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Hire bikes back in hot water BY ALEC SMART Rental bicycles, the ubiquitous brightlycoloured machines seen scattered across Sydney suburbia, and often found hanging from trees or rusting in canals, are back in hot water again. A coalition of six Sydney councils - Canada Bay, City of Sydney, Inner West, Randwick, Waverley, and Woollahra – have introduced strict new guidelines to ensure the companies concerned meet a set of regulations that will reduce the number of abandoned bicycles. Darcy Byrne, Mayor of the Inner West Council, who oversaw the meeting that allied the councils, stated it was important to implement a set of rules that both encouraged the use of the hire bicycles but protected pedestrian safety when the bicycles were left haphazardly on footpaths and in public parks. Although the first bike-sharing scheme was introduced in Amsterdam in 1965, the new bike hire companies’ machines are based on an itinerant concept begun in China in 2016. Accessed and unlocked by a mobile phone application, after usage, the bikes can be left at the journey’s end and don’t have to be returned to a designated area or docking stations. This has been their undoing, as the end of the journey has seen them piling up in tourist spots – such as Bondi and Coogee beaches – or unceremoniously dumped in parks where vandals have subsequently hurled them into waterways or suspended them from trees. There are five rental bicycle companies operating in Sydney whose machines don’t have to be returned to a depot: oBike, Ofo, ReddyGo, Mobike and Riide. Between them they manage tens of thousands of dockless bicycles, thousands in central Sydney alone. The new regulations, enforceable within the next few months, include: the retrieval of bicycles within three hours if they obstruct pedestrians or are left in potentially dangerous locations; the removal from service of bicycles within 11-14 days if they’re inactive, a week if they’re broken; a direction to advise users to park their bicycles in an upright, kerbside position away from buildings and bicycle

A coalition of six Sydney councils are introducing strict new guidelines to reduce the number of abandoned hire bicycles. Photo: Alec Smart

racks and not obstruct narrow footpaths; and companies to provide a bicycle repair service. Public Liability Insurance must also be provided for bicycle users. Failure to comply would result in fines and confiscation of the offending bicycles. This comes in the wake of Melbourne City Council crushing 20 rental bicycles operated by oBike that were impounded for obstructing pedestrians. When contacted by City Hub, CP Lim, Head of oBike Australia, said, “To better manage retrieval and repair, we will be partnering local businesses for our on-ground operations and provisioning of oBike resources. Called Global Business Partnership

Programme (GBPP), it is a franchise business model that aims to harness the expertise and resources of local businesses to better manage oBike operations in specific geographic areas within a city.” The six councils overseeing the new regulations are also insisting the rental bicycles firms employ ‘geofencing’, whereby users are encouraged to return their bicycles to designated zones. This utilizes a system on their mobile phone apps that grants or deducts points from those who cooperate or transgress the rules. When Ofo released their bicycles onto the streets of Sydney in October 2017, they were the first to employ ‘geofencing’ technology. This alerts riders

if they try to park a bike outside Ofo’s operational zones, which in Sydney city covers Kings Cross, Martin Place and Ultimo, and further out to Erskineville, Redfern and Surry Hills. OBikes told City Hub, “Geofencing is the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to define geographical boundaries. In our case, it helps us determine if the bicycles are parked in designated parking zones as it acts as a virtual boundary that alerts the entering and exiting of bicycles in an area. We will roll out geofencing in Sydney in accordance to the latest guidelines issued by the Sydney Council.” ReddyGo, Ofo and Mobikes were contacted for this article.

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BY JADE MORELLINI The festive season is meant to be a time of giving, but that’s not the case for the State Government, which has reneged on their promise to reimburse Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick District Councils of $1,068,996 for the merger preparation costs. On the 27th July, the NSW State Government announced all proposed local council mergers would not proceed in their controversial forced amalgamations program, which included Waverley with Woollahra and Randwick Councils. Waverley then wrote a letter to the Office of Local Government asking for a reimbursement of the merger preparation costs, but were turned down. A spokeswoman for the Local Government Minister said, “The NSW Government’s New Council Implementation Fund guidelines state funds are not to be used for merger costs incurred before an amalgamation.” This means that the State Government does not formally have to pay the Councils back. Mayor of Randwick Council, Lindsay Shurey, said, “I’m disappointed that the NSW Government has not followed through on their assurance that they would financially reimburse Councils for all the costs incurred while preparing for mergers. When Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced in July that the mergers were off, she also stated that Councils, such as Randwick, who had incurred costs in preparation for the merger, would be ‘taken care of’. This is a broken promise.” Mayor of Waverley Council, John

Lindsay Shurey, Mayor of Randwick City Council. Photo: Supplied

Wakefield, said, “Waverley Council went about the processes of abiding by their forcing us to merge, and conducted the processes we needed. They were prepared to give Waverley Council, Woollahra Council and Randwick Council 10 million dollars each, that’s 30 million dollars in total if we merged! And that money was meant to cover our costs of the merger.” Waverley Council had to put a lot into preparing for the merger, such as hiring new staff, training them up and spending countless hours on the project. “We needed to employ up to 50 staff full time to work on the project and we incurred an enormous amount of direct costs of hiring and

consulting as well as a huge amount of indirect costs,” Cr Wakefield said. The council is more concerned with the time that was spent on preparing for the merger, stating that they could have spent their time on more productive things. “We could have been working on something else, so there’s opportunity lost there,” Cr Wakefield said. “Staff could have been planning new projects, involving themselves into new studies for the future of the area, but instead they were working on the merger.” “Randwick Council worked hard to prepare for the proposed amalgamation with Woollahra and Waverley Council,” Cr Shurey said, “so that our residents and ratepayers would not be negatively affected by the disruption,”. Ratepayers are now out of pocket of over one million dollars and the money lost could have been spent on improving and providing for the community. “It would pay for five pedestrian crossings, a new complete set of the integrated traffic lights, it would have paid for the upgrades to a playground!” Cr Wakefield said. “It’s not an insignificant amount of money when you think of what it could have done. It could have employed 10 extra people to clean up rubbish; an awful lot it could have done. Its more than a principle, its underlying, we went about abiding by what they wanted us to do and now they are not prepared to give us anything to cover the costs they forced on us and they expect us to have our rate payers pay that cost.” “It’s not fair that ratepayers should now have to pay for the indecision and backflipping of the State Government,” Cr Shurey added. city hub 4 JANUARY 2018

Light rail a heavy burden

Light rail construction in and around Surry Hills is proving a heavy burden on local businesses and residents. Photo: Alec Smart

BY JOHN MOYLE There is no doubt that the 12 km Central Business District and South East Light Rail project will deliver a lot of benefits when it is completed, but for many along its route across Surry Hills, it promises to deliver another year of disruption, dust, noise and business downturn. The line starts in Circular Quay, dissects Surry Hills, crosses Moore Park and cuts along Anzac Parade on to a loop that runs around the southeastern suburbs of Randwick and Kingsford. Its many controversies to date include the degradation of businesses along its route and the destruction of hundreds of mature trees on the edge of Centennial Park and Anzac Parade. The $2.1 billion project that commenced construction in 2015 has seen much of the CBD section near completion, but it seems that project’s Spanish-based constructors, Acciona, along with its ALTRAC consortium partners and Transport for NSW, did not count on the difficulties of cutting a swathe through one of Sydney’s oldest inner city suburbs, Surry Hills. “There have been significant challenges during light rail construction, including the discovery of more than 1400 unknown utilities along the alignment,” an ALTRAC spokesperson, said. The spokesperson added, “We now have 12.8 km in place out of the total 24.7 km of single track across the alignment and have completed track in three CBD zones, one in Surry Hills and three in the south-east.” The Surry Hills zone referred to is on Devonshire Street between Chalmers and Elizabeth Street. But not all of the project’s difficulties lie with things hidden underground, as this story will show that businesses and residents have also been impacted, and are often unfairly dealt with by the constructors and Transport for NSW. Leigh Harris, vice president of the Surry Hills Precinct says that “the single biggest impact of the light rail has been to bring about change, and change is often not easy.” The Precinct is Surry Hill’s peak business organisation and as such has its fingers on the pulse of business health in district. 4

city hub 4 JANUARY 2018

Harris names the much loved Book Kitchen cafe and clothing store Surrounded By Ghosts, which has decided not to renew its lease, as just two businesses who attribute the construction work as being the major factor for them ceasing operations. Chris Deale, manager of Dove and Olive Cafe in Devonshire Street, said, “We have been impacted in many areas of our business because the street has appeared to be a construction zone with non-visibility up Devonshire to Crown, which people would avoid.” Manny Tzirtzilakis from Ouroboros Cafe, located on the corner of Devonshire and Holt Street, said, “Our business is down 60 per cent, we’ve got dust and other issues, and if this year is the same as last year, I don’t know what we will do.” Manny also added that he had recently appeared on Channel 10 to alert the community that a Telstra pit in front of his business had to be opened for the Light Rail construction, resulting in the release of asbestos dust. Harris was more upbeat about an innovative program launched by the Precinct and Transport for NSW into the affected Surry Hills areas after a successful trial in Randwick, which issued $100 gift vouchers daily. “Over 305,000 were reached through our 12 week social media program and we achieved 730,000 views, and a lot of those businesses were able to in by tagging and reposting,” Harris said. Transport for NSW said that 54 businesses along the route have applied for assistance and 34 have been approved for rent assistance. Over at Parkham Road, residents are totally frustrated with the lack of responses to very vexing questions relating to noise and dust mitigation, construction hours and structural damage to their homes. In response to residents’ ongoing concerns, in early November, Jenny Leong, along with City of Sydney councillor Angela Vithoulkas, raised questions at a regular Sydney Light Rail Roundtable regarding construction hours, dust and noise mitigation, adequate night time coverage of worksites and structural damage to properties. “We have been contacted by a number of concerned residents who found themselves

making complaints about private contractors that were going un-actioned, so we arranged for representatives from Transport for NSW to meet with around 20 residents so that they could express their concerns, rather than being sidelined by contractor who has a lot less concern for our community, Jenny Leong, MP, Newtown said. For the residents of Parkham Road, their woes began with the demolition of the nearby Olivia Gardens apartment buildings so that the site it could be used as a depot and fill zone. Olivia Gardens was once an active part of the Surry Hills community, but in 2014 it was acquired by the State Government, much to the consternation of the more than 70 public housing residents who lived there, and now finds itself in the middle of another controversy. In 2016, ALTRAC decided to change the schedule of works along the three work zones on Devonshire, Elizabeth and Bourke streets. Rather than approaching the works in three stages, as originally planned, in the first quarter of 2017, ALTRAC began work on all three zones simultaneously. This meant that the Olivia Gardens site had to be levelled and compacted to receive tailings from three construction zones at once, and the Parkham Road residents say this is the cause of their buildings’ structural damage. Barbara Best was the first resident that City Hub spoke to about damage to her property. “I have owned the house for over three years and have had none of these issues until they started demolishing the Olivia Gardens’ site, Ms Best said. All of the affected houses in Parkham Road are turn of last century terraces with adjoining walls. “Quite a number of us have approached Acciona and ALTRAC by letter, and their response is that they haven’t caused the damage, and that it is due to the age of the buildings and the settling of the ground,” she added. Carsten Koehler, Barbara’s near neighbour, lives adjacent to the Olivia Gardens site, and claims that he first noticed damage to his property in September/October 2016, despite his house being substantially renovated in 2014/2015.

Acciona sent out a building inspector, but Mr Koehler claims that he had to chase the report for months. “Finally I got a very convoluted and illogical letter where they disputed any responsibility,” Mr Koehler said. That report, attributed to ALTRAC property manager Kim Gardener, states that, ‘ALTRAC Light Rail denies any liability for the alleged damage, and accordingly, will not be responsible for any repair works that may be required,’ before adding, ‘Therefore ALTRAC Light Rail denies that the alleged damage to your property was caused by the SLR construction works, and will not be processing your claim any further.’ The length of time that it took Mr Koehler get a response from ALTRAC flies in defiance of Transport for NSW’s own Construction Environmental Management Plan guidelines that clearly states that ‘ALTRAC provide Transport for NSW with a daily report of complaints over a 24 hour period’ - and that they are also liable to respond to phone complaints within two hours and email complaints within 24 hours. Also flying up the pole of the illogical is the fact that ALTRAC have dismissed with a cursory glance any responsibilities to homes that have survived for over 100 years without major structural damage. With rumours abounding in Parkham Road that one neighbour has already been granted compensation on condition of a confidentiality agreement, Barbara Best sums up a lot of residents future fears when she said, “We are worried that more damage could appear after the project is finished.” With so much construction work going on around Sydney you would think that all parties concerned would have better lines of response in place. Once more the arrogance of Government and developers shows through, and no better example of this comes to mind than the slap-down of battling George Street shop keepers Mark and Jennifer Duff by Transport Minister Andrew Constance on the opening of the CBD Light Rail section in December. So much for consultation with the people...

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Protestors acquitted; cops shamed BY JADE MORELLINI During the Christmas period, where news can easily be swept under the carpet and on the final week of Court in 2017, five protesters who were involved with campaigning against the WestConnex road construction were acquitted. Major investigative journalist, Wendy Bacon (who writes occasionally for City Hub) and community activists, Amy Gentle and James McCallum, were cleared from their charges of remaining on enclosed land under the NSW Inclosed Lands Act 1901. During five court hearings, which led to the innocence of the protesters, much evidence surfaced to illustrate dishonest behaviour from the police.

‘apparent authority’ to request the removal of protesters from the site, which is required under the Inclosed Lands Act, meaning that the protesters were unfairly charged. This resulted in Bacon being prohibited from going near WestConnex work sites, which in turn prevented her from reporting news and hindered her right to free speech. A large part of the hearing dealt with the behaviour of uniformed and riot police officers during the arrest and the manner in which their court statements were prepared. Police earlier withdrew a resist arrest charge against Amy Gentle whose hand was badly hurt during her arrest when NSW riot police

Protestors opposing WestConnex were wrongly arrested and their charges for trespassing later dropped in Court. Photo: Alec Smart

Magistrate Fallent found that in order to be guilty of remaining on an enclosed lands offence, an accused person needed to have entered the enclosed land. Yet, evidence depicted showed that an AECOM engineer Nigel Baker had directed workers to build a fence around protesters on the site. The court findings supported the view that WestConnex contractors cannot build cages around peaceful protesters and then call police to threaten to arrest them if they do not leave. On top of this, Baker confirmed that he refused to show any documentation of AECOM’s authority to begin drilling in Holmwood Street. He failed to produce any evidence in court that showed he had been appointed as an agent of RMS, which can exercise powers under the NSW Roads Act to do work on local roads. Lawyer Peter O’Brien, who represented Wendy Bacon in court, argued that this meant Baker did not have the 6

city hub 4 JANUARY 2018

dragged her from the ground. An ambulance officer called to Newtown police cells, where the accused were held for more than eight hours, later placed her hand in plaster. Police were questioned about their use of wristlocks or ‘pain compliance’ technique on Bacon and Gentle. Under cross examination, Sergeant Paul Paxton, a member of NSW Police Odin or ‘Riot’ squad acknowledged that the purpose of the technique was to “gain compliance through the infliction of pain.’ Emails were offered in evidence that revealed riot squad police also changed their statements on request from Inspector Michael Dykes. In an email sent a few days after the arrests in which he sought the assistance of police involved in the arrests, Dykes addressed the riot squad as ‘gorillas’. In his final address on behalf of Bacon, Peter O’Brien referred to police conduct in the case as being “highly reprehensible”.

Airborne carcinogens increase around kids BY WENDY BACON Thousands of homes, community centres, worksites and open spaces will have be exposed to increased health risks if NSW Planning approves WestConnex’s M4/M5 tunnels between St Peters and Haberfield and Rozelle. These risks would arise from elevated concentrations of the fine particle carcinogen PM 2.5 near several child care centres and schools including Active Kids Childcare, Mascot; St Peters Public School and Preschool; the Inner West tutoring service in Haberfield; Sydney Park Childcare (inside the large Sydney Apartment complex); the Infants Home in Haberfield; the Little Learning School in Alexandria; and Sydney Secondary College in Leichhardt. In some cases the risks are predicted to improve between 2023 and 2033 but in other cases such as St Peters Public School, the Leichhardt Montessori Academy and St Basil’s Sister Dorathea Academy in Johnson St, Anandale, the situation will deteriorate between 2023 and 2033. The M4/M5 link would also result in increased health risks in and around the Jimmy Little Community Centre in Rozelle, which hosts a regular program of community exercise and healing activities. The threat of increased air pollution levels is a huge concern in this community, where hundreds lined Victoria Road to protest in a ‘Kids call to action’ in December. PM 2.5 is particulate matter that has a diameter less that one thirtieth of a human hair. It is produced through the combustion of fossil fuels from vehicle exhausts. For decades PM 2.5 has been known to enter the bloodstream and lungs and cause health problems including heart disease, lung cancer and asthma. Young children are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of fine particle pollution. There is also a growing body of research linking air pollution to dementia, especially in older women. Overall the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) acknowledges that the WestConnex project and other planned toll ways, including the Western Harbour Tunnel and F6, will increase the load of PM 2.5 and the long-term costs of the project. The Sydney Motorway Corporation, and engineering firm AECOM that it commissioned to prepare the EIS, did not include details of these increased health risks in their EIS executive summary. While this summary noted that some areas would have worse air quality as a result of the project, the public was reassured that this deterioration is assessed as ‘acceptable’. No mention is made that in at least one area the EIS assessed the risks as ‘unacceptable’. Instead the emphasis is on predicted improved air quality for some communities and other alleged benefits of the project. To find the information, you must bury down through thousands of pages to the technical appendices of the Health Risk Assessment in which tables are provided. But even these tables only show which sites will be better and worse, not the absolute levels. It is known that parts of Sydney are already close to or above acceptable levels of PM 2.5. “We’re outraged that the NSW government including the Planning Department, NSW Environmental Protection Authority and NSW Health would even consider approving a project which involves deliberately worsening the environment of communities including their schools and childcare centres,” said WestConnex Action Group spokesperson Janet Dandy-Ward, who has been campaigning against WestConnex for more than three years. “Premier Gladys Berejiklian wouldn’t put up with this for a minute in Willoughby! It’s

Kids Call to Action protest against the WestConnex construction in Rozelle, December 2017. Photo: David Watson

even more serious when it’s left to the community to dig out details from hundreds of pages of obscure tables. Surely in the 21st Century we need environmental policies that’ll improve air pollution levels for all of Sydney, not deliberately set out to target some communities.” While more muted than the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) report on the Sydney Motorway Corporation’s EIS (see Inner West Independent 13 December, 2017), the NSW Health EIS submission notes concerns about the EIS, including unacceptable health risks due to pollution that would be created around Sydney Airport and the massive St Peters Interchange, or to users of potential multi-storey buildings above 10 metres near unfiltered ventilation stacks. ‘Unacceptable’ health risks are ones that are more than 1 in 10,000. The Sydney Motorway Corporation EIS Health Risk assessment downplays the risk in the area around Sydney Airport on the grounds that the area is mostly occupied by worksites. But NSW Health correctly points out that “an individual could spend at a workplace or industrial site may not be as modelled.” The impacts could get even worse for some if the Sydney Gateway between St Peters Interchange and the Airport is built. This was quietly removed from Westconnex in 2015 and there are no current construction plans, although the NSW Gladys Berejiklian LNP government still insists that it will be built at some stage. The AECOM EIS also noted that it was unlikely that the area of concern near the interchange would be zoned for residential use but the Health Department correctly points out that there is already a large number of residential apartment blocks near Sydney Airport. It also considers that the amount of traffic in this area and therefore the air pollution could be more than the EIS predicts. NSW Health is also critical of the AECOM EIS for not including sensitivity tests on its air quality modelling for Stage 3. These can assist the accuracy of modelling especially when the results may be affected by specific

characteristics of locations. It recommends that instead of relying on tests done for Stages 1 and 2, sensitivity tests be done for Stage 3, which would mean further research before approval. NSW Health’s concerns about the height of buildings near ventilation stacks will heighten concerns about the impact of ventilation stacks in Homebush and Arncilffe where there are already numerous apartments higher than 10 metres within 500 metres of Westconnex unfiltered stacks that have been approved but not yet constructed as part of Stages 1 and 2. There are already hundreds of premature deaths from air pollution each year in Australia and research has shown that the numbers are increasing. While the EIS discusses negligible, tolerable and unacceptable risks, this approach is highly questionable. As NSW Health notes in its submission, ‘there is little evidence of any threshold below which exposure to components of traffic related air pollution are not associated with adverse health effects. For these reasons, it is important that all reasonable measures are taken to minimise exposure to traffic related air pollution where feasible.” NSW Health is critical of the EIS for failing to describe mitigation proposals for either construction or eventual operation of Stage 3. It recommends that these plans be done and it be further consulted. But this does not satisfy Westconnex Action Group spokesperson Janet Dandy-Ward. “We now have experience of what Westconnex calls mitigation plans, “ she said, continuing, “construction impacts for WestConex Stages one and two were far worse than predicted and meant exhausting battles that left residents feeling excluded, sick and dispirited. NSW Planning knows all about this. In fact there is no way to mitigate increased loads of PM 2.5. Rather than approve WestConnex there should be an inquiry into how private unaccountable interests have been allowed to cynically play with public health.” Wendy Bacon was previously the Professor of Journalism at UTS and has campaigned against Westconnex.

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Modern raises historic concerns BY ANNA FREELAND The Development Application for the Sydney Modern project has received hundreds of submissions following its month-long public exhibition, which closed on 15 December. Among those objecting is a group of advocates for the Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), comprised of former RBG Trustees Ros Andrews and Gillian Appleton, urban designer and architect David Chesterman AM, and former Chair of the Environmental Defenders Office Bruce Donald AM. The group submitted a 40-page objection to the proposed location and design of the project based on concerns about the prospective loss of open green space, the removal of significant trees and destruction of both the natural landscape and heritage value of the 19th Century architectural precinct. “The proposal totally changes the cultural, historic and heritage value of the area and the green environment of the city,” said Ros Andrews, who contributed to the submission. A horticulturalist and passionate advocate for the RBG having served as a Trustee for eight years until 2005, Ms Andrews said that, while the group are not against the project, it is “A win for the Gallery and a loss for the Gardens. “Rather than being something that would benefit both, it’s a huge loss for the RBG that will be felt for generations to come,” she said. The proposed structure, which would extend the built environment to the north of the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW), spans a projected 8,000sqm. According to Ms Andrews however, the total space to be appropriated may be closer to 16,000sqm including a sculpture and an art garden. “There are a huge number of unknowns,” she said. “We have deep concerns about the fact that the whole entrance to the Gardens is lost. My particular concern is that, instead of coming into a leafy environment as you cross the land bridge, you’ll enter a hard, built environment which totally changes and is at odds

Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. Photo: Pedro Szekely

with the 19th Century landscape.” The National Trust, and the Friends of the Botanic Gardens, the National Parks Association, as well as prominent cultural assets expert Kylie Winkworth and heritage consultant Dr Bronwyn Hanna lodged other significant objections to the proposal. Ms Andrews and her group are calling upon the AGNSW and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) to reconsider the proposed site. “Our ultimate position is that we don’t want the Sydney Modern in that location because it will totally ruin the entrance and the feel of the Botanic Gardens and Domain,” she said. There is limited reasoning provided in the Development Application as to why the proposed site was chosen. According to Ms Andrews, the justification is superficial. “It’s not at all clear that alternative sites were even considered. There are two or three lines about why the area just south of the Gallery is not suitable but that could have been interrogated further,” she said. “Also, like other major art galleries around the world, they could have

explored a second site in another part of the city, like Barangaroo or Parramatta.” The proposed building design is the work of Pritzker Prize-winning architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa who head up the Tokyobased architectural firm SANAA. Their previous work includes the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, the Glass Pavilion at the Toledo Museum of Art and the Serpentine Pavilion in London. According to the AGNSW website, the project design will, “Sit lightly on the site, shifting gently along the natural topography of the land to preserve existing trees and sight lines.” It also states that the design will be “sensitively complementary to the historic grandeur of [the] existing Gallery building.” Ms Andrews remains sceptical however. Plans for an extension of the Gallery have been in the works for over a decade and gaining state government support was considerably hard fought. The project was finally greenlit last June with a commitment from the government of $244 million. Ms Andrews believes that the root of many of the

objections is a lack of “genuine consultation.” She says the RBG Trust was given little power to negotiate. Ken Boundy, the current Chair of the RBG Trust said that plans for the extension, “Took on an air of inevitability some time ago. “Within that context, management and the Trust of the RBG have co-operated with the AGNSW, but fought hard within government to achieve optimal recognition for the land given to alternative use on Yurong Headland.” While acknowledging that any given outcome is unlikely to be supported by all stakeholders, Mr Boundy said, “A solution, which we regard as the best that could be achieved, is in the process of being embedded, and will be announced by the government in due course.” Ms Andrews maintains that the Gardens have been given “the short straw.” She is also concerned that, without amendment, the project may set a precedent for future development that would further reduce the green space of the RBG and Domain. “It’s a genuine concern,” she said. “Public open space is invaluable. The Botanic Gardens and Domain are the lungs of Sydney; its backyard, its playground and an area that Sydneysiders use and value as part of the fabric of their city. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.” A spokesperson for AGNSW confirmed that they are still awaiting delivery of the submissions via the DPE but that they expect to receive them in a fortnight. “As part of the State Significant Development Application process, The Art Gallery of New South Wales will carefully consider all submissions and respond to the Department of Planning early in the new year,” the spokesperson said. The Minister for Planning and Housing will determine approval for the project, a DPE spokesperson confirmed. Sydney Modern is slated to open in 2021, in line with the AGNSW’s 150th anniversary.

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Flickerfest 2018

FEATURE

8 CHANCES TO WIN UP TO 1 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT’S. . .

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By Mel SomervilleWe’re giving you a golden opportunity to win up to 1 million dollars, every week for 8 weeks, country,” Kidd. “It has been a joy to see a said sumptuous Flickerfest, in its 27th year, is Australia’s largest Flickerfest extend its reach as the home of great of red-hot of colourful and most respectedselection short film festival, kicking off food offers for $12.50, decadent truffle infused dishes, and an arrayshort film across thesports country, and watching the summer cinema season under the stars at events. It promises to be a winter that swaps big chills for big thrills. audiences warmly embrace the inspiring art of our iconic Bondi Beach. Sydneysiders are short filmmaking.” encouraged to bring themselves along to this fun “Each year I remain continually passionate and event, enjoy a summer evening on the beach at excited about the incredible short films that come 2 4 / 7 S P O R T S B A R O O D filmmakers QUART ER the wonderful Pavilion with friends, and immerse through and theFincredible that we get themselves in these richly diverse miniature to showcase. Last year we premiered the film The celluloid worlds. Eleven O’Clock which won the AACTA Award for “I like to say we’re short on size, big on story,” Best Short Fiction Film. I have the same high hopes said Festival Director Bronwyn Kidd, “People can for new Australian short film FYSH.” expect the best of the best in short films from FYSH is the story of an old man at the edge of Australia and across the globe.” life who has forgotten the feeling of joy and is Flickerfest is about celebrating wonderful directed by Billie Pleffer. FYSH can be seen on creative stories that come from the heart. They Sunday January 14 at 8:45pm, the fourth of seven are unique, creative stories, each with a different programmes featuring the best of Australian perspective on the world. Unlike feature films short films. that require a committee and someone to FYSH and the festival trailer premiered at the rubber stamp them and give them a big budget, festival launch at Bondi Icebergs Dining Room these films are made out of$a passion for and an .50 $ .50 $ .50 $ .50Bar on December 4. The trailer is $ 12and fresh. 12 12 12Australian 8 storytelling. They’re immediate feature parody, with an 80s fish-outThis year Flickerfest received around 2500 of-water Croc Dundee descending on Bondi entries and have curated that down to 100 of Beach. A reimagined Mick Dundee portrayed by 1 2 the best, most innovative, provocative and hugely Darren Gilshenan has the lovely Sunday Monday 1 Tuesday 1 Wednesday 1 comedy legend Super Thursday entertaining shorts for a big screen experience. Anna Bamford by his side with Flickerfest Alumni Grilled Angus beef Battered flathead fish, Chicken schnitzel 300g, your Asian Over the 20 years Bronwyn Kidd has helmedChar-grilled 220g rib eye, Sheila JayadevAll directing. burger, FUEL’s with crumbed calamari with salt and vinegar with chips and creamy favourites, the festival shewith has seen a huge evolution in the Programme highlights includeat The Best Of diversity of filmmakers Shorts price. showcasing moving and From the film Second Best. Photo: Supplied mushroom sauce. European Union secret sauce. telling their stories. There rings, chips & herb gravy. chips and coleslaw. a great are now a lot more female directors, directors entertaining shorts drawn from the European from Non-English speaking backgrounds, a lot of Union countries, celebrating all things Euro; on First Nation filmmakers and a lot more LGBTQI A very exciting development this year celebrating makers build a career. It’s a great way to harness Thursday January 18 at 6:30pm and Saturday film makers. the YES vote, is a Rainbow Shorts program of seven your skills for the longer form you’ll eventually January 20 at 4:30pm. “Flickerfest has become an Academy Qualifying films on Saturday Jan 20 at 6:30pm, which is curated move into. It’s a great tool to exercise your FlickerKids promises a delightful programme for festival which has upped our international by Craig Boreham, an award-winning writer and perspective and decide what stories you want to the young and the young at heart; screening 11 profile. It’s quite prestigious to have that director for his film, Teenage Kicks. tell. Doing it in a shorter form, you don’t have movies on Tuesday January 16 at 2pm. Love Bites, / T H Escreening 8 0 P Y R MAlyssa O N TMcClelland, S T R E Ewho T, acted S Y DinNthe E Y2013| T H E Sthe TApressure R S Y DofNa Efeature Y.C O M .said AUMcClelland. | S TA RFriday January 19 at 6:30pm, is a romp attached to Flickerfest. We’re a recognised film,” pathway for discovering new talent. Our Flickerfest trailer, has directed dark comedy After the ten days at Bondi Flickerfest pack up through the quirky world of modern Australian Best Film, International Best, Best Second Best which has been entered in this year’s all the highlights from the festival and hit the relationships and perfect for date night; and Documentary and Best Animation Awards are all competition. Second Best is about the power of road on a 51 venue national tour. The tour brings finally Short Laughs, screening Friday January 19 qualified for the Oscars,” Kidd explained, “We identical twin sisters and the unbreakable bond the films to audiences from Kununurra in at 8:45pm, takes you on a hilarious journey from THE STAR CLUB TO no WIN PRIZE FREE PARKING FOR NEXT VISIT are the only short filmJOIN festival with Academy that binds them, matterA what may come Western Australia to Cygnet in Tasmania. Many the weirdYOUR to the wonderful. accreditation and BAFTA recognition.” between. It’s one of five films to be shown at the towns in regional Australia which haven’t got a Alongside the competitive programmes, Terms and conditions apply. Promotion runs from 7 June Present this coupon to The Star Club Desk on the young The Festival will be rolled out over ten days in Festival Opening Night Screening & Party on cinema but get the opportunity to put Flickerfest filmmakers duke it out in SAE FlickerUp, a 3 August 2017. NSWFriday Permit No. Casino Floor. Valid until 3 August 2017. Bondi, from January 12to to 21. The extensive January 12LTPS/17/14057. and will then screen again on on in their local hall runMain by volunteers. national schools and youth competition, which program features two to three screenings each day Saturday January 13 at 8:45pm. “It’s a much-anticipated event for them as we are provides an exciting peek at the cinema stars of of around 110 minutes and up to 10 films each. “Short film is a foundation; it helps so many film spreading our short film love across the tomorrow!

Jan 12-21. Bondi Pavillion, Queen Elizabeth Dr, Bondi Beach. Various Prices. Tickets & Info: www.flickerfest.com.au

city hub 4 JANUARY 2018

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Merry Widow Reflecting Art Deco France, Opera Australia’s The Merry Widow is a witty and scandalous tale of recent widow Hanna (Danielle de Niese) and the suitors who want to marry her to keep her inherited fortune in the province. First premiered in 1905 Vienna, the operetta has not lost its comedic lustre. “It is an operetta with a Great Gatsby feel to it.Yes, it’ll be funny, but it’ll be beautiful with wonderful singers, actors and dancers. It’s thrilling that this new production involves such wonderful performers and big stars with spirited choreography [and direction] by the wonderfully talented Graeme Murphy,” said Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini. Amid Hanna’s many suitors is a reluctant one, Count Danilo, played by Alexander Lewis who, like de Niese, is an Australian with

international credentials. Lewis has performed extensively around the world, including with the Komische Oper Berlin, the New York Philharmonic’s inaugural Biennial Festival, the Manchester Music Festival and numerous Australian performances, including The Merry Widow in Melbourne in 2016. Opera Australia brings Maxim’s of Paris to Sydney with a themed three-course preshow dinner, including a Kir Royale cocktail in anticipation of the bubbly songs and dances. To hear the story behind the opera, 45 minutes before selected performances a member of Opera Australia’s artistic team will share insights into the opera in an informal talk. Opening just in time to recover from the height of the silly season, this operetta promises to be an amusing and sparkly way

Jimmy Carr The Best of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits World Tour 2018 Photo: Courtesy Opera Australia

to welcome the New Year with panache. And possibly humming some tunes on the way home. (OA) Until Feb 3. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $46-$299+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse. com or Ph: (02) 9318 8220 *Note: Julie Lea Goodwin plays Hanna in matinee shows.

Darlinghurst Nights

Bringing Kenneth Slessor’s poetry to life, the timeless Australian musical Darlinghurst Nights is showing at the Hayes Theatre. Exploring the depths of life, the musical is based on memories of the cross and

Fag/Stag

searches for a world without fear of intolerance. Composer, Max Lambert explained. “It’s about someone thinking back on their life, Slessor lived in the cross in the 30s and he wrote a book of poems called Darlinghurst Nights which had his memories of the characters in the cross and what the cross was like.” The musical aims to provoke audiences to look at life with a new perspective, to open their eyes and prompt them to consider how they should be living. “It’s about a time that’s lost I think so I’d love audiences to walk out of the Hayes Theatre, which is where it’s all set and actually

More a playful romp around the issue of masculinity than a turgid study of broken men, FAG/STAG is a comedy that looks at the relationship between a straight guy and a gay guy. This season at Griffin’s Stables Theatre is the Sydney premier, after successful runs in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Edinburgh Fringe, winning awards all along the way. FAG/STAG is a snapshot of two guys set in Perth in 2015; the gay guy Jimmy (Jeffrey Jay Fowler) and the straight guy Corgan (Chris Isaacs) are best friends. It looks at a month in their life, during their late 20s, as they are trying to get their shit together before a friend’s wedding. For the straight guy, it’s the wedding of his ex-girlfriend, for the gay guy, it’s the wedding of the girl he went on a date with when he was a teenage boy and subsequently recognised he was not straight. The predominant theme is the fear men

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11 STAGE 13 Sounds 14 SCENE 15 SCREEN

see those streets and the harbour in a different way, it’s great for us to have to think about what future we think for ourselves and what city we want to live in and how we want to live our lives,” Lambert said. In full control of the music, Lambert wrote the songs with a mix of “1920s good fun, ballads which are reflective of people’s loss and there are a lot of tempo songs with lyrics which are from the poems. It was really interesting creating this 30 years later and I think it’s a very important musical,” he concluded. (JM) Until Jan 27. Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point. $55-$65. Tickets & Info: www.hayestheatre.com.au

have about relating to each other, but it also looks at internalised homophobia, heteronormative behaviour, the desire to be different, how men feel about themselves, their vulnerability and how they have to cover that up and importantly about how growing up in Perth had a sense of isolation, “When I was 24, I moved to Sydney to study at NIDA and I saw men holding hands in public for the first time; I’d never seen that in Perth. I realised how different Perth was and how that affected my psyche,” revealed coplaywright and actor Jeffrey Jay Fowler, who explained the play is autobiographical with a lot of content from their own lives, but also has a level of fictionality, with stories borrowed from friends. (MS) Jan 10-27. SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod St, Kings Cross. $20-$35+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.griffintheatre.com.au or Ph: 9361 3817

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

Ever wanted 15 minutes of fame? You just might become a star if you get a front seat at Jimmy Carr’s highly coveted The Best of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits World Tour 2018. Carr is well known for two things: snappy one-liners, and smashing hecklers to smithereens. His talent for quickwitted comebacks is so loved by his fanbase that “best-of” heckler reels dominate his YouTube channel. Show-goers can’t resist being next in line to have their intelligence mocked, or their mothers and girlfriends slammed. This man flaunts dry British humour at its most cut-throat, so come with a thick skin if you like his style. In today’s overly politically correct society, Carr’s sassy material has the potential to offend more than ever. But in the wake of the recent Milo Yiannopoulos raucous, it’s easier to remember that though Carr may go to dark places with his humour, his purpose is not

cruelty. In fact, one of his past routines was named Laughter Therapy - showing his dedication to putting a lighter spin on even the most egregious topics. He’s had his fair share of media controversy and demands for apologies (some which he’s complied with, others not) but the fact remains that he’s played over 2000 shows to more than two million punters, and they still want more all over the world. Carr has also clocked up a grand list of credits including US appearances on Comedy Central, Late Night with Conan O’Brien,The Jimmy Fallon Show, and a slew of UK favourites including Never Mind the Buzzcocks,Top Gear and QI. Whether you’ve seen him a dozen times or never before, Jimmy Carr is sure to leave you with sore tummy muscles at the end of this show. (AE) Jan 8-10. State Theatre, 49 Market St, Sydney. $79.90$89.90+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.statetheatre.com.au

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.

city hub 4 JANUARY 2018

Circus Oz - Model Citizens The always innovative Circus Oz returns with the first production for the company by new artistic director Rob Tannion, exploring what it means to be a ‘model citizen’ in Australia today through awesome physicality, biting satire and highly skilled, unpredictable acrobatics. With an impressive cast of aerialists, cheeky characters, daredevil acrobats, cigar box juggling, hula hooping and backyard banter Circus Oz have created a mesmerising show for audiences both young and old. Set inside a model kit world complete with giant scissors and cotton reels, peg springboards and hammock-sized undies on the

line, the performers swing from knife-dodging to acrobat-tossing, contorting through huge steaming irons to tumbling off a house of giant credit cards. With a brand new ensemble of performers, a thumping live band and set design that challenges scale and perspective, the latest Circus Oz show brings a fresh sophistication to the troupe’s larrikin personality, delivering exhilarating familyfriendly feats with poise and charm. (JA) Until Jan 28. Circus Oz Big Top, Prince Alfred Square, Corner of Church & Market St, Parramatta. $35-$170+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneyfestival.org.au

Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE Sydney By Jamie Apps

Flint Eastwood

Liam Gallagher: Forthcoming debut solo album As You Were confirms that he is as much of a legend now as he ever was, with lead single Wall of Glass already clocking up over 11 million streams on Spotify in just under two months. Lending his voice to a myriad of sing-along tracks as front man of Oasis and now with new solo material under his belt, get your vocal chords prepped and ready for a show you won’t want to miss! Thu, Jan 4, Hordern Pavillion Flint Eastwood: Is bringing the show that’s blown away the stages of Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Sasquatch festivals just to name a few to Sydney tonight. Thu, Jan 4, Lansdowne Hotel Led Zeppelin Masters: The mammoth Led Zeppelin Masters are returning to the Sydney Opera House tonight. The annual New Year event features Adelaide’s Zep Boys and the Black Dog orchestra (also conducted by the awesome Nichols Buc) playing the big Led Zeppelin songs. Imagine hearing the soaring much loved tunes such as Kashmir, The Immigrant Song, Dazed and Confused and Stairway To Heaven (of course!) played by a full orchestra! Thu, Jan 4, Sydney Opera House The Kooks: Are returning to Australia to celebrate their ‘Best Of’ album, a collection of greatest hits, including such classics as Naive, She Moves In Her Own Way and Ooh-La. Fri, Jan 5, Hordern Pavilion The East Pointers: JUNO-Award Winning Canadian trio The East

Pointers write about real life, sketching out its joys and sorrows in vivid strokes, and their new tracks are akin to meeting up with an old friend. This weekend they bring this heartfelt sound to Sydney. Sat, Jan 6, Factory Theatre The Mighty Reapers: The original Mighty Reapers are getting together to play their annual shows at the Petersham Bowling Club. Once again guitarist Dave Brewer, who now resides in Perth, will make his annual pilgrimage across the country to join the rest of the band for two massive shows! Sat, Jan 6, Petersham Bowling Club Lunar Electric: Port Macquarie is set to become a giant dance floor to Australia’s who’s who of electronic dance music. Electronic music lovers will be pleased with the incredible lineup of DJs the festival will bring to New South Wales’ mid-coast with the first lineup including Australia’s #1 DJ in 2014, Will Sparks, Australia’s #1 female DJ three years running, Tigerlily and one of Melbourne’s best up-and-comers, Tyron Hapi. Sat, Jan 6, Cassegrains Winery Freedom Time: A new epic multi-stage festival catering to Sydney’s thriving disco, soul and house/techno communities will make its debut this weekend. Witness performances from Larry Heard, Johnny Osbourne, Bradley Zero, Sassy J and Silent Jay & Jace XL, alongside a spectacular local selection at this this open-air, day/ night music celebration. Sun, Jan 7, Manning Bar

Photo: Rob Blackburn

Foster The People By Jamie Apps With the release of their latest record, Sacred Hearts Club, Foster The People have welcomed aboard two new full time members, Isom Innis and Sean Cimino. Obviously by bringing in two new members the sound of the band was going to change but surprisingly this change has been warmly received by fans. City Hub spoke with Isom Innis before Christmas about the shifting chemistry in regards to recording and what the group hopes to achieve with this record. Innis has been tangentially involved with Foster The People since 2010 as a member of their touring band and a sporadic co-writer but Sacred Hearts Club finally saw him coming aboard full time. “We’ve worked on this record for the better part of three years,” explained Innis,“This record was born out of experimentation and improvisation which is why it has taken so long.” During this period of experimentation the sound of Foster The People has evolved quite dramatically, where their songs were once built around guitar they are now much more electronic. “When we first started the record it was more in the organic, post-punk, guitar driven territory. Throughout that process though I was always making beats and showing them to Mark then two in particular stood out to Mark who immediately said ‘I want to sing on this’. Those went on to become Loyal Like Sid & Nancy and Pay The Man.”

This change in styles was almost fostered by the groups refusal to have their “music categorised” because as Innis said,“When we write songs we’re simply chasing our instincts and making the music that we are passionate about because we trust that our fans will be there with us on anything that we put 100% of our passion into.” One of the main driving passions behind Sacred Hearts Club was the group’s desire to give the audience a way to escape from “everyday heartbreak and tragedy.” Innis and the other members of the band all have a steadfast belief that many of the current world issues could be

solved by loving and caring for each other more. This week as they return to Australia for Falls Festival and tomorrow’s side show in Sydney the group hope to spread some of that required love themselves. “We’ve never played Falls Festival before so we’re really excited to get over there to see how it compares to other festivals around the world but my guess is that it’s going to completely blow our minds.” Jan 5. Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown. $84.90+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.enmoretheatre.com.au

Tiny Little Houses Idiot Proverbs

Catherine Traicos – Luminaire

The debut album from Melbourne’s Tiny Little Houses sees the group pushing forward into an exciting new indie-rock direction. Throughout the record the group employ a more raucous, gritty texture to their sound whilst still maintaining their indie-pop charm. Idiot Proverbs has a number of tracks in it’s midst that will quickly have the listener singing along to the catchy lyrics. With this new rambunctious sound Tiny Little Houses now have the ability to showcase their growth as both artists and people. Idiot Proverbs regularly reflects on their personal experiences of growing up and finding their place in the world amongst the throngs of chaos. One track in particular standouts as an example of the groups growth and ability to place bigger issues under the microscope and that song is Entitled Generation. This songs asks why does this generation have less resilience than those in the past and who is to blame? (JA) WWW

Low and easy, Catherine Traicos’ Luminaire is a cocktail of melancholy and spice. Not oppressive but enticing, the listener will feel the misery in every beat and be encouraged by the pace that it skips along on its less than merry way. Carrying itself and the listener down the road, the albums mix of resignation and sass is attractive to the listeners resting thoughts, a hint of darkness brushes over them, tuned to a perverse joy, dwelling with energy and fire. This is a release.An acceptable one for the alternative turn of mind, an enjoyable one that does not fall down in its own grief but accepts it and continues, finding words for the difficult and music for the reluctant. Listeners will feel safe in Traicos’ music and breathe in the space of their less pleasant feelings. (SP) WWWW city hub 4 JANUARY 2018

THE NAKED CITY

THE MOVING PAD BLUES

With Coffin Ed Anybody renting a house or apartment in Sydney these days will be aware of the tenuous hold that tenants have over their residency. If your landlord decides not to renew your original twelve or six month lease but keep you on as a tenant, month to month, you know the axe could fall at any time. In inner city suburbs such as Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Potts Point and Woolloomooloo, where rental demand is extremely high and the vacancy rate at an all time low, the situation is even more precarious. If your lease is suddenly terminated you not only face the dilemma of looking for another dwelling but packing up your lifetime possessions and moving out. The more ‘stuff’ you have accrued the bigger the move and this can soon escalate into a series of traumas. What to keep and what to chuck out soon becomes both an emotional and a practical decision - your sentimental attachment to various possessions versus a need to declutter and start again fresh. However even getting rid of ‘stuff’ can pose a problem as I recently discovered when exiting my long time apartment in Woolloomooloo.Advertising the fridge or sofa you don’t want on Gumtree can take weeks to get a result and sometimes it’s quicker to ring up Vinnies or the Salvos. It’s then you soon realise they don’t accept electrical goods and if your sofa is not in ‘excellent’ condition, they are not going

to take it.They are not a disposal service and make that very clear. You can always try friends and acquaintances to see if they need an extra bookcase or kitchen table but the chances are you will end up depositing many of your once beloved items in the street for the Council to pick up as part of their weekly household rubbish removal. Prepare

to have your now unwanted possessions scattered from one end of the street to the other as the neighbourhood’s many scavengers pick over your pile to see if there is anything they can salvage from your autobiographical trash heap. Chances are they will indeed find something to take and it’s not uncommon for almost everything to be removed before the actual Council truck arrives.

Call it community recycling if you like but in my case I later found ‘treasured’ items I had put out abandoned in Walla Mulla Park and elsewhere. If you have an average apartment full of furniture and other ‘stuff’, you’ll probably need a truck to move your goods and here lies another potential problem. In the crowded inner city there is often no parking whatsoever for a truck to pull outside your apartment. In my case the removalist had no option but to double park, albeit in what was essentially a very quite street with no real inconvenience to passing traffic. Nevertheless an over officious Council ranger soon descended, bellowing that if we did not move immediately we would be slapped with a sizeable fine.The Council makes no provision for people in this predicament and I have heard of people forced to move out late at night (i.e. post midnight) just to avoid the omnipresent Council ‘power’ rangers. If you are moving to a similar location in the inner city you can almost be sure there will be a ranger waiting to see if you attempt to double park again to unload your goods. Again no mercy will be given and the whole episode can become very stressful. Okay, it’s nothing compared to some of the really tragic things happening in the world. However if there’s anything to be learned here it’s possibly to declutter now before that dreaded termination email arrives. The less you own the better and if you are very lucky the next move you make could be in a Woolies shopping cart.

Joel Tarling One of the toughest parts on any artists life is getting your artwork seen by an audience, it’s even harder to do that without losing money. An exciting new program being held at the Newtown Beach Burrito Company store is slowly changing that. Artist and former City Hub cartoonist Joel Tarling will be the next Sydney artist to showcase his works under this program. “Glenn ‘Glenno’ Smith has curated over 60 exhibitions at this location,” explained Tarling, “The deal is that I simply have to email Glenn 16 artworks which he then prints as oversized A3 colour artworks to display and sell for $15 each. It’s a great project because I don’t have to install the artworks, rent the space or man the

exhibition which is different to any other exhibition space where you would generally end up losing money because of the overhead costs.” The upcoming exhibition will mark a return into the public eye for Tarling who took some time away to quietly hone his craft. “I feel like I’ve been in the dark for about six years, the last thing people would remember me for is my four years at The City Hub. This is a body of work that I’ve been working on quietly in the background, so it will be fun to come out and show it off.” (JA) Jan 8-Feb 8. Beach Burrito Company. 1A Bedford St, Newtown. Artworks $15 each. Info: www.facebook.com/events/378344735953204

WRITERS WANTED A Call Out for the Retired, Superannuated and Graduate Students Writers needed on local issues across the City Hub’s five distribution regions. Must be able to write engaging and accurate copy and meet deadlines. Please contact City Hub with CV news@altmedia.net.au

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Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Winner of the people’s choice award at the Toronto Film Festival, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a crime-comedy starring Francis McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell and many other notable actors. The film is written, produced and directed by Martin McDonagh and received plenty of praise from critics at Venice International Film Festival and Mar Del Plata International Film Festival. The film is a dark blunthumoured story about a mother, Mildred Hayes, as she questions

the towns police department with three billboards on the lack of success in her daughter’s murder case. While the town are divided on the longevity of the boards and the lives of those involved are unravelled, unusual bonds are made for a spectacular finish. The performances from the main cast were outstanding, allowing you to become invested in the characters and the story. The violence and blunt humour went hand in hand. A must see this summer. (RH) WWWW1/2

Head Above Water

Francois Damiens & Cecilede France

Just To Be Sure

This delightful comedy about family relations resembles a Neo Greek tragedy and should be well-received amongst lovers of French cinema. The story surrounds 45 year-old widower Erwan Gourmelon (Francois Damiens) who discovers the man whom he believed to be his father is not his biological father. He sets off to locate his real father and along the way has chance meetings and coincidences, which lead to romance with a woman who may be his half-sister! French charm flows in this exquisitely produced film, which effectively allures audiences from the onset through its original premise with minimal emotion.

Respected actor Francois Damiens is engaging in the central role and is supported by a wonderful supporting cast of French actors. The importance of family radiates throughout this mildly humorous film, in which some of the comedy may be lost in translation. This movie won’t be the crowd pleaser which Damiens previous box office sensation The Belier Family quickly became, but regardless it’s entertaining and the two surprise twists in the finale will leave audiences feeling satisfied and unsatisfied simultaneously. (MMo)

WWWW

This is a made for TV mockumentary that looks at the rivalry - in and out of the water between two young, very competitive surfers. Benji Halt (Elliot Loney) is laid back, unassuming until he catapults to fame after punching a shark and escaping unharmed during a surf comp. Ricky Scrotun (Neel Kolhatkar) is vain, ineloquent, has bionic feet and spruiks his custom line of swimming briefs, “Scrotuns for your scrotum,” at every opportunity. Written and directed by young and promising film maker, Connor Fairclough, Head Above Water takes a cynical yet humorous look at instant

fame with all it’s attendant hype, pretence, fragility and destructiveness. At just under an hour in length, it’s Fairclough’s first feature and an indication of his talent. While some of the jokes are obvious, it’s mostly fun and fresh with some very strong performances from an impressive cast, and a travelogue of great beach locations. (RB) WWW

Streaming on STAN from Jan 5 for 12 months. More Info: www.facebook.com/headabovewaterfilm

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