City Hub 21 December 2017

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city hub 21 DECEMBER 2017

Pyrmont residents kept at bay

BY ANNA FREELAND Following ongoing pressure from residents, UrbanGrowth NSW Development Corporation have extended the community consultation period for the revised proposal to relocate Blackwattle Bay Marina (BBM) to 5 Bank St, Pyrmont.

A four-month review of the proposal was undertaken after UrbanGrowth received 200 submissions from locals opposing the plan and citing concerns about after-hours noise, commercial waste, inadequate onsite parking and the safety of passive boaters in the bay.

The resulting 400-page document was circulated to residents on 4 December who were given nine business days to return feedback.

UrbanGrowth has now extended the deadline by 15 business days but Pyrmont local Mary Mortimer says the modifications proposed are “nonsense.”

“They’ve made a few concessions about the position of the marina to improve the safety of passive boaters. While it’s better than the initial proposal, there is no way it is safe,” she said.

“The prospects for collision are still huge.”

An active member of the Bays community reference group, Ms Mortimer says the response from UrbanGrowth fails to address the community’s primary concerns.

“The changes they are suggesting are either a nonsense or completely ignore the objections that were raised. They are trying to brush them aside as ‘sub issues’ that aren’t worth worrying about,” she said.

A spokesperson for UrbanGrowth said, “We understand some residents have concerns, however in response to submissions we have proposed tighter controls on BBMs operations including boat movements, noise and rubbish disposal. Shipping containers would not be double stacked, and further screening has been added around the site.”

Other modifications include limiting garbage collection to two days a week and instructing boat operators to leave commercial waste aboard vessels overnight. The intention, according to Ms Mortimer, is to minimise after-hours noise that might cause sleep disturbance but, she says the suggestion is “laughable”.

“We’ve spoken with skippers who’ve said there’s no way any selfrespecting boat owner would leave party rubbish on a boat between 4pm and 7am because it attracts vermin and they would have to pay their crew, who finish at 1am, to come back at 7am to remove it. They don’t want to do that because that would make the exercise uneconomic for them,” she said.

Long-time resident Julie Carter is also disappointed with UrbanGrowth’s response and says, “They have totally abrogated

Mary Mortimer in front of the Bank St site proposed by UrbanGrowth for Blackwattle Bay Marina. Photo: Anna Freeland

their responsibility to the community.”

“What they’ve come back with is supposedly showing how they’ve taken care of our concerns but there’s nothing to say how or who’s going to police it,” she said. “The responsibility will inevitably fall back on residents.”

Ms Carter said her main concern is being kept awake at all hours of the night by boats’ horns.

By law, boats are required to sound their horn while reversing.

Of the 22 vessels owned by All Occasions Cruises, the prospective occupants of the site, 18 would be required to reverse into the marina.

Based on estimates detailed in an acoustic analysis for the proposal, horns will sound at 125dB – a noise level equivalent to a “rock band” according to the glossary of terminology – with boats operating 7 days a week, between 7am and 1am.

If the relocation goes ahead, Ms Carter says she is not confident that any of the proposed solutions to concerns raised by the community will be enforced.

“The state of the current operation is terrible so why would it be any different if they move over here,” she said.

The coveted tender for the current BBM site was controversially awarded to All Occasions owner Joe Elias by former NSW Ports

and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi. The award of the tender raised eyebrows when it was revealed that Mr Elias had affiliations with the Obeid family and followed the scrapping of a more rigorous tender process by then CEO of NSW Maritime Steve Dunn.

“The site is disgusting and if it moves to Bank St it will be an absolute eye-sore,” said Ms Carter.

The proposed relocation to Bank St would allow the state government to regain control of the current All Occasions site ahead of construction on the new Sydney Fish Markets.

Local Greens MP Alex Greenwich said, “It’s a sad state of affairs when government plans for prime Sydney Harbour land involve shipping containers, industrial size bins, late night rubbish disposal and a demountable building.”

Mr Greenwich presented a detailed submission in July on behalf of the community calling on the Planning Minister Anthony Roberts to stop the proposal from barrelling ahead and says he will restate his objection to the latest project report.

“The proposal betrays longstanding government promises to transform the site into a public waterfront recreation area with open space and passive boating,” he said.

Ms Mortimer says relocating BBM to Bank St is about expediency and just kicks the can further down the road.

“A recreational space has been promised for a decade. There are families in the area, very close to that site whose kids have nowhere to play or kick a football.”

Development of a community park at the site was first promised in 2004. Based on UrbanGrowth’s proposal, it would be 23 years before construction could commence once they move BBM again.

“By then, several generations of children will have grown up, got married and moved away. They’re saying spaces will be available in ten years that aren’t available now but there’s no evidence of that,” said Ms Mortimer.

“There is an alternative available now, which we’re trying to get them to consider, at the northern bank of Rozelle bay, west of the Anzac Bridge. It’s much bigger, it’s owned by RMS, and has a lot of parking spaces and empty offices. Most importantly, it’s not in a residential area.”

Ms Carter says if the relocation goes ahead the community will be very upset.

“It’ll be yet another case of the government ignoring the community,” she said. “There’s no consultation anywhere. Their plans are fait-accompli.”

Respondents will have until 8 January 2018 to review and make further submissions to UrbanGrowth on the modified proposal.

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BY JOHN MOYLE The ghost of the Bourbon and Beefsteak Bar’s founder, Bernie Houghton, howled Tuesday night as news arrived of a development application (DA) proposing the construction of 83 apartments along a strip of Darlinghurst Road from near the famous El Alamein Fountain to the Empire Hotel located at the other end of the block.

Development Application D/2017/1705 lodged by Piccadilly Freehold Pty Ltd aft Piccadilly Property Trust calls for the demolition of the ‘existing structures except for the northern and western facades of nos 30-30B Darlinghurst Road’ and the construction of a mixed use development with 5, 6 ,7 and 8 storey apartments.’

“This is not a DA but an EA, meaning that it is an exploitation application,” Andrew Woodhouse, president, Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage and Residents’ Association said.

It is believed that Piccadilly Trust is a stalking horse for Iris, a property and hospitality company on whose website the development is described as ‘Our vision is to create a sophisticated food and entertainment offering activated through a series of laneways and a luxury apartment complex’.

The $47.5 million development will also see a 101-car space basement car park built with access to be from the narrow and already congested Barncleuth Lane that runs parallel to Darlinghurst Road.

In terms of streetscape, the development will see part of the Bourbon’s facade being retained but for all other frontage to be removed for new bars and restaurants, with apartments above.

None of the buildings listed for redevelopment are heritage listed, but they do contribute to a well-loved streetscape and play an important role in the area’s ambience.

The Empire Hotel at the other end of the block was once the famous Les Girls Revue and later home to the much-loved Tender Trap, so we may see a few divas frocking up for a protest on Darlinghurst Road once again.

The construction phase could take years and would mean the closure of Barncleuth Lane and limit access to Barncleuth Square.

Two much-needed doctors’ surgeries will be affected, as will access to a number of cafes and shops situated in Roslyn Street.

A stretch of Darlinghurst Rd in Kings Cross south of the El Alamein fountain looks set to be replaced with expensive shops and apartments.

Photo: Alec Smart

Dust and noise mitigation will likely become a problem not only in the immediate area but also across a wide swathe of Potts Point.

The Lido Hotel on the corner of Barncleuth Lane and Roslyn Street could possibly be forced to close, as it will be hard to attract guests when a construction site is raging next door.

All of the residents in the Barncleuth Square, Roslyn Street block will also be affected by dust and noise.

“The local residents nearby will be living on a construction site for years, reducing their amenities,” Andrew Woodhouse said.

Then again, the application could be an ambit claimed designed to find out where the limits of the local community lay.

While CityHub will have to wait until next year for further information, in the meantime why not give City of Sydney a Christmas greeting by contacting Russell Hand on 9265 9333 or email dasubmissions@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au and let them know your thoughts on the DA. city hub 21 DECEMBER 2017

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Millers Point malaise

BY ALEC SMART The last four tenants in Millers Point social housing are facing imminent eviction as the NSW Government finalises the sell-off of their homes, on behalf of Family and Community Services (FACS).

And yet the sold-off properties, which caused the eviction of almost 500 long-term tenants, aren’t bustling with new families or city workers. Most lie empty.

In March 2014, the NSW Government Minister for Family and Community Services, Pru Goward, announced that all of the 293 public housing dwellings in Millers Point, The Rocks and Dawes Point were to be sold off to the private sector.

An additional 79 apartments in the iconic Sirius building, built in the Brutalist style, were also scheduled for sale, or, as seems increasingly likely, demolition to make way for new high-rise apartments.

The Sirius was constructed in the late 1970s and opened in 1980 to rehouse the original residents from The Rocks that were displaced during the large-scale destruction of Sydney’s harbour-side heritage area for high-rise apartments – ultimately stopped by Green Bans.

In July 2016, when it was reported that only 42 tenants were left in this latest mass eviction and sell-off of The Rocks, Millers Point and Dawes Point precinct, the NSW Government refused to grant heritage status to the Sirius Building despite the Heritage Council recommendations. The decision was justified on the basis that a heritage listing would reduce its value by $70 million. The following month, 94 Millers Point properties were sold for a cumulative $264 million, an average sale price of $2.48 million per dwelling.

Property NSW is managing the sales on behalf of FACS. The NSW Government catalogues these sales on the webpage rediscovermillerspoint.com.au, of which it receives an extra bonus on the sale price through 5% stamp duty.

“The NSW Government is projected to make $700 million on the Millers Point sales,” said Barney Gardner, a Millers Point resident his entire life and one of those removed from the Victorian homes originally constructed for Sydney wharf workers and their descendants.

“People who buy these properties are supposed to restore them to heritage standard, but we knew they’d be short-term lets.”

All purchasers of properties in the Millers Point are required to adhere to the NSW Heritage Council-endorsed Conservation Management Plans. These set out in detail the purchaser’s heritage maintenance obligations.

Kent Street in Millers Point, which Gardner dubs ‘Rent Street’, is largely deserted, with multiple properties vacant and occupied only on weekends or during peak tourist events by non-residents, when revelers often turn them into noisy party venues.

Undertake a Google search for Air BnB accommodation in Millers Point and you’ll find prices range from a heady $188 a night to an astronomical $835 a night. Several of these were former dockworkers’ homes that passed into the ownership of the NSW Government and were among the NSW Government’s mass sell-off to capitalize on a surge in property prices.

“119 Kent Street was the first to sell,” revealed Gardner, “fetching around $1.2 million. The purchasers illegally rented it out as an Air BnB and got away with it for 6-7 months before they were found out. Then, after only nine months ownership, they sold the property for a half a million dollars profit.”

A spokesperson from Air BnB told Domain media, “There are approximately 80 listings in the three inner city suburbs of Millers Point, Dawes Point and The Rocks.”

Millers Point has a unique history. The houses were originally constructed for dockworkers toiling on

the nearby wharves in which to shelter and raise their families. Their descendants retained the occupancy of the premises. The Heritage Council recognised the historical significance of the neighbourhoods in 1999 when it declared the entire area, including the occupants, a Heritage site.

In 1936 the Maritime Services Board took over management of the properties from the ports, which they in turn ceded to the Department of Housing in the 1980s.

“Initially the Department of Housing converted the properties into more modern dwellings,” said Barney Gardner, who was born in a terrace on High Street.

“They changed some from three to two bedrooms in order to fit bathrooms, and converted laundries into proper kitchens.”

After a few years though, Gardner insists the systematic running-down of properties began.

“Housing management started to get worse and worse as the years went by. It appears in hindsight that their basic plan was to get us to live in squalor so they could eventually find a reason to rehouse us. We couldn’t get proper maintenance or repairs, neglecting their basic Duty of Care.”

On a walk around the empty Millers Point houses still awaiting auction, Mr. Gardner showed CityHub the rotting balconies, mouldy interior walls, collapsed drain pipes and general disrepair that he and his neighbours insist they endured for years before the government’s Relocation Officers persuaded them to leave.

He called it “Eviction by Dereliction.”

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, when she learned of the state of the dwellings, said, “If Housing NSW had been a responsible landlord they never would have allowed these properties to fall into neglect.”

“Once Housing want you to move, you’re lucky if you get more than 30 days to pack up your possessions and move on to their suggested

Barney Gardner in the rear lane behind the Millers Point maritime workers’ terrace he was born in.

Photo: Alec Smart

relocation,” said Gardner. “You only get two formal offers of a new home; if you don’t accept by their deadline you’re on the street. Then they can bring the Sherriff to remove your personal property. They didn’t do this but several people were threatened with warning letters.

“They also threaten you with tribunals. If you consent to move you’re under intense pressure to go as quickly as possible. Some Millers Point tenants have moved out west to properties that also need repairs and changes – such as improvements in access for the elderly - but the changes have not been implemented, despite multiple complaints.”

“This shocking sale is devastating for this strong and proud community,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said of the NSW Government’s forced evictions. “Millers Point is one of Australia’s oldest communities, in the most historic place in our country. Many residents here have connections to this area going back generations.”

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Domestic disputes rage

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city hub 21 DECEMBER 2017

BY ANNA FREELAND To meet a growing demand for youth family and domestic violence support services, Marrickville Legal Centre has for the first time employed a Youth and Family Violence Solicitor.

With nine out of every ten clients under the age of 25 seeking domestic violence-related help, it is now the most common issue raised by young people at the Centre.

Solicitor Frankie Sullivan took up the post earlier this year to fulfil a need for youth-specific legal support, after the Centre experienced a surge in reporting.

Ms Sullivan now works closely with the Centre’s Domestic and Family Violence Worker, Zoe McMillan, to offer vulnerable young people integrated legal and non-legal support.

“We’re seeing more and more reports by young people who have grown up with family violence from parents, siblings, or their extended family,” said Ms McMillan.

“But we’re also talking to lots of young people about intimate partner violence, already at quite a young age.”

While the need for extra support is clear, Ms Sullivan says the reasons for the increase in reporting are difficult to gauge.

“It’s unclear whether or not it’s because the violence itself is increasing or if it’s just becoming more talked about and understood among the young cohort,” said Ms Sulllivan.

Together, Ms McMillan and Ms Sullivan have been facilitating outreach programs through local schools and refuges to help educate young people about family and domestic violence.

“I think certainly because of the outreach work and the awarenessraising we’ve been getting approached by more young people and getting disclosures at a higher frequency,” said Ms McMillan.

For young victims of domestic violence, it can be difficult to recognise that there is a problem.

“Often young people have experienced violence their whole life, but they may not necessarily be informed that it’s not something they should have to live with and there are options to get help,” Ms McMillan said.

“As a society, when we talk about domestic violence it’s mostly in the context of adult

relationships. We find that young people will perhaps see a campaign poster or advertisement and think it’s not relevant to them because they’re young and maybe the perpetrator is mum or dad and not an intimate partner.”

Ms McMillan says that there is a gap in broader education for young people about respectful relationships.

“We find lots of young people really don’t have a lot of awareness around their rights to be safe,” she said. “I think there could be a lot more time taken at school to speak about respectful relationships more generally.”

The pair has recently begun rolling out ‘Love Bites’, a program for school-aged children and teenagers focussing on healthy relationships and opening up conversation about domestic violence and sexual assault. Ms McMillan says the outcomes have been very positive.

“Especially in terms of increased disclosures,” she said. “We’re finding that young people really aren’t accessing this information anywhere else. Often, it might be the only time they’ve had sort of meaningful discussion about it.”

Ms Sullivan would also like to see greater emphasis on education about domestic violence in the school environment.

“At the end of a presentation, we often have a handful of young people wanting to talk to us, having realised that maybe they are in a situation that they think isn’t legal or isn’t safe and that they want some advice,” she said.

The holistic support service, run solely by the two women, replaces the Centre’s previous family and domestic violence support program, Yellow Card, and accepts clients not just from Marrickville but other parts of Sydney and regional NSW. For young victims seeking legal advice, counselling and other non-legal forms of support for domestic violence, services are limited.

“I think in terms of integrated legal and non-legal support services there aren’t a whole lot of options for young people. LegalAid does have a children civil law service but that’s quite targeted and often we’re seeing young people with family law issues,” said Ms McMillan.

“There are a lot of fantastic services for young people that

aren’t quite as specific. We do a lot of referrals to Headspace, youth refuges and other support services, but there isn’t really another service available like ours that is an integrated legal service.”

Ms Sullivan says the advantage of an integrated service is that she and Ms McMillan can offer clients a range of legal and non-legal advice without having to refer them elsewhere. They are also able to act as a conduit with police in cases that involve criminal charges and support clients through to court hearings where necessary.

“It can be problematic to empower young people by giving them information about their situation and telling them to speak up about it but then not having the systems or supports in place to deal with the potential consequences or fallout from it.”

While the integrated service offers vital support to many young people, the pair are struggling to keep up with the current demand.

“We get lots of referrals every single day and, for a state-wide service, we’re only staffed by two people, it’s a little difficult,” said Ms McMillan.

“We hope that the Youth and Family Violence Solicitor role will be funded more long-term.”

Currently, the Centre is able to support Ms Sullivan’s role until next June and Ms McMillan’s is funded for another 12 months through the Department of Family and Community Services.

However, the long-term feasibility of the program is uncertain with funding partly contingent on community and philanthropic donations.

“We’re both on pretty unstable funding really and we would absolutely welcome more stable state funding to be able to continue the service because it is really important and there would be a big gap if this service wasn’t here,” said Ms McMillan.

The Centre is currently seeking community support as part of its Christmas Appeal to raise the $50,000 needed to continue the program for the next six months.

Donations can be made via the Marrickville Legal Centre’s website.

Marrickville Legal Centre: (02) 9559 2899 Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Lifeline: 13 11 14

city hub 21 DECEMBER 2017

7

More homelessness in eastern suburbs

BY JADE MORELLINI Homelessness in NSW has spiked, with new studies indicating that there are not enough services available to support the number of people sleeping rough.

In the Eastern Suburbs, the number of homeless fluctuates, yet evidence has proven homelessness increases particularly during the summer months.

A Waverly Council spokesperson said, “The Waverley Homeless Registry Week conducted in April 2016, found 57 people to be homeless in the area. This included people living in temporary accommodation. The Waverley street count in 2017 found 70 people to be homeless, including those in crisis accommodation.”

Homeless services are commissioned to provide support to 57,000 patrons per year, however they are helping 30% more than the system is designed and funded for.

This leaves many people without support and no place to stay, giving them no choice but to find refuge on streets or public property.

Wentworth Courier revealed Waverly Council rangers told a man sleeping rough to leave his refuge in Marks Park, which was close to the water’s edge by the end of last week. According to them, a council spokeswoman said they often received “complaints and concerns” for people sleeping rough in the area, including the cliff side areas of Bondi.

When a CityHub representative approached Waverly Council, a spokesperson said, “So far as we know, there are no homeless people living on

Terry, a homeless man in Sydney.

Photo: Eva Rinaldi

Waverley beaches and no one has been asked to leave this area.

However, the Local Government Act does not allow people to camp or light

fires on beaches. The Council will ask people to move from any public location that is unsafe, requires cleaning or blocks shared access.”

Cr Dominic Wy Kanak of the Bondi Ward said, “The council works with community and government agencies to look after the Homeless People’s safety and that of the community, so cliff dwelling draws concerns for the cave dweller’s personal safety.”

There are a wide range of services available in the Eastern Suburbs for those experiencing homelessness, however not everyone has access to these support systems.

A spokesperson from the Jewish House, which offers a 24/7 crisis hotline and crisis accommodation said, “It’s fine to ask them to leave if they are going to provide social housing for them to go to, but there is really nowhere else for them to go, I mean they can come to us for two-week crisis accommodation and we will attempt to take them in more permanent accommodation, but there isn’t enough supported accommodation out there, so either way they end up on the streets.”

The extreme increase of house prices in NSW has caused this issue to arise.

Bondi Executive Minister, Graham Anson said, “Anecdotal evidence suggests that as Sydney’s housing affordability has decreased and rents soar, people may no longer afford to have a roof over their heads.”

Studies have illustrated that there are over 60,000 people on the social housing waiting list across NSW and according to the Anglicare 2017 Rental Snapshot only 1% of private rentals are affordable for people on low incomes across the greater Sydney region.

Anson said: “We estimate over 60 – 70 in the Bondi / Bondi Junction area.

As many as 20 sleep rough at the Bondi Pavilion on any given night.”

Cr Dominic Wy Kanak said, “Generally the Council is moving towards affordable housing in the Waverly area, so people in unfortunate situations are assisted into social and affordable housing.”

With Christmas coming up, it’s a stressful time of the year, especially for those experiencing homelessness.

Anson said, “Christmas Day is traditionally a time for celebration, but for many in the community who are isolated, on the streets or just struggling to put food on the table, it is a time when life’s problems are magnified.”

According to the Food Bank Hunger Report 2017, it is estimated that 3.6 million Australians experience food insecurity at some time during the year, 27% of which are children. Added to this, 8.4 million Australians believe Christmas is a ‘financial nightmare’, with nearly half a million children likely to receive no presents according to the Salvation Army 2016 Roy Morgan Research.

“Christmas is always a high stress time for anyone, let alone if you’ve got all the added risk factors of being on the street, having mental health issues, not having any money. Not being able to be with your family or having traumatic thoughts about Christmas from a past event makes it hard and there’s a high risk of suicide during this time of year,” a spokesperson from the Jewish House said.

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Post office stamped out contribute positively to the level of architectural quality along Hall Street’.

The application then gets positively condescending when its states, ‘It is considered that the proposal will have several benefits to the local community and will not result in significant adverse impacts to the amenity of surrounding properties.’

Smart Design Studios in the Architectural Design Report refers to the post office as a ‘disjointed site’ that blocks ‘pedestrian movement’ and that the paperbark trees ‘are extremely close to the post office’, therefore they are given a death sentence.

How the loss of a heritage building, an essential service and the removal of a village meeting point could not be called ‘adverse’ is questionable and perhaps double-speak.

“What Bondi doesn’t need is another coffee shop,” Waverley Mayor Councillor John Wakefield said, adding, “There is certainly opposition to the demolition and I support the community as the post office forms a very important function in Bondi and the heritage building is a landmark in the area.”

While one part of the application talks up the retention of the site’s heritage values, the brass plaque option becomes clearer when reading Northrop’s geotechnical report .

In the report Northrop states that the ‘construction of the proposed new building will require demolition of the existing buildings and structures (including their footings) and of the pavements’.

With the removal of the roof, demolition of side walls, and the construction of a two-story basement car park it is hard to see just what can be retained that would have any historical value, let alone the suspension of the postal service.

A statement from Australia Post says, ‘there is a five-year lease with a five-year option in place’ but

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If developers get their way a brass plaque will be all that remains of Bondi’s landmark post office.

Photo: Sabin Bandana

that is no assurance that the options would ever be triggered, and at best, only guarantees the service for another ten years.

“If there is no post office in Hall Street the only options are to go to Bondi Junction or the tiny little one on Bondi Road,” Lenore Kulakauskas said.

The Hall Street post office not only caters to the needs of the local community, it also acts as a focal point for people meeting away from the crass development and ubiquitous coffee shops of Campbell Parade.

“The post office is a community service and I also have friends who use the building as a meeting point and I regard it as the hub of community,” Marilyn Tanner, resident said.

Backpackers, who flock to Bondi year round, also rely heavily on the postal facilities.

The proposal also calls into account a school of architecture, known as Facadism, whereby significant architectural or heritage value is preserved and the rest of the building repurposed.

The architectural drawings depict the development as a bland structure lacking style

or merit, with the present entrance to the post office being retained as the entrance to the apartments.

The peak international body of cultural heritage professionals, ICOMOS, states that ‘a monument is inseparable from the history to which it bears witness and from the setting in which occurs’.

“Who is to say what kind of property market and residential neighbourhood will be operating in the future, but 20 years is kind of the life cycle for contemporary buildings these days,” Waverley Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak said.

While objections to the proposal should be addressed to Waverley Council, Mayor John Wakefield explained to the CityHub that due a 2014 decision led by Cr Betts and her colleagues, all DA decisions have been taken away from councillors and will be decided either by council’s Planning Staff or by the Waverley Development Assessment Panel.

The DA is currently in suspension while Waverley Council gets more information on issues relating to heritage.

Barangaroo Delivery Authority Event Notification – New Year’s Eve at Barangaroo Reserve Sunday, 31 December 2017 – 6pm to 12:45am What you can expect • It’s anticipated that live entertainment will increase noise in the area.

• Local road closures required. For more information, please go to livetraffic.com Work hours • Site set-up: o Thursday, 28 December to Saturday, 30 December 2017 – 7am to 7pm o Sunday, 31 December 2017 – 7am to 6pm • Pack down: o Monday, 1 January 2018 – 12:45am to 2am and 7am to 7pm o Tuesday, 2 January to Thursday, 4 January 2018 – 7am to 7pm

Barangaroo Reserve will be closed to the general public from 11am on Sunday, 31 December 2017 and will reopen at 6am on Monday, 1 January 2018.

Merriman Street will be used for unloading/loading during set up and pack down. Traffic controllers will be in place throughout these times.

BLZ131897

BY JOHN MOYLE If developers get their way a brass plaque will be all that remains of Bondi’s landmark post office.

The Development Application (DA) 475/2017 lodged with Waverley Council in November calls for the demolition of the heritage-listed Hall Street site, along with the removal of trees and planter boxes at its front.

The DA applicant is listed as Australia Postal Corporation and the owner as Australia Post, the first of many contradictions surrounding this project, as Australia Post sold the building in 2015 for an estimated $15 million.

The building then quickly got flipped and the current owner of the 765sqm site is North Sydneybased construction company Taylor.

“What they have done I find extremely sneaky, in that the DA calls for partial demolition, but I say that is not true, they are going to knock down the whole thing,” Lenore Kulakauskas, convenor, Bondi Beach Precinct said.

The project proposes that the site be developed with two levels of basement parking for 24 cars, a ground floor retail front and residential lobby, a three-story addition comprising five two-bedroom apartments and five three-bedroom apartments, along with landscaping and the removal of two on-site trees.

The DA states that the development costs are estimated at $5.8 million.

“It is a really useful building and I don’t see why we need to get rid of it,” said Andrew Worssom, resident.

The overall tone of the DA is one that attempts to down grade the site while thickly laying spurious claims as to the benefits of the new development.

The applicant also claims that the development will lead to ‘retail activation’ on Hall Street and that the ‘integration of the existing heritage building and a contemporary addition will

For more information visit www.barangaroo.com – Complaints hotline: 1300 966 480

city hub 21 DECEMBER 2017

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Centre of good will

27TH INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

NOW THAT’S A SHORT FILM!

Community Services (FACS), while federal funding is through the Department of Health and that funds aged and shopping programs and excursions,” Ms Greaves said.

Supporting the full time staff are a team of 38 volunteers who set up jumble and book stalls, help with the home shopping and excursion programs, conduct home visits and conduct classes.

Thursday is the main day for the volunteers when the centre draws people from across its catchment area to its jumble and book stalls, both sourced from public donations, which raise a considerable portion of its annual incidental operating funds.

Writer Bill Harding has been manning the bookstall for some years now, and sees the jumble sale and book store as a welcoming point of contact for

light,” Mr Webber said.

“The other basic I have encouraged them to adopt is a tripod, which allows you thinking time to actually compose a shot,” he added.

Zac McKay takes yoga into unusual territory as he uses yoga chants known as Kirtan singing as a pathway to self discovery.

“When I was introduced to Kirtan singing the chants were very long, but I now use much shorter chants so most people can get comfortable with the approach very quickly,” Mr McKay said.

Other classes include daytime yoga sessions conducted by Nell Schofield, beading, and, in the New Year, an art class run

by Gail Johns, who has also taught art at Long Bay Goal and TAFE.

Photography: Alina Gozin’a

BY JOHN MOYLE The Kings Cross Community Centre is not big on Xmas. Not because they are grinches, but because they hope that for their clients, the goodwill associated with Xmas flows year round.

Having just delivered its 42nd annual report, the centre is also celebrating the fact that due to considered and prudent management, it is one of the few inner-city community organisations running in the black.

“We do have one nod toward Xmas in that we have a bus excursion to the Xmas lights, starting with dinner at Maroubra Seals until it gets dark, and then it tours the suburban and city area Xmas lights,” Robyn Greaves, coordinator, Kings Cross Community Centre said.

Considering that the area houses some big-gun charities, the

Kings Cross Community Centre is one of the last community organisations surviving from the pre-gentrified Kings Cross and Potts Point. Photo: John Webber

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city hub 21 DECEMBER 2017

centre is something of its own Xmas miracle. With a full-time staff of just seven, it operates from cramped offices in the Rex Centre, meeting the needs of its clients’ calls for assistance across Kings Cross, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo and part of Paddington.

“The centre is geared towards the elderly and people with disabilities plus people who come in for information, referral and advocacy, which is open to anyone,” Ms Greaves said.

“We also advocate for people lodging forms for whatever department, as many people cannot deal with bureaucracy and problems such as with the housing tribunal come up all the time. So if they find that they can’t deal with it, we will,” Ms Greaves said.

Over its 42 year existence the centre has leant to be nimble in raising funds for its programs, and now works with grants from the City of Sydney and a mix of state and federal funding “We get our premises from the City of Sydney through a community grant, and state funding comes from Family and

people who would not normally approach a welfare centre.

“Many of the folk passing through come for their own reasons, and most of them are only partially literary,” Mr Harding said. “The stock’s all donated, so no retail savvy is needed in selling it, and what we don’t sell we donate to jail libraries.”

The centre is also the largest user of the City of Sydney owned Rex Centre, as it runs a large number of projects and classes for beading, photography, yoga and singing and exercise in the upstairs space.

Well-known photographer John Webber, who has worked for Countdown, Juice, and Rolling Stone magazines, has mounted a number of successful solo exhibitions. For the past two years he has been conducting photography classes with a difference, that are well-suited to the centre’s mainly low-tech clients.

“The approach is that you don’t need any fancy equipment and I have encouraged everyone to use a basic camera or phone camera, and just use available

“We are always open to new ideas and if people come to us with an idea and we think can support it, we will,” Ms Greaves said.

For many of the elderly, the centre’s very affordable shopping and sightseeing excursions are a highlight and often their only opportunity to get out of the district.

“We have around 50 clients registered for shopping, which is $4, and for $7, people can go on a day excursion to places like Bowral, Blue Mountains or Kiama,” Ms Greaves said.

The centre will re-open early in the New Year, with all classes back up and running

by February.

The Kings Cross Community Centre is one of the last community organisations surviving from the pregentrified Kings Cross and Potts Point, and is the only one in the area with focus on the elderly.

“And no, we won’t be removing Kings Cross from our name,” Ms Greaves said.

The centre can be contacted on 9357 2164.

By Jamie Apps

FEATURE

Bring In The New Year With A Bang

New Year’s Eve The Langham Sydney: If you want to bring in the new year in luxury then look no further than The Langham Sydney who have curated a truely memorable evening. Only a stone’s throw from prime viewing locations of the famous Sydney Harbour fireworks you can indulge in a five-course dinner (with optional matching wines) all whilst listening to spectacular live jazz.

Marco Polo featuring Crazy P: If partying by a pool is more your idea of a perfect New Year’s Eve then Marco Polo have you covered. Sip on the Pool Club’s famous cocktails, dip your toes in the water and dance to the best international and local DJ’s. For this special event they’re welcoming UK electronic group Crazy P to guide you through the afternoon and evening.

The Park Hyatt: Nestled between the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, the intimate hotel enjoys an unrivalled location on the edge of glittering Sydney Harbour. The Park Hyatt have three special experiences to delight any New Year’s Eve reveller; whether you’re after an early family-friendly dinner to take in the early fireworks display, alternatively you could be looking for a later more indulgent experience at one the hotels two restaurants, and finally if you simply want to party it up there is the rooftop cocktail party offering panoramic views of the city.

Oxford Art Factory: Are offering yet another exciting party to help you dance in the new year.

This year they will be playing host to Englishman Jon Hopkins who will perform one of his rare and exclusive DJ sets. Joining the legend will be Fantastic Man, Trinity, Plan te (DJ Set), Phondupe (Live) and U-Khan to round out the Australian contingent of this line up.

Trippas White Group: One of Australia’s leading restaurant and catering companies has a range of options available to help close out 2017

As we come to the end of yet another year, one that feels like it went far too quickly, it’s time to begin looking ahead to how we will celebrate the arrival of 2018. City Hub have compiled a list of our most exciting options to celebrate the event both on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Dave Whitting - The Langham Restaurant.

Photo: Supplied by The Langham Sydney

and bring in 2018 in style. Their offerings range from watching the fireworks whilst enjoying a six course degustation venue at Sydney’s highest point in the Studio, Sydney Tower or you could head to the Beach House Avalon for a more casual family friendly event for a lovely three course meal. These are just two options available but they have everything in between to help you have the perfect evening.

New Year’s Day Field Day: If you’re able to temper yourself on New Year’s Eve but still want to ring in 2018 with a party head on down to The Domain for the annual Field Day music festival. Renowned for its friendly atmosphere and huge star-studded line-ups, which this year features Flume, DJ Snake, Mura Masa and Schoolboy Q you couldn’t ask for a better way to welcome 2018.

Seadeck: Perhaps a cruise around Sydney harbour is more your style. If so Seadeck have their New Years Day Cruise just for you.

Measuring 42 meters, Seadeck has three vast open decks from which to enjoy unrestricted 360 degree views of some of Sydney’s iconic harbour.

Bondi Icebergs: For the ultimate cure to your New Year’s Eve-induced hangovers look no further than Bondi Icebergs and their salt water pool as they play host to one of Sydney’s most ostentatious parties. Hosted by Icebergs’ Maurice Terzini and musically curated by Angus McDonald (one half of Sneaky Sound System) you just know this will be one of the most enjoyable ways to start 2018.

The Vic: Will once again welcome in the New Year with their own unique free mini-festival stacked with live music. Leading the charge is raw, edgy, bluesy rock duo The Mess Hall. Also in the programme are self-described ‘zigzaggers’ The Delta Riggs; Adelaide outside rockers Bad// Dreems, fresh from their US tour; unmissable singer-songwriter Steve Smyth, currently gigging around the nation to promote new album, Exits; Davey Lane, who just launched Atonally Young; and High-tails, whose Bending Over Backwards has been inspiring a good dose of triple J love these few months past.

Watson’s Bay Boutique Hotel: Back for New Years Day 2018, the Hamptons meets Sydney Harbour for the third year running in Summer’s most coveted pop-up outdoor party. The Surf Lodge x Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is a one-day beach party experience that celebrates the best of both trend-setting venues, bringing the decadence of the Hamptons to an iconic Sydney destination. Musically, the party will feature a carefully curated line up with a mix of Australia’s best producers as well as a selection of Sydney’s favourite local DJs.

city hub 21 DECEMBER 2017

11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Unbelievables

The Illusionists and Circus 1903 are huge shows featuring the creme de la creme in magic, acrobatics, comedy, music, and anything else that entertains. They would seem impossible to top, yet director Neil Dorward believes the next iteration in the series has done just that.

The Unbelievables is a collection of unique and extraordinary acts from around the globe; from traditional circus performers to bright new stars.

It’s family entertainment with enough edge to keep adults amused.

Dorward says the public has an appetite for this kind of eclectic show, as proven by the popularity of TV talent show franchises.

“Variety has been around for so long, it’s so great that we’re actually bringing a proper variety show back to 2017 generations,” he adds.

Some of the performers have in fact been discovered via TV talent shows.

Harrison Greenbaum is a New York comedian/magician who’d been working the comedy circuit for 10 years before finally finding stardom on America’s Got Talent.

He will be MC for The Unbelievables.

“He’s done a million gigs, he’s the funniest man ever, so he’ll really have the audience laughing…” assures Dorward.

Humour will weave throughout the show. Jay Johnson is a multi-award winning ventriloquist who does a hysterical bit with a monkey.

Brett Loudermilk will make you laugh, then gasp as he swallows for real - a variety of swords. Sos and Victoria Petrosyan - The Transformationalists - hold four Guinness World Records for quickest costume change.

There are also acts that will astound: Robert Karlos is a mind-blowingly fast and frenzied juggler;Aleksandra Kiedrowicz performs a mesmerising gymnastic ballet while inside a suspended clear sphere; international ballroom dancing champions, including three Australian couples, will strut their amazing stuff.

The show boasts the best technicians in the business with an amazing light show as well as a top notch band of New York musicians.

“The music is fantastic.. and it’s music that everybody will know,” says Dorward.

“We really had such great success and great feedback from the Australian audiences, that we are really trying to create great family entertainment for Australia.” (RB) Dec 19- 29 Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House. $64.90$139.90+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com or Ph: 02 9250 7777

a&e

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city hub 21 DECEMBER 2017

The Wizard Of Oz The world-renowned musical, The Wizard Of Oz is touring around Australia early next year, providing audiences with a recreation of the classic and much-loved film of the past.

The musical is very popular amongst audiences and is a favourite to many, following the story of Dorothy who will be played by a new and upcoming star.

Jemma Rix who plays the Wicked Witch of the West said, “I really hope all audiences really love and enjoy the musical! So far, I think the response from audiences has been really good, everyone seems to be enjoying it and getting in to it, a lot of kids have dressed up which is really great to see.”

Heroine Dorothy Gale finds herself in the magical land of Oz, where she travels and along the way finds friendship and adventure. New songs have been written for the musical to keep it new and original for audiences to watch.

“We got some brilliant new songs written for the performance which is really exciting. A song I sing is called Red Shoes Blues, so it’s a song wanting the ruby slippers and I have a voodoo doll of Dorothy, so I have fun with that. It’s

Lucy Durack, Samantha Dodemaide, Alex Rathgeber, John Xintavelonis, Eli Cooper.

Photo - Jeff Busby

quite a big song and adds something extra for the opening of act two,” Rix said.

Playing the part of the Wicked Witch of the West, Rix had a big role to play.

“It’s been fun, I think she’s a lot more evil than Elphaba Thropp from Wicked who I played recently which has been

really fun and interesting to explore.”

This musical will be a fun treat for all individuals and families to enjoy over the New Year. (JM) Dec 30-Jan 5. Capitol Theatre, 13 Campbell St, Haymarket. $49-$100. Tickets & Info: www.ticketmaster.com.au

Storytime Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

The Australian Ballet are bringing The Sleeping Beauty back to the stage, but this time exclusively for children with their Storytime Ballet.

Simplifying the storyline and incorporating a narrator, Storytime Ballet makes it easier for younger audiences, or those unfamiliar with ballet to understand and engage with the story of Sleeping Beauty. Dancer for the

12 STAGE 13 Sounds 14 SCENE 15 SCREEN

to the original, with a bit of extra humour added in by Artistic Director David McAllister.

“Audiences are invited quite early on to speak up, we have a narrator that explains what’s happening because ballet mime can get confusing. David’s definitely added an element of humour to it that’s probably not always in the original,” Begg said.

Originally casted to be the Lilac Fairy, Begg said she will be playing Aurora for the first class, “I was meant to be playing the Lilac Fairy but due to injury I’m actually now doing Aurora, so it’s been a bit of a whirlwind week. I am a bit nervous, but I’m really looking forward to it, especially being centre stage.”

Being a part of Storytime Ballet for three years now, Begg is excited to be a major part of this show.

“I feel like I’m an original cast member for Storytime and it’s probably my Lilac Fairy and Aurora, Robyn Begg said, favourite - I love getting to perform so “It’s a short version of the main ballet, many shows in a season and its very they get rid of all the stuff that doesn’t special because you get comfortable with develop the storyline and it’s all the fun the characters and get to feel relaxed on characters that the kids can relate to. So, stage. The best part though is doing it for it’s aimed towards children, or perhaps the children,” Begg concluded. (JM) boyfriends or anyone that hasn’t been to Until Dec 29. Sydney Opera House, the ballet before.”

Bennelong Point, Sydney. $43 -$56.

Audience engagement is a main part of Tickets & Info: the show and the storyline stays faithful www.australianballet.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

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

Puppeteria Christmas

1. Santa’s Christmas Holidays and Maurice Best Christmas (a program for 2-6 year olds).

Two great Christmas stories featuring reindeers, elves and dancing. Performed by the Jeral Puppets.

2. Mr Scrooge’s Christmas Carol and Santa’s Christmas Puddings (a program for 4-9 year olds). A puppet version of Charles Dickens’ classic and a story about Santa’s favourite food.

Puppeteria offers an opportunity for learning and entertainment, but especially it is an opportunity to bring the family together to appreciate the artwork of puppetry. (MG) Until Dec 24. Puppeteria Theatre, 12H Denawen Ave, Castle Cove. $12-$15.Tickets & Info: www.puppeteria.com or Ph: 9371 7328

Sippy

Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE Sydney Mingus Amongst Us

By Jamie Apps

By Jamie Apps Discovering a way to express your creative passions can often take some time, this was especially true for Sydney producer and DJ Sippy. From an early age Sippy loved music but it took a number of years experimenting with different instruments and styles before finding her love for electronic bass music.

“I played piano from the age of seven, then tried drums and guitar from 12 to 13. I would always be in bands or writing singer songwriter stuff but I never thought that I could create a career out of it though because I always thought you could only do that if you were the worlds best drummer or pianist.” reflected Sippy.

It wasn’t until Sippy attended university to study exercise science that she discovered the electronic music scene and realised she could make music by herself.

“Once I started in the electronic side of

things DJing everything began to snowball and I knew I wanted to do it for the rest of my life.”

Coming from a traditional music background transferring into the electronic music realm required a period of transition. Since she was new to the scene in general Sippy wasn’t even sure which genre she was most connected with, so she literally had to go through every genre on Soundcloud to educate herself.

Sippy told us about the moment she found dubstep, “When I found dubstep it shocked me every time, I loved that shock value of not knowing what was coming and since then I haven’t looked back.”

To this day audiences are shocked when Sippy plays such heavy music.

“I’ve had plenty of times where people in the crowd will high-five the lighting guy thinking he’s the one playing not me, but I like that I’m not the norm.”

Despite now being deep in the music industry

Sippy still regularly employs her exercise science education in order to keep herself fit, both physically and mentally.

“To be honest the fitness I find is more for my mind rather than the physical side now,” said Sippy, “Before I started music I didn’t have any issues with mental health but the lifestyle can be really tough mentally.”

Electronic music in particular can be so tough on artists mentally because of the isolation it fosters as they create music alone in a studio for extended periods of time.

Looking ahead to 2018 though Sippy’s extended studio sessions this year are finally going to payoff.

“2018 is going to be big, I’ve released singles in the past but I’m excited to be releasing my first EP which is a body of work I’m so proud of.”

Follow Sippy on social media at @SippyAu to stay up to date with all of the exciting news coming in 2018.

The Black Seeds – Fabric The Black Seeds album Fabric is brimming with love and good vibes.

Bouncing around the listener, the sounds of Fabric encourage happiness with every couple of beats. The listener is part of a circle, fed by joy and feeding theirs back into the music.

Inclusive and welcoming, the music earns the same from the listener, it spreads its love fuelled exploration around them, encircling them in a comforting cocoon.

This is what contentment feels like, it is inner peace, extreme calm, acceptance of any circumstance. The Black Seeds are tempting to play on repeat, their music creating a parallel world that can see but not feel the one without the music. Fabric is a fog, it is a haze that discourages unpleasantness or work of any kind, placing it far off from the listeners concern.

(SP) WWW 1/2

Mingus Amongst Us: Charles Mingus brought a fire and energy to the jazz world that had never been seen before! His compositions and the personnel in his bands were all thoroughly steeped in the swinging blues/jazz traditions, yet fiercely modern and avant guard for their time. Sydney baritone saxophonist Steve Fitzmaurice has brought these compositions to life again with his arrangements of the Mingus repertoire for the nine piece powerhouse ensemble Mingus Amongst Us. Thu, Dec 21, Django Bar Christmas Eve Choral Services: Across four special performances throughout the day and evening the St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir will perform a selection of your favourite Christmas Carols. With performances at 10am, 6:30pm, 8pm and 11pm you can either begin your day with carols or sing in Christmas.

Sun, Dec 24, St Andrews Cathedral Keyim Ba: This brilliant eight piece band has an intoxicating upbeat sound, bringing the influences of reggae, funk & rap to West African grooves. Led by the ever charismatic, Sibo Bangoura from Guinea, the group has enormous energy, giving tradition a modern twist that never fails to fill the dance floor.

Fri, Dec 29, Camelot Lounge

Classixx: Brimming with nostalgic synth melodies and smooth vocals, Classixx have created a spacious, soulful dance album for disco lovers.

Faraway Reach traverses continents through locales, vocalists and inspirations. It delivers a welcome drift of warm beach air. Close out your year with a live performance of the album in Sydney.

Sat, Dec 30, Oxford Art Factory Project Collective Ska: A Sydney nine-piece featuring a blazing horn section and raucous upstroke rhythms that never fail to get people jumping and skanking! Ring in the new year with some ska in the main room or head to level one for some jazz.

Sun, Dec 31, LazyBones Lounge All You Need Is Love: Celebrate the new year with Jack Jones, Ciaran Gribbin, Rai Thistlethwayte and Jackson Thomas – singing some of great Beatles songs alongside a full orchestra conducted by Nicholas Buc. Mon, Jan 1, Sydney Opera House Everything Everything: Across four albums, immense acclaim and intense adoration, the sound of Everything Everything has remained a volatile beast. The quartet have risen from a cult underground favourite to one of the biggest and most uncompromising bands in the UK. Wed, Jan 3, Metro Theatre Jungle: Formed in 2013, Jungle as a collective puts an emphasis on forging a true connection with their audience, accomplished with a powerhouse seven-piece live band.

The on-stage effect is spectacular and with a sold out Aussie tour in 2015 already under their belt and new material on its way, there’s no doubt we’re in for a real treat this summer!

Wed, Jan 3, Enmore Theatre

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061ICT1203

Childhood extends over a short period, but during this time we create our most beloved memories. The childhood memories stay with us the rest of our lives. These memories, shape our tastes, our interests and our understanding of the world.

Puppeteria, offers an opportunity to keep the beauty of puppetry art alive.

Puppeteria, provide old-fashion performances with engaging stories, characters and lots of songs to sing and dance. Children and parents have a unique and memorable experience in which they are involved with the puppets stories.

Puppeteria offer two shows over the Christmas holidays:

• Small Demolition

We Load • Deceased Estates

Mob: 0418 426 422

city hub 21 DECEMBER 2017

13

THE NAKED CITY

CINEMA PAMPERDERO!

With Coffin Ed Back in the 1950s the most exciting thing about your cinema seat was when you flipped it up at a Saturday Matinee to discover a lucky number, redeeming it for an icy pole at the candy bar.These days things are much more sophisticated and the modern movie patron is now wooed with not only a luxurious lounge style theatre seat but a range of extras that almost overshadow the on screen entertainment.

New cinema complexes like the Palace Central Cinemas on Broadway offer previously unheard of levels of viewing luxury in their Platinum Lounges, with all variety of gourmet food on hand and cinemas seats that would not be out of place in the first class section of an Emirates flight to Dubai. It’s all designed to enhance the movie going experience but is it really all that innovative?

In the late 1950s the wonderfully eccentric American film director and producer William Castle was always looking at radical and enticing ways of putting bums of seats. For his 1959 production The Tingler starring Vincent Price (incidentally one of the best ever B grade horror pics), he went to extraordinary lengths to ‘livenup’ cinema goers.

He obtained a number of ex-military wing de-icers and attached their vibrating motors to a select number of seats in the cinemas where The Tingler was screening. In the movie’s final sequence Vincent Price actually warns the audience that the worm like tingler has escaped into the audience just as the

selected seats began to vibrate.The screams of half a dozen patrons were enough to create total frenzy amongst the entire audience as Price instructed all patrons to “scream for your lives.”

This was just one of a number of highly creative gimmicks that Castle employed during his career.

Whether it was a skeleton hovering above the audience in House On Haunted Hill or a 45 second fright break in Homicidal (where patrons could get a full refund if they were too terrified to watch the rest of the movie), Castle’s furtive imagination knew few boundaries.

Slightly more salacious was the friendly relationship between Sydney’s notorious Town Cinema and an adjoining premises in the heart of the CBD near Town Hall, which I vaguely remember from the 70s or was it the 80s? The theatre screened almost non stop sessions of softcore R rated ‘erotic’ movies, attracting a diverse range of patrons, albeit almost exclusively men. Whilst ‘enhancement’ did not occur in the actual cinema, a brothel directly on top allowed overly aroused patrons to relieve their tension before returning to their mundane office jobs - following a slightly extended lunchtime!

As more and more upmarket cinema lounges appear in an increasingly competitive market what can we expect? Whilst easy access to a neighbouring knock shop is certainly out of the question a mid-movie, purely therapeutic Thai style massage could be a welcome addition to relax the neck and shoulder muscles during a rambunctious blockbuster. A good old foot massage would also not go astray.

Most of the ‘platinum’ action seems to be directed at adults but what about some gold class pampering for the kids. An in movie petting zoo would be a great attraction whereby youngsters could cuddle fluffy bunny rabbits and other docile creatures during the latest Disney or Pixar flick. The possibilities are virtually unlimited and in a few years’ time we could reach the situation where the actual movie becomes almost extraneous. After all, it’s all about the cinema ‘experience’. Another mocktail please!

Learn & Play! teamLab Future Park

Light Ball Orchestra

Welding art and technology into entertainment is an inventive and ingenious job which can only be achieved by intelligent and imaginative people. A collective, interdisciplinary group from Japan, named teamLab, are specialists in this aspect. Indeed, one exhibition of their artworks, Future Park, is now being held at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.

The event is hosted by MAAS (Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences), and known to be the largest exhibition ever seen in Australia. For art and technology lovers, this is a unique chance to unveil their imagination by engaging in a virtual digital world. To fulfil this desire, Future Park features miscellaneous installations for both children and adults to experience ultra-technologists through their movement, interaction, and collaboration.

Amazingly, at this colourful and immersive world nothing is static.You can make music with Light Ball

Orchestra, create plants and animals in Graffiti Nature (i.e. mountains and valleys), or play the hopscotch game while dancing; all based on your inventiveness. Furthermore, you can build a town by creating objects and characters for it, and then the town will come to life by itself.

Regardless of these common activities for both kids and adults, there are two exclusive programs worth mentioning. Kids can enjoy the Dream Car Design competition by creating cars where the winning designer will travel to Japan to present their design to Toyota. Adults can also enjoy sessions, known as Adults-Only Summer Late Nights, being held on certain nights throughout January 2018. (MD) Until April 30. Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo. Info: www.maas.museum

Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle Twenty two years after the mystical board game Jumanji swept us all away we finally have a sequel with a modern twist.

Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle takes some of the main elements of the original’s plot but spruces them up for the millennial generation. This time around rather than the main characters discovering a board game they find a video game console which sucks them 14

city hub 21 DECEMBER 2017

into it, transforming them into their chosen avatars.

Each of the teenagers avatars has their own specific strengths and weakness, which coincidently are all fundamentally different to their real world personas.

It is this key feature of the film that fosters many of the comedic moments.

Whilst these superficial comedic moments are nice alongside Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan and

Jack Black giving great performances the emotional through lines and subplots are dull.

Overall Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle is a nice refresh to the property which will certainly captivate new viewers without disappointing fans of the original but it sadly lacks that extra little bit of heart and soul to make it a classic. (JA) WWW

The Florida Project

“Do you know why this is my favourite tree? Because it tipped over and it’s still growing,” says six year old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) to her friend Jancey (Valeria Cotto) as they sit atop a huge fallen tree.The line and the image sum up the spirit of pragmatic tenacity in Sean Baker’s richly human yet unsentimental new film.

Set in the town of Kissamee - once a tacky tourist resort and now an abandoned wasteland of garishly painted motels and absurdly shaped shops, the story centres around Moonee and her single mum, Halley (Bria

Vinaite) who live in the mauve coloured Magic Castle motel.

For Halley, every day is quest to make it through to the next and she employs all her ingenuity and resources to get there. For Moonee, every day is an adventure she shares with friends, Jancey and Scooty (Christopher Rivera) in a landscape that is just as exciting as Walt Disney World only a short distance away.Willem Defoe as Bobby the motel manager, is like a favourite pair of shoes weathered and rough, but feel good.

An absolute winner. (RB) WWWW

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Breathe

Breathe is a romantic biographical drama and host to the directional debut of Andy Serkis. A labour of love for friend and producer Jonathan Cavendish, whose parents story serves for the basis of the film. Written by William Nicholson, the film stars Andrew Garfield, Clair Foy, Tom Hollander, Hugh Bonneville and many more.

Kicking off with the true love story of Robin and Diana Cavendish’s whirlwind romance, Robin is soon diagnosed with polio at the young age of 28. Confined

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to a hospital bed needing a machine to breathe for the rest of his life, he soon loses hope and the will to live. With help from inventor Teddy Hall, Robin is able to live his life to the fullest with his family while inspiring others in the same position to do the same.

An inspiring love story with exceptional performances throughout. Props to Garfield, who using only his eyes to capture an amazing range of emotions. A touching and beautiful heart-warmer. (RH) WWWW

Call Me By Your Name

This award-winning comingof-age drama is set in Italy in the early 1980s and delves into a 17 year-old boy’s sexual exploration with both genders, until he finally learns of his true sexual identity.

When Elio (Timothee Chalamet) meets Oliver (Armie Hammer), an older family friend who has arrived from America for a six-week stay, a mutual attraction builds which initially leads to Elio’s sexual confusion, desire and ultimately a passionate and erotic gay relationship.

This provocative tale of a rare and very special relationship is slow to unfold, but effectively increments the sensuality and emotional intensity as Elio’s

sexual awakening emerges.

What makes this film so powerful and realistic is that the two pivotal characters share zero chemistry because of their age difference, but by the film’s teary finale, audiences will feel the suffocating and aching love these two men share.

The nudity and graphic sex scenes in this minor erotic masterpiece may be somewhat confronting for prudish audiences, but the gay community who have experienced the joys, pain and sorrow of their first romantic encounter will be touched by the final moments.

(MMo) WWWWW

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PADDY’S HAYMARKET

PADDY’S HAYMARKET

CHRISTMAS TRADING TIMES

CHRISTMAS EVENTS SCHEDULE

Wed 20 Dec

10am – 6pm

Thur 21 Dec

10am – 6pm

Fri 22 Dec

10am – 6pm

Fri 22 Dec

Sat 23 Dec

10am – 6pm

Elf Face Painter

1pm - 3pm

Sun 24 Dec

10am – 6pm

Meet & Greet Toy Soldier & Raggedy Ann

1pm - 3pm

Mon 25 Dec

CLOSED

Thur 21 Dec Soulfood A Cappella

1pm - 3pm

Sat 23 Dec

Tue 26 Dec

CLOSED

Wed 27 Dec

Soulfood A Cappella

1pm - 3pm

10am – 6pm

Meet the Grinch

1pm - 3pm

Thur 28 Dec

10am – 6pm

PHOTOS WITH SANTA

1pm - 3pm

Fri 29 Dec

10am – 6pm

Elf Face Painter

1pm - 3pm

Sat 30 Dec

10am – 6pm

Meet & Greet With Fairy & Santa’s Reindeer

2pm - 4pm

Sun 31 Dec

10am – 6pm

Mon 1 Jan

CLOSED

Tue 2 Jan

CLOSED

Fri 26 Jan

10am – 6pm

Sun 24 Dec Meet & Greet Santa’s Reindeer & Balloon Twister

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12pm - 2pm