City Hub 19 July 2018

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city hub 19 JULY 2018

Selling street vision

by Erika Echternach The City of Sydney Council has changed the rules for the fight to win the nation’s most lucrative outdoor advertisement deal estimated to be worth $500 million.

Earlier this month, the City of Sydney Council closed the outdoor advertising tender that it had originally opened last December, then restarted the process the next day.

Now, any outdoor advertisers and telecommunications providers hoping to contend for the coveted contract will have to re-submit an expression of interest to the council.

A City of Sydney spokesperson said the withdrawal of the first tender was due to the City refining its requirements following the first expression of interest process.

The City’s revised requirements focus on finding a service provider that can deliver outdoor advertising assets as well as new street furniture and free public WiFi. The new contract is set to include more than 2,500 pieces of street furniture, including bus shelters, kiosks, public toilets, litter bins, seats and communications panels, but at the top of the City’s priorities is the free public WiFi. Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the new street furniture would bring technology to Sydney’s streets and deliver free internet, changing the way residents, workers and visitors interact with the city.

However, there has been much speculation that the changes came in response to recent takeovers involving some of the largest national street furniture and outdoor advertising providers.

Specifically, Ooh Media took over Adshel for $570 million and JCDecaux acquired APN Outdoor for $1.2 billion.

JCDecaux has been the City’s outdoor advertising provider since winning the contract in 1998.

The contract was set to expire in 2019, but in light of reverting the tender process

to another round of expressions of interest, the City is looking to extend the JCDecaux contract for another year.

Regardless, JCDecaux will need to be at the top of its game if it hopes to defend its position against other outdoor advertising providers.

To keep up with the ever-evolving technology, JCDecaux has partnered with Telstra, Australia’s largest telecommunications company, with the goal of making the outdated payphone relevant in the digital age.

“The companies are working to change the notion of what a payphone can be in the future and how technology is applied and used in public places,” a spokesperson from Telstra said. “Urban payphones are being transformed into community technology hubs, providing not just phone call facilities and Telstra Air Wi-Fi network access, but offering other community benefits too.”

Telstra says the new urban payphones will also feature USB mobile charging ports and mobile integration hubs which will enable people to instantly access local information such as “What’s On” pages and transport updates with a simple swipe of their mobile phones.

“Our vision is to create digital experiences that are purposeful and fun, and support greater social interaction amongst the residents and visitors within and between cities and regions,” the Telstra spokesperson added.

The company envisions its technology benefiting the community in innovative ways, from bringing buskers together digitally in a virtual band, to smart billboards that can display real time traffic updates.

Telstra aims to accomplish this by creating Smart Cities through technology which has fun, interactive social uses as well as alerts and updates to aid road users and pedestrians.

Telstra has already launched similar Smart City efforts, having upgraded the 5G Innovation Centre at Southport on the Gold Coast.

City of Sydney’s outdoor advertising tender is worth an estimated $500 million. Photo: Sebastian Reategui

The Centre incorporates a 19m wide by 4.5m high resolution digital advertising and public information display screen as well as an interactive hub consisting of seven multimedia stations with digital screens, high definition cameras, sound recording and playback hardware, and a data display for digital public art.

Such a massive digital overhaul would align with the Lord Mayor’s goal that “no one is left behind in the shift to a digital future,” which is why the Council is adamant about providing free public internet access.

“We’re looking to local and international providers with new ideas to deliver us fast and free public WiFi and the best possible smart furniture,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

The question then becomes whether the Lord Mayor will adhere to her past views that

“space is a premium in the inner city” or allow the outdoor advertising to fill the city with curated digital clutter.

Originally, the council had planned to award the contracts for free WiFi and upgraded street furniture by mid-2018, but it has taken longer than intended to settle the deal. Still, the new street furniture is set to be gradually integrated into the city starting in 2019.

The first round of expressions of interest garnered twelve submissions from a variety of Australian and international companies, so the council will most likely not be short on options.

“Once all submissions have been reviewed, the City will determine the next steps,” a City of Sydney spokesperson said.

As the company is in the midst of the tender process, JCDecaux did not wish to comment.

Beekeepers sting Woolies Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide.

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Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677.

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ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Group Editors: Lanie Tindale, John Moyle Contributors: John Moyle, Lanie Tindale, Lilli Sekkai, Erika Echternach, Georgia Clark, Linda Hoang Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Cover Photo: Gianna Rizzo. Double Denim Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au Ph: 9212 5677, Fax: 9212 5633 Website: altmedia.net.au

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by Georgia Clark Australian Beekeepers and consumers are threatening a nation-wide boycott of Woolworths after the supermarket chain confirmed it will continue to sell imported honey.

The sweet product is creating bitterness between Australian beekeepers, consumers, a major honey supplier and the supermarkets.

When Coles announced in early July it would no longer sell the Allowrie brand, which is a blend of Australian and imported honey, Australian beekeepers believed Woolworths and ALDI Australia would follow suit.

Over 72000 people have signed a change.org petition organised by Victorian apiarist Simon Mulvany, calling for Woolworths to stop selling the imports, in line with Coles’ decision.

Allowrie’s owner, Australian honey supplier Capilano and Mr Mulvany have had a longrunning dispute, sparked by Mr Mulvany’s social media campaign, waged under the ‘Save the Bees Australia’ banner. In 2016 Capilano applied for an injunction against the activist, causing Mr Mulvany to pull down 25 social media sites. Mr Mulvany, in turn, launched a defamation suit against Capilano.

Capilano sources its Australian honey from around 600 beekeepers and has around a 65 per cent Australian market share. All Capilano brand products are 100 per cent Australian.

However Capilano also buys imported honey, blends it with the Australian product, then sells it under subsidiary brands such as Allowrie.

Allowrie is made from 70 per cent imported honey from countries such as China, Mexico and Argentina.

Doug Purdie has been cultivating hives since

Australian beekeepers are threatening to boycott Woolworths. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

2010 and produces the Urban Bee Hive brand based in Matraville and Darlinghurst.

“There are a number of issues with imported honey, firstly that Australia is a large producer and there is no need to import,” Doug Purdie said.

“It comes down to economics to bring in cheaper honey from overseas.”

According to Mr Mulvany, Australia has lost at least 15 per cent of its commercial beekeepers over the last two decades and will lose more if the price of honey continues to drop because of foreign imports, including those from Argentina and Greece.

“There are countries that have worked out how to make synthetic honey, such as Argentina,” Doug Purdie said.

“There were shops around Australia selling

‘Victoria Honey’ and that was coming from Greece and it turned out to be sugar syrup, and there are other products available now that it is very hard to tell from the real product.”

“It is because our honey is so valuable overseas that it is often exported for high prices and a cheaper product is imported for local consumption,” Doug Purdie said.

In the past, representatives from Capilano have claimed that they needed to import honey because of drought in parts of Australia.

Doug Purdie says there is no need to import honey for this reason.

“It’s true that droughts affect honey production in Australia, but that is only in one part of the country at any one time, and we are a large producer,” Doug Purdie said. city hub 19 JULY 2018

3

St Peters’ deafened by WestConnex

By Lanie Tindale A vacant Roads and Maritime Services-owned house in St Peters is receiving extensive noise abatement treatment, classified as Type 2, while residents on the same street struggle to get proper noise treatment.

St Peters residents say noise amelioration is desperately needed.

A video from last Friday night posted to a private St Peters residents’ Facebook page features the “excessive” and “relentless” jackhammering noise of a concrete cutter.

The warning for this WestConnex nightworks construction which went from 7pm to 6am - at the major Unwins Bridge Road/ Bedwin Road intersection came via email at 5.31pm that day. The same email notified residents that construction work at the nearby intersection of Brown and Hutchinson Street, due to finish at 6pm, would be extended until 8pm.

An RMS document called the Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan (CNVMP), which was published in October 2016, outlines which residences are entitled to noise amelioration works.

“Type 1 is just sealing up the windows with something they call air packs,” explains WestConnex Action Spokesperson and commercial lawyer Rhea Liebmann. “Type 2 is your full soundproofing with air conditioning.”

Number 6 Brown Street St Peters, which is owned by RMS and has been unoccupied for the last three years, is receiving noise amelioration work on all four facades. RMS has owned the two-bedroom terrace since August 2015, paying $1.142 million for it.

Brown Street resident Lynne (not her real name) says that “the empty houses belonging to RMS being treated before residents who are suffering” is part of an “unfair process.”

Ms Liebmann says “they are doing that because that’s closer to the road [Campbell Street] and according to their noise model, that gets full treatment. So it’s all about box ticking and bureaucracy rather than looking what’s actually happening on the ground to people.”

However, according to the 2016 Noise and Vibration Management Plan the house and its adjoining terrace is not entitled to noise amelioration.

An RMS spokesperson said: “All eligible property owners have now been contacted by the New M5 contractor ... The house at 6 Brown Street is eligible for work as per the approved ONVR. As agreement with the registered property owner, Roads and Maritime Services, has

Rhea Leibmann protesting against WestConnex. Photo: WestConnex Action Group

been reached, work is proceeding according to the ONVR as it is at other eligible properties.”

Lynne was offered downgraded treatment from Type 2 to Type 1.

After negotiations, construction firm CPB Contractors agreed to give Type 2 treatment on some of the house.

“There were a couple of facades with windows that they won’t agree to do anything to… So there are walls in [that] house that won’t get any noise amelioration works at all,” says Ms. Leibmann.

According to Ms. Leibmann, the downgrading of works is a consequence of CPB having “developed another noise model which they say is more detailed and more correct.”

However, this cannot be verified as RMS and CPB “won’t ever disclose current measurements [to residents].”

Ms Liebmann says when residents complain, “we’re constantly told,

well, it’s within the allowed parameters. Whether it is or isn’t, who knows, but the fact that people are complaining and that they can’t get sleep suggests to me that even if it is within the approved levels, those levels should never have been approved by planning because it’s not reasonable to subject people to three nights of no sleep.”

A couple of blocks closer to the St Peters interchange, residents in Church Street have experienced similar problems.

Residents at 79 Church Street were told they were entitled to Type 2 treatment in 2016. However, a sound analysis report from a consultant hired by CPB in August 2017 contained significant errors. City Hub has seen the acoustic survey, which misidentifies the three-storey terrace as single storey and recommends an air conditioning unit be illegally installed into a shared wall.

The residents are “still waiting” for treatment, but six weeks ago were told they were entitled to Type 2 treatment on all facades. The residents hope that the works will be finished mid-August this year.

Construction work began eighteen months ago and there have been many nights of extremely loud noise during this period, as City Hub has witnessed in several videos.

The CNVMP 2016 states that “where reasonable & feasible, operational noise mitigation measures or equivalent temporary measures will be installed at the start of construction.”

On July 4 2018, an Operational Noise Management Plan was released. This report, which deals with the years after construction, has a “refined” version of the CNVMP 2016, and identifies different facades in each residence. It changed approvals for noise amelioration by specifying which sides of each house were entitled to soundproofing.

“So that’s been approved by planning, but obviously that over time they just keep cutting back and cutting back and cutting back what people are entitled to, based on what they say is a more sophisticated noise model,” says Ms Liebmann.

“But it smacks to me of saving money to be honest with you.”

“That small part of St Peters has been hammered for more than 18 months with night work, construction, dust. There’s lots of complaints about respiratory issues, kids with asthma having issues. I complained [about] lots of conjunctivitis because of the dust. So it’s not just the noise, they’re really living through hell.”

When City Hub contacted the communications team for CPB Contractors they declined to comment.

Ms. Liebmann will be taking her concerns to the WestConnex inquiry.

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Designs on Darlo Road

by John Moyle When developer Iris Capital flagged its plans to develop a block on Darlinghurst Road between the El Alamein Fountain and the Empire Hotel late last year, the Kings Cross/Potts Point community rose in outrage at the proposed project’s brutal approach to urban development and lack of understanding of the area’s heritage values.

As a result, the developers withdrew their application, begging the question ‘how did they get it so wrong?’

Though the area has sub-division restrictions, and Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay have their own heritage and conservation guidelines, Kings Cross is lacking an overall ‘masterplan’ to give guidelines for design and density.

“Back in February I seconded a motion (from Christine Forster) that called on Council to develop a Kings Cross masterplan, however that was defeated by the Clover Moore independent councillors, who decided to support a narrow investigation on the former Bourbon and Beefsteak site and its immediate surrounds on Darlinghurst Road,” City of Sydney Councillor, Professor Kerryn Phelps said.

“It’s extremely misleading to label this investigation the ‘Kings Cross Urban Design Study.”

The existing heritage guidelines state the area is held in high esteem by the locals, and, as the area is already densely populated, revise Floor to Space ratio to restrict further development.

Referring specifically to Darlinghurst Road, the heritage conservation area recommended management states ‘The commercial strip along Darlinghurst Road, together with Fitzroy Gardens and El Alamein Fountain, provide a continuing civic and visual focus for the area’.

As one of Sydney’s densest apartment areas, Kings Cross and Potts Point has long been under pressure from developers.

In the 1970s much of Victoria Street fell to the grubby hands of Frank Theeman who wiped out many terraces to build Victoria Point and Hordern Place.

Activist Juanita Nielson was killed as a result of her opposition to the development.

Previous to Iris Capital’s development plans, Charlie Saleh, the owner of the Sapphire Suite, proposed to develop the entire block between Roslyn Street and Bayswater Road, which would have wiped out the streetscape and many buildings dating back to the 19th century.

Mr Saleh forgot the City of Sydney owns the magnificent

An urban design plan soon for Darlinghurst Road. Photo: John Moyle

Woolworths’ building, housing the much-loved Kings Cross Library, which was right in the middle of his development plan.

Shortly after the rally in February to Save Darlinghurst Road, the proposed sale of the Metro Theatre in Orwell Street also became a focus for the community.

Many were concerned about just what development proposals the theatre’s new owners would be requesting.

There were calls for the City of Sydney to purchase the building for community use or to reinstate it as a commercial lyric theatre space, but Council decided against this action.

After blocking any proposal for a masterplan for the area for so long, it came as a surprise to the community when in June Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced an engagement with the local community to discuss a framework to guide the character and development of Darlinghurst Road.

On July 5, 100 previously registered locals packed the Rex Centre

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to engage with the Lord Mayor, counsellors Thalis and Scully and representatives from the City of Sydney Planning Department.

“The evening opened with residents given the opportunity to highlight ways the area has changed for the better or worse,” Louise Iselin, resident said.

“Activities designed to help us (define) what we liked and what we didn’t, aligned the group with a commonality, our love of our neighbourhood and concern over careless development.”

The Lord Mayor presided over the proceedings and moved easily amongst the respondents as they engaged in exercises designed to encourage elasticity of thinking on design processes.

“The Kings Cross community was engaged and gave vital feedback on what makes the area special and what they want us to protect,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

The feedback will inform the Kings Cross Urban Design Study for Darlinghurst Road and the subsequent review of the Sydney Development Control Plan 2012, which is the planning framework in the local area.”

“Let’s be clear, what the Lord Mayor is proposing is not a masterplan, it’s an urban design study which focuses only on parts of the planning framework that guides the development of Darlinghurst Road,” Councillor Christine Forster said.

The presence of an Iris Capital representative caused concern amongst many workshop attendees.

“Developers need to know what the community is thinking and what the community needs,” Cr Prof Phelps said.

“I really worry about how they will keep developers at bay,” Louise Iselin said.

In the days following, many in the community were unconvinced that the workshop would sway the City of Sydney one way or another.

Local heritage expert Andrew Woodhouse likened to ‘wolves circling’ and resident Robyn Hall said “We attended, but left feeling not reassured, they want to do a job on this place.”

While the community is waiting for the results of the workshop and other considerations, the City of Sydney is conducting an additional online survey which will also inform the design study.

The survey is open until Sunday 22nd of July at sydneyyoursay. com.au.

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5

Shul be right in Bondi

By Linda Hoang An application has been approved for the development of the Wellington Street Tennis Courts in Bondi Beach to be transformed into a synagogue and two residential blocks.

Community Spiritual Leader, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman said “The Russian Jewish community wanted to have our own synagogue like how every other Jewish community has their own synagogue. We wanted a place to call home, where people could come on the regularity they wanted to come, but to a place which is theirs.”

On 27 June 2018, the Waverley Development Application Panel approved a resubmission of the proposal after the Land and Environment Court ruled against it in August 2017.

The development application was initially submitted to Waverley Council but applicants lodged to have it settled in the Land and Environment Court within 40 days of its submission.

Applicants can choose to have their proposal determined this way instead of keeping it with the Council to be assessed and determined, which can take longer.

The Land and Environment Court refused the original development because it did not address the “potential impacts on public safety.”

Councillor for the Bondi Ward, Leon Goltsman, said “Last time round we did not have a chance to work with the applicants because they took it out of our hands. This time, there was better interaction between applicants and the councillors, and to also work with the residents’ demand, so I think we reached a decent compromise.” ““Now, because it’s gone through the proper channels, it will be a beneficial addition to the Russian-Jewish community.”

Rabbi Ulman said “The synagogue will help make many things happen for the community.

Bondi Beach Rabbi Yehoram Ulman. Photo: Ale Villalobos

It will have a place of worship, a function room, activity area for children and headquarter offices for the Beth Din rabbinical court headquarters.”

“At the moment we have inadequate headquarters but whenever there is a festival or a holiday we have to move around.”

A member of the Russian-speaking Jewish community, Natalie Lloyd-Levy said “Currently, the shul is run essentially from Rabbi Ulman’s house. There is a small space next door that they use but the community has definitely outgrown it.”

“While I have very fond feelings for the current location, it is very small and simply cannot

accommodate the amount of people who want to go, especially during high holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur or life cycle events like Bat Mitzvahs and weddings which tend to be big communal events.”

Ms Lloyd-Levy ran a Russian-speaking mothers group at the shul to offer support to new mums in the community whose native language wasn’t English.

“Hopefully with more space we could pick up the mother’s program again. The synagogue will also be a social hub for elderly members of our community to help them stay connected and involved.”

A residents’ advocacy group, Rescue Bondi, has raised opposition because of the possible impacts of the synagogue on the beachside suburb.

One concern the group put forward is the disruption of routine traffic in and out Wellington Street where there is already congestion due to surrounding developments.

The group claims the synagogue and its residential blocks could be inconsistent with the surrounding architecture due to its planned high buildings and concrete security wall.

Cr Goltsman said “The good thing is the Council and its compliance team will make sure the conditions of the application are adhered to and management of the synagogue and the Precinct will be able to communicate with each other in public forums.”

Rescue Bondi fears the buildings will be imposing. On its Facebook page the group claims the security guards and surveillance cameras will create a hostile and unfriendly community environment where “the benefit is only to a smaller community group.”

Cr Goltsman said “This time, the security issues which the applicants themselves presented have been satisfactorily addressed. With the outcome, it may not have been the outcome everyone hoped for but it’s definitely one that’s opened up and will maintain a line of communication.”

Rabbi Ulman said “Our community is concentrated in the Eastern Suburbs and so we wanted to have it in this area. The shul here on O’Brien Street has been here for 30 years and we’re on good terms with the neighbours.”

Cr Goltsman said “I sincerely hope the entire Bondi community will continue to work together and any concerns will be addressed.”

The synagogue development is expected to be completed over the next two years.

Ofo backpeddles from Sydney

by Erika Echternach From Shanghai to Barcelona bike share programs have become an international phenomenon, so why has Sydney sent multiple bike share operators packing?

Of the four bike sharing companies currently operating in Sydney, two of them, ofo and Reddy Go have announced their departure from the city less than a year after their introduction.

The speedy departure of dockless bike sharing programs will come as a relief to the many Sydneysiders who became sick of seeing heaps of abandoned bicycles littering the streets.

But none will be quite as relieved as Sydney’s councils, which were held financially responsible for disposing of any unclaimed bikes dumped within their respective jurisdictions.

In response to the sweeping issue of bikes strewn across the city, six councils -- Canada Bay, City of Sydney, Inner West, Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra -- created the “Inner Sydney bike-share guidelines” in March to clarify their expectations of how dockless bike share companies should handle illegally parked bikes.

The Waverley Council area in particular has been heavily impacted by the misuse and abuse of dockless share bikes.

Waverley Council mayor John Wakefield said the Council had impounded 107 share bikes left in public spaces to date, of which about half had been reclaimed prior to the companies announcing that they are leaving the market.

Share bike company ofo collected 52 bikes and paid impound fees of $3640, Mobike collected eight bikes and paid impound fees of $560, and 33 bikes belonging to oBike and 14 belonging to Reddy Go remain unclaimed, Cr Wakefield added.

Australia had one of the poorest responses to bike sharing globally, with the average bike in Sydney being used for 0.3 trips a day as opposed 6

city hub 19 JULY 2018

to two to six trips per day in other countries, according to Nine News.

Aside from the vandalism and misplaced bikes, local laws do little to boost bike sharing in Australia.

Cr Wakefield said bike sharing was a great concept, but its success was hindered by the inadequate existing legislation that forced local communities to bear the costs of abandoned bikes.

“Had bike share operators worked closely with the community, and with Council, the opportunity for the schemes to work would have been far greater,” Cr Wakefield said.

Locals seem to think bike sharing in Australia is doomed. One Sydneysider, Dave, explained that the success of share bikes in Australia has been inhibited by the controversy surrounding them, which had made using them less appealing.

“It’s very politically charged,” Dave said.

Another share bike user, Carl, pointed out that there simply isn’t a market in Australia for share bikes.

“Do you see anybody else riding them?” Carl asked, motioning toward the bikeless streets around him. “It’s not going to work. People in Australia just don’t ride bikes.”

Non-locals have become less keen on Australia’s bike share as well. Australia and New Zealand are currently the only two countries in the world that enforce universal use of helmets by cyclists, which the majority of backpackers aren’t used to.

Always needing to have a helmet deters lightpacking travellers from properly partaking in bike sharing said James, a visitor from the United States.

“A lot of people from other countries aren’t used to wearing a helmet,” James said. “It’s hard to keep the bike and helmet together, so people just ditch the helmet.”

Another backpacker agreed that the lack of consequences for dumping bikes and helmets wherever they want discourages people from carefully parking bikes appropriately.

Dockless bike share programs have been unsuccessful in Sydney. Photo: Sebastian Reategui

Ofo stated that the company was leaving Australia to “focus on priority markets internationally,” implying that there is greater demand for share bikes across other sections of the globe, and indeed there is.

Between 2013 and 2016, the number of bikes available for public use around the world more than tripled from 700,000 to almost 2.3 million, and the numbers continue to grow.

The increasing popularity of opting for bikes in favour of other modes of urban transportation has prompted the rapid expansion of bike share companies in countries such as the United States and China, suggesting that dockless bike sharing could be the way of the future.

Does this mean that Sydney is destined to fall behind the global trends? Not if Cr Wakefield can help it.

“Bike share systems can work, and we certainly

don’t want this to be the end of bike share in Australia,” Cr Wakefield said. “What we do want is for better regulation and for better partnerships with these operators, so we can work together for the benefit of the end user, which is the community.”

Cr Wakefield said the council established a Bike Advisory Committee in March that will prioritise bike share and making the area more bike-friendly.

“Cycling is a huge priority for us at Waverley Council, and work begins next month on the much anticipated $12 million Bondi Junction Cycleway,” Cr Wakefield said.

The cycleway is the missing link in the bike route between the eastern suburbs and the CBD, which the council began designing and planning in 2014.

So far, Waverley Council has contributed $2.4 million for the project and works are expected to be completed by late 2020.

Libs serve bread and circuses

By Lilli Sekkai One of the most contentious issues currently facing the NSW Government concerns the planned rebuild of Moore Park’s Allianz Stadium, also known as the Sydney Football Stadium (SFS).

While there is still an option to focus on the Olympic Park ANZ stadium, recent press reports have shown that the redevelopment is planned for Allianz Stadium only.

Built in 1988, the Stadium is Sydney’s premier rectangular field venue for rugby league, rugby union and soccer, hosting various historical sport events including many for the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 as well as concerts and other events.

In order to create a venue to equal those in Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide, the NSW Liberal National Government announced plans in November 2017 for the stadium to be knocked down and rebuilt.

The intended decommission is to start in late 2018 and the rebuild to be complete by 2022.

According to Sydney Cricket Ground Trust website ”there is going to be a redevelopment for the SFS into a modern, world class venue, to ensure Sydney has a sporting and entertainment precinct of international standard and that NSW remains the number one choice for sporting and entertainment events in Australia. To address these issues, the NSW Government will rebuild the venue into a 40,000 to 45,000 seat rectangular stadium with substantially improved sightlines, a roof that covers all patrons, with vastly improved amenities, food and beverage options and accessibility.”

The development will use public money, and although it is an economic investment improving Sydney’s tourist and entertainment sectors, it also raises concerns, as some voters don’t support spending their money on facilities for elite sports.

The rebuilding of Allianz stadium in Sydney will be completed by 2022. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

“Our stadia plan is about making Sydney and NSW the number one destination for sport and major events. To do that you have to have the best facilities,” Stuart Ayers, Minister for Sport said.

“Sydney Football Stadium is the oldest tier one stadium in Australia and no longer meets modern safety, security and compliance standards.

“The Business Case clearly states that refurbishing the stadium would require a $715 million investment for an outcome, but spending an extra $15 million dollars to rebuild the stadium at a cost of $730 million addresses safety issues in the long term and represents the best value for money for taxpayers and fans.”

There is currently a petition signed by over 200,000 people in circulation asking the government to reconsider the plan.

NSW Opposition Leader, Luke Foley, has been campaigning with the slogan “Schools and Hospitals before Stadiums”.

He says the demolition of the Sydney Football Stadium was not put to the public at the last election and should be tested by the vote in March.

“It is scandalous to tear down the existing stadium before people vote in the state election in

March on whether they want to see $2.2 billion of public money spent on the Liberals and Nationals’ Sydney stadiums splurge... People have a right to pass judgement at the ballot box on a policy that is so out of whack with the community’s expectations,” Mr Foley said.

“The real story is hidden from the public as the players haggle behind closed doors,” Maire Sheehan of the Better Planning Network said.

“We do know that throwing heaps of public money at dubious investments while schools and local sports groups struggle is a disgrace.”

The fast tracking of the proposed timeline for the demolition suggests that the Government is doing everything it can to ensure that a knock down and rebuild can’t be prevented.

“The government says spending hundreds of millions (before the inevitable budget blowouts) is a good investment but for who?” Ms Sheehan said.

“It’s all going to be demolished, all the money is provided but it’s on Crown land, so why is a private organization meant to get all this money from government?... and what about all the local sport clubs who won’t get anything while all the money is spend on the stadium?”

“There is no need to rebuild the stadium... there is a need to renovate it, but not to rebuild,“ Michael Waterhouse, Saving Moore Park (SMP) said.

Two main concerns according to SMP are the visual impact as well as the ensuing parking problems.

“The new stadium will have a much higher profile and could overshadow the area… Moore Park will be dominated by an even bigger stadium,” Mr Waterhouse said.

“There will be more football games than there currently are, increasing the amount of attendees… and increasing the amount of car parking which hasn’t been considered.”

Saving Moore Park is also concerned about how the Sydney Roosters NRL team and other teams will fit into the new stadium.

An extra building is currently planned for the Members’ car park area which will mean less parking for the general public.

Until the Environmental Impact Statement is released in a few weeks the Government does not intend to release any further information on the Moore Park demolition and construction.

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FEATURE

Bondi Feast Festival

By Riley Hooper Kicking off on July 17 at the Bondi Pavilion is Bondi’s fringe-style winter festival, Bondi Feast.

Over 10 delicious nights, from Tuesday to Saturday, a line-up of over 160 comedians, actors, artists and foodies will perform across six spaces, with over 40 shows and a pop-up bar and restaurant. Now in its sixth year, the feast will showcase a brand-new Festival Garden with a Parlour Tent, featuring boutique art installations and plenty of surprises.

“Bondi Feast celebrates the best in theatre, comedy, circus, cabaret and food. It is a highlight of Waverley’s cultural calendar and gets bigger, better and brighter each year.” said Waverly Mayor, Cr John Wakefield.

“Waverley Council is an excited supporter of the arts and we’re proud to foster our home-grown talent.”

To the main and most important piece of the festival, the shows. Bondi Feast has something to satisfy everyone’s tastebuds, from something musical to something funny or something theatrical to something saucy.

Either way the festival gives many reasons to venture out of hibernation.

To name just a few of the shows the line-up has to offer are Double Denim a comedy act, Future’s Eve for a bit of theatre, All Hail Me for some musical action and even a pop-up kitchen hosted by MasterChef wonder kid, Callan Smith.

One of the standouts among the many shows on offer though is Jack Rabbits production, Dirty People. From the show, Zoe Jensen said, “we think of the show as being a satirical take on the celebrity of politics through the eyes of self-obsessed millennials.”

Jensen plays a bad B-grade actress on a

Charlie Devenport from Dirty People.

Photo: Nick De Lorenzo

The Late Night Buffet. Photo: Niko

terrible TV show, who is self-obsessed with her career and fame.

“She’s a powerful, confident out-there woman but she’s very silly, so it’s a lot of fun to play her.”

Developed over three years since Charlie Falkner first wrote the script, back in 2016 for The Depot Theatre in Marrickville.

“We had a great response, loved doing it, so we thought we’d take it further and took it to Perth for the fringe festival last year, same cast, director, everything. This year we thought once again we can do a better version of this.

It had to be updated just from the way the political landscape had changed. With a new

director, this time around the show has a completely different attitude,” explained Jensen. “Its fast, silly and sharp. It’s the third time we’ve done it so it’s the best version that’s been done.”

As for the festival itself Zoe says, “it’s a lovely hub, it’s very exciting. Being so cold outside, getting the motivation to go to Bondi in winter is hard, so it’s a great way to get people out.”

Another eye-catching show is presented by Bondi based production company Plastik Soup, with a title to have festival goers salivating, The Late Night Buffet is an adult variety show featuring comedy, burlesque and amazing aerial

and circus acts. Director Stephen Williams further described the show by saying, “the premise of the show is that anything that is culturally late night, it’s a buffet of those things.”

Joined also by producer Natalya Alessi, she explained “a lot of the time the structure of the show comes first then you see what you need to balance it out,” with Williams commenting, “finding the right balance of each thing that the audience wants to see is tough.You need enough sexy, enough interesting, there’s a balance in the cast of what ends up on stage. Natalya and I have both been in this industry for a very long time, so it wasn’t hard to find what we needed.”

As for the set Alessi said, “We haven’t seen the tent yet but we have our host Dani Cabs, who is like our 70s game show host, John Burges style. He has his own living room set up to the side. There’s the photo on the wall, big lounge chair with a coffee table with his glass of scotch.”

Besides the partial nudity and adult themes audiences should get to this show because, “they get to see something different. People are used to seeing circus as more of a family friendly performance whereas this is specifically for adults. It’s not a regular theatre experience, we encourage people to get involved, shout and scream, throw things. We are making an experience that you are in rather than a show you sit back and watch,” both Alessi and Williams chimed in.

For some quality entertainment to keep you warm this winter, make sure you head to the Bondi Feast Festival for an entrée, main and dessert of art, food, culture and amazing performances.

Jul 17-28.Various Venues & Prices.

Tickets & Info: www.bondifeast.com.au

Canterbury Olympic ice Rink

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city hub 19 JULY 2018

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Which Way Home

Critically acclaimed and a hit at the 2017 Sydney Festival, this play returns to delight audiences of all ages.

“This is a road-trip comedy drama about a father and daughter and they’re going back to country, his country and she’s driving. It focuses on the relationship between the

two,” explained Kamahi Djordon King, who plays the role of ‘dad’.

Through flashbacks and her memories as a child, audiences will learn of the key moments in their lives. “He’s a single black parent and her mother had passed away when she was very young. We play it out on

stage by flicking between the past and the present….and there’s a twist at the end.”

Written by Katie Beckett (who also portrays Tash, the daughter) this play is based on her real life, but Katie has decided to make it less personal changing the character’s name.

“Here’s a play written by an Aboriginal woman idolising an Aboriginal male figure which is something you rarely see these days and it’s probably the first of its kind.

This is something the media doesn’t do – they don’t really paint us in a nice picture like that,” continued King. “We laugh in the face of adversity – we always have as Aboriginals and now we’re letting people come in and see this beautiful relationship that most of us have today.”

And what would non-indigenous audiences absorb from this play? “A new look at Aboriginal people, a new take on relationships of Aboriginal people and the familiarity, like ‘Oh they’re not so different to us! This could’ve been me and my dad!’

It’s an awakening that we’re all the same at the end of the day.”

When asked whether most fathers regardless of heritage, would have a special bond with their daughters, King laughingly replied: “Yeah – daddy’s little girl! Absolutely! Always!” (MMo) Jul 24 – Aug 4. Seymour Centre, City Rd & Cleveland St Chippendale. $36-$42+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com

crew, which became an extended family for him.

“In the end the most satisfying part of this journey and process was the people I met along the way,” Cosentino said. “No price or value can be placed on these beautiful people I have met and got to know.

They have changed my life forever and have inspired me to greater things.” (EE) Jul 20-22. The Hellenic Art Theatre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville. $15-25+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.trybooking.com/book/ event?eid=383100

My Carer

Due to popular demand, My Carer is back on the Hellenic Art Theatre stage for one week only this July.

The play’s writer, Sam Cosentino, said My Carer incorporates many complex themes including identity, belonging and family.

The show follows the story of two families – one appearing privileged and successful, but unsettled by estrangement and depression beneath the surface, and another comprised of immigrants who are not privileged and lacking success in the areas valued by their adopted society – on the night before Christmas.

What makes this show unique is the Q&A session held after each performance, which Cosentino said really connects the audience with the play and the mental health issues addressed within it.

Cosentino said the production is dedicated to the selfless and generous family member who raised him, and he hopes it conveys “messages of redemption, hope, caring, love, belonging, compassion, sharing, kindness and forgiveness.”

Cosentino said getting the show off the ground was a gruelling process, but he was consistently inspired by the cast and

a&e

19 STAGE 10 Sounds 11 SCENE 11 SCREEN

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

REVIEW: Sleeping Beauty

British Director/Producer Bonnie Lythgoe has once again thrilled Sydney audiences with her 2018 magical pantomime, Sleeping Beauty - A Knight Avenger’s Tale, an exciting quality stylish theatre experience for adults and children alike, at the glorious art deco State Theatre, well worth the high ticket price.

Christopher Wood has excelled in rewriting a modern comedic interactive take on this popular fairy tale, with references Sydney audiences can relate to and appreciate.

Audience participation is sustained throughout and is riotous fun with booing the villains and cheering on the goodies encouraged.Think yourself lucky you’re not sitting in the front row when eggs are thrown and water by the bucketful, as the magic fun weaves through this show that is bursting at the seams.Add in some crazy alliteration and tongue twisters and top it off with toilet roll hurling, Sleeping Beauty ticks all the boxes in style.

There is skilful dancing and gymnastics by a troupe of talented youngsters playing members of the royal household, dazzlingly beautiful sets and some super original special effects, thrilling musical numbers that feature a plethora of 80s and 90s classic hits featuring Burn For You by John Farnham, Venus by Bananarama, Cher’s If I Could Turn Back Time, Hey Little Girl, Icehouse and Chains, Tina Arena.

These all-time favourites are belted out by the leading actor of the show, the wonderful star of stage and screen Rhonda Burchmore who plays the evil wicked fairy godmother Carabosse, who at 58, doesn’t look a day older than 30 and wears black stockings showcasing her long toned legs.

British-Armenian musician, comedian and seasoned pantomime actor Kev Orkian plays the lovable hilarious Silly Billy who’s responsible for most of the laughs in the show.

The finale sees a swarm of fairy costumed children flock to the stage front unable to contain themselves as falling snow and glitter rain down and the grown adults in our row give a standing ovation. (MS) Until Jul 22. State Theatre, 49 Market St City. $69-$99+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.ozpanto.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.

city hub 19 JULY 2017

9

Swan Lake On Ice

REVIEW: The Rolling Stone

Damon Manns & Elijah Williams

Violent homophobia in Uganda is realistically resonated in this powerful and emotionally charged awardwinning stage play, written by English playwright Chris Urch and initially performed in England.

In a country where homosexuality is unlawful, punishable by life in prison and even the death penalty until recently, the community is encouraged to oust members of the public whom they suspect of committing “carnal knowledge against the order of nature.”

Dembe (Elijah Williams) is an 18 year-old who is in love with Sam an Irish doctor (Damon

Manns). Dembe is raging a war within himself. Should he follow his heart and let this relationship blossom in secret or follow the law and adhere to religious and family expectations and eventually marry a nice girl?

Urch has perfectly captured all the elements which convey the horrendous extremity of homophobic intolerance in a country which the Western World would classify as being senselessly barbaric and outdated.

Comedy overshadows the drama initially, as we are introduced to the characters and warm to the loving

relationship blooming between Dembe and Sam. The darker elements progressively surface through the comic sequences, revealing complexities in the characters which lead to an unimaginable eruption of emotions on stage.

Harassment, intimidation, discrimination and murder are all suggested off stage. The intense and faultless performances from a talented ensemble cast will transport audiences to Uganda, where they will be in the middle of this brewing family turmoil.

Can homosexuals be good Christians? Is homosexuality an evil against the law of God? Is it a hypocrisy for the church to discriminate against homosexuals? More importantly does God judge us or do we judge ourselves?

The Rolling Stone is raw, confronting and pushes conservative theater aside.

Hopefully audiences will have a new outlook on love and life.

(MMo) Until Jul 21. Seymour Centre, City Rd & Cleveland St Chippendale. $35-$42+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com

The award-winning extravaganza, Swan Lake On Ice will astound audiences with its much-anticipated return to Australia, with updated chorography and a cast of skaters who together hold 250 competition medals.

Swan Lake is widely known through dance and ballet, having been brought to the stage long ago through depictions of the more popular Petipa storyline. Artistic Director, Tony Mercer made the choice to be different from the rest, following the Tchaikovsky version where audiences will witness a love triangle with awe-inspiring acrobatics, flying sequences, aerial gymnastics and spectacular fire on ice.

“When I saw Swan Lake in ballet, I thought, I don’t want to do it the same, so the opportunity existed for me to pick up on the Tchaikovsky version.You’ll know the changes I’ve made with characters and musically, Swan Lake is seen as a classical fairy tale, but I wanted this to become realistic so when anyone looks at the show they can feel it’s a story for today so you can relate with it and understand why everything happens.”

The biggest difficulty Mercer and the cast experienced was the ability to bring the character to life through dance and mime.

“Skaters were taught to follow a rule book, but when they came to me I said, guys put your medals away. We spend time not

Cosmo’s Midnight

By Jamie Apps Often the biggest critique levelled towards the live performance of electronic music producers is that they simply, “hide behind a desk and press buttons.” It was this exact critique that motivated local Sydney duo Cosmo’s Midnight to completely rework their live performance for their upcoming show at the Metro Theatre.

“We really wanted to make this show as live as possible so that people would know that we weren’t just pressing buttons,” explained Cosmo Liney. “We’re bringing a show that is more unique and more entertaining

because I felt like there is a lack of entertaining performances by producers.”

In order to inject their show with an added level of panache Cosmo and his brother Patrick spent hours locked away in their studio completely tearing their songs apart.

“We had to pull all of the songs apart into their individual elements, remap everything on Ableton and resample all of the parts that we can’t physically perform live.You need to be very meticulous with the arrangements for the live show because if you screw one small part up big mistakes cascade from there, so it

took us nearly two weeks of 9-10 hour days just to get it all set.”

Despite spending so much time on this show it’s still difficult for Cosmo to describe the show simply because they’re always so focused whilst delivering the intricate performance.

According to Cosmo the main goals for the duo when designing this new show though were for it to be, “a very intimate show where people feel like we’re with them rather than simply performing in front of them.”

When you realise the magnitude of time the duo have had to invest in this show you begin to question why?

only on ice, but on stage, so the performers learn to use movement to provoke audiences to empathise with the characters and feel the pain of the White and Black Swan.”

Mercer is excited to bring the performance to Australia and share this unique genre,“I always think an evening at the theatre is great when you forget everything, you need it to take you on a journey and that’s what we do.

We are looking forward to coming back, its one of the counties where we started so I’m looking forward to a new generation seeing it.” (JM) Jul 25-29. Captiol Theatre, 13 Campbell St, Haymarket.

Tickets: $89.90–$99.90+b.f. ckets & Info: www. imperialicestars.com.au

Esspecially given the fact they’ve already been so successful with their previous set. Whilst speaking with Cosmo though the emotional connection and importance of performing at the Metro Theatre is very clear.

“We’re completely blown away by the reactions to this tour, it’s beyond anything I could have possibly mentally prepared for,” said Cosmo. “I’ve seen so many of my favourite artists play [Metro Theatre] so it’s going to be a big achievement for us to be able to do this show in our home city and see that we’ve progressed from the small shows to now.”

Jul 21. Metro Theatre, 624 George St, Sydney. $29.20+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.metrotheatre.com.au

Yungblud - 21st Century Liability

RL Grime - NOVA

Yungblud is back with his new album 21st Century Liability.

Confrontational and catchy - as we know him.

His new release is awesome. A great variety of different songs steeped in punk fury and pop melodicism.

Every song has a great intro following up with an extraordinary chorus.

While Psychotic Kids starts softly with an amazing piano part, California got a completely different but memorable piano intro and 21st Century Liability literarily calls you right in the beginning.

Die For The Hype contains an excellent drum beat and a good a melody and I Love You Will You Marry Me, tells a true story assisted by great guitar and drum music in a fantastic fast rhythm. Eulogy is short but expressive and DoctorDoctor sticks out through a soft guitar intro followed by rap and another totally different chorus.

The singer knows the secret of connecting different music genres. He puts together songs which are catchy as hell. The whole album contains individual songs and every song has various contrasting parts which harmonise skilfully together. (LSe)

Returning with his second album, NOVA, is Los Angeles producer RL Grime. With this new record RL Grime takes his sound into a new cinematic direction and also welcomes aboard a plethora of artists as guest features.

NOVA is very much a front loaded record as the front half of the record features six guest artists on the opening seven tracks. These tracks are the highlight of the record as they combine RL Grimes’ phenomenal production techniques with striking vocal performances.

Style wise NOVA covers a wide breadth of genres with elements from hip-hop, drum and bass, trap and finally mainstream festival style EDM. Hearing elements of drum and bass injected into RL Grimes style is a great new addition, conversely the EDM elements somewhat clash with his underground ethos which fans have grown to love.

Overall there are more hits than there are misses on NOVA and you’ll certainly enjoy your time spent with the record. (JA) WWW1/2

WWWW 10

city hub 19 JULY 2018

THE NAKED CITY

MAN V MACHINE

With Coffin Ed If like the ill-fated Family Feud, they surveyed 100 people to name eight things that are highly addictive, the possible result might be – Ice, Heroin, Cocaine, Cigarettes, Fat, Sugar, Mobile Phones and Poker Machines. However, it’s unlikely the pokies would come in as the number one selection, given the climate of denial that currently exists in the community.

It’s a climate largely fostered and fiercely defended by vested interests – the clubs and the pubs and the various State Governments who suck billions every year from the wretched machines. As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald pokie profits in NSW “will grow by 12 per cent over the next four years to reach $7 billion per year by 2021…”

An entrenched food chain has been established which means any attempt to curtail the electronic bandits is met with cries of horror and disadvantage. It’s no secret that many of the clubs and mega clubs in NSW use part of their obscene pokie profits to subsidise various community groups. Cut our gambling profits the clubs protest and we will no longer be able to fund these groups. This is despite the fact that many of the so called mega clubs are undertaking massive building projects and amalgamations with smaller clubs, creating suburban Las Vegas style casinos.

Whilst token harm minimisation programs are in place, every week there’s a new story about how somebody has tragically taken their life or been financially ruined after pouring thousands through the machines. Maybe it’s time for some truly radical solutions to make pokies about as popular as gonorrhoea in a contest which can

only be described as man (and woman of course) versus machine.

When Elon Musk put out a poster which read “IN THE END THE MACHINES WILL WIN”, he was warning of the dangers of artificial intelligence but he may as well have been referring to the pokies.

Today’s ultra seductive, brightly illuminated, hightech poker machines are a classic form of mind control, enslaving thousands of players every day – stealing not only your money but many would say your soul as well.

So what can be done to resist? Not to make light of the current Kings Cross safe injecting room, I’m suggesting a series of similar facilities all built within walking distance of the NSW mega clubs and suburban beer barns. Here pokie addicts could play a number of machines, not for money but simply for the enjoyment of watching the symbols spin.

Whenever a winning combination came up they would hear a really unpleasant high pitched squeal whilst a losing sequence would maintain an ambient soundtrack of warm and reassuring therapeutic sounds.At the end of their session their inevitable ‘paper’ losses would be tallied and they would be rewarded with a $20 grocery voucher donated by Woolies, who incidentally own about 12,000 poker machines nation wide.

The ‘safe gambling’ rooms would also feature a facility whereby patrons could unleash their anxiety with an axe (safety glasses provided).The clubs would be required to donate their old redundant machines so habitual losers could bash the crap out of them, spurred on by enthusiastic counsellors screaming “KILL KILL KILL!” Family Feud may have disappeared from our screens but let’s hope when it comes to the scourge of addiction, pokies are elevated to the number one choice.

Justice League: A Call for Heroes Madame Tussauds Sydney has become home to a new unique immersive experience uniting an all-star cast of Justice League characters.

The interactive wax figure line-up includes Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck as Batman and Ezra Miller as The Flash.

The experience begins as you weave through the classic themed rooms of the world-famous attraction starting with Australian history, world leaders and politicians, sports legends, MTV music and the making of Madame Tussauds where you can see up close in parts how the amazing and freakishly life-like figures are made.

Continuing through is fashion, TV stars, the Marvel Super Heroes, movies and a party room full of greats.

Amongst this is the action-packed Justice League adventure. The experience allows guests to star alongside their favourite heroes as an experiment with technology of Lex Luther’s causes havoc on the streets of Gotham.

Completing missions to save the world guests lift a helicopter with Superman, blast LexCorp’s tech into smithereens with Wonder Woman, summon Batman and run max speed alongside The Flash. Together, Warner Bros. Consumer

During the opening moments of this documentary world champion surfer Andy Irons descibes the feeling of catching his first wave as “like being kissed by god” and a feeling “you’re always chasing.” Sadly these two short comments are a dark premonition into Irons’ ultimate descent into darkness due to bipolar disorder and drug addiction.

Products on behalf of DC Super Heroes and Madame Tussauds have created a fun and unique experience with plenty of fun photo opportunities for everyone.

The costumes on the wax figures alone are worth the look but unlike the other themes that feature small props, A Call for Heroes is full of lasers, lights, dramatic sounds, fog, props and more, making it easy to unleash the inner wannabe super hero. (RH) Until Dec 31. Madame Tussauds, 1/5 Wheat Rd, Sydney. $35-$44+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.madametussauds.com.au

Daniel Buren - Like Child’s Play Daniel Buren shows how simple forms and colour contrasts interact in great synergy together.

By visiting the exhibition Like Child’s Play you feel like you are thrown back in time, entering a huge room of oversized wooden blocks which makes you believe you’re a child again.

Carriageworks and Buren created a small but awesome and expressive space which plays with contrast through colour and shapes.

The large-scale installation features 100 upscaled blocks, arches, triangles and pediments.

Although the installation has been exhibited a few times worldwide before, the actual installation is different each time.

Buren creates an impressive visual contrast, by only using colours along one side of his installation.

It seems like there are two spaces the colourful world of kids and the white and plain world of adults, which tends to make you feel a little lonely and cold and creates a

Andy Irons: Kissed By God Photo: Teton Gravity Research

Ezra Miller as The Flash

Andy Irons: Kissed By God is a documentary which allows the viewer to ride the wave of emotions Irons experienced throughout his journey in the world of professional surfing.

The story of a young Hawaiian boy who rose from nothing to become a three time world champion, whilst simultaneously battling bipolar disorder is told through archival footage, interviews with younger brother Bruce, wife Lyndie, close friends and fierce rivals.

The film does not require any prior knowledge of the professional surfing circuit as it focuses largely on Andy’s personal story as he was swept into this world.

This is an incredible documentary which will certainly leave audiences swimming in tears, do not miss this one! (JA) WWWW1/2 Sydney Screenings Jul 25. Hayden Orpheum, 380 Military Rd, Cremorne. $20-$25.

Jul 26. Event Cinema, 505/525 George St, Sydney.

Tickets: www.tetongravity.com

completely different perception of space.

Offering a range of possibilities for interpretation and making you feel adult and childlike at the same time, the installation is definitely worth a visit. (LSe) Until Aug 12. Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh. FREE. Info: www.carriageworks.com.au

What Will People Say What Will People Say is a semiautobiographical feature film by Pakistani-Norwegian filmmaker Iram Haq. To be screened in Sydney as part of the 2018 Scandinavian Film Festival, the movie is a somewhat raw take on family values. Even though its got a compelling storyline, it is still nonetheless the age old mashup of East vs West.

What Will People Say tells the story of a Norwegian teen as she clashes with the traditional values of her Pakistani emigrant parents.

It is the winner of the Audience Award at the 2018 Göteborg Film Festival, and as timely a drama as it is, it somehow ends up being a documentary about women’s rights and immigrant identity, rather than a riveting take on these crucial issues. The issues it tackles

are prominent and the story they tell needs to be told, but the way its told and the way the movie ends, somehow leaves a lot to be said. (JR) WW

city hub 19 JULY 2017

11

We

ng fOr k i O O l T ’re

BEST!

he

The search is on for the tastiest food, cheapest deals, friendliest service, biggest thrills… the very best that this City can offer.

We’re putting together our Best Of Sydney guide for 2018 and we’ll let you know what we think.

But we’d also like to hear from you.

BEST BALLOT Tell us which small business in Sydney you think is the best and why in any of the following categories: eaT ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Drink __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Play ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ShOP ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ServiCeS ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your name: _______________________ Your suburb: __________________ Email: _________________________

To cast your vote for the BeST of Sydney, either: 1) 2) 3) 4)

PoST this ballot to: Best of Sydney, City hub, PO Box 843, Broadway nSW Email your picks to: best@altmedia.net.au ViSiT www.altmedia.net.au ViSiT our Facebook page on www.facebook.com/altmediagroup

We’ll Tally The reSulTS anD PrinT The mOST POPular BuSineSSeS in Our BeST Of SyDney guiDe in auguST. 12

city hub 19 JULY 2018