in service has added ten minutes to each of her commutes, adding 20 minutes a day, or 100 minutes a week.

“Originally I had a forty minute journey, which was good because I could work on the bus.”

“I heard Gladys Berejiklian speak at the NSW Premier’s awards last year and she said it was a great pleasure for her to be able to sit on the train from her home station and be able to read on the way to work. You would hope that the Premier wished for a pleasant and productive commute for residents of NSW as well, not just for herself.”

The office of MP Bruce Nottley-Smith was contacted for comment but had not done so by deadline.

Organisers of a rally to save NSW public transport can be reached at 0490 257 225.

Bondi heats up

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BY PAUL PAECH From cab-fares to cabbages, there’s value in measuring.

Trapping mercury in a thin glass tube and measuring what it did tells us all that on January 6, Sydney had its hottest day in almost 80 years, and the autumnal sunburnt leaves on the streets confirm the harsh reality of that measure.

Politicians of course trot out endless measurements (past) and numerical predictions (future) to support incomprehensible policies.

Measuring is a tool of control too, as when employers identify specific benchmarks for workers, and then use their figures to assess performance.

But in a world where we assume that everything can be measured, it’s crucial to appreciate just how much awkward baggage comes with numbers.

When Britain’s NHS set benchmarks that required hospitals to measure certain activities, like reducing the length of stay of patients, targets were met by sending more patients home earlier.

Inevitably, some were dispatched too early, resulting in much greater costs to the system when they required readmission.

Instead of being useful signposts along the way to improved health for their patients, those targets became goals in themselves. Ooops.

Fact is, figures always come with hidden values, with closet assumptions.

Some years back, Waverley Council under Sally Betts decided that elected Councillors weren’t doing the best job of assessing and determining Development Applications, so they passed the job over to the planning department.

In some larger or more controversial cases, they called in an “independent” committee. Because that committee required expertise in planning matters, its members were architects, town planners, and similar—plus one “community representative.”

Being professionally dependent on the property development industry, the committee members weren’t inclined to bite the hands that fed them by rejecting plans from developers that paid their salaries.

As a result, the developers are very happy.

Not so happy are the many thousands of residents whose homes are over-shadowed, whose views are blocked, and whose streets are clogged with cars from those new blocks of flats.

When time came for the planners to assess how well Betts’ system had worked, the report showed a wonderful and measurable improvement in Council’s building approvals

Valuing a community can include considering residents’ views as well as viewpoints, not necessarily the value of a property. Photo: Alec Smart

system because developments were being approved more quickly, Council’s legal costs were greatly reduced, etc.

Not mentioned at all in the report was the fundamental purpose of Council’s involvement in development in the first place: ie, ensuring sensitive, high-quality, etc., real-life buildings. It totally ignored what was actually going on with new buildings.

This report about Mayor Betts’ great planning success in Waverley was then trumpeted by the State Government to support extension of this wretchedly destructive model throughout the state. It’s vital for the health of local communities that this and other development decisionmaking be returned to local councils and to local councilors.

But how do you put a price on a neighbourhood?

In short: what’s the value of “community”?

The idea of “social capital” attempts to do that, putting a monetary value of the networks of relationships among the people who live and work in a particular society which enables their society to function effectively.

It’s a compelling idea that highlights the productive benefits of getting along with each other.

Even in a society that encourages us to out-display ridiculous highconsumption lifestyles, the alt.reality is that real-life co-operation pays off handsomely.

The better we get along, the better all our lives will be.

Because co-operation is what civilisation is all about. city hub 15 FEBRUARY 2018

3

Kings Cross Locals push back

BY JOHN MOYLE The proposed development plans to demolish almost an entire block of Darlinghurst Road in Potts Point has had an unexpected result: it has united the residents in such a way that hasn’t been seen since the days of the Green Bans of the mid seventies, complete with a rally scheduled for Saturday, February 24th at the Rex Centre.

After the initial shock of the Development Application’s scope and impact on the area, residents looked into it and found it wanting in many areas.

Development Application D/2017/1705 attracted 548 submissions to the City of Sydney, most of which we can presume to be objections against the development.

A City of Sydney spokeswoman referred to this as a ‘high volume’ of submissions, especially when most developments in the area attract 20 to 30 submissions either for or against.

The table of concerned imbibers at a pub in Bayswater Road had hopes of getting around 500 signatures to a change.org petition, but was overwhelmed when it reached 12,000 and is still rising.

While the petitioner realises that these digital signatures do not have any bearing on DA objections, the petition has been submitted to City of Sydney as an indication of widespread disapproval for the development.

A hastily organised meeting called by the Concerned Citizens and conducted by the 2011 Residents’ Association attracted an overflowing crowd of more than 250 residents, and was the first indication of concern in the community.

Local Aboriginal identity Rose Whittaker is from the Moree region in western NSW, and as such cannot speak for the area, but has come up with a novel protest idea.

“I’m going to ask some of my Gadigal sisters to

Poster art by Peter Bainbridge. Photo: Supplied

put a land claim over the area,” Rose said. “They would expect that from us Aboriginals.”

Another protester wrote to City Hub suggesting that the space created after the demolition be turned into an Aboriginal food garden, planted with the original food sources found in the area pre-colonisation.

The residents of Kingsley Hall are rightly concerned about the possible structural impact on their much-loved building.

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about the impact of the DA and the fact that they may never recover from the financial impact,” Cr Vithouklas said.

Compensation appears to be off the table as the DA is for a private development and not a State significant project such as the George Street light rail.

Councillor Vithouklas added “ People can feel very alone and angry and the stress and emotional upheaval can create a lot of mental health issues and people often don’t recover easily from these things.”

Rally organiser Andrew Woodhouse said “It is the biggest gathering of the community and groundswell of community angst about town planning in Kings Cross ever.

“Residents are outraged that there is no master plan for Kings Cross and their concerns are being ignored and the rally is a focal point for them to express those concerns.”

Local MP, Alex Greenwich said “I am currently reviewing the proposal, but the question is whether this is the tipping point for the Cross, where venues that added to the diversity and vitality of our city are being replaced with large residential developments.”

Artist Peter Bainbridge’s striking poster is creating a buzz in the area, as word of the rally spreads. Confirmed speakers are Alex Greenwich MP, Professor Kerryn Phelps AM, Councillor Angela Vithouklas and Andrew Woodhouse and a representative from Local Government NSW, with entertainment being provided by ‘Continental’ Robert Susz, Stephen Ferris and Brendan Gallagher.

This Friday night at 6pm the residents of Kingsley Hall are holding a placard vigil at the El Alamein Fountain to highlight the building’s opposition to the development.

In news to hand just as this story was being filed, the City of Sydney has issued a notice of motion for a Kings Cross Master Plan to be debated at Council on Monday night.

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Built in 1931, Kingsley Hall is a reminder of an older era and gentler era for Potts Point when grand and architecturally-significant apartment buildings, including Kingsclere, Franconia, Twenty and Macleay Regis, replaced crumbling villas and terraces built after the breakup of the Macleay Estate during the 1840s depression.

Residents of the nine-storey Emil Soderstendesigned Kingsley Hall are united in their objections due to fears that the development’s call to dig down four levels for car parking and then an additional 1.5 metres to a house a lift well will impact structurally on their building.

Resident Martin Denny said, “Any underground water going into the hole will undermine the ground and could affect the structural integrity of Kingsley Hall.”

Martin added that the apartments on the southern side of the building would also lose their windows from the third floor up to the eighth floor.

“All these people living there will lose their light; it will be completely gone, and there is no regards for the impact of this at all.”

While Lord Mayor Clover Moore has been conspicuous by her absence from any debate concerning the Kings Cross/Potts Point area, some of her councillors and a state MP are quite vocal in their opposition.

“It’s obvious that Kings Cross/Potts Point hasn’t been a priority for some time and that’s why it has been left out of a comprehensive master plan,” Councillor Angela Vithouklas said.

This week Councillor Vithouklas met with a group of local concerned business owners who feel that their livelihoods will be affected by the development’s scale and length of construction.

“The meeting was about bringing a lot of their concerns together and sharing those concerns

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MEET the locals

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Seven-storey high waterfall amongst the apartments.

Photo: supplied

BY JADE MORELLINI Experience Indonesia in the heart of Sydney with Waterfall

by Crown Group, which emits the lush tropical landscapes and beauty of Indonesia and returns a sense of balance to modern day life.

Unlike any residential development in Sydney, Waterfall was named after its seven- storey waterfall, which flows stunningly down one of the developments four buildings.

The Crown Group’s aim was to create a sanctuary in the middle of the city to encourage residents to retreat and enjoy a break from the stresses and strains of a busy life.

Complete with a 20-storey sculptural tower, residents will oversee a sublime natural setting of tropical botany and beautiful water gardens.

Waterfall’s apartments were designed with elegance and practicality at its centre, with beautiful layouts and furniture to make living easy and relaxing.

All four buildings, designed by award-winning architects SJB, radiate with the exquisite atmosphere of nature. Three eight storey towers are connected by long, open-air walkways, interspersed with bridges at ideal viewing points.

Waterfall has Australia’s tallest man-made waterfall along with a

rooftop infinity pool to swim or relax in after a long day’s work.

Waterfall’s tranquil groundlevel water gardens create a sense of peace with a recreational deck and a floating cantilevered gym for fitness-enthusiasts to enjoy.

For those who love throwing parties, Waterfall has a function room with a catering kitchen available for use and a music room with a grand piano.

A rooftop sky garden and tree terrace with panoramic views can be accessed to immerse into nature or watch the sky sparkle at night, and it also features a private bamboo covered walkway and a sky cinema.

Shopaholics have not been forgotten, with on-site retail outlets open every day, and it is located conveniently next to nice restaurants and fine dining.

“Understated and elegant, Waterfall’s living spaces present an antidote to the fast pace of 21st century living, celebrating beauty, both natural and handcrafted, for a better-balanced life,” said Crown Group’s CEO, Iwan Sunito.

Waterfall is in the heart of Sydney’s fastest-growing suburb, Waterloo, only 5km away from the CBD and Sydney airport.

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RMS thumbs its nose at NSW EPA

BY WENDY BACON NSW Roads and Maritime Services has thumbed its nose at the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), NSW Health, City of Sydney, the Inner West Council and the authors of 13,000 submissions, nearly all objecting to the Stage 3 WestConnex interchanges and tunnels between St Peters, Haberfield and Rozelle.

Last week, RMS submitted its massive Response to Submissions and Preferred Infstructure Report on behalf of the Sydney Motorway Corporation to NSW Planning. For those hoping that RMS would listen to their concerns, the report is bitterly disappointing. To those who have learned from Stages 1 and 2 to be cynical, it was a predictable sign of a corrupted planning process.

Newtown MP and Greens spokesperson for Westconnex Jenny Leong described the report as ‘huge but vacuous … It is extremely alarming that so many serious concerns about this project have not been responded to in an adequate manner.”

Leong said that reading through the “flimsy responses is shocking. The EPA’s overriding concern that it could not even assess key elements of the EIS [Environmental Impact Statement] because of the lack of detail was fobbed off by feeble assurances that construction companies would provide essential details down the track.”

City Hub’s reporter has read large sections of the report. The report goes through submissions methodically, providing replies that often simply restate the EIS itself. On hundeds of occasions the report fails to engage with criticism and can barely be described as ‘responsive’.

However, this is no surprise.

The purpose of the report is to provide the cover that the highly technocratic NSW Planning department needs to construct an ‘instrument of approval’ containing hundreds of conditions that their Minister Anthony Roberts will sign.

If Roberts follows the form of previous Planning Minister, Rob Stokes, Roberts will then be able to assure residents that the government is concerned and that care has been taken to protect them. A smooth path will then be provided for the serious action - the privatisation of 51% of the Sydney Motorway Corporation’s WestConnex, which the NSW government is desperate to achieve by later this year.

In a covering letter to the EPA’s submission, the NSW Metropolitan Director Giselle Howard stated that

Greens MP Jenny Leong attends a rally in opposition to the WestConnex toll road construction. Photo: Supplied

the EPA was concerned about “significant and ongoing impacts experienced by the communities at Haberfield and St Peters, particularly in relation to noise and vibration.” She finds that there is “minimal evidence to suggest that this has shaped the approach to mitigation” in the EIS. The EPA considers that these “need to be quantifed and assessed in detail” before approval, rather than in a postapproval plan.

The RMS does not address Ms Howard’s criticism directly but points out at length that the impacts will be within the approved conditions and will depend on the detailed design.

This issue provides a good example of how this deceptive process sells the community short.

In the case of Rozelle, there is as yet no known design solution for a three level underground interchange in a densely settled, sloping urban area. RMS has put this part of WestConnex out to competitive tender again, having failed to attract an appropriate builder. RMS has not yet answered a question from this reporter about whether the ‘concept’ in the EIS is still the operative concept for the design of the Rozelle Interchange.

Haberfield residents, who have already experienced years of destruction of their housing, tree and open space along with horrific noise and dust impacts, were promised during the Stage 2 assessment that there would be no surface construction in Haberfield and Ashfield during Stage 3. As soon as the planning for Stage 3 began, it was evident that this would not be the case, leaving the community exposed to more than 7 years of impacts.

The Preferred Infrastructure

Report that accompanies the main response was expected to finalise the construction sites in Haberfield, but in fact they remain open, leaving the construction companies to make their decision later.

The NSW EPA, which falls within the same large department as Planning and other government departments, will now be under pressure to submit to the inexorable process and come up with the best conditions they can. But the EPA’s own submission is a tacit acknowledgement of how hard it is to enforce compliance. This became obvious during Stages One and Two. Rotten egg-like odours that made some residents physically sick and kept school children inside or away from school smothered St Peters last year. It emerged that the EIS for Stage 2 only dealt with closing down a toxic landfill that is the site for the St Peters Interchange before, not after, construction had started.This left the underresourced EPA struggling to force CPB contractors (previously Leighton Contractors) to take extra remediation and monitoring measures. Experienced waste management consultant and local resident Charlie Pierce told the Sydney Morning Herald that the site was being irresponsibily managed and corners were being cut. EPA imposed a fine. Nine months later, the EPA is still collecting evidence to prosecute.

The problem is that the real decisions are all made behind closed doors, excluding any possibility of a transparent sifting of evidence or of independent expert voices being heard.

There is a huge amount of

evidence that WestConnex is no solution to Sydney’s costly traffic congestion problem. It may remove some traffic from some surface roads but will create more hotspots that are polluted and near gridlock.

Submissions by City of Sydney and many others made this point strongly.

RMS acknowledges that traffic will be very bad around Anzac Bridge and around Sydney Airport even if all of the planned tollways are built including the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, the F6 and the Sydney Gateway by the mid-2020s. But don’t worry, the RMS informs the NSW Planning Department that it is already thinking ahead.

It will do a traffic report after the tollroad opens. If there is a problem, RMS will manage it.

If not, another road can always be built.

NSW Planning has at most 90 days from Feburary 5 to haggle over the conditions before assessment is due.

While behind the closed doors of the banks, well-paid advisors and the Sydney Motorway Corporation, the serious haggling continues about what price will be paid by which private consoritum for the right to manage construction and collect the tolls for decades to come.

Some big changes are needed.

The Greens have once again called for a halt to the project and an inquiry. NSW Labor has many criticisms of WestConnex but what policy they will take to the March 2019 election has not yet been clearly explained. The clock is ticking.

Wendy Bacon was previously Professor of Journaism at UTS and has campaigned against Westconnex.

Callan Park under threat

BY ISOBEL RUSHE The Inner West Council is in limbo after an awardwinning master plan for Callan Park was rejected by the NSW State Government late last month.

The crucial need for a Master Plan for Callan Park arose after the site ceased being used as a psychiatric hospital, with the last remaining patients transferred to Concord Hospital in April 2008.

Widespread discussion with Leichhardt Council, community and user groups, and interested residents in 2010-11 has resulted in a vision for the park to be used as a wellness sanctuary, encompassing health, community and educational facilities.

The Government’s refusal to rule out amending the existing Callan Park Act heightens concerns that plans are being prepared to privatize parts of the former Colonial-era hospital.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said the park’s future is more uncertain than ever now that the Master Plan has been rejected.

“More than six years after the former Leichhardt Council submitted the comprehensive Callan Park Master Plan, the NSW State Government is refusing to adopt and implement that Plan. Callan Park is now facing demolition through neglect,” he said.

“The longer the site is left without active management, the further the buildings decay, making restoration and repurposing of the buildings costlier by the day,” “The State Government has also blocked the Inner West Council’s efforts to upgrade sporting grounds and deliver a new skate park facility, despite the fact that Council has fully allocated funds for these projects,” he said.

Public debate is at an all-time high with conservationists worried about the occupation of the historic site.

The Friends of Callan Park (FOCP), a Callan Park community-run conservationist group, have written many letters to the NSW State Government about their concerns that the

this aside and everything we have done will be for nothing.” He said.

Callan Park is also home to Sydney’s College of the Arts, a successful art facility and part of the University of Sydney’s extended campus. The School announced its upcoming closure in early 2015 due to the rezoning of the park, but have since continued teaching.

Sydney College of the Arts is scheduled to move locations gradually over the next year terminating the ability for new students to commence study at the school.

More than 350 students are enrolled in Sydney University’s visual arts programs, including 206 undergraduates. 2017 was the first year in the school’s history that no new art students were accepted to study at the Rozelle campus due to its upcoming closure.

The University’s latest proposal is to move the art school to the Old Teacher’s College, located on its Callan Park and Broughton Hall. Please accept this Camperdown campus, and occupy nearby buildings as a response to all correspondence. if required. The relocation will not be complete until “The NSW Government has committed to early 2019. ensuring the management of Callan Park continues Mayor Darcy Byrne highlighted the issue with the to provide valuable open space and recreation college moving, stating the vacant block could lead to opportunities for communities in Sydney’s inner west, further neglect at the park. while also conserving the significant heritage building “Gabrielle Upton says she won’t be approving on the site, as a demonstration of this commitment residential development there, yet she has made no Minister Upton has now ruled out any commercial commitment at all to reversing the demolition by development in Callan Park, including residential neglect that has occurred across the park for the last development.” six years.

President of Friends of Callan Park, Hall “With Sydney University vacating the Kirkbride Greenland, said that this does not mean that the park complex, those beautiful sandstone buildings are is safe from destruction. “Unless the government about to become abandoned like dozens of others the allocate fundings to implement some type of plan, it Government has left to rot.” may just be a pipe dream.”

The Inner West Council have not yet issued a press Mr Greenland is afraid that if the council can’t release that the Callan Park Master Plan has been provide detailed costings for the work that needs rejected, because they are still working to try to get it to be done at the park, the government will turn a adopted. blind eye.

We wait eagerly to see what they will do with the “We’d really like the council to think about Park and hope that there is funding granted to save costings; without costings the government will brush the park from demolition.

An award-winning master plan for Callan Park, the former mental hospital, was rejected by the NSW Govt. last month. Photo: Alec Smart

parkland may be destroyed and converted into a residential living area.

The group’s heavy involvement with the redevelopment of the park has gained them a lot of attention amongst council members and state government officials.

FOCP’s priorities for Callan Park are: to Defend the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act, 2002; Return much-needed mental health services to the site: and Protect and conserve existing open space at Callan Park for the benefit of the whole community.

FOCP managed to receive a response about the park’s plans from Naomi Stephens, Acting Executive Director of Park Programs, National Parks and Wildlife Service, which was written on behalf of the Premier, the Hon. Gladys Berejiklian MP. The Government’s Response said: “I refer to your correspondence to the Premier, the Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP, the minister for heritage, the Hon Gabrielle Upton MP, and various other ministers about the Friends’ core priorities for

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7

FEATURE

Why We Love Darlinghurst and Surry Hills

By Jamie Apps Throughout Sydney there are many events, shopping destinations, dining and entertainment experiences that the team at the City Hub adore, two of our favourite suburbs to explore though are Darlinghurst and Surry Hills. So with this in mind we have decided to pinpoint for you the reader some of the hot spots to explore.

Entertainment Venue505: Established by Kerri Glasscock and Cameron Undy, Venue505 was developed as an artist run performance/workshop space for Sydney based musicians and theatrical performers. In the coming weeks they have some phenomenal acts such as, Lily Dior, Arrebato,Ann Vriend and Chasing Giants set to take to their stage.

280 Cleveland St, Surry Hills. Info: www.venue505.com Sport For Jove: Founded in 2009 Sport For Jove Theatre Company is committed to nurturing and challenging young artists actors, directors, playwrights, designers and technicians. They do this by creating works ranging from classical Greek tragedies to Shakespeare and finally modern classics. Coming up Sport For Jove will be hosting performances of Moby Dick and a world premiere of Ear To The Edge Of Time. 8 Marlborough St, Surry Hills. Info: www.sportforjove.com.au Sydney Jewish Museum: Invites you to explore Jewish history from its Biblical origin in the Ancient Near East to the thriving community here in Australia. An afternoon at the Sydney Jewish Museum is both enlightening, emotional and well worth a visit for any Sydneysider especially as they commemorate their 25 year birthday. 148 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst. $9-$32.

Info: www.sydneyjewishmuseum.com.au Events Mardi Gras: With 40 incredible years of passion, pride and protest, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade has grown to a bustling extravaganza that brings Sydney to a standstill, and shines a light on the issues affecting LGBTQI people around the world. Festivities kick-off this week with Fair Day which every year sees a melting pot of 70,000 smiling faces gather together in the park to celebrate not

Dining Buster Brown Cafe And French Bistro: Featuring a menu curated by French chef Dominique Descat the Buster Brown Cafe And French Bistro is designed to give diners a vibrant atmosphere alongside their excellent coffee and classic home-made food with a French twist.

2/265 Crown St, Surry Hills. Info: www.busterbrown.com.au Surlys American BBQ, Burgers & Beer: Everybody’s favourite all-American BBQ Restaurant, opened in 2015, offering Sydney an authentic slice of Nashville. Located in the beating heart of Surry Hills, this dive bar is a well-needed escape from the daily grind. Surly’s serves up soul food from the Ole Hickory, a Little Black Dress Run famous commercial fire-box smoker flown in straight from Photo: Ann-Marie Calilhanna Missouri. 182 Campbell St, Surry Hills. only the beginning of Mardi Gras, but also the power and beauty of Info: www.parlourgroup.com.au/surlys diversity.Info: www.mardigras.org.au Mohr Fish: Standing tall and proud for 23 years Mohr Fish has Little Black Dress Run: The Sydney Frontrunners’ annual been offering a wonderful variety of seafood served up at its fundraiser for Twenty10.This year it’s the Little Black Dress or Tux run freshest, tastiest and simplest, like a home cooked meal when you in black or white for a wedding theme.The event is back at its don’t feel like cooking. 202 Devonshire St, Surry Hills. traditional home, Centennial Park.A family friendly event for everyone. Info: www.mohrfish.com.au Frock up in your best LBD or T or any old haute couture to help a Miscellaneous great cause. Feb 25. Centennial Park. Info: www.mardigras.org.au Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF): Founded in 1984 BGF Shopping is Australia’s longest-running HIV charity. BGF provides direct Hay Sydney: Believe that high class design doesn’t have to come at financial and practical assistance, emotional support, financial a prohibitory high price. Similar to the flagship store in Copenhagen, counselling, housing, study and employment support to the most the Sydney location features an open-plan layout spread over two vulnerable and disadvantaged people living with HIV in New floors.The Hay aesthetic is joyful, uncomplicated and colourful, South Wales. If you’re able to support this wonderful group we something you’ll notice from the moment you set foot in the store. urge you to do so.111-117 Devonshire St, Surry Hills.

8/285A Crown St, Surry Hills. Info: www.hayshop.com.au Info: www.bgf.org.au Dellis Furniture: Are a Sydney-based company who have been Vision Personal Training Darlinghurst: Will help you selling home furnishings for 40 years.As you browse the collection reach your individual fitness or weight loss goals - the fast, you will find beautiful, thoughtful designs and offerings meant to help friendly and fun way! Vision Personal Training is unlike any you create your ideal home.You will find natural materials, both from other fitness studio - so go and experience the Vision Australian manufacturers and from international artisans who the Personal Training difference today. company works with one-on-one. 656 Crown St, Surry Hills.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Top Girls

Valley & Wildebeest Riverside Theatre and FORM Dance Projects will be showcasing Valley, a new and exciting work by Israeli choreographer Omer Backley-Astrachan.

Valley explores solitude, vulnerability and sensuality while a small society of four co-exist on a frozen and isolated island in the Arctic.

“In the show we are presenting two different works, one is called Valley and this is a work we have premiered at the Summer Dance Festival in Tel Aviv last year,” Backley-Astrachan said.“We have another new work called Wildebeest and it will see its first light of day in Riverside Theatres and consists of five professional dancers who live and work in Sydney.”

Backley-Astrachan wants audiences to experience the performance and walk away with their own individual understanding and enjoyment.

“I don’t think I want the audience to feel something specific, its more about allowing the audience to feel

Paula Arundell and Helen Thomson.

Photo: Rene Vaile

the work, that the dancers are allowing the work to be transparent so the audience can take what they are seeing and experience their own experiences.”

Both performances stem from their own unique idea, yet they both share a few similarities.

“In Valley, we looked at an environment which was sensitive and vulnerable and how that can be replicated within us as some sort of metaphorical environment.The other work is completely different, it speaks about feminism. In a way, both works are different branches from the same tree because both of them are searching for social truths or exposing some sort of conventions,” Backley-Astrachan concluded. (JM) Until Feb 17. Riverside Theatres, Corner of Church and Market Streets, Parramatta. $28-$35+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au

Photo: Heidrun Lohr

According To Otto An upcoming play at the Depot Theatre will take audiences into the heartwarming, hilarious and bold world according to Otto.

The latest production from acclaimed director Wayne Tunks, According To Otto will kickstart the 40th annual Mardi Gras celebrations. It tells the tale of sixteen year old Otto Brooks, who has come of age and promptly out of the closet, what ensues is a colourful list of characters from his popculture loving nan to his best friend, Max, who Otto is secretly in love with.

Director and producer Wayne Tunks is a prominent figure in the independent theatre world, having brought audiences popular titles like Everything I Know I Learnt From Madonna, Bitch and Diva Wars.

He said: “The show is vibrant, bright and part fantasy, as much of the action taking Emily Barclay.

Photo: Rene Vail

place is the inner monologue inside Otto’s very full mind. It’s a comedy with heart, a play for all ages.”

The show will feature an array of actors from stage veterans like Felicity Burke to sixteen year old newcomer Jasper Musgrave, who will take to the stage as Otto.

Tunks Productions have been presenting new Australian work for over 18 years, often focusing on the stories from the LGBTIQ+ community.

“We aren’t going for shock tactics or skin, we want a pure story where you cheer for the hero to land his man,” said Tunks. (GF) Until Feb 24. The Depot Theatre 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville. $22-$32+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.thedepottheatre.com

Lethal Indifference

Sydney Theatre Company’s latest offering Lethal Indifference tackles the current and pressing issue of domestic violence. It’s a graphic, bleak, and confronting one woman show that is more than your typical monologue, more like a direct stream of consciousness that is part detective story, part intimate confession. Lethal Indifference takes a snapshot of the real events surrounding one case of a woman murdered by her violent partner.

Emily Barclay plays the character simply referred to as ‘woman’, a young Melbournite in her 20s who works in PR and communications at a family violence legal centre. She hears horrific stories and part of her

a&e

job is to find the ones that are going to capture people’s attention or make a difference. Lethal Indifference is about the things that get brushed over, the things that are too hard for the media to deal with.

She talks about the legal services provided for women who are facing domestic violence, delving into the intricacies of AVOs, intervention orders and how they attempt to protect women; the system and police reporting, while divulging some pretty gritty details of the coroner’s report connected to the case.

The play’s director Jessica Arthur believes the audience will learn a lot.

“Women can really relate to Lethal Indifference. It looks at the

19 STAGE 10 Sounds 11 SCENE 11 SCREEN

inner psyche in a way that’s honest and enlightening. Women come across a lot of mico-aggressions, seeds of violence, threats we feel and are aware of on a daily basis.

For someone to articulate that’s refreshing,” she said.

But it’s also an exploration into trauma that has humour within the honesty.” There’s a rawness and openness in the text with subtle, organic shifts that reflect the inner thoughts and inner workings of a woman’s mind,” added Arthur. (MS) Feb 17-Mar 10. Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 1 Theatre, Pier 4, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay. $54-$60+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.sydneytheatre.com.au

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 @CityHubSyd

Sydney Theatre Company opens their 2018 season with the Caryl Churchill classic Top Girls.

This female driven play was written and set in Thatcher’s Britain in the 80s and was groundbreaking at the time. It’s about women in business and the obstacles they face to advance themselves in a man’s world. It has humour, drama and is incredibly fast paced. Above all, Top Girls is a juicy, intelligent, female romp.

The main character Marlene, played by Helen Thompson, is a business high flier in the recruitment industry. We learn what she’s had to leave behind to become the ‘top girl’.

The plot takes us from her London office to the kitchen of the small regional English town of Suffolk, where her sister, Joyce, looks after the child she chose to abandon following an unwanted pregnancy when she was naïve and only 17.

Marlene has had to shut down her nurturing side, but that comes back to haunt her.Yes, Marlene becomes successful, but at what cost?

Helen Thompson pinpoints the signposts of the 80s as well as some issues that are still very relevant to women today. “There’s some pretty special shoulder pad action going on, big hair and women trying to be men almost. They had to out bloke the bloke. Women still struggle with the compatibility of having children while trying to have a career, there are still not enough women on boards, we are underrepresented in politics,” she said.

But it’s the overlapping of dialogue to make it sound naturalistic that made it of its era, and the political subject matter made it a modern classic.

“Top Girls is one of those plays if you’re at drama school you’ll study it, ” added Thompson. “Caryl Churchill, Shakespeare aside, is still considered one of Britain’s most successful ever playwrights.” (MS) Until Mar 24. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $81-$108+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Contributors: Barbara Karpinski, Craig Coventry, Emily Shen, Greg Webster, Irina Dunn, Jade Morellini, Joseph Rana, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Olga Azar, Rita Bratovich, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Shon Ho, Jade Morellini, Alex Eugene, Manuel Gonzalez, Tommy Boutros, Riley Hooper, Mohsen Dezaki, Daniel Jaramillo, Georgia Fullerton.

city hub 15 FEBRUARY 2017

9

GLEBE ISLAND MULTI-USER FACILITY

Public Consultation Port Authority of NSW is seeking community feedback on a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for a proposed multi‑user facility at Glebe Island.

The proposal involves the construction and operation of a multi‑user facility for the import, storage and distribution of dry bulk construction materials (e.g. sand, aggregates) at Glebe Island 1 and 2.

The proposed facility would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week as required.

There is a vital need for Sydney to import critical construction materials due to the depletion of local sand supplies. Glebe Island is in close proximity to CBD construction, urban renewal and a construction boom driven by $70 billion of major infrastructure projects. Glebe Island is uniquely placed to provide a low cost, low impact and sustainable entry point for these materials needed in the CBD and Bays Precinct.

Joan

International drag king champion, Lucy Parkinson will perform her award winning solo show, Joan at this year’s Mardi Gras Festival. Joan is a modern day retelling of the story of French teenage war hero come saint, Joan of Arc. Joan is the writing debut for director Lucy J Skilbeck who was intrigued from the very first time she encountered the story: “She wore men’s clothing…when it was absolutely not ok to do so. She was from a tiny village and was the child of a tenant farmer.And yet she went on to change the course of the 100 year war. Her story forever horrifies and inspires me.”

Joan defied gender type, something that resonates with both Skilbeck and Parkinson, “Fixed gender roles are a method of and the play focuses a lot on control,” says Skilbeck.“We are normalised deconstructing gender. into two categories and are much more

manageable in this form.” When gender conformity is diluted, so is power.

It’s a weighty subject matter but the show is not heavy-handed.

For Parkinson, the success of Joan is validation that audiences are ready and keen to see Drag King performances.

“Because of the lack of mainstream King’s not having shows or being recognised in the mainstream media, some people don’t even know we exist…The great thing about Joan is that it bridges the worlds of theatre and cabaret together [and] that welcomes audiences from all backgrounds” Feb 16-18. Seymour Centre, Sound Lounge, Cnr City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale. $30-$35+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com

Have your say Port Authority is now seeking your feedback on the REF between Wednesday 31 January and Wednesday 28 February 2018.

To view the REF you can: • Download it from the Port Authority website:

www.portauthoritynsw.com.au/glebeisland • Access a hard copy at: ‑ Inner West Council, Leichhardt Service Centre, 7–15 Wetherill Street

Leichhardt ‑ City of Sydney Council, Customer Service Centre, Town Hall House

Level 2, 456 Kent Street, Sydney.

Alice Ivy

For more information about the facility or the REF: www.portauthoritynsw.com.au/glebeisland • Email GlebeIsland_MultiUserFacility@portauthoritynsw.com.au • Call 1800 930 937 (during business hours).

• Visit

Submissions can be: Emailed GlebeIsland_MultiUserFacility@portauthoritynsw.com.au Posted Port Authority of NSW, PO Box 25 Millers Point, NSW 2000.

All submissions will be acknowledged and a Response to Submissions report will be prepared.

A slice of Europe in the heart of Surry Hills

Freshly-made traditional Polish dumplings (pierogi), goose, duck, polish borsch (barszcz czerwony) stuffed meat.

Fresh flowers, tables covered by embroidered tablecloths, soft light and smooth jazz music create a very special atmosphere…

Monday: closed Tuesday: 6pm – 10 pm Wednesday – Sunday: 9am -10pm

572 Crown St, Surry Hills, P: 02 9699 2455, F: facebook.com/Alchemy-Polish www.alchemy-restaurant.com 10

city hub 15 FEBRUARY 2018

By Jamie Apps Even for Melbourne music producer Alice Ivy it’s hard to imagine that she would have ticked off so many bucket list items over the course of the past two years.

During this two year period Alice Ivy has quickly established herself not only in the Australian scene but is now also beginning to make a mark internationally, having just signed a record deal with Canada’s Last Gang Records.

“When I look at myself two years ago I couldn’t have imagined any of this,” reflected Ivy. It was so tough for Ivy to envisage the current levels of success because just a few short years ago she was only just using the music production software Ableton for the very first time after transitioning away from being a guitarist in soul bands.

“It took months for me to finally get a grasp as to how things work,” said Ivy. “People always ask me how I learnt to produce and use Ableton for live shows and the answer is that it was literally just me sitting at home in my studio, which at the time was my bedroom, for hours and hours writing music.”

After working at it and teaching herself how to use all of these new programs and tools at her disposal Ivy went on to self produce her debut record I’m Dreaming.

“It’s a really big accomplishment for me because this album essentially chronicles the first two

years of me starting out as a producer and it’s something I’m extremely proud of.”

Signing with Last Gang Records was another momentous moment for Ivy and one which she was extremely honoured by.

“Again it’s something I wouldn’t have seen myself doing two years ago. It’s an extreme honour to have people like that reach out, especially when you look at their roster which includes people like Crystal Castles, Purity Ring and MSTRKRFT.” Having already accomplished so many items on her bucket list Ivy has had to begin looking to the future and setting more goals.

This year Ivy has set two goals which she feels are certainly achievable.

“I hope to have my second record finished this year then I really want to focus on exporting myself overseas,” said Ivy. To coincide with these achievable goals Ivy also has some dream collaborations which she’d love to tick off.

“I’d love to collaborate with someone really bad ass like Missy Elliott. Justin Timberlake is also another reach for the stars one. Finally I’d love to go into the studio with someone like Kaytranada one day because I’d love to rip apart his production and ask so many questions.”

Feb 16. Hudson Ballroom, 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney. $15+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.hudsonballroom.com

Sydney Live Guide LIVE WIRE Music

By Jamie Apps

Grouplove: The Californian indie-pop vibers will be hitting up Sydney to deliver their 2016 studio album Big Mess to fans here for the first time. To help kick off the party they have enlisted Sydney’s very own rambunctious rock outfit The Ruminaters to crank that dial up to 100!

Thu, Feb 15, Metro Theatre Freya Josephine Hollick: Is bringing blues and honky tonk goodness that transports you back to early Appalachia, through wartime romance, the golden era of country music and into a cosmic hootenanny. With a voice that floats between Maybelle Carter, Dolly Parton and Skip James, Freya Josephine Hollick is a lady not to be missed.

Thu, Feb 15, Leadbelly Star Wars - A New Hope in Concert: Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will perform Oscar-winning composer John Williams’ musical score live to film. Fans will be immersed in the scope and grandeur of the beloved Star Wars film in a live symphonic concert experience led by conductor Nicholas Buc, with the film played out on a giant screen at the ICC Sydney Theatre.

Fri, Feb 16, ICC Sydney Theatre Cloud Control & Julia Jacklin: Sydney trio Cloud Control and Blue Mountains singer/songwriter Julia Jacklin will entertain the crowd while the sun sets over Sydney Harbour. Cloud Control & Julia Jacklin will be supported by Sydney-siders, Body Type. The four piece released their third single Silver last year and have since earned two FBi 2017 SMAC Award Nominations for Best Live Act and Next Big Thing.

Sat, Feb 17, Taronga Zoo Stuck Out: After putting in the hard work over the past two years, supporting bands such as Moose Blood, Real Friends, and The Getaway Plan, Melbourne’s

Chronixx

Stuck Out are stepping into the spotlight with the track Fade Away. This weekend they will also be joining forces with Stateside for a live performance in Sydney.

Sun, Feb 18, Bald Faced Stag Too Many Zooz: From the underbelly of New York City’s subway stations to gleaming stages alongside Beyoncé; Too Many Zooz have proven their unique take on music can spark a fire in anyone and will do so once again this week with a live show in Sydney.

Mon, Feb 19, Factory Theatre Primal Scream: Acid house hedonists, indie rock ‘n rollers Primal Scream have built a 30 year career on the art of reinvention and they are bringing their incendiary live show back to Sydney, more powerful and engaged than ever.

Tue, Feb 20, Enmore Theatre Chronixx: Jamaican musician Chronixx is one of reggae’s leading lights, bringing together the traditions of dub, dancehall, ragga, soul and hip hop into his own fusion which has put reggae back on the main stage.

Wed, Feb 21, Metro Theatre

THE NAKED CITY

DAYS OF OUR GIGS

With Coffin Ed Back in September of 2014, the Sydney Morning Herald ran a story titled “Size doesn’t matter for Sydney’s small venues”. The crux of the story was that whilst some larger venues were closing down the influx of small bars and similar low capacity venues was taking up the slack.

A few years later and things really haven’t changed all that much with larger venues such as the Newtown Social Club in the Sandringham Hotel shutting its doors on live music and small bars such as Marrickville’s Gasoline Pony regularly hosting live music.

When disco reared its ugly head in the 70s and 80s many predicted that live music was dead and DJs would take over the world. Whilst DJ culture continues to flourish in many different forms, live music remains essentially indefatigable.

It’s an almost essential part of social interaction for people of all ages not to mention its many other rewards.

For decades in Australia live

guitars and music posters. His original hope was that the odd musician might come in, sit themselves on the couch and play a few tunes. Flash forward and these days the barbershop has become a regular live music venue, attracting punters from all over the world.

In an over regulated city like Sydney, this kind of scenario is always going to run into the focus of council bureaucrats with questions like “where are the male and female toilets?”, “where is your public liability?” and “where is your entertainment licence?”.

Despite many councils wanting to be seen as promoters of a live music culture, the barriers they put in its way are often music, especially rock and pop, has insurmountable. been at the mercy of the pub The cashed up City Of Sydney barons, the club industry and Council could well look to anybody with a vested interest in creating a special pop up licence the sale of alcohol. Few hotels where any conducive space could have ever programmed live music become a live music venue with a as a community service – with minimum of infrastructure. A small perhaps a few notable exceptions. PA, a few tables and chairs and As such many quickly discovered some homemade décor would be that there was more money to be the basic requirement with made out of turning the band punters encouraged to byo or room into a gambling den full of imbibe beforehand. The numerous pokies. vacant shops in Oxford Street Whilst the old school might and Kings Cross would be an bemoan the demise of pub rock, the ideal starting point The Council positive is that many live music could cover public liability and venues are now free of the grip of without a constant flow of the corporate pub moguls. alcohol, the need for toilets Unfortunately the unholy alliance would be at a minimum. between live music and alcohol Whilst some of the regulators remains unless there is a quantum might go berserk at the prospect change in the way live music is it’s well worth considering – and presented. it would certainly inject life back We should look to the overseas into parts of the city that are experience where virtually any now virtually comatose. A few space is on the cards as a potential years down the track and the live music habitat. Take the case of SMH could well be reporting on Abner Brown’s barbershop in a great night of live music in a Dublin, where the owner bought disused sex shop in Oxford an old leather couch and Street or a vacant two dollar decorated the shop with some old shop in the Cross.

New Japan Pro Wrestling Fallout Down Under Kazuchika Okada

Cody Rhodes

Over the course of the last few years a new juggernaut has been steadily gaining momentum in the world of wrestling.

What may come as a surprise to many though is that this giant originates from Japan rather than the United States.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) is now the second largest wrestling promotion in the world, and is a substantial competitor to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).As proof of this you simply need to look at their roster which features talents which have been ranked as the best wrestlers in the world such as IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks,Will Ospreay and finally former WWE superstar Cody Rhodes.

City Hub had the opportunity to speak with Cody Rhodes ahead of NJPW’s inaugural venture into Australia this weekend.With this being NJPW’s first tour of Australia we asked Cody to explain the major differences audiences can expect from these shows compared to WWE shows which have toured here before.

“Wrestling is absolutely sports entertainment but New Japan skews really heavily into the sport side of it with the strong style and the matches themselves. What brought us to the dance as an industry is what happens between those ropes and New Japan is the best at it, we’re offering absolutely great match after great match.”

In 2017 NJPW fired the first shot in their global expansion by hosting a two night event in Long Beach, California.

The upcoming tour of Australia will be the next step in this process.

“I was so proud to be in that featured main event in New Japan’s very first American show,” said Cody Rhodes.“I think it’s a really measured choice that their next expansion shows weren’t in North America, the UK or Europe, instead they were in Australia and shows just how much New Japan wanted to give to the Australian fans.”

Not only is NJPW expanding their own reach into Australia they’ve also taken notice of the phenomenal talents on offer here and welcomed aboard a number of local talents such as Robbie Eagles, Mick Moretti, Jack Bonza, Jonah Rock and Gino Gambino.

As Rhodes revealed exclusively to City Hub he is excited to face off with some of these talents.

“On the forth night of the tour I have a triple threat match with the IWGP Jr Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles.That’s a huge match for me and something that is really cross pollinating and merging the world so I’m particularly looking forward to that one.” (JA) Feb 18. Quaycentre, Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park. $50-$440+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.destroyalllines.com

Black Panther

Insidious: The Last Key

(Chadwick Boseman) return home to Wakanda following the death of his father in order to ascend to the throne and become the next Black Panther.

Unbeknownst to T’Challa though he has a rival to the throne, Erik ‘Killmonger’ Stevens (Michael B. Jordan), which sets in motion an action packed power struggle.

The intriguing part of this entire power struggle though arises from the vastly different upbringings and thus perspectives on oppression, race relations and social justice T’challa and Killmonger have.

The pairing of Ludwig Göransson and Kendrick Lamar to produce the score and soundtrack is a masterstroke, as they capture the themes and emotions of the film perfectly in the music.

Ultimately Black Panther delivers on all fronts.

Generally in comic movie adaptations the story is For those wanting a simple blockbuster action incredibly superficial but with Black Panther Marvel flick you will not be disappointed but for those has bucked that trend by inserting an anti-racism wanting more depth to their cinema experience theme, which only heightens the films appeal. the film also has that for you to explore and discuss Black Panther takes place shortly after the events of afterwards. (JA) Captain America: Civil War and sees prince T’Challa WWWW

The fourth chapter to the Blumhouse franchise Insidious:The Last Key takes us back to where it all started with Dr Elise returning to her childhood home to not only uncover demons from the other side but to face her own demons.

The supernatural horror film stars Lin Shaye,Angus Sampson, Spencer Locke, Caitlin Gerard and Bruce Davison. Leigh Whannell stars in the film and is also the writer, with Adan Robitel directing and Jason

Blum, James Wan and Oren Peli the producing team.

The storyline for the final chapter was a nice finish for the franchise.The film was fun to watch, succeeding in setting up the tension to lead us to jump from the theatre seats and let out a few quick screams followed by a giggle.The climax fight scene was disappointingly corny but overall did the job.A good end to an awesome start. (RH) WWW1/2 city hub 15 FEBRUARY 2017

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Did we mention the apartment comes with a Sky Cinema?

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city hub 15 FEBRUARY 2018