City Hub 29 November 2018

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city hub 29 NOVEMBER 2018

Short term rentals over-stay welcome

By Laura Neill “I thought of a way to make a few bucks…” started the email from San Francisco college student and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia to his roommate Brian Chesky.

The idea was simple: throw a few mattresses on the floor of their flat during the Design Conference, and charge $80 per head.

Just over ten years later, their home-sharing concept Airbnb is worth around $30 billion dollars.

Sydney is now one of the top ten Airbnb cities globally, with over 2200 properties currently listed.

Airbnb Australia Manager Sam McDonagh named Sydney as ‘the most penetrated market in the world’ and last year’s Airbnb citizen report boasted of pouring 1.6 billion into Australia’s GDP, and creating 14,000 jobs as a result of tourism influx.

But as more and more property owners turn to short-term letting as a lucrative alternative to long-term rentals, short-term letting in Sydney has become a threat to local communities, driving up real estate prices and removing rental properties from an already competitive market.

While Airbnb claims it only holds 2% of the Sydney rental market, a recent study by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute shows that 11-15% of the rental housing stock in Sydney is held in short term rentals, with Darlinghurst, the eastern suburbs beaches, Manly and the CBD the most affected areas.

In 2017, figures by the University of New South Wales showed that 60% of all short-term rentals in Sydney are entire homes.

During a visit to Sydney last year, Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia denied this, claiming it’s a ‘misconception’ that Airbnb involves shortterm letting companies renting entire properties.

“When we go city by city, country by country, our hosts are every day, average people,” he said.

But Airbnb and other short-term rental agencies like Stayz and Hometogo are turning apartment blocks into quasi-hotels.

Trish Burt, inner west resident and

Councils are looking at ways to curtail short term rentals such as Airbnb. Photo: WikiCommons

spokesperson for Neighbours not Strangers, engaged in a battle with her local council over the number of short-term rentals in her apartment block.

“There’s no relief from it,” Ms Burt said, “there are hens’ nights, bucks’ weekends, postcruise groups, girly weekends...people trying to get into our apartment because they couldn’t find their own. It’s just a constant stream of people. In a way, they have a right to behave as if they are on a holiday, but they are coming into a residential building.”

Ms Burt has fought the City Council for threeand-a-half years, trying to persuade it to uphold the residential-only zoning of her building. She obtained court orders from the NSW Land and

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Environment Court, which stopped short-term letting momentarily, but it later returned.

“People purchase a home for themselves or their families which excludes commercial activity,” said Ms Burt. “It’s unfair these days that the likes of Airbnb say ‘you cannot rob us of our rights to share our homes’.”

“They’re not sharing their homes, they’re rejecting a co-tenant because their co-tenant contributions are insufficient.”

Two of Ms Burt’s former neighbours chose to leave their inner-city apartment because of the chaos of short-term lets in their building.

“There were whole packs of people in the foyer with backpacks, the lifts were crowded… people there all hours of the day or night. You

just never knew who was coming or going,” they said.

“It totally destroys any sense of community,” said the couple, who are unsure if they will return to their apartment.

As of last year, the law prevents owner’s corporations from restricting short-term or holiday letting. Residents of apartment buildings who oppose short term rentals must rely on local council zoning laws.

But according to Jimmy Thompson, founder of Australian rental website flat-chat.com.au, the policing of offenders is limited by Council resources. “[The Council] will say, ‘we are pursuing illegal short-term lets on a regular basis’ but what that means is one a month. There are hundreds and hundreds.”

In other major cities, laws are in place to curb the invasion of short-term lets. Paris, London and New York have caps on the number of days a property can be used as a holiday rental per year, ranging from 30-90 days, while property owners in San Francisco must register to let a short term rental. The NSW Government is considering an 180 day cap on the nights an empty property can be used as a short term rental, with proposed legislation still in the consulation process.

“It won’t happen until after the election,” said Mr Thompson. “Nobody wants to go to an election on a basis of anything that might upset Airbnb. Globally, they have a track record of attacking politicians. We’re talking about a company that is supposedly worth $30 billion.”

If the laws around short term rentals change, there might be a reprieve for greater Sydney.

But if they don’t, short-term letting may kill Sydney’s vibe, with locals priced out of innercity living.

“It’s going to be tumbleweeds blowing down the street,” said Mr Thompson. “Airbnb says ‘live like a local’, well they’re going to have to provide buses to take you to where the locals now live. That’s a bleak outlook, isn’t it?”

Waverley boosts the nation’s literacy

by John Moyle Waverley Council has again added to one of largest Australia’s literary purses with the announcement of the winners of the 2018 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Awards.

Now in its 17th year, the awards are the only ones in Australia to be presented by a local council and has seen over 2,000 titles nominated and more than $400,000 in prize money distributed since its inception.

Waverley Mayor John Wakefield said at an awards breakfast held in Bondi, “The judges had a difficult decision this year due to the high calibre of the entries”.

Congratulating Helen Lewis, the winner of the $20,000 main prize, Cr Wakefield said her win was “a testament to Helen’s exceptional research.”

The awards are given for excellence in research and writing, and in Dr Lewis’ case she no further to go than her own family history and her father’s exploits as a British paratrooper and combat cameraman who filmed the liberation of BergenBelsen concentration camp.

“I had found the footage in an old suitcase hidden in a cupboard at home, and as I began researching the book I thought I would deal with the events from his war in chronological order and that led me to a PhD,” Dr Lewis said.

“Writing a thesis is a very intensive process and that took four years and when I tried to make the transition to the book I wanted to write I introduced reconstruction into the story.

“This is my first book, but I have been a professional writer for other people writing reports and documents.”

Dr Lewis said the prize is “extremely generous” and will allow her to focus on research for her next book.

Freelance writer Ben McKelvey grew up with a fascination for military history and has won the $3,000 Nib Military History Prize for his powerful biography of Cameron Baird, VC, MG who was killed in action in Afghanistan after serving in Timor-Leste and Iraq.

Baird belonged to the 4th Battalion, a group which operated along similar lines to the SAS but about which little was known.

“They were under the protective identity act,” Ben McKelvey said.

“It is a recognition of the importance of Afghanistan where there is a lack of understanding about what happened because it was largely a special forces war.”

Bri Lee’s first book “Eggshell Skull” took out the Nib People’s Choice prize of $1,000.

A former judge’s associate and lawyer, Ms Lee documented her experience working in the legal system in outback Queensland and its impact on her when she took a case to court herself.

“I felt that a lot of the legal and justice system is not transparent enough and there aren’t that many people inside the system who are prepared to write about it,” Ms Lee said.

“Obviously to win the People’s Choice is

Helen Lewis takes this year’s Moran Nib Literary Awards. Photo: Supplied

reassuring because it means that people are reading it.

“I’m already writing my second book and I will write for the rest of my life.”

No doubt Waverley Library will be stocking all winners. city hub 29 NOVEMBER 2018

3

WestConnex bottoms out

BY WENDY BACON Inner West residents learned for the first time last week that the WestConnex Stage 3 tunnel between Haberfield and St Peters would be less than 20 metres under some of their homes.

NSW Planning approved the project in April with only an ‘indicative route’. Since then residents have been waiting for a map. The final route chosen by Stage 3 contractor Lendlease is different from the one in the Environmental Impact Statement.

According to the EIS. the tunnel was supposed to cross under King Street Newtown but the new route stays on the western side. Leichhardt residents who escaped a dive site bullet, now find that they’ll be far more affected by tunnelling than anticipated. While most parts of the tunnel will be over 25 metres under homes, some residents in Stanmore, Annandale and St Peters learned that the shocking news the tunnel stubs could be as little as 13 metres under their homes.

Since WestConnex began in 2013, the LNP government has banked on planning the project is stages which keeps the cumulative impacts hidden.

But as the human and property costs of the first tunnels escalate, this strategy is failing.

This was demonstrated last week when Labor’s Transport shadow minister Jodi McKay successfully managed to focus media attention on appalling damage to hundreds of homeowners along the M4 construction route. Last Sunday, Strathfield resident and experienced construction worker Umberto Galasso spoke at a meeting on the North shore where residents are increasingly opposed to the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link. He warned them that his home could collapse unless WestConnex immediately repairs damage it has caused.

City Hub has spoken to Kingsgrove, Tempe and Haberfield residents whose claims that their homes have sustained damage have been rejected by contractors. This includes Kathy Calman who told

St Peters resident John Bartholomew’s home will be less than 20 metres above the Stage 3 tunnel. Photo: Chris Nash

the NSW Inquiry into the Impacts of WestConnex that WestConnex and RMS refused to accept that serious cracks to her home were caused by WestConnex, even though they appeared shortly after construction adjacent to her home. Facing the costly prospect of legal action, Ms Calman was forced to cancel work leave despite undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Jodi McKay is demanding that Stage 3 M4/M5 approval conditions should be applied to residents affected by earlier stages but her confidence in the Stage 3 conditions is not shared by residents dreading vibration and settlement impacts.

The conditions provide that before work that could cause damage begins, WestConnex must establish an independent assessment panel to resolve disputes about damage. This is an extra step that earlier contractors do not have to go through. But given that Westconnex would be selecting experts for NSW Department of

Planning and Environment approval, some residents aren’t impressed.

One of these is St Peters resident John Bartholomew, a public artist and carpenter who faces 7 years of construction, only to be left with a ventilation stack, the massive St Peters Interchange only 150 metres away and a tunnel less than 20 metres under his home.

Mr Bartholomew is scathing about the possibility that residents would trust to a process managed by WestConnex. Since 2015, he has repeatedly asked at dozens of information and EIS sessions, how deep the tunnel will be under his house. He has never received a clear answer. The results of geotechnical studies in his street are secret. “They don’t know what they’re doing and don’t care because they know if there ’s a disaster it’ll happen to someone else, not them. The only people who’ll benefit will be major contractors and tollway owner Transurban. They don’t listen to experts and they just hope for the

best.” He predicts more serious damage in St Peters if shallow tunnelling is allowed.

With construction on the mainline tunnels not due to begin until mid-2019, Inner West Greens MPs Jenny Leong and Jamie Parker are still calling on the government to “stop this deeply flawed project and stop more damage to the homes and lives of people living along the route. “Depths of between 16-25 metres under many residential streets ...are extremely worrying given the severe impacts we’ve already seen on homes in other areas at deeper tunnelling depths,” Ms Leong said.

WestConnex’s new CEO Andrew Head and NSW RMS refused to answer questions from the Parliamentary Inquiry about the value of the Stage 3A mainline contract, on the grounds that the Rozelle interchange contract is not yet signed. Asked to provide an indication of how much it would cost to cancel Stage 3, Mr Head simply said ‘billions.’

Labor was initially opposed to Stage 3 WestConnex but then Leader of the Opposition Luke Foley ignored thousands of letters calling on him to affirm that position. But it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that faced with carrying the cost of the yet to be designed Rozelle Interchange, billions extra for the Sydney Gateway and massive extra roadworks to cope with the WestConnex traffic and ongoing conflict over damage that contractors refuse to fix, Labor could still consider the possibility of cancelling Stage 3.

This is made slightly more likely by the fact that Lendlease will not relish a protracted struggle with residents over Westconnex. It recently released a statement to the stock exchange that it is reviewing its engineering arm including the possibility of selling it after $300 million extra costs of Transurban’s tunnel Northconnex and two other projects.

Nothing is certain, including the contractor, which is why Transurban warned investors of the political risks when it took over the project.

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Entries for the Sydney City region are open to all businesses operating in the City of Sydney area (local government area).

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city hub 29 NOVEMBER 2018

Excellence in Social Enterprise – BackTrack Youth Works, New England North West Local Chamber of Commerce – Corrimal Chamber of Commerce, Illawarra

city hub 29 NOVEMBER 2018

5

New Fish Markets slightly on the nose

By Michael Hitch A design for the new Sydney Fish Markets (SFM) has been revealed amidst concerns of increased parking and traffic pressure in Pyrmont and a loss of limited public land.

The largest fish market in the southern hemisphere will be relocated to the eastern end of the Blackwattle Bay foreshore, opposite Wentworth Park and will undergo a complete makeover featuring a fish scale inspired roof, ferry stops and a waterfront promenade.

Despite praise for the market’s exceptional design and long-needed revitalisation, Pyrmont residents have expressed concerns that already existing issues such as lack of accessible parking and congested traffic will worsen, with the annual number of visitors to the markets expected to double to 6 million annually.

Convenor of the Pyrmont Action Group, Elizabeth Elenius said that while she and other residents were thrilled with the market’s revitalisation, there are still concerns about the impact on Pyrmont’s liveability.

“The biggest concern of course has been all along the impact on traffic and the lack of public transport and parking the area,” she said.

“I certainly like it and a number of others who’ve been involved in this for years and years like it as well but traffic and parking is tricky.

“They could double the number of trains that go along the light rail but they’re reluctant to buy any more trains for that line because it’s got a different gauge from George Street to Kensington.

“Overall, it’s been a very favourable reception to the thing, but the traffic and parking remain a serious issue that I don’t think anyone’s resolved.

I just don’t see how it’s going to play out well, the tour buses now are already a terrible nuisance in Pyrmont.”

“We did propose that they construct a multilevel carpark on the council owned Fig and Wattle

Site of the new Sydney Fish Market at Blackwattle Bay. Photo: Michael Hitch

Street depot site, but Council have been adamant that they’re selling it commercially. Pyrmont’s not going to see that money either way.”

The current markets site is 50 per cent owned by a number of retail and wholesale tenants onsite and 50 per cent owned by the Catchers Trust, which is made up of approximately 700 unit holding fishermen in NSW. The revitalised market is expected to open in 2023 and cost roughly $250 million, though it is expected costs will increase.

The SFM board and the boards of both SFM shareholder groups have all signed a letter to government reaffirming their commitment to the project.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the new markets would be positioned over the water as the centrepiece of a harbour-side precinct, including

community spaces and an expanded seafood cooking school.

The fish scale roof will use harbour winds to remove heat from the building in order to minimize need for air-conditioning and will also harvest rainwater, which will be treated and recycled.

The design was commissioned last year and is being led by Danish architects 3XN, in partnership with Sydney firms BVN and Aspect Studios.

Domestic architects Allen Jack + Cottier (AJ+C) were originally chosen however the firm’s design was controversially put aside. This decision raised criticism that Australian architects are losing their input into iconic Australian architecture and that the new markets will be dubbed a ‘cultural cringe’.

Other issues potentially stemming from the relocation include a loss of public land with the

MP for Balmain, Jamie Parker saying in a press release that the proposal is specifically designed to turn a profit through property development, rather than benefit the public.

“The details of the new fish market development released today are designed to deliver public waterfront land to property developers at the expense of our local community,” he said.

“By relocating the fish markets, the government will free up space on that site and surrounds for up to 2760 new apartments – a development three times the size of the Harold Park.

“There are no plans for facilities or infrastructure to support the growing number of apartments in the area.

“The much-needed renewal of Sydney’s waterfront must not come at the price of community access to publicly owned waterfront land or the liveability of our city.

“Considering Urban Growth NSW is little more than a government-run property development agency, it’s not surprising that they plan to pay for this massive redevelopment by selling-off the current fish markets site to developers,” said Mr Parker.

Marketing Executive of the Sydney Fish Markets, Kelly Seagrave said that the public will benefit greatly from the development, and says SFM board expects to be kept in the loop about the future of the existing site.

“When we move to the new site we will surrender the lease for our existing site, so its future use will be determined by government as the landowner. We are comfortable that we will be consulted in the normal manner about future uses of adjacent land and about the plan,” she said.

“Given that the government has announced plans for a boardwalk to connect Blackwattle Bay to the rest of the harbour, we are confident that public access to the waterfront will be enhanced and retained at the original site.”

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That’s not my childcare centre... it’s too empty

Mary Street Childcare Centre… childless for now. Photo: Alec Smart

By Alec Smart Opposite Leichhardt Oval, the former home ground of Balmain Tigers Rugby League Club, now the merged Wests Tigers, construction on a new childcare centre in Mary Street began in 2015.

Comprising multiple classrooms and three partitioned play zones, the building work was finally completed in 2018.

The premises, consisting of citrus trees, sand pits, an old-fashioned waterpump, sunshades, meandering paths and rooms with craft tables, play equipment and a teepee, is remarkably clean.

In fact, to misquote comedian John Cleese in Monty Python’s infamous ‘Cheese Shop’ sketch, it’s certainly uncontaminated with children.

Unlike Leichhardt Oval opposite, which is the most played-on professional rugby league ground in the National Rugby League competition (794 games since 1934), the floors of the nursery have never thundered with the sound of little feet running across its playgrounds and classroom floors.

Several parents, whose children play on swings and climbing frames in the neighbouring kids’ park, are puzzled as to why they’re unable to register their kids at this pristine nursery, which remains locked and lifeless.

Alexandria of Lilyfield summed up the collective dismay: “I remember hearing it was supposed to open in 2016. I wanted to enroll my daughter Harriette, who was born in 2015, here when she was younger. I rang Leichhardt Council several times to enquire but they just said, ‘We don’t know what’s happening with it.’ I ended up enrolling Harriette in another daycare centre further away.

“Now my son Angus, 11 months, is almost ready to start attending daycare, but seeing it is still unopened I might have to take him somewhere else too.”

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city hub 29 NOVEMBER 2018

Inner West Councillor Marghanita Da Cruz, whose Leichhardt Ward controls the facility, told City Hub, “It was a resolution of council in June 2018 to proceed with the Leichhardt Park and Steel Park Childcare centres and staff are currently being recruited and the centre is seeking accreditation.

“Quality childcare services were a core function at Leichhardt Council and continue to be so with the Inner West Council.

Childcare and aged care are a significant employer in my ward.”

But Balmain Ward Councillor John Stamolis says the Council has delayed opening the centre for so long, peak demand for childcare services has passed.

“The centre was a 2012 election commitment from Leichhardt Council.

Council promised to build two childcare centres but after a Council report showed low demand, this was cut back to one.

“Council missed the baby boom by years. Parents were screaming at us to do something from 2007 as demand was reaching peak levels. Then, in 2015, five years after the actual peak of the baby boom (which occurred in 2010), Council started building the centre.

“Meanwhile, a number of other operators had filled the gap. As such, Council knew that our centre wasn’t really needed, but proceeded anyway.”

A spokesperson for the Inner West Council responded, “Construction of the new Mary Street Lilyfield childcare centre in Leichhardt Park was completed in mid-2018. Staff recruitment has been underway since September/October. It is anticipated the service will be operational from February 2019.

“Council recently re-resolved that the Lilyfield childcare centre would be Council owned and operated. The Centre has been built with an eye to a possible

future conversion into an after school care facility if the demand shifts as local children grow.”

But Cr Stamolis is skeptical the centre will ever be financially viable, given that a large proportion of young children in the area are no longer of pre-school age, and the general decline in the birth rate across the area.

“Over the years, how many times did we hear the party politicians say, ‘We have the biggest baby boom in Sydney here in our own back yard so we need this childcare centre’?

“In essence, Council missed the baby boom, it ignored its own report which recommended that a new centre was not needed, it took no notice of the increasing number of childcare operators coming into the area (even though Council was approving these), it dismissed resident concerns and it has still failed to open the new centre yet and 2019 is about to begin.

So, why, after commencing the works in early 2015 wasn’t it opened in late 2016 or early 2017? Why is it still unused now in late 2018, especially when Council is trying to up the reasons for building the centre?”

The spokesperson for Inner West Council is adamant the centre will be a success when it opens. “There is always a waiting list for Council childcare places. Meeting the needs of our residents remains a key priority for the new Council as it was for the former Leichhardt, Ashfield and Marrickville Councils.”

Meanwhile, the centre lies dormant, and the parents in the adjacent park are preparing to enrol their kids in childcare facilities elsewhere, because they are not able to rely on Mary Street being open when their children need it.

Like a Tigers fan longing for Grand Final glory, the centre may have to settle down and wait a long time for another baby boom to fill its playground with children.

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9

Parking rights go to court

By Andrew Woodhouse When is a car parking spot not your own?

In crowded Elizabeth Bay with its high-rise apartment towers until recently this was a vexed question and, until last week, it was also a legal issue involving two barristers and three NSW Court of Appeal judges.

Cars are not generally welcomed by the City of Sydney Council.

“Get on yer bike” is their mantra.

However, many Sydney residents do need a vehicle for emergencies, to visit relatives, do kids’ sport drop offs, get to hospital or go away for the weekends.

So, if a car owners purchases a parking spot not otherwise used and bought independently of their apartment purchase then wouldn’t, or shouldn’t, this sharing or “repurposing” seem ideal? It’s a win-win.

Even if the car spot is in the building next door?

Well apparently not, if some strata committees are involved it seems.

But yes if the New South Wales Supreme Court of Appeal judges are involved.

Last week Their Honours, Justices Arthur Emmett (Acting Justice), Anthony Payne and Ruth McColl handed down their joint, unanimous decision on an interesting urban law case, now a precedent.

Law-abiding residents in the apartments opposite a fifteen-storey apartment building, Elizabeth Bay Gardens 15-19 Onslow Avenue had purchased at great expense, car spots for their own use.

The car spots were within Elizabeth Bay Gardens although those who purchased them did not live there.

The site was originally subject of a 1968 DA to Sydney City Council.

The DA consent contained a provision for “free parking one hundred and four (104) cars by the occupants of the proposed building on the lower ground, ground and upper ground floors and fifteen (15) cars by visitors at the rear of the site.”

Apartment parking rights sorted out in court decision. Photo: Andrew Woodhouse

Last week’s court decision hinged on the meaning on the key word, “occupants”.

The building was completed in 1970 and the strata subdivision approval was granted by council.

Strata Plan No. 4983 was registered as a strata plan but with only 87 parking lots.

From 1970 until 2014, parking lots were bought, sold and used by residents and non-residents of Elizabeth Bay Gardens.

These car spots were valuable assets, with some changing hands for $220,000.

The Owners’ Corporation of Strata Plan No. 4983, was aware throughout this period that some of the parking lots had been purchased by nonresidents, yet raised no concern.

The Owners’ Corporation levied non-resident parking lot owners for strata levies which were paid by non-resident owners.

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These events confirmed acceptance of the status of the car spots and owners.

However, in 2014, the Owners Corporation passed a resolution creating a new by-law which excluded the non-resident owners of parking lots from using their own car spaces.

They enforced this new by-law by installing a security access point and issuing new security swipe cards to “residential” lot owners only. Nonresidential car spot owners were locked out.

So a group of non-resident car space owners commenced legal action. They said the new by-law was invalid. The primary judge, amongst other declarations and orders, held that the new by-law was invalid and of no legal force and effect.

The Owners Corporation was not satisfied and appealed to the Court of Appeal. The

Court of Appeal noted, “At no time prior to 2014 did the Owners’ Corporation tell any nonresident parking lot owners that there was any impediment to them using the parking lots to park their cars.”

The Owners’ Corporation have now lost the appeal.

The court was also critical of Sydney Council saying, “The [council] development consent fails to specify accurately or in detail precisely what council consented to ... The development consent permitted use of parking spaces by “occupants” of the building.”

Council’s planner had previously and erroneously stated that “parking spaces within the building should only be used by occupants of that building and not by someone who resides elsewhere”.

As it turned out, he was spectacularly wrong.

The court decided that “Occupants include persons whose presence has some element of regularity and continuity and permanence. The development consent refers to “occupants” of the building, rather than occupants of the residential floors. The lack of clarity in the development consent about the identity of “occupants” permitted to use the car spaces should be resolved in favour of the respondents [the non-residential car spot owners].”

As is often the case, even though the case is over, arguments about who pays whose legal costs rage on.

However, the Judges state “The Court Orders that the appellant [Owners’ Corporation} pay the respondents for the costs of the appeal and the cross-appeal as agreed or assessed … such costs be paid from a levy raised from the owners of lots in Strata Plan No. 4983 other than the respondents or any of them.”

So after six years of concern, locals can now use what they paid for, a car spot.

The ancient Chinese strategist, Sun Tzu (circa 512 BC) and author of “The Art of War”, said: “The wheels of justice grind slow but grind fine”.

Opinion

It’s your home. You fix it

By Peter Hehir It’s now abundantly clear that the Sydney Motorway Corporation and the RMS have absolutely no intention of repairing any family homes damaged by WestConnex construction, despite this being a legal obligation.

The Department of Planning and Environment have also failed the community, in not enforcing compliance of this requirement.

The SMC and the RMS have an inequitable advantage over residents. They place the burden of proof onto the resident, yet refuse to provide access to important documents, such as vibration measurements, geotechnical reports and as-built designs, for review by engineers independently engaged by residents, whose homes show obvious damage. Damage that coincides with the tunnelling and associated drainage works.

Dozens of home owners above the tunnel route, from North Strathfield to Beverly Hills, report that their claims for property damage have been and continue to be denied.

Post construction dilapidation reports designed to obfuscate the most likely causes of damage; blame drought, settlement, defective guttering and or downpipes or even a dripping garden tap - whilst ignoring the obvious impacts that deep-excavation, dewatering, new drainage, vibration and blasting from WestConnex construction would have on adjacent homes.

Letters denying any responsibility are routinely issued to residents who complain that their homes show serious structural damage.

The strategy the RMS use to avoid their obligation to repair structural damage, is in the first instance, to categorically deny that their construction has caused the damage. The brief appears to be “deny all claims”.

They will then resort to the sort of spurious reasons outlined above to explain the damage.

This makes absolutely no sense when many of

WestConnex have no conscience about destroying people’s homes. Photo: Whiteghost.ink

these homes have stood the test of time for the best part of a century; through a great many far more serious droughts than those experienced of late. Some may even have had leaking gutters, rusted downpipes and dripping garden taps at some point in their history and yet have remained structurally intact.

When pressed, the RMS will undertake a “further assessment” which is a bit more detailed than their original scant one-page document, which seems to be based on a pro forma standard rejection letter.

In one case the engineer engaged by the contractor stated that even though the new M5 drainage had likely caused a change in groundwater and soil moisture content, in his opinion, the subject property was ineligible for consideration as it fell “outside the zone of influence”.

However, no factual evidence was provided to back up that finding. In this instance construction was just

30 metres away and had permanently interrupted the groundwater flow causing the clay based soil to dry out, resulting in differential settlement and the subsequent inevitable structural damage.

Clearly they have no intention to honour a single damage claim. It’s iniquitous that an infrastructure project should leave families with significant repair bills. If the RMS have nothing to hide, why do they continue to conceal the requested documents proffering the flimsy excuse of “security reasons”?

Whose security one wonders?

The realities of construction, particularly with large infrastructure projects, are that there are invariably cost overruns. The tender documents for Stages 3 A and 3 B of WestConnex specify a fixed price contract.

With unforeseen costs this means that there will almost certainly be nothing left in the budget to settle claims of structural damage to homes in

Camperdown, Leichhardt, Annandale, Rozelle, Lilyfield and Balmain.

This probably explains why claims associated with the works along the route from North Strathfield to Beverly Hills are routinely denied.

The RMS has failed in their duty of care to protect, mitigate and repair the homes they have damaged. The DPE are also complicit in that they have failed to carry out their obligation of project governance.

Recent reports of corruption within the DPE in relation to mining approvals give serious cause for concern, raising questions about WestConnex and undue influence by the NSW Liberal Government and the RMS. The evidence given at the recent Parliamentary Inquiry into WestConnex was damning.

The ALP may be having misgivings about their long standing support of WestConnex, as the NSW Branch’s judicial inquiry has now morphed into the promise of a Royal Commission; should they win the NSW State election in March.

This concession is something that residents opposed to WestConnex have been pressing for over the past three or four years and is one that the community needs to ensure the ALP delivers on.

Because costs associated with having the issue resolved in the courts are well beyond the resources of many people and could also drag on for years, the contractors will obviously look to extend proceedings for as long as possible in the hope that most residents will simply give up in frustration.

In the run-up to the election, the ALP should seriously consider giving the following undertaking to those with WestConnex affected homes; that they will shift the burden of proof onto the principal contractor to demonstrate that the tunnelling and drainage works were not responsible for the damage!

If there is a change of Government in March then surely this is the decent thing to do.

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FEATURE

Good Things Festival

By Jamie Apps As summer approaches, so too does music festival season. The Australian music festival season is littered with a diverse array of options for fans of all but one genre, that being punk-rock/heavy metal. This gaping hole in the market was created following the collapse of Soundwave Festival in 2015, thankfully for Sydney’s punks and metal-heads Good Things Festival is aiming to fill that void with their inaugural outing this December.

Featuring a lineup of some of the greatest alternative music acts from around the world, some with a nostalgic bent and others right at the forefront of the genre today, this festival is set to transform the Sydney music festival scene.

Included on the bill are acts such as; The Offspring, Stone Sour, Bullet For My Valentine, Babymetal, Northlane, Waax and Ecca Vandal.

Ahead of the festival City Hub had the opportunity to sit down with Noodles (aka Kevin Wasserman) from The Offspring and Jamie Mathias from Bullet For My Valentine to hear about their festival experiences and thoughts on the evolving music festival landscape.

For Noodles the prospect of a brand new genre specific festival on the Australian scene is the antithesis of the changes he has witnessed in the United States.

“There never used to be that many festivals in the United States. When we first started most of the festivals were very genre specific, Warped was the punk one and OzFest was heavy metal, but nowadays you’re getting more and more eclectic festivals like Coachella.”

Despite Australia taking this different approach to festival curation Noodles still has a positive

Bullet For My Valentine. Photo: Supplied

outlook on the future for Good Things Festival, “I hope it does well, it’s certainly a very strong lineup with a lot of great bands so I’m expecting it to be fantastic.”

Whilst the festivals themselves are changing and evolving The Offspring are actually going back to the music which saw them explode in popularity. They are doing this by building their Good Things Festival live show around a full play through of their breakout record Smash, with a select few other hits mixed in to spice it up.

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“We’ve done shows this way a few times before because people were asking for it, plus we love all of the songs on that record and think it still holds up,” explained Noodles, “It’s a little self-indulgent but all of the songs translate well into the live show and fans are enjoying it.”

For one of the other bands on the bill, Bullet For My Valentine, Good Things Festival is their first opportunity to showcase a reinvented sound to an Australian audience.

“Last time we were in Australia was October

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2016, and that was amazing, so we’re definitely excited to come back down and play Australia, especially at a festival,” said Jamie Mathias.

For this tour Bullet For My Valentine will be performing a selection of songs from throughout their highly decorated six album catalogue, but particularly focusing on their newest release Gravity.

“Six albums into the career of Bullet we all wanted to try something different. We wanted to keep some elements of the old school Bullet but also add some new flavours into it to shake up the live performance.”

Over the course of their career Bullet For My Valentine have received an array of accolades but most notably they were named ‘Best British Band’ for three consecutive years.

Despite this Mathias explained that the group knew constant evolution was the key to longevity.

“A band always needs to try new stuff and see how it goes otherwise you’ll be stuck in one spot forever and may not get to the next level.”

With its stacked lineup Good Things Festival certainly has the potential to cement its place in the Australian musical landscape, and very likely take the entire festival scene to the next level.

Dec 8. Parramatta Park, Corner Pitt St &, Macquarie St, Parramatta. $178+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.goodthingsfestival.com.au

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT w

Love Despite a deceptively simple title, Love is a play which is far from that.

Patricia Cornelius is a writer with an acute appreciation of human frailty and she explores this in a unique and intuitive way in her award winning yet, until now, unperformed play.

Ostensibly, the premise seems bleak: three homeless, poor, drug addicted young people trying to find stability

and connection in a fractured world.

But director, Rachel Chant says it’s not all doom and gloom.

“The play deals with hope […] and how hope gets us through life and how as humans we’re kind of connected by our joint yearning for something better.”

It’s poignant and raw with some dour themes, yet the play is also very

funny and is given levity through Cornelius’ poetic use of language.

“Patricia [Cornelius] has a love for these characters and it comes through in her writing.They’re joyous,” explains Chant.Told through a series of vignettes, the story revolves around three characters.Tanya and Annie are in jail.They are lovers and are planning a future together once they’re released.That day comes but Tanya soon returns to prison.Annie seeks comfort and ultimately falls in love with Lorenzo.When Tanya is finally released she,Annie and Lorenzo form an alliance in an effort to each get what they need in terms of security, survival and love.

“The three of them try and find a way to make this work and they form this symbiotic relationship and it all sort of takes off from there,” says Chant.

The production elements are sparse and the set is bare minimum, allowing the dialogue to provide mental imagery for the settings and surrounds. The challenge for the actors is to depict the characters truthfully, using authentic street language, while at the same time conveying the lyricism of Cornelius’ writing. For Chant, being the first person to direct a production of Love is a special thrill.

“It’s really exciting that we get to be bringing it to the main stage and to hopefully contribute towards making it a part of the Australian theatrical canon, which is where I think Patricia’s work belongs.” (RB) Until Dec 9. Eternity Playhouse - Darlinghurst Theatre, 39 Burton St, Darlinghurst. $38-$54+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.darlinghursttheatre.com

REVIEW: Christian Hull - Complete Drivel more to his already adoring fans. The routine runs for just under an hour and is purely Hull with a microphone going through his notes and sharing anecdotes and bitingly wicked commentary. Because it’s a podcast recording based on his own musings there’s no appearance from his popular alter-ego,Trish, or any other characters - he is effectively doing improvised stand-up something only the best or craziest comedians ever attempt.The result is uneven, but that’s probably got more to do with lack of experience than lack of talent. Once he finds his stage mojo he is going to give one Hull of a show! (RB) More Info: www.itschristianhull.com or www.youtube.com/artsider

Photo: Matt Nikolic

Comedy is a matter of taste and Christian Hull would not suit every palate, but he certainly has a fan base who are happy to gorge on his candid, spontaneous, often crass and a little bit slapstick humour. Complete Drivel is his first live podcast tour and every show sold out virtually within minutes of being announced.

Hull gained fame and followers as a result of his short, talk-to-camera Youtube clips, mostly as the long, blond wigged character,Trish.That led to merchandising and a podcast.The live show is very impromptu with Hull riffing off notes scrawled onto a notepad shortly before. During his second show (which was only an hour or so after the first), it was clear he was still fighting nerves and trying to

find a rhythm so there were a few hits and misses, but his vulnerability only endeared him

REVIEW: The Betoota Advocate Roadshow The virality of the internet, and social media in particular, is something we as a technological society have had to become more accustomed to and comfortable with through time. As internet memes or trends spread they will occasionally break through from the electronic world into everyday life, look back at ‘the ice bucket challenge’ or the outbreak of scary clowns as past examples. Never before though has an internet trend become so viral that it spawned a traveling stage show, that was until The Betoota Advocate Roadshow came along.

Initially starting out as an online parody/satire newspaper the Betoota Advocate quickly spawned a cult following thanks to its witty headlines and biting social commentary.The website has since grown to become more than simple text articles though with it now producing video and podcast format content, whilst maintaining its comedic heart.

In order to then make the jump onto a theatrical stage a rather minimalistic show which chronicles the “history” and rise to prominence of the Betoota

a&e

13 STAGE 14 SCENE 15 Sounds 15 SCREEN

Advocate newspaper has been created.

Playing host for the show are editors Clancy Overell and Errol Parker, who are funny and charming as they take you on this journey.

Along the way the duo inject the trademark Betoota Advocate social commentary, which at times can be politically incorrect. This is particular impactful when they take a swipe at the host city, which in the case of the performance I saw was at the expense of the Illawarra and the residence’s love for singlets.

Production wise there is not a lot to entertain the audience visually, think more stand-up comedy than grand theatre. In terms of the content there are genuine laugh out loud moments and others that will make you cringe, overall though the show could have been slightly shorter as the post-intermission session does slightly overstay its welcome. (JA) Dec 1. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point. $68.70-$186+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

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

Artaserse

Vivica Genaux.

Photo: Ribalta Luce Studio

Performed as an opera for the first time since the 1740s, Hasse’s Artaserse will hit Sydney’s City Recital Hall today for a week of stunning performances. Featuring a cast of renowned and award-winning performers, Artaserse is set to take audiences on a journey of love, betrayal and excitement, heightened by the thrill of the opera. Produced by Pinchgut Opera, the company brings Hasse’s Artaserse to Australia for the very first time, with a stellar cast including Vivica Genaux, David Hansen, Carlo Vistoli and Emily Edmonds.

Emily Edmonds plays Semira, lover of Artaserse, and when asked how the characters of the show navigate their relationships she says, “it’s two love stories overlapping each other and a lot of intrigue and drama mixed together.”

With regard to her approach toward playing Semira, Edmonds talks about the style of this particular opera, saying, “baroque opera offers a lot of exciting acting opportunities in terms of the way you play a character.”

Having never been shown in Australia and being performed as an opera for the first time since the 1700s, this season of Artaserse will be an exciting one.

“Something really interesting about this version of the piece is that it hasn’t been performed, this musical version, since 1740 something, and that’s exciting to be a part of,” says Edmonds. “Opera excites me as a theatre-lover because everything that you can do in theatre is amplified by the presence of music so all of the emotions, all of the text, all of the drama…it’s heightened because of the music and that for me is really exciting.” (MB) Until Dec 5. City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Place, Sydney. $93-$183+b.f.

Tickets & Info: https://opera.org.au/ whatson/events/pinchgut-vivica-genaux

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

city hub 29 NOVEMBER 2018

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Photo: Chris Lundie

REVIEW: Broadway Bound

A critic once wrote of playwright Neil Simon, “Simon may be the greatest comedy writer of the 20th century” – and it’s quite obvious why this comment was made upon watching this quasiautobiographical stage play.

Set in 1949 the story explores the lives of a working-class Jewish family. Eugene Jerome (Patrick Holman) and his ambitious brother Stanley (Simon Lee) dream of oneday becoming comedy writers. Their dream slowly becomes a reality, but their artistic integrity is tarnished when they base their comedy scripts around their family.

The first half of the play is extremely funny as the audience is introduced to the

family and evolving storylines. Aging granddad and proud socialist (Les Asmussen) seems to be the person keeping the family unit together, as he circumnavigates the problems and arguments which arise. As initially expected, he provides much of the laughter.

However, the comedic aspect of the play is clouded in the second half, as the storyline of the marriage breakdown between Eugene’s parents (Brett Heath and Suzann James) is resolved. The pace heightens and an explosion of emotions which erupt on stage is an unsettling contrast to the relatively placid mood of the first half and showcases the universal

problems which families experienced and continue to do so, behind closed doors.

The stylish recreation of the post-war era living rooms and meticulous detail to costumes and hairstyles compounds to the perplexing feeling that audiences may have been transported to a bygone era.

This excellent production of Simon’s remarkable hit Broadway Bound is a must-see for discerning audiences who demand quality and intellect in their theatre-going experiences. A great tribute to the late Neil Simon. (MMo) Until Dec 15. New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown. $20-$35+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.newtheatre.org.au

THE NAKED CITY

APOCALYPSE ALMOST NOW!

With Coffin Ed Back in the 1960s, as the old red rattlers made their way out of West Ryde Station, commuters were greeted with a trackside billboard that regularly forecast the day of judgement, the ‘rapture ’ and the end of the world as we know it today. I seem to remember it was curated by the Christadelphians but I could be wrong.

Nevertheless for many a railway traveller, cocooned in a bone shaking carriage with a copy of The Daily Mirror, it was a brief moment of foreboding - regardless of your religious conviction.

Last week Sydney was consumed by a massive dust storm when masses of dirt from the drought stricken rural areas blew eastward towards the coast.The city and suburbs were soon blanketed in a sinister dark orange glow as thousands of tonnes of top soil were dumped out at sea.

Travelling to the city on one of the old intercity trains, not quite a red rattler but still a bona fide antique, the view from the grubby graffiti scratched windows was decidedly eery. Bemused and bewildered Chinese tourists wondered just what

14

they were in for as the train approached Redfern Station.The pollution in Beijing was never this bad and their holiday to Australia had promised some of the cleanest air in the world.

Just short of Redfern the train slowed to a sluggish crawl and then a complete halt. Outside its unwashed windows commuters and tourists alike were confronted with the industrial wasteland of old crumbling railway buildings, their once proud facades

completely scarred with all manner of mindless and meaningless graffiti – the calling cards of a future generation of sociopaths, car jackers, wife beaters and axe murderers. No photo op here!

By now the Chinese tourists were surely wondering why they had not opted for Hawaii or even Guam as the dust storm transformed the old industrial site into something akin to a post nuclear holocaust.

Meanwhile I am reliably told a group of local

filmmakers had seized the opportunity to shoot some priceless footage for a planned feature on apocalyptic Sydney – a disaster movie whereby unchecked climate change plunges the city into a perpetual dust bowl.

As the overcrowded intercity train finally got going again and crept into Central, a number of the Chinese tourists had donned the kind of face masks that are a familiar item in Beijing or Shanghai these days.Who knows what memories of Sydney they will take back to China – the Opera House,Taronga Park or the breath choking dust storm?

The next day and the storm had all but blown over - Sydney was back to relative normality (or as normal as it can be). We have had the odd dust shower before and many will just dismiss it as an aberration, unlikely to reoccur for many years to come. Others tend to see it differently – a precursor of the ravages of unchecked climate change that will inevitably overwhelm us.Yes it could well have been a portent of even a biblical prophecy. But unlike the Christadelphian billboard which stood for decades, it was really just a fleeting reminder of how suddenly and quickly everything can turn to dust.

REVIEW: Exhibitionism The Rolling Stones Exhibit

Surviving The Festive Season With Osana Care Woollahra

The Rollings Stones’ mobile museum and event Exhibitionism has rolled into Sydney and already has proven a hit with media and baby boomers eager to get a vicarious view of the phenomena that are the Stones.

Covering 50 years from 1962 when they were bunking down in a London bedsit to the massive 2013 Glastonbury show Exhibitionism follows the arc of a nascent blues band evolving into the ‘Greatest Show On Earth’ who created a soundtrack which follows our lives.

Featuring over 500 items from the deeply personal to an insight into the huge machinery that goes into putting the Stones on stage.

This is not a standard static museum set but a highly engaging and at times interactive event.

As we all approach the festive season and the craziness that brings there are some things we all need to be wary of in order to get through unscathed. As such City Hub recently spoke with revolutionary primary healthcare provider Osana to get some of their top tips.

Some of the most common concerns that GP’s see during the festive season according to Osana’s team of doctors are, “accidental injuries, sunburn, emotional/ financial stress, STI’s and alcohol intoxication.”

Alcohol is often a contributing factor in many of these issues as “just four standard drinks, or the equivalent of two and half schooners of beer, triples the risk of injury for males and octuples the risk for females.”

Not only does alcohol significantly increase the risk of injury but it also leads people to engage in more risky behaviour, and thus the increase in sexually

city hub 29 NOVEMBER 2018

Entering a time lab the events opens with an enormous video wall introducing us to the Stones as they begin their rise around England and eventually to the United States.

Another room opens shrine like with Charlie’s first

professional kit bought on hire purchase.

We get to see Keith’s personal diary, Mick’s handwritten lyrics and a mock up of an early studio.

Then there are the costumes and clothing from Carnaby Street to their record breaking world tours, artwork for tour posters and record covers.

Guitar freaks won’t be disappointed as on show are Keith’s early Harmony axes, his famous Telecasters and Gibsons and Ronnie Wood’s custom disk faced Zemaitis.

Bring plenty of plastic as the merch at the end will prove irresistible. (JMo) Until Feb 3. ICC Sydney, 14 Darling Dr, Sydney. $15-$36.50+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.iccsydney.com.au

transmitted infections. Alternatively the holidays can be quite stressful and isolating for those who don’t have many social connections.

Summer BBQ’s also bring with them an increased risk of sunburn, which can not only be incredibly painful but also greatly increases the long term risk of skin cancer.

In theory it should be easy to mitigate these risks but it is often much harder in practice, which is where Osana’s innovate health care approach involving a team of GP’s, Care Managers and Health Assistants can help.

“We perform individualised assessments to ensure that you are up to date with your skin checks, STI screens or other relevant preventative health activities (i.e. mammograms, bowel cancer screening etc).

As a team we can get you through what is a fun, but occasionally challenging, time of year and keep you happy and healthy.”

More info at: www.osana.care

The Kransky Sisters - A Very Kransky Sisters

By Jamie Apps Everybody has their Christmas traditions and quirky family get together moments, and next weekend comedic musical trio The Kransky Sisters will invite Sydneysiders into their “lounge room” at the Opera House to experience A Very Kransky Christmas.

Featuring Annie Lee, Christine Johnston and Carolyn Johns as Mourne, Eve and Dawn Kransky, the Kranskys have been spreading their signature brand of Christmas cheer since 2000. When the City Hub spoke with Mourne Kransky ahead of the tour we asked if they had been surprised by the longevity and reach of the show internationally.

“Oh yes! It’s been quite amazing,” said Mourne, “Who would have thought that we

would have travelled the world for many years.”

Whilst A Very Kransky Christmas has become an annual tradition the ladies do not feel any pressure to top previous years according to Mourne.

“We just want to share the Christmas spirit and have some fun with the people.You have to have fun in the moment because if we worried about trying to get better all the time we’d never actually get better.”

A Very Kransky Christmas features crowd favourites and Christmas numbers from this multi-award-winning trio. With their unusual array of instruments from cheese grater to toilet brush, tuba to musical saw, and even “duelling tambourines”, so settle in for what could be your kookiest Christmas party yet.

Mourne was able to give us a better insight into the list of artists who’s songs have been included to ensure this is a show for anyone from ages “six to 106.”

“We’ve got songs by Daft Punk, Simon & Garfunkel, Michael Jackson, Sia, Gotye, Outkast, Roy Orbison, ABBA, The Carpenters, and we’ve even got songs by Santa himself.”

During our conversation with Mourne City Hub also learned that the easiest way to describe the show is to say it’s like, “sharing a Christmas dinner with us in our lounge room with songs and stories.”

Dec 5-8. Sydney Opera House The Studio, Bennelong Point. $54.90-$59.90+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Phoenix Collective Tango Origins & Passions From Argentina to Australia the Phoenix Collective brings their unique take on tango music to Sydney with the fourth show in this year’s series, Tango Origins & Passions.

The show brings together the talent of internationally renowned local musicians including Dan Russel on the violin and Katie Robinson on the piano. The show also features Australian violinist Maggie Fergusson playing the bandoneon, a type of concertina popular in Argentine music. Her expertise in tango music come from playing as part of the Orquesta Escuela de Tango Emilio Balcarce and studying orchestral tango in Buenos Aires.

“I love an opportunity to share my passion for Argentine tango music

Maggie Ferguson

An album with a story.

In a remote town hundreds of kilometres from Perth, some of Australia’s most prized songwriters have come together to write and record a handful of songs that have been inspired by a collective experience had in the deserted settlement of Cossack in the Western Australia Pilbara region.

The line-up on this beautifully written album features Bernard Fanning, Sally Seltmann, Paul Dempsey, Glenn Richards, Oh Mercy, Kav Temperley, Tyson Mowarin, R.O, Jae Laffer, The Healys, Nick Sheppard, Parl McDermott, Aimee Chapman, Adam Harvey, Ryan Brennan, Ian Campbell and Josie Alec.

The whole album has a very laidback Australian country feel with a few upbeat tracks to have a swing to. The three standouts on the 18-song album are, Sugarstone which has a great tempo, Overgrow and Red Dirt Town, a country tune that describes the outback vividly.

A great album to relax to or have playing while entertaining guests plus all proceeds generated by the Vast album sales will be used for the sole purpose of promoting, encouraging and advancing artistic pursuits in the Pilbara region. (RH) WWW1/2

with my audiences and colleagues,” says Ms Fergusson.

The Phoenix Collective promises the show will take audiences on a “musical journey” through the history of tango music in the 20th century and will include everything from traditional pieces from tango’s birthplace in Buenos Aires to modern compositions by Astor Piazzolla, the father of “Nuevo Tango”.

Audiences can expect to experience the complex rhythms of tango music and to learn about its history and composers this interactive musical experience. (AH) Dec 2, Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church, Johnston St & Collins St, Annandale. $15-$35+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.phoenixcollective.com.au or Ph: 0402 544 016.

Normandy Nude

picturesque landscapes in rural France, this film is somewhat disappointing owing to a silly premise Arthur Dupont & Francois Cluzet and subplots which lack substance utilised as nothing more than time fillers.

Mildly funny this comedydrama, however, is highly topical, resonating the problems which meat farmers must endure, seemingly invisible to politicians as many collapse under financial pressures and even suicide.

Francoiz Cluzet is a fine actor who came to global prominence in the hilarious and incredibly successful French comedy Intouchables, a once in a lifetime dream script for Cluzet, who will Meat prices are plummeting not! What will garner more find it difficult to replicate in Normandy France owing to publicity for their cause similar success in other films. cheap imports from Germany the town’s mayor (Francoiz This French rehash of and Romania. Should the Cluzet) decides is for 200 of Calendar Girls and The Full inhabitants of a small village the townsfolk to have a nude Monty is not a bad film – stage a protest by dumping photo taken in a field. Really? it’s just nothing to get too manure or milk on the Boasting visually stunning excited about. (MMo) WW1/2 highways? Why of course cinematography of

Vast

Creed II Creed II follows on directly from Creed, however this time Adonis is at the pinnacle of the boxing world and troublingly bathing in the lavish luxuries which that affords. Simultaneously on the other side of the world Viktor Drago is being trained by his father Ivan in much more austere surroundings. It is this dichotomy along with the tragically intertwined histories of the families which drives the film’s conflict and confrontations.

Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson once again give a great performance, which pulls at all of the heartstrings thus giving the film an emotional weight.

Aside from these two emotional performances though Creed II is a shallow film, which fails to flesh out the Dragos or anybody

orbiting around the Creeds.

The fight scenes and training montages are as great as ever, although occasionally somewhat predictable and over the top, but that alone is not enough to score the KO. Creed II fails to live up to

the hype of its predecessor by unfortunately resorting to decades old formula and callbacks. For a film which is centred around escaping the shadows of the past this film fails to land a decisive blow of its own. (JA) WWW city hub 29 NOVEMBER 2018

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city hub 29 NOVEMBER 2018