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2019 Sydney Update

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• I asked the government to work with the music industry to better regulate music festivals to ensure they are safe and viable. • I became deputy chair of the committee inquiring into Sydney’s late night economy where we will recommend how to improve Sydney’s vibrancy at night while ensuring safety. • I accepted a position on the Premier’s Council on Homelessness where I will work to end homelessness. • I called for a strata commissioner to support owners in dysfunctional

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buildings including those with serious disputes or major defects. • I was voted chair of the Parliament’s environment and planning committee where we will recommend measures to make NSW more environmentally sustainable. • I met the planning minister to ask for an independent planning process for the multi-user facility at Glebe Island to protect residential amenity. I look forward to continuing to work for a liveable, sustainable and progressive Sydney for all.

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Opinion

Why we must support Assange By WENDY BACON Journalism is not a crime, which is why we must support Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in his battle against extradition to the United States, where he would be tried for offences under the Espionage Act. Today is Assange’s birthday. His last seven birthdays were spent in Ecuador’s London embassy where he had sought refuge to prevent extradition. After UK police violently removed him from the embassy in April, he is spending this birthday in Belmarsh high security prison. In February, there will be a hearing to decide if Assange will be extradited to the United States. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Assange is literally in mortal danger. Recently the UN Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Meltzer, who visited Assange, found he was showing “symptoms typical for prolonged exposure to psychological torture ...”. He referred to a “relentless and unrestrained” campaign since Wikileaks started publishing evidence of war crimes and torture in 2010, to criminalise its investigative journalism in violation of both the US Constitution and international human rights law.” Meltzer said this campaign includes intimidation, defamation and an “endless stream of humiliating, debasing and threatening statements in the press and on social media, but also by senior political figures, and even by judicial magistrates.” Media freedom, not suppression Media freedom is very much in the news in Australia. Last week, Australia’s most senior media bosses from the ABC, Newscorp and Nine fronted the National Press Club to argue for media law reforms that would strengthen the capacity of

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noting that there are many journalists amongst 200 people who wrote recently to Assange’s union – the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance – calling on it to build its campaign in support of Assange. Broadcaster Philip Adams is circulating a petition. The MEAA has written two strong letters seeking to meet with the government and opposing extradition. The union wrote “the extradition of Assange and prosecution by the United States for what are widely considered to be acts of journalism would set a disturbing global precedent for the suppression of press freedom.”

Julian Assange, fighting extradition to the USA for exposing American war crimes. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

journalists to expose the truth. This followed Federal Police raids on the ABC and the home of The Australian’s reporter Annika Smethurst. Giant messages of collective solidarity - Journalism is Not a Crime - were beamed across social media. It is this message of solidarity that we must extend to another Australian journalist Julian Assange, a member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance since 2007. In 2011, Assange won a Walkley Award for his contribution to journalism for those same acts of journalism that are now the basis of the US Espionage charges. Much will turn in any US trial on protection of free speech offered to Assange as a journalist and publisher by the First Amendment. Younger Australians may not remember the massive furore caused by the publication in 2010 of the Collatoral Murder videos about the war in Iraq, showing US military helicopters firing at and killing Iraqi civilians and two Reuters journalists. Thousands of other documents revealed secret manoeuvres by US, Australian and other politicians, and their mendacious public stances. These publications need to be remembered in the context of revelations that the US justification for the war on Iraq was based on fabricated US intelligence fed to uncritical Western media. The 2010 leak was a blow to US security not because anyone was harmed, but because it threatened public support and compliance for US foreign policy goals. Chelsea Manning was subsequently imprisoned and tortured for her role in releasing the files. She has currently been reimprisoned and is facing bankruptcy for refusing to testify in Grand Jury proceedings investigating Assange. Nine years ago, when US and Australian

leaders threatened Assange with criminal action, the international community of journalists stood in solidarity with him. “It is unacceptable to try to deny people the right to know,” said Aidan White, General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists. “These revelations may be embarrassing in their detail, but they also expose corruption and double-dealing in public life that’s worthy of public scrutiny. It’s untenable to allege, as some people have, that lives are being put at risk here. The only casualty here is the culture of secrecy that has for too long drawn a curtain around the unsavory side of public life.”

Media law needs reforms that strengthen the capacity of journalists to expose the truth In accepting a Walkley Award, leading journalist Laurie Oakes said he was ashamed of the Australian government’s hostile response and called on journalists to reject then PM Julia Gillard’s view that the Wikileaks publication was illegal. This was greeted with applause. In 2012, the UK National Union of Journalists acknowledged the “important contribution made by Julian Assange himself” and stated that “the type of journalism to which Wikileaks has made a significant contribution represents a real challenge to those governments, wherever they are, which rely on propaganda, torture, warfare and subversion to accomplish their political and economic aims.” Seven years on, we live in more conservative times. There is no denying that support from journalists this year has been muted, but it is worth

Indictment criminalises journalistic inquiry The International Federation of Journalists, representing more than 600,000 media professionals in more than 140 countries, says: “... this indictment would criminalise journalistic inquiry by setting a dangerous precedent that can be abused to prosecute journalists for their role in revealing information in the public interest. By following this logic, anyone who publishes information that the US government deems to be classified could be prosecuted for espionage.” The range of those supporting Assange is impressive, though there are also dissenting voices including Peter Greste, himself imprisoned in Egypt on journalistic freedom issues. There will be differences about how far deletions of names in leaked documents should go, but it has been acknowledged by the US State Department that no sources were harmed by the 2010 document publications. In any case the documents had already been seen by hundreds of thousands of people. What we can say is that Assange has a perfect record in publishing genuine documents and protecting his own sources. That is the job of a journalist. There is no space here to review all the accusations against Wikileaks, except to say that no other charges have been laid against him. The opponents who constantly trivialised the threat from a US grand jury were wrong. Given the campaign to denigrate his character, the least we can say is that personal allegations against him need to be validated by evidence, and there is much debate about their veracity. But personal character is not the heart of this issue. This is not about whether Assange is a good person or whether everything he has ever published was based on sound decision-making. This is about whether journalists who publish information in the public interest are criminals. We must hope that Assange does not spend his next birthday in a US prison. If we fail, other media organisations who are not compliant with the goals of governments will also be at risk.

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Cracks appear in NSW building policy BY ALEC SMART Mascot Towers, the Sydney apartment blocks from which residents were urged to vacate on June 14 after structural cracks appeared in the basement, remain uninhabitable. Tenants are expected to pay for superficial repairs, although it has since been revealed the flats are moving in a ‘downward motion’ – sinking into the ground, due, allegedly, to original failures in construction. Mascot Towers, at 1-5 Bourke Street Mascot, features two 10-storey apartment blocks above Mascot underground railway station, incorporating 131 units in a complex that also includes nine ground floor commercial enterprises ranging from a Thai restaurant, a medical centre, an IGA Express supermarket and a café. All apartments and all but two of the ground floor units are now uninhabitable. On Thursday 13 June 2019, building management informed tenants via letter that props were being installed in the basement carpark because cracks had developed in the “transfer slab beams supporting the primary building corner.”

Some tenants are allowed supervised access to Mascot Towers to retrieve personal possessions. Photo: Alec Smart

building propping, legal fees, new carpets and $5000 for a ‘media consultant’. Evacuation urged Five companies were identified as the landowners Residents were then urged to evacuate by 9pm the or developers of the Mascot Towers project including following night and a temporary shelter was set up at the primary builder, J & B Elias Pty Ltd. Mascot Town Hall, although their strata management A look at the original Deed of Agreement, the company, Strata Choice, urged tenants to find longer- contract between Botany Bay City Council and term accommodation elsewhere. the principle firms involved in the Mascot Towers Residents in 64 of the 122 apartments have since construction, signed and dated 30 May 2007, is been given permission to re-enter the premises eye-opening, revealing the extent of the Elias family under supervision, in order to retrieve personal connection. possessions. The rest were forbidden because their units, plus the car parks and several of the retail “Serious concerns in the premises, are within a ‘non-accessible zone’ that builder’s commitment and ability cannot be entered. Strata Choice then presented residents with a to address these issues bill for initial repairs to Mascot Towers, revealing they needed to pay a special levy of $1.1 million, The signatories include: J & B Elias Pty Ltd, Sole payable by August 1. Director/Secretary Hanna Elias; Oribe Pty Ltd, Costings include evacuation, engineering work, Sole Director/ Secretary Hanna Elias; B-1ST

Choice Roofing Pty Ltd, Sole Director/ Secretary Sarkis Elias; Damjet Pty Ltd, Sole Director/ Secretary Elias Elias; CW Building Pty Ltd, Director Miledy Elias, Secretary Nasr Elias. Cause of the cracks? Some Mascot Towers’ residents blame the cracks on ‘vibrations’ caused by construction work on the recently-completed Peak Towers neighbouring apartment block. The NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro gave credence to this by confirming Mascot Towers was ‘sinking’ due to a ‘drop in water tables’ attributable to neighbouring construction work – Peak Towers - leading to ‘differential settlement’ of the land mass beneath Mascot Towers. However, on 26 June, the builders of Peak Towers, Aland Development Group, rejected the Deputy Premier’s claim. Managing director Andrew Hrsto stated there was ‘no basis in fact’

Waverley Council Update

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that cracks in the decade-old Mascot Towers was caused by his company¬’s construction work. Aland revealed it had engaged Australian Consulting Engineers to carry out a preconstruction inspection of buildings around its Peak Towers project prior to commencement of work in 2016. This so-called ‘dilapidation report’ includes photos taken of Mascot Towers showing significant cracks that were then ‘several years’ old. They are reportedly the same cracks that caused the June 14 rapid evacuation of tenants. The first official recognition of basement cracks at Mascot Towers came in 2011, only three years after the apartment blocks’ completion. In March 2011, an extraordinary general meeting was called by the owners to commission engineer MES Consulting to investigate a range of defects, following the discovery of basement cracks and leaks in the carwash bay. In October 2011, more serious defects were discovered in Mascot Towers, including faulty fire systems, leakages in the swimming pool, faulty garden irrigation systems and, most alarming: ‘structural movements.’ It was recently revealed that Mascot Towers’ owners struck a deal with J & B Elias in 2015 accepting $750,000 from the builder to waive any responsibility for ongoing defects. J & B Elias agreed to fix the defects identified by MES Consulting free of charge in what was recorded as a ‘spirit of co-operation between the owner’s corporation and the builder.’ However, the building committee found the repairs to be ‘below general industry and Building Code of Australia standards and that problems were arising again subsequent to completion.’ Furthermore, “the committee noted its serious concerns in the builder’s commitment and ability to address these issues,”. According to the owners’ engineer the ‘volume of work required to correct was very significant.’

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Authentic Aboriginal art: the top-ten highest selling Aboriginal artworks sold through auction

By JOHN MOYLE A recent Federal Court decision has seen an Aboriginal tourist art supplier hit with a record $2.3 million fine. The case against Birubi Art Pty Ltd was brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission who accused the company of making misleading or false claims that many of its products were hand painted by Aboriginal people. The court found that over 18,000 plus products, including boomerangs, bull roarers, didgeridoos and clap sticks, were labelled ‘genuine’ and ‘Aboriginal Art’, when they were made in Indonesia. In their submission, the ACCC said “Such conduct puts at risk an array of economic and social benefits which are vital to Indigenous communities. “It was unacceptable that Birubi sold Indonesian-made products as having been hand painted by Australian Aboriginal persons when that was not the case.” ‘Aboriginal Art’, made in Indonesia Birubi has since filed for voluntary liquidation, leaving a huge gap in the tourist market supply chain and even more questions about recognition of Aboriginal rights and cultural appropriation. Independent curator, writer and sometimes artist Djon Mundine said “Aboriginal artists are on the bottom of the social order in Australia and this is about colonising culture and it makes Aboriginal people even more irrelevant.” During the 80s and 90s Mundine was involved in four cases involving manufacturers who were putting Aboriginal art onto T-shirts and not bothering to contact the artist or pay a royalty fee. “The cases were won and set precedents about the rights of Aboriginal artists,” Mundine said. Adrian Newstead is the owner of Aboriginal art gallery Cooee, a curator, valuer and writer on Aboriginal art. “At the beginning of the eighties there was a move by some Aboriginal artists and bureaucrats and a number of Aboriginal galleries to establish a label of authenticity for Aboriginal art works,” Newstead said. “This was mainly for the tourist industry because most Aboriginal paintings come with some form of certification, whereas tourist level art carries a manufacturer’s label. “There needs to be a distinction between goods that are licensed, and goods that are manufactured under licensing agreements, for which Aboriginal people receive some sort of income.” The problem for the tourist retailer is twofold: reliability of the supply chain and the price point of the goods. Tourist shops such as those in Sydney’s The Rocks and Circular Quay area need a constant supply of

goods to meet the demand and the goods need to be at a price that the tourist is prepared to pay. “The person who wants to buy a cheap gift for someone back home doesn’t want to spend $100 on a genuine handmade boomerang, and this is the market that they are targeting,” Omid Nayer, owner, Aboriginal Art Galleries, QVB said. Reno, from Spirit Gallery in The Rocks, said, “With boomerangs, no-one can produce the supply, and while we have got good relations with a lot of suppliers, it is always challenging to get work.” The Indigenous Art Code was established in 2008 to set voluntary standards of ethical behaviour for art dealers and galleries dealing in Indigenous works.

We have an industry that is dictating what Aboriginal art looks like “The code is just not for fine artists and, ultimately, it is about fairness and transparency around the transactions between the artist and the dealer,” Gabrielle Sullivan, CEO, Indigenous Art Code said. “In Australia there are no laws around Indigenous art and Indigenous cultural knowledge, but the laws of copyright apply to everybody.” Cultural appropriation Sullivan said that many of the products sourced in Indonesia used a mix of cultural elements such as the cross hatching ‘rarrk’ work of eastern Arnhem Land with the dots of Central Australia. While the average souvenir purchaser is unlikely to be aware of these culturally significant mismatches Sullivan said “This is part of the cultural damage that is happening and we have an industry that is dictating what Aboriginal art looks like. For the souvenir end of the market the tourists think that if it doesn’t look like that, then it is not authentic.” “From the perspective of the artist the cultural difference between a painting that might sell for $5,000 and a painted boomerang is not a whole lot different, that is just the lens that we are looking at it through,” Sullivan said. “The fake art issue is at the souvenir end of the market but the cultural significance is not based on the monetary value.” Omid Nayer has been on the Aboriginal art business for over 30 years and while he sources ethically he said, “The fakes have been flooding the market ever since I have been in the business.” Djon Mundine puts an Aboriginal perspective on the argument, adding, “It means that the dominant culture can take everything, including your very sense of being.”

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Double Bay at crossroads

By MERRILL WITT The best areas of Sydney typically mix old with new and often demonstrate an intelligent repurposing of redundant buildings or tired precincts in ways that enliven and engage while still respecting heritage. Sadly, more often than not, the preferred option is to tear down and replace. As a recent editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald lamented, “Sydney runs the risk of becoming just another bland city as the skylines fill with cranes and glass and concrete... In some cases, it’s almost a battle for the city’s soul.” At the moment, the community of Double Bay are questioning how to save the “soul” or unique character of their upmarket harbourside shopping village from a redevelopment frenzy. In the past few years developers have swooped in to buy up prime real estate in Double Bay’s most prestigious streets. Malcolm Young, vice president of the Double Bay Residents’ Association, says he’s been struggling to keep up with the influx of emails from community members concerned about the flood of inappropriate Development Applications (DAs). The loss of courtyard space and erosion of village atmosphere run counter to the desired characteristics outlined in the Council’s 2016 Double Bay Public Domain Strategy, which lists “maintaining a strong emphasis on outdoor spaces, outdoor activities, street life and the pedestrian experience” among its objectives. Erosion of village atmosphere A flood of inappropriate Development Applications On leafy Cross Street alone, two six storey apartment buildings with ground floor retail are currently being constructed on the south side of the street. A DA for another six-storey apartment complex on a neighbouring site has been rejected twice by the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel. Woollahra Council recently released a preliminary design to replace the existing Cross Street carpark

But in recent years, the Council has been forced to look at ways to meet ambitious, state government-imposed targets for new housing. According to the current Mayor, Mark Cavanaugh, it must also find more revenue streams and seek out public private partnerships to “provide valuable community facilities at minimal cost to our community.” Double Bay’s Residents First Councilor, Mark Silcocks, believes that the pressures on Council, whether real or perceived, have made it too willing to approve DAs that undermine the desired character and amenities of Double Bay. “For whatever reason,” he says, “the previous council approved breaches for height controls in excess of four storeys that went against staff recommendations and ignored the objections of many residents and resident organisations.” Development approval for the two six storey Double Bay residents oppose a development application for a six-storey residential complex at 28-34 Cross Street, apartment buildings sets a worrying precedent. which has been rejected twice. Photo: Bob Hughes The Council is at a crossroads about the kind of with an eight-storey building, which incorporates The Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel’s most development it wants to promote. a boutique cinema complex of 10 screens, ground recent rejection of the DA for a six storey, 21-unit Alarmingly, all of the recent construction on floor retail/community space, 86 apartments and 462 apartment building at 28-34 Cross Street cited Cross Street has reportedly led to the departure underground parking spaces. Four other major sites numerous community objections. They included of 200 office workers and caused the lowest retail on Cross Street, two with development plans for six a loss of commercial space, excessive height and trading levels in decades, according to Sydney East and seven storey residential developments, have either bulk, traffic congestion, erosion of the village Business Chamber chair Katherine O’Regan. been sold or are on the market. atmosphere of Double Bay, loss of character, lack In response, the Council has changed of public amenity, loss of existing courtyard, and regulations to ensure that commercial and office contrary to the successful invigoration of the spaces are not sacrificed for more profitable Erosion of village life runs Double Bay commercial centre. apartments. In the past, Woollahra Council has Councilor Silcocks also believes that Double counter to maintaining outdoor successfully delivered character-sympathetic Bay’s shallow water table and acid sulphate soils space and activitiese projects that have led to the ‘successful may force developers to reconsider their plans invigoration’ of the commercial centre. A to build expensive basement parking. All of this new development heralds in a new phase public-private partnership created the popular Perhaps time has not yet run out to meet in the comeback of Double Bay after a long period of Kiaora Place redevelopment, which opened one of the most important objectives in the stagnation, which started after the 2004 opening of in 2016 and features a pedestrian-only Council’s 2015 document, Key Strategies for Double Bay: “to ensure that new development the Westfield Centre in nearby Bondi Junction. But shopping mall, busy outdoor cafes, a state-ofis compatible with the existing built, streetscape many people worry that the village-like atmosphere of the-art library and an upmarket Woolworths and village.” the centre is at risk of being destroyed. supermarket with undercover parking.

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Sudanese solidarity in Hyde Park By KATHERINE RAJWAR On June 30 in Sydney’s Hyde Park, an estimated 225 people rallied for the ‘Millions March’ as part of a global day of solidarity with the civilian uprising in Sudan. In the months following the fall of leader Omar al-Bashir in April, the country’s ruler since 1989, the conflict in Sudan has become catastrophic. The Transitional Military Council (TMC) has removed power from the population and cut off all internet access. The ongoing fight for civilian rule has seen the rise of intense violence and brutality from militant forces, particularly on June 3 in Khartoum, where an estimated 100 were killed, at least 700 were injured, and more than 70 cases of rape occurred, as reported by The Guardian. The Australian Sudanese community has called on the Australian government to take international action as the violence continues to escalate. The June 30 demonstration in Sydney was the first city of 55 protests around the world on the same day, as the Sudanese Diaspora urge the international community to intervene and provide aid for protestors in Sudan. Blue for Sudan The event, organised by activist Rashid Anwar, who is originally from Khartoum, saw a sea of blue gathered near the Archibald Fountain, as the colour has become symbol of support and hope. The hashtag #BlueforSudan was prompted by the death of Engineer Mohamed Mattar, who was allegedly shot by the Sudanese military Forces during the Khartoum attacks on June 3. The engineer’s favourite colour was blue, which provoked the online movement. “I believe what makes Australia different is the cultural diversity, and I believe that everything that affects one community will affect other communities and, in the end, reflect on the whole

happening over there, through videos clips and photos we can spread the world. “We’ve been contacting the Premier of NSW… the Foreign ministers and minister of Multicultural Affairs trying to put some pressure for them to take international action.” Greens member David Shoebridge also spoke at the event. “We have come together today to demand some pretty fundamental rights; peace, justice and freedom, that’s the kind of thing we should all rally around,” Shoebridge said.

The Sudanese military blocked the internet, so Sudanese people here are the voice of the revolution

Blue-clad protestors gathered in Hyde Park under the slogan #BlueforSudan, to support resistance to military oppression in Sudan. Photo: Katherine Rajwar

of Australian society as well,” said Rashid, in the days leading up to the protest. “Since the revolution started last year in Sudan in December, we created a community, as the matter is affecting the whole community here in Australia in a negative way, seeing the killing of people on a regular basis for 6 months now - it’s horrible and affecting everyone in a bad way.” The event saw many speakers from both the Australian-Sudanese and wider communities present speeches, songs and poems, punctuated by songs and chants of “al-Bashir to ICC” and “TMC to ICC” (ICC = International Criminal Court).

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE A MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION LOCATED IN SYDNEY Telstra are currently upgrading existing mobile network facilities to allow for the introduction of 5G to Telstra’s network. As part of this network upgrade, Telstra proposes the installation of NR3500 and 2100 technologies in Sydney. 432-450 George Street Sydney NSW 2000 RFNSA: 2000170 Proposed works will involve the following: • • • • •

Recover two (2) panel antennas (each no longer than 2.8m in length) Installation of four (4) new panel antennas (each no longer than 2.8m in length) Installation of two (2) new junction boxes Installation of two (2) new Remote Radio Units (RRU’s) and Installation of associated ancillary equipment

Militias on the street For Rashid, the matter is deeply personal. “I was speaking to my mum last week, and she can’t even go shopping… the militias on the street, it’s just not safe,” he said. He stresses the importance of events such as the protest in Sydney, as well as the use of social media. “It [Social media] has a great effect, in Sudan the military council has blacked out the internet, so that leaves people like me here of Sudanese background to be the voice of the revolution overseas - we are trying to reflect everything

“As more than million people gather in Sudan; we gather here we call upon the Australian Government to make a demand today to challenge the lack of legitimacy of the Transitional Military Council to get them to step back and finally grant a civilian government with no military control.” Speaker Nancy Nasr delivered a heartfelt speech to the crowd, her desperation evident as she spoke over the loud speaker. “We seek love and joy and peace in Sudan,” Nasr said. “We are gathered here to let our fellow Australian brethren know - we don’t deserve this… We call on the Australian government to please, please, look into our case, put some pressure on the Military Council on Sudan.” “If the international society don’t intervene, this is going to be a bloody situation… Please stand with the people of Sudan.”

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO RELOCATE A PAYPHONE It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 169 Clovelly Road, Randwick, NSW 2031 (Payphone ID: 02939812X2) And a coin and card payphone be installed: On Carrington Road (adjacent 157 Clovelly Road), Randwick NSW 2031 The relocated payphone will be located approximately 44 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed. Currently, the next nearest payphone is located outside: 110 Fern Street, Randwick NSW 2031. (Payphone ID: 02966504X2) Reference Number 42092 Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by: 28th August 2019

Telstra regards the proposed installation as Exempt Development, under the provisions of the Infrastructure State Environmental Planning Policy, based on the above description.

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

Further information can be obtained from Vanessa Davies, 0740196416 or at Vanessa.davies@aurecongroup.com and at www.rfnsa.com.au, quoting the above RFNSA number.

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

Written submissions should be received by Friday 19th July 2019 and addressed to: Vanessa Davies, Aurecon, PO Box 538 Neutral Bay, NSW 2089

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Fish market plans coming out of our gills

By JOAN HENSON City of Sydney councillors have rejected Deputy Lord Mayor Linda Scott’s call to propose an alternate plan for the Sydney Fish Market’s redevelopment, but will lobby instead to release the overdue Bays Precinct master plan. A Monday June 24 motion affirmed that principles developed over the last 20 years as guidelines for the precinct’s planning be considered in the plan – which was commissioned two years ago. Councillor Scott urged that Council’s opposition to the alienation of public land and foreshore serve as its policy, to ensure “any forthcoming development application is assessed by the city with clear views on the record.” The NSW Government proposes to relocate the fish market to Blackwattle Bay, with 2760 new apartments earmarked for the current Pyrmont site. Scott had suggested Council provide an alternative proposal, as it did for the redevelopment of Waterloo public housing estate earlier this year. She said that Tokyo, San Francisco and Melbourne fish market redevelopments provide inspiration. Architect and councillor, Philip Thalis, told City Hub that “as was the case at Waterloo,” the City should see the master plan, “before commissioning work that may duplicate what the state government has already spent money on.” Lesley Lynch convenes the Glebe Society’s (GS) Bays and Foreshore Committee, and has, since 2009, participated in multiple consultation rounds with government representatives. Her group was consulted by Scott in forming her proposal to Council. For over a year, UrbanGrowth NSW told GS that the release of the new market’s development application was imminent. With the corporation’s recent dissolution, the future of an integrated planning approach seems uncertain to community groups.

Community Reference Group (CRG) meeting, members were briefed that a “master plan was being developed. The CRG were briefed on the planners’ thinking on “what to do with the current fish markets site”. Elenius said the group was advised that at this stage the information remain confidential. The CRG have not met since, and PAG has not considered an alternate plan, as “so far we have not seen even a draft master plan from the Government”.

Artist’s impression of new scaly-roofed fish market. Photo: NSW Government

“Given that the proponent of the development is Infrastructure NSW and the consent authority is the Minister, the community could be forgiven for feeling any objections or concerns it puts forward are not likely to have much impact,” Lynch said. Affordable housing is the next battle “Our next battle will be to argue that if there is to be major residential development on the current site, it should include a significant proportion of affordable and social housing.” Designating 30 to 50 per cent as affordable housing would put NSW “on par with other parts of the developed world”. Hands Off Glebe want to see evidence of amenities to service potential Pyrmont residents in upcoming plans. “There’s no sign that new schools will be built”, said representative, Hannah Middleton, who noted that a pop-up school was already being convened at Wentworth Park. Further concerns include: environmental risks associated with disturbing toxic sediments during

Blackwattle Bay excavations; new tidal flows impacting mangrove populations; and traffic congestion contributing to pollution. Spokesperson Denis Doherty said that Hands Off Glebe were not consulted about Councillor Scott’s motion, but that it was a costly and rare request.

Blackwattle Bay is unsuitable for development as there is no actual foreshore Although Council put considerable effort and funding into the Waterloo plan it looks “destined for failure” because of its state significant designation. “It becomes a question of: should we bash our head up against a brick wall, or have the D.A. modified?”, he said. Elizabeth Elenius from Pyrmont Action Group (PAG) said she advised Scott that in a January

Past master plans were scrapped Community reference groups have developed planning principles in the Master Plans for Rozelle and Blackwattle Bay, which were, according to Elenius, “generally agreed on by the community”. But she said that these approved plans were “thrown out when the Coalition came to power”, although “the community has tried to resurrect them in later CRGs”. Lynch says that community groups support the need for an upgraded fish market but reject the proposed site. “Every taskforce or reference group I’ve been on, including one convened by the Cabinet Office has taken as a given, that the head of Blackwattle Bay was not suitable for any future building or development as there is no actual foreshore.” She said it was understood that the Bay “should be opened up to provide a public view and direct link with Wentworth Park”. Responding to community concerns that state significant status would prevent an appeal of the government’s proposal, Councillor Thalis said, “we can challenge decisions through community and political actions. The campaign for Sirius being a case in point”. In Council, Councillor Christine Forster said the community could provide comment in consultation sessions for the new market, expected later this year.

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO RELOCATE A PAYPHONE

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 103 Brook Street, Coogee, NSW 2034 (Payphone ID: 02966400X2)

It is proposed that a coin and card payphone be removed from: Outside 13 Ascot Street, Kensington, NSW 2033 (Payphone ID: 02966235X2)

And a coin and card payphone be installed: Outside 199 Coogee Bay Road, Coogee NSW 2034

And a coin and card payphone be installed: Outside 112–116 Anzac Parade, Kensington, NSW 2033

The relocated payphone will be located approximately 39 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

The relocated payphone will be located approximately 40 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed.

Currently, the next nearest payphone is located outside: 103 Brook Street, Coogee, NSW 2034. (Payphone ID: 02966528X2)

Currently, the next nearest payphone is located outside: 4 Bowral Street, Kensington NSW 2033. (Payphone ID: 02931304X7)

Reference Number 42093

Reference Number 42094

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

28th August 2019

To assist us in making a final decision, we invite your comments on this proposal. Please send us your comments in writing to:

Telstra Payphone Siting Manager Locked Bag 4850 Melbourne Vic 3001 or by calling us on 1800 011 433 selection Option 2 or by email to Payphones@team.telstra.com

For more information on payphone services (including, any applicable payphone consultation document) see: www.telstra.com.au/payphoneservices/index.htm

city hub 4 JULY 2019

FEATURE

By Madison Behringer

Shore Delights

n its sixth year running, Bondi Feast returns to Bondi Pavilion for another smashing year of theatre, comedy, cabaret, circus and so much more. With the entire two-week long festival based at the Pavilion, punters are encouraged to wander down, pull up a pew and settle in for as much entertainment, food and wine as they can handle. “We kind of think of ourselves as a festival, so it’s a bit of a best-of, curated, high-end fringe festival,”

said Rachel Chant, co-director and curator for Bondi Feast, going on to say,“it’s really important to us that it’s all in the one place so you can come down and just hunker down.” As a Waverly Council event and being part of Bondi Winter Magic, Bondi Feast also features an ice-skating rink out front and a Ferris-wheel to the side. Their newest addition this year, however, an adults-only jumping castle located right in the hub of the festival.

ANYA ANASTASIA - CABARET STAR FOR HIRE

ADAM AXFORD - RULEBREAKER

With such a huge line-up of things to see, do and experience, Bondi Feast is your go-to entertainment hub this winter. “We aim to be artist and audience-friendly, creating a festival that’s affordable and supportive to everyone involved”, said Rachel. Jul 9-20. Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Dr, Bondi Beach. Various Prices. Tickets & Info: www.bondifeast.com.au

re-opening’ of a dysfunctional restaurant and is a unique theatre experience filled with laughs, physical comedy and very, very bad table service. Jul 19-20.The Mini Theatre. $20+b.f.

THE LADY OR THE TIGER

Bringing her brand-new show Cabaret Star For Hire to Sydney for the very first time, multi-award winning performance artist Anya Anastasia will perform in The Parlour for Bondi Feast this year. Her shows are a beautiful combination of cabaret, performance art, Aussie opera and sidesplitting comedy, with Cabaret Star For Hire her most hilarious show yet. “This show, in particular, is very funny, audiences really laugh and it can be quite a hysterical, rioted show,” said Anya, continuing, “it’s non-stop action, it’s very silly, and it’s very honest. There are lots of surprises and lots of ‘wow’ moments that people may not have seen before.” Anya’s shows feature all-original music with Cabaret Star For Hire showcasing her heartfelt new ballad Never Give Up On Your Dreams And Other Terrible Pieces Of Advice, guaranteed to induce an audience-full of belly laughs. Performing at Bondi Feast for two nights only, Anya Anastasia is not to be missed. Jul 12-13. Parlour Tent. $25+b.f.

Magician, illusionist, and advocate for social and environmental change, Adam Axford’s newest show RULEBREAKER will leave you mind-blown yet also feeling a little more wholesome than when you arrived. Using incredible magic, Adam engages and stuns his audiences whilst throwing in just the right amount of what’s most important to him. “It’s as if they were watching a TED Talk that was compelling to them but rather than being distracted by the non-stop intellect it was demonstrated by mind-blowing pieces of magic”, Adam explained. Only performing two shows at Bondi Feast, Adam’s RULEBREAKER is full of unexplainable tricks and illusions, using technology, the audience and mind-bending magic. Summing his show up, Adam said, “I hope audiences experience wonder, amazement and surprise, and for everyone to get involved and connect with each other.” With rave reviews like this one, “That is THE BEST piece of magic I have EVER seen… @#$% that’s good!” (Stu Gregor, Founder of Four Pillars), it’s a sure guarantee that RULEBREAKER will be a smash hit. Jul 17-18. Parlour Tent. $30+b.f.

TABLE FOR TWO?

This multi-award winning smasher of a show will be gracing The Mini Theatre for two nights only at this year’s Bondi Feast. A one-man show from Sydney artist Will Tredinnick, Table For Two? is 45-minutes of chaos, laughter and more audience participation than you bargained for. The show is set during the ‘grand

One door hides the tiger. One the lady. Showing in The Yard, The Lady or The Tiger combines live performance and video in the most unorthodox of venues. Directed by Claudia Osborne and Mikala Westall, this show explores our love for watching each other suffer and so much more. Jul 16-20.The Yard. $20+b.f. city hub 4 JULY2019

FEATURE

By Madison Behringer

I HAVE SOMETHING

Alex Reynolds has one theory she wholeheartedly believes in, and it is this. The more you listen to Whitney Houston’s song I Have Nothing the better it gets. Her theory will be tested at a Whitney Houston themed dance party that you definitely need in your life. Bringing her

“...an impressive voice and more stage presence than anyone has the right to possess.” (What Did She Think) Jul 11-13.The Mini Theatre. $25+b.f.

AIRLOCK: A NIHILISTIC CABARET ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD

Written by Tim Hansen, Airlock: A Nihilistic Cabaret About The End Of The World, is essentially, according to Tim, a gay cabaret about the end of the world. With all the elements one could want in a show of its title, Airlock features eight all-original songs that are the perfect combination of musical theatre and pop.

mission to celebrate a life less serious and to inspire the world to do the same. Jul 16-20. Parlour Tent. $30+b.f. experimental performance art/comedy/burlesque show I Have Something to Bondi Feast this year, Alex invites you to join her at her dance party and revel in a bit of self-love and fun. Jul 12-13.The Gallery. $20+b.f.

LASER KIWI

New Zealand’s favourite group Laser Kiwi, known for their ‘surreal sketch circus’ are bringing their hilarious show to Bondi Feast this year. Taking over the Parlour Tent, Laser Kiwi are on a

city hub 4 JULY 2019

IT’S NOT ME, IT’S DEFINITELY YOU

Set to a soundtrack of Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen, Australian performer Lisa Woodbrook explores the ever-evolving world of dating in her newest show It’s Not Me, It’s Definitely You. Hilarious and relatable, Lisa has the right advice for those looking for love. Showing for three nights during Bondi Feast, Lisa Woodbrook is ready to fill The Mini Theatre with comedy, amazing vocals and all the dating advice you could ever need.

With a killer cast, this cabaret-come-comedy is taking over The Parlour Tent for this year’s Bondi Feast. Jul 19-20. Parlour Tent. $30+b.f.

FEATURE AKIO! (UNCUT)

CHASING SMOKE

Featuring Australia’s only Indigenous Australian contemporary circus ensemble, Chasing Smoke is making its Sydney debut at this year’s Bondi Feast. The show is an evocative and triumphant

work that stokes the fires of identity, adversity and success for a unique cohort of young Australians. Jul 9-13. Parlour Tent. $30+b.f.

NIGELLA – LOVE BITES

Taking audiences back to the nostalgia of the 90s, Akio! (Uncut) follows the story of Akio! and his long-time crush Harumi as they get sucked into the world of video games, forcing Akio! to face his greatest fears. The show embraces art, dance and multimedia and shamelessly rips off old-school 90s video games like Zelda, Street Fighter, Mario and more. Jul 10-13. The Gallery. $20+b.f.

CASTING OFF

An entrancing all-women, cross-generational circus show, Casting Off showcases three women flipping, climbing and flying to an expansive soundscape. The show is a theatrical circus experience that celebrates thoughtful, strong, and resilient individuals. Jul 9-13. Parlour Tent. $30+b.f.

Nigella – Love Bites, is a triumphant character cabaret that explores the sugar highs and front-page lows of Nigella Lawson’s career. A one-woman show, Raelene Isbester takes on the persona of the adored chef in this light-hearted yet deliciously funny performance. After sell-out shows around the country, Nigella – Love Bites has finally made its way to Sydney for this year’s Bondi Feast. Jul 11-13. Little Theatre. $30+b.f.

HHHHH The spark that ignites the question, “Who am I ?” when you have 80,0 0 0 years of histor y to sift through in search of an answer

Intergenerational circus with lots to say: the personal is political, fury is fun and the acrobatics downright dangerous – especially when life gets in the way!

Winner of Greenroom AWArd for Best ContemporAry

9 - 13 July 7- 8 pm 1 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach

CirCus 2017

9 - 13 July 8:30 pm

WInnEr: ToTal ThEaTrE & Jacksons lanE aWarD For cIrcus, EDInBurgh FrIngE 2018 WInnEr: BEsT cIrcus, mElBournE FrIngE 2018

A Good CAtCh & Cluster Arts present… For more information: www.bondifeast.com.au/event/casting-off city hub 4 JULY 2019

The CiTy hub is seeking friendly and reliable people (with a vehicle) to deliver our newspapers. Please email lawrence@altmedia.net.au

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city hub 4 JULY 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Relative Merits

Relative Merits, written by Australian playwright Barry Lowe in 1993, is a one-act two-hander originally created to showcase the acting talents of young actor David Campbell. Since the early 90s, Relative Merits has had many seasons, with its newest coming to El Rocco Theatrette in Kings Cross this July.The Australian LGBTQI+ play has become a classic over the years, telling the story of two brothers and their grapple with homosexuality, homophobia, and their journey to acceptance. Directed by Porter James, Relative Merits stars Sam Welsh and Isaac Broadbent. Both upcoming, young Australian actors, the pair have taken on their challenging roles head-on. Isaac spoke with City Hub about the intensity of working on a two-hander play. “It’s a lot more vulnerable. In this show, we’re really baring ourselves, and even the venue itself is a very intimate space.” Isaac described the rehearsal space and the director’s approach to guiding the two actors through the themes of the play saying, “Our director Porter James has allowed us to create the characters for ourselves and have some creative freedom with it.” Relative Merits will be staged almost like a boxing ring, with the audience witnessing the brother’s sparring from close range. Isaac said of the intimate staging, “Stripping it back makes it a lot more raw and a lot more vulnerable which is scary but also so much more interesting.” Relative Merits is one of those plays that has been immune to time – in 1993, it was a poignant and daring piece. Now, in 2019, the play is just as relevant as 26 years ago but in a whole new way. Isaac summed this up in a striking and beautiful way by saying, “I want audiences to experience how hard it can be but how important it is for people to love and accept each other for who they are. Love between human beings is the most important thing.” (MB) Jul 10-25. El Rocco Theatrette, 154 Brougham Street, Kings Cross. $20-$25+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.trybooking.com

REVIEW: Madama Butterfly

Anyone who saw Moffat Oxenbould’s exquisite staging of Madama Butterfly should thoroughly expunge it from their mind if they hope to even find an entry point in Graeme Murphy’s diametrically opposite interpretation. Where Oxenbould employed minimalism, delicacy, and understatement, Murphy has fully exploited every visual effect to the max. There’s no warm-up either. In the opening scene, a web-like structure made from red shibari rope descends from above with a dancer suspended Christ-like in its centre. Other ropes hold dancers tied up bondage style. This sets the tone for the rest of the performance, not only thematically and visually, but in its overt

city hub 4 JULY 2019

themselves go, Karah Son is astounding as Cio-Cio San (Butterfly), utterly soaring during the famous aria. Sian Pendry plays a feisty, wilful Suzuki. Andeka Gorrotxategi plays Pinkerton with the right blend of cockiness, naivety and cowardice. Virgilio Marino as the matchmaker, Goro, is malevolent and slimy.

As with any production that takes bold creative risks, this will divide people. Anyone who enjoys a departure from the usual should probably have a look. (RB) Until Aug 10. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point. $39-$361+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Cosentino Anything Is Possible

Returning to Australia for his first international tour since 2015, the country’s most successful illusionist and escapologist Cosentino will take his newest live show Anything Is Possible on the road. Performing for Sydney audiences on July 5 at Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney. After touring the world for the last 18 months to packed audiences and rave reviews, the Aussieborn performer promises to deliver magic,

escapes, dance and illusion at a level his fans have never witnessed before. Despite his roaring fame and millions of fans, Cosentino is grounded, forthcoming and extremely witty. Struggling with literacy in his formative years, Cosentino’s mother encouraged him to read, taking him to the library regularly.Whilst there, he discovered books on magic and illusion which ultimately led to him learning to read, write and spell while learning magic tricks from the books. Of this experience, Cosentino shared,“I think that’s why my magic now even still to this day is far more true and organic for me because it’s built into my DNA and literally created me as a person. I owe everything to it and it made me who I am.” Cosentino talks about constantly keeping his

audience in the forefront of his performances, describing his creative process when developing a show like Anything Is Possible. “The process now for coming up with material is really ‘what would I like to see on stage if I was going to a show’?” Cosentino concluded with his passion to share his newest show with Australian audiences, saying: “I can practice as much as I want but it’s not really magic or an experience until you perform it for an audience. Magic is all about the audience’s response. I know I’ve done a really good job on TV when people start bagging me out!” (MB) Jul 5. Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney, 14 Darling Drive, Sydney. $71.20-$234.15+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.livenation.com.au

Female Of The Species A priest, a secret covenant, a murder, a crime scene set in an insane asylum and a young woman wrongly accused of murder or desperately in need of help? This is the scene which production company Dark Stories sets for their upcoming interactive mystery theatre experience, Female Of The Species. The experience commences at the doorstep of an insane asylum, ready to be introduced to the inmates, all with motive and opportunity to commit a recent murder. The inmates have agreed to a covenant that will allow a group of strangers to visit them, review the clues and pass judgement on whom they deem guilty. In order to enjoy this show, the audience is

a&e

messaging. Whether or not you like Murphy’s unorthodox, avant-garde approach, it is hard not to cringe at some of the in-your-face symbolism. The set is surrounded by screens on which video and laser projections feature throughout. The images are often bold shapes with vivid colours which become obtrusive. As you might expect, Murphy calls on his background as a choreographer and includes a number of dance sequences; it’s debatable whether they add anything to the story. There’s an overall sense of “too much.” Murphy fills every minute and every square metre with something and doesn’t leave any breathing space. As far as performances

16 STAGE 18 SCENE 19 Sounds 19 SCREEN

tasked with forming part of the unfolding narrative and may be required to perform actions, make decisions and unravel clues that impact the show’s ultimate ending. Will the audience make the right choice? What will the consequences be? And is the female of the species really more deadly than the male? Female Of The Species is the follow up to Dark Stories highly successful previous outing, Confessions Of A Serial Killer. The team behind this fictional adventure certainly have the pedigree to create something truly outstanding as they regularly run weekly ‘true crime’ tours throughout Sydney. Jul 5-7. Secret Location, Balmain. $45+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.darkstories.com.au

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

Contributors: Irina Dunn, Mark Morellini, Olga Azar, Rita Bratovich, Joseph Rana, Madison Behringer, Allison Hore, Renee Lou Dallow, Alannah Maher.

When you’ve been diagnosed with an STI, get the support you need – talk to someone else who has been in your shoes and stay in control of your own health. Telling your partners means both of you can take control together towards ending HIV in NSW. Visit rypl.com.au to access peer support, online tools and our partner notification app.

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Robot Song

Written and directed by Jolyon James, Robot Song incorporates digital technology with live performance to create an optimistic and relatable theatre show aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 12. Showing at Glen Street Theatre for only two nights this July, Robot Song is a heartwarming theatre show for kids and adults alike.After his son’s autism diagnosis, Jolyon noticed that when engaging in creative activities his son became increasingly receptive and more engaged. Inspired by this and influenced by other significant events in their lives, Jolyon wrote Robot Song, determined to shed light and optimism through the play. “Somewhere inside creativity there’s an extraordinary thing that unlocks amazing stuff for young people”, said Jolyon about the creation of Robot Song.

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The piece has been successfully touring for over two years now, and kids and adults alike who come to see the show leave with a smile. “I think the reason it’s resonating so beautifully with people is because it’s very real and it comes from a very real place and I think people can reflect on their own lives”, said Jolyon. Although Robot Song presents and deals with some big issues, Jolyon wrote the piece to bring positivity and hope to his audiences, saying,“The show is hilarious, it’s a lot of fun. It’s very funny and very moving.” Writing Robot Song to support and encourage kids, Jolyon summarised the experience that the show offers,“Primarily I think the show delivers some optimism in a world that I think really needs it at the moment.You come out with this beautiful sense of optimism and that anything is possible.” (MB) Jul 9-10, Glen Street Theatre, Corner Glen Street & Blackbutts Rd, Belrose. $23-$95+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.glenstreet.com.au

Paddo Inn Talks The Paddo Inn is holding a series of Inn Talks featuring female speakers who’ll be sharing their expertise and experience on a wide range of topics. Organiser Danielle Taylor says the monthly talks, scheduled for throughout July and August, are geared towards Paddo Inn’s large female patronage (though men are most welcome). “We just wanted to create a space where we could hero some incredible women and talk through issues that are relevant in our day and age,” explains Taylor. Panellists have been selected to reflect the particular topic for the month and provide valuable insights. Topics range across physical and mental health, business, dealing with social media and more. “We just wanted to find a wide array of amazing women who we felt had something to say or who have achieved something particularly impressive in their own career or life. They need to be engaging and insightful speakers and passionate about the topic at hand,” says Taylor.“If we can inspire someone to make a positive change to their life in any tiny

way, that’s fantastic. If all they do is walk away saying ‘that was a good night’, that’s great too.” July’s topic is Passion Projects and the panellists will be: Julie Stevanja, Founder & CEO of Style Runner; cook and food stylist, Sian Redgrave; and food photographer Nikki To from Buffet Digital. Nikki To stumbled into her passion by chance. She was studying law and on the verge of a post-grad degree when she took a job as assistant to a photographer. “The first day on the job happened to be - the photographer was going

up in a helicopter and shooting aerials, and I kind of did that and never looked back,” she explains. To’s career started with a lot of underpaid work for food/lifestyle blogs, but through that she was able to get her name out there and make connections. She also had the rare joy of combining two passions: food and photography.Together with an editor she had previously worked for,To now runs Buffet Digital - a content creation business for the food industry. (RB) Jul 9. Paddo Inn, 338 Oxford St, Paddington. $55+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.paddoinn.com.au

THE NAKED CITY

INDIE VENUES ON THE RISE! With Coffin Ed During the 1970s in Sydney, the live music scene gathered momentum in numerous pubs and large licensed clubs. There were some smaller independent venues around but they often found it difficult to compete with the financial clout of the larger operators. For the pubs and clubs, promoting live music was a lucrative means of attracting patrons and boosting their alcohol sales. All this changed of course when poker machines began to proliferate, especially in pubs during the 90s, and live music gave way to the onearmed bandits. In the ensuing years, a whole range of factors has seen live music take a back seat within the broad entertainment spectrum. With seemingly fewer and fewer venues for musicians to perform. The positive news is that change is happening, regardless of the state of the current lockout laws. Punters still want to experience the cultural interaction of live music and new venues are appearing to satisfy that demand. Small bar licences have made the process of starting a venue a lot easier, as has support from local councils, however, it can still be a struggle for the small independent owner. One recent success story is that of The Newsagency in Camperdown and its founder Alison Avron, a musician herself, who established the original venue’s home in

Marrickville in a former newsagency. The initial venue thrived in a suburb that has embraced live music with a passion, taking its place alongside other successes such as The Camelot Lounge,The Factory, The Red Rattler, Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Bowlo and Lazybones. After a falling out with the landlord over renovations to the premises,Alison moved to her current location in Camperdown.A sympathetic local council helped facilitate the move as Alison recalls. “Inner West Council did the best they could with the procedures they have. The General Manager at the time Harjeet Atwal and Mayor Darcy Byrne

If you speak with any of the established small to medium venue owners such as Foundry616 or Venue505, they will all tell you a similar story, when it comes to meeting council compliance. As Alison notes. “It’s difficult at the moment because council makes it difficult. The arts and culture side are still yet to talk with the planning side of council. If the governing body isn’t communicating properly, it’s an uphill battle for anyone wanting to follow in the example of not just me, but other people pioneering and dedicating their lives for live music in Sydney.” There is a renaissance when it comes to small independent music venues in Sydney and it’s not surprising that it’s the more progressive council areas that accommodate ventures such as The Newsagency. There is still much to be done however in making the start up process a lot easier, less expensive and really did their best to make the process generally less painful, for owners whose as smooth as possible and get the venue prime motivation in starting these across the line.” venues is often their sheer passion for However,Alison also points to the red tape live music. and compliance requirements that can This Saturday, July 6 The Newsagency make starting such a venue a painful and plays host to the Sydney Improvised expensive process. Music Association (SIMA) as they “It would be great if council could do case present a unique double album launch by case development applications. Presently, featuring the remarkable international if you want to get a music venue council percussionist and composer Laurence approved you’re lumped in with the same Pike as well as the ground breaking trio, DAs that are applying to be multi-story Lumberjack. It’s a great opportunity to apartment buildings and skyscrapers.A lot hear some cutting edge music in one of of the process doesn’t make sense for this city’s cosiest and most welcoming small operations. It’s pretty off putting and venues. Details at www.thenewsagencyvenue.com also very costly.”

BOOK REVIEW: Don Walker - Songs For more than 40 years Don Walker’s songs have been imprinted into our collective DNA as if our very souls have been permeated by a giant earworm. With the release of his new book, Songs, Walker has put some of his considerable songwriting output into a 304 page compendium that shows his strengths as a writer and storyteller. Songs opens with Khe Sanh and as the first 40 pages unravel we already have Breakfast At Sweethearts, Shipping

By Jamie Apps Coincidently enough Jimmy Vann, the frontman of Wollongong band The Vanns, recently spoke to City Hub from a van. Jimmy and the band were travelling south to Melbourne for the opening show of their tour which returns to Sydney this Sunday. Whilst speaking with Jimmy we touched on the important influence Wollongong had on their progression as a touring act as well as what fans can expect from both the upcoming show and throughout the remainder of the year. Hailing from Wollongong each of the members of the band was naturally orbiting each other as they all individually entered into the music industry. It wasn’t until 2013 though that Jimmy said they all naturally “fell into the same band together.” From that moment on the band has been working diligently to simply pursue music because they love it. However, as a natural side effect of this passion the band grew and began to expand outside of Wollongong, something which was made easier due to the

Steel and Ita lifting off the page, with many more to come. Few songwriters anywhere have such a rich body of work and even fewer can say that they have had them recorded by some of Australia’s greatest talents including Slim Dusty, Troy Cassar-Daley, Sarah Blasko and Katie Noonan. The reader often needs to be circumspect when lyrics are presented as poetry as they are usually closely associated with the melody, a question best answered by Walker’s most prolific interpreter, Jimmy Barnes, in the foreword.

The Vanns

supportive community the city fostered. “Everyone in the Wollongong scene backs each other… Rad Bar, in particular, had quite a big influence because it was one of the main bars

where all of the bands from around the area started at. “Since everyone knew each other from playing at Rad Bar we found that if one band started to get bigger there was a good chance that

they would take another band from the same area on tour with them, and vice versa. It was all about helping out your mates and those you were close with.” Earlier this year The Vanns had an incredible run of sellout shows, including their biggest ever headline show at The Factory Theatre in Marrickville. Those successful shows have them brimming with confidence ahead of this Sunday’s performance, where they will unveil to fans the album they have been sitting on for 12 months. “We’re keen to play this record because we’ve sat on it for so long. We recorded the album over a year ago, so it’s exciting for us as well to bring life back to the songs. We’re so keen to release some more music and start another new little avenue with our fans to bring them along the journey and share music that we’re super proud of.” Jul 7. Valve Bar, 871 George St, Sydney. $23.50+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.thevannsband.com

Scandinavian Film Festival including the previous hit opening night films The Other Side Of Hope (2017) and What Will People Say (2018). “This year the political thriller The Sons Of Denmark tackles a future where different forms of extremism collide.” Zeccola concluded by saying that there are films for all tastes at this festival. “There are films for fans of noir and sci-fi in this program which is compact but approachable at the same time.” (MMo)

Happy Ending

The Scandinavian Film Festival returns to Sydney this year, presenting a program of 19 high-quality films from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland. Elysia Zeccola, the curator and Festival Manager explained that the line-up is incredibly strong, with films for older and younger audiences. “Happy Ending is our crowd-pleasing opening night selection which features a star-studded cast. It tells the story of a woman who has been patiently waiting for years for her workaholic husband to retire so they can spend time together, but instead

he invests their life savings into a winery! It’s a cheeky, fun and lifeaffirming film!” Aniara is a film which science fiction enthusiasts should not miss. “The futuristic portrayal of life on a Swedish spaceship bound for Mars should captivate audiences because of its unique vision and the eerie and intense world that we are drawn into, as the structure of community starts to unravel – it’s enthralling!” This festival has a long tradition of representing films with the universal themes of immigration and migration

“The words hold up stripped of the music,” Jimmy Barnes said. Walker’s world view as an outsider informs much of this body of work, where aloneness rather than loneliness is the dominant viewpoint. His incisive intelligence does away with any sentimentality and even the most mundane of subjects are treated with wryness and existential humour in language that is as crisp as it is descriptive. (JMo)

PURITY OF VENGEANCE – The new instalment from Department Q has broken all box office records to become the highest grossing Danish film of all time. A WHITE, WHITE DAY – A multi-award-winning stunning Icelandic drama that was the Nordic success story of Cannes. LET ME FALL – A heartbreaking addiction drama, brilliantly acted and directed.

Jul 9–31. Palace Verona, Palace Norton & Palace Central. $14-$280+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.scandinavianfilmfestival.com

Gena Rose Bruce - Can’t Make You Love Me Gena Rose Bruce’s debut album has been three years in the making, and after listening it is clear why this record took her so long. Can’t Make You Love Me showcases an artist with a clear vision but also one who was suffering immeasurable heartbreak Photo: Ryan Downey during this period of her life. Soft, smokey but striking vocals power this album along. From the outset, the album builds a melancholic tension thanks to Bruce’s vocals and surprisingly mature lyricism. Musically the vocals are supported by subtle folk, country elements but largely this album revolves around the deeply personal message Bruce is conveying to her listeners. Notably in the middle of the album, I Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You pierces through your heart and will have even the strongest of listeners fighting back tears. Whilst the opening phases of the album are brimming with sadness it is endearing to see positivity creep in towards the final moments. The closing track, Wild One, in particular, introduces some electronic drum beats and synth elements which leave the listener excited for what is to come in the future from Bruce. (JA) WWW1/2

Spider-Man: Far From Home To close out wave three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) offering comes, Spider-Man: Far From Home. The film follows on directly from Avengers: Endgame in the wake of the ‘snap’ and thus contemplates the multitude of problems that has caused society. In this new age of the MCU Peter Parker (Tom Holland) struggles with his role as a superhero. Parker would prefer to remain simply the ‘friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man’ rather than a full-fledged Avenger which would instead task him with protecting the entire planet. It is this inner torment which drives Spider-Man: Far From Home as Parker struggles with being a regular teenager whilst also being tested by an otherworldly enemy. Given the enemy which Spider-Man is required to fight off in this film, there is a buffet of CGI set pieces. Some of which are visually stunning and some which leave a little to be desired in regards to quality. Spider-Man: Far From Home is a highly comedic offering, which has

many moments which echo Euro Trip but in a much more family-friendly manner. Overall the film is a funny and cute evolution of the beloved web-swinger which sets the table for an exciting future wave of MCU offerings. (JA) WWW1/2 city hub 4 JULY 2019

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