City Hub 4 October 2018

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Sydney cyclists driven off the road

BY Sarah McLenaghan Sydney cyclists are calling for greater protection on NSW roads as motorists continue to drive dangerously around them with no penalty.

Reports show a lack of compliance with the Safe Passing Distance Rule by drivers and little to no enforcement of the standard by police.

Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club member, David Maywald told the City Hub “You are four times more likely to win Lotto in NSW, than to be caught for breaking the Safe Passing Distance rule”.

The rule, introduced in March 2016 by the NSW Government, requires drivers passing a bicycle rider to leave at least one metre when the speed limit is 60km/h or below and 1.5 metres where the speed limit exceeds 60km/h.

The penalty for drivers who do not keep the minimum passing distance to bicycle riders is a $337 fine and 2 demerit points.

However, Mr Maywald says “In two and a half years there have been no operations by NSW Police to enforce Safe Passing Distance.

“Instead they have contributed to a one-third reduction in cycling participation by cracking down on minor offences, such as helmet wearing, bike lights, footpath riding, bells.”

Statistics show an increase in bike fines from 350 per cent to 500 per cent since 2016.

In that time only 65 fines were issued to drivers for breaking the Safe Passing Distance rule.

Cyclist, Peter Teow, has experienced the lacklustre police response first-hand.

He recalled a dangerous close pass he experienced while cycling in a popular riding area near West Head.

“A ute driver overtook the bunch without waiting behind or checking the road was clear, he contravened MPD [mandatory passing distance], encroached into my path and effectively forced me to take evasive action as I tried to avoid being injured by his ute tray, nearly running me off the road in the process.

“As I corrected my path to stay on the road the very tail-end of the ute brushed past my right hand.”

Mr Teow reported the incident at Newtown Station and provided a video of the close pass which was sent to North Shore LAC. Several months later he was informed that the video evidence doesn’t ‘prove’ the MPD law being contravened and no penalty was issued.

In a similar incident, cyclist, Marc Rerceretnam reported a Mandatory Passing Distance Infringement to police who failed to act.

Sydney cyclists demand greater enforcement of Safe Passing Distance Rule.

Photo: David Maywald

He was forced to complain to the Shadow Minister and Minister for Police to get a response.

“In our experience, many NSW Police Stations, and especially Sutherland Police Station, are actively working against and ignoring NSW state laws,” Mr Rerceretnam said.

These incidents reflect what Mr Maywald says is an implementation of Safe Passing Distance that has pushed the entire burden of prosecution onto the victims.

“When a cyclist has been illegally passed or hit by a vehicle, they have to attend a Police Station and provide evidence that is beyond reasonable doubt.

“We estimate that much fewer than one percent of incidents taken to Police have resulted in a fine.”

Bicycle NSW spokesperson, Bastien Wallace, suggested part of the problem is the lack of adequate cycling infrastructure.

“Safe, separated cycleways are rare, and marked bike lanes are often disconnected and positioned in the ‘door zone’, meaning the riders risk being injured from drivers opening car doors or being pushed into traffic,” he said.

According to Mr Wallace “[NSW needs] positive provisioning like building for bikes whenever we build roads and rail projects, separated, well-connected bike lanes and using physical barriers to protect riders.”

An Inner West Council spokesperson said the council’s various cycling policies address the promotion of safety for all road users.

“Council is continuing to work with all stakeholders to assist in reducing conflict between the various types of road users.”

This involves user awareness campaigns, building separated cycleways, and pursuing the development of a safe cycle network which minimises conflict between cars and bikes.

Transport for NSW said ensuring the safety of cyclists is a commitment of the NSW Government.

“Over $1 million has been invested in the Go Together campaign, educating drivers about the minimum passing distance rule,” said a Transport for NSW spokesperson.

Through the Community Road Safety Grants Program, the Government has funded two projects, totalling $15,000, to raise awareness about the minimum passing distance rule.

Despite this, in the lead up to the State election, cyclists across NSW are campaigning for several million dollars to go into a public education campaign on Safe Passing Distance, mandatory Police training on Safe Passing Distance, proactive enforcement of Safe Passing Distance by NSW Police, and a several hundred per cent increase in the spend on cycling infrastructure.

It is hoped that these measures will help alleviate tension on NSW roads and increase support for cycling.

Mr Wallace said “It’s really unhelpful to keep focusing on tension and aggression, most people ride and drive carefully, and everyone wants to get home safely.

“Every person riding a bike is one less car creating congestion and pollution, one more seat on public transport and the data shows that every kilometre ridden saves the community $1.43.”

The Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club petition to enforce Safe Passing Distance can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/protect-your-family-and-friends-with-safepassing-distance-ametrematters.

Council grants give and take

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BY Lanie Tindale Thirteen organisations have been granted $324,000 under the Inner West Council Stronger Communities Grant Program.

The report published by the council identifies 41 grant applications, with grant requests totalling over $1.35 million. The 13 organisations granted money were awarded between $10-$50 each.

The grant program commenced in 2016, running for three years, and is funded by the NSW government. The biggest grants were $50,000 each for the Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative and Youth off the Streets.

Big name organisations such as Youth off the Streets, Milk Crate Theatre and the Big Issue were also among those granted funds.

Not-for-profit community club, the Petersham Bowling Club, was granted $14 284 to install 14 SolaBollards (solar powered lights) to provide “safety lighting” as part of an outdoor extension.

Council say they tried to improve representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations in response to a lack of representation in 2017.

Two indigenous organisations - Boomalli and Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat - received funding.

Youth off the Streets received $50k in funding. Photo: Supplied

Absec were granted $15 000 to host a “Family Fun Day” during NAIDOC week.

The Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative was granted funding for “six new exhibitions to promote and celebrate Aboriginal artists for New South Wales, including the 25th anniversary of Boomalli’s first Mardi Gras show.”

Bronwyn Bancroft, a curator and strategist at the Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative, told City Hub: “Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative is thrilled with being awarded a stronger community grant by the

Inner West Council. This grant assist in our continued survival in our 30th year..”

The grant selection panel included Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne, state MP’s Jenny Leong and Jamie Parker, coordinator at NSW Premier and Cabinet department Doug Thompson and CanterburyHurlstone Park RSL employee Paul Kougias.

Mayor Byrne told the council that “members of the panel were asked to submit a ranking score for each of the projects … that had been submitted.”

“There wasn’t complete unanimity but there was very broad consensus about the strength of the applications.”

Councillors Julie Passas and Vittoria Pacitti did not support the funding decisions.

Clr Passas said “I think it’s absolutely shocking that the money … the [the Shepherd Centre, a charity for deaf children] has put twice for grants and we haven’t given them once cent.

“I would like this to be deferred. This is absolutely disgusting. The people that we’ve knocked back, and the people that we’re supporting with these grants. It’s not at all fair,” said Clr Passas.

Eighteen organisations did not receive funding, including The Shepherd Centre, the Child Abuse Prevention Service, the Infants’ Home, Marrickville Legal Centre and the Australian Foundation for Disability.

The overall grant funding available to the Inner West Council was $1 million over 3 years, with 2018 being the final year funding was available.

Four information sessions were held in Ashfield and Petersham, which council says were attended by about 50 prospective grant applicants. city hub 4 OCTOBER 2018

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Amalgamation report card troubles IWC

By Michael Hitch Inner West Councillors have expressed dismay after being presented with only a single page organisational report as part of the inner west council amalgamation process.

At the Inner West Council meeting on 25 September, councillors were given the one page report detailing the General Manager and Senior Staff structure of the council, leaving many feeling that the length and depth of the report was not nearly comprehensive enough.

The report was presented as part of the continuing efforts to merge three previously separate councils into the Inner West Council.

Independent Councillor John Stamolis said that the report’s lack of detail during such an important transition period was unacceptable and suggested the restriction of information was designed to limit public scrutiny.

“We’re right in the middle of a merger, major transformation of your council…of three councils…and we get a one page report,” he said.

“I don’t care whether there’s theory in the local government act that says that’s all you have to do…theory is one thing; common-sense and good practice are another.

“I would think that a report in the order of 25 to 30 pages would have been in order because after this particular time we want to know what the structure is and why the structure is as it is,” said Cr Stamolis.

“Also, if we’re going to debate this as a report and discuss it amongst council, I can’t say one page is going to provide any level of information to do that.

“There was significant concern expressed about its quality, its length, its ability to inform council, its ability to inform the public and I think it rated very low on all of those levels.”

The amalgamation of the Leichhardt, Ashfield and Marrickville councils into an expanded ‘mega-

Inner West Council delivers a one page report on amalgamation. Photo: Michael Hitch

council’ was forced by the State Government in May 2016.

The organisational report was intended to set out the general manager and staff positions for the newly unified council however Councillors say the lack of depth or understanding presented in the report has highlighted disorganisation within council due to the amalgamation.

There have been calls for a plebiscite to gauge public opinion on possibly undoing the merger, with costs and inefficiencies occurring within the organisation of the new council cited as reasons the amalgamation should be reversed.

Independent Councillor Pauline Lockie said she shared Cr Stamolis’ views on the report and said staff operations were key to running to council and the organisational structure was necessary

information which should have been available to the councillors.

“It [report] was not at the depth of information we would’ve expected,” she said.

“We only got given a two-tier structure which is the general manager and the three deputy managers that sit under that, but of course underneath those positions there’s a whole lot of other senior staff who head up each individual area.

“I was quite surprised not to see those staff in there because the people who are at that level are still senior and also have a big impact on the way the council operates because they head up all of our key areas like parks or aquatics and all of the services that our community interacts with,” said Cr Lockie.

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Cr Stamolis questioned the decision to eliminate the position of General Manager for Aquatics.

“Council has the most historic aquatics program in the history of the Inner West valued at $60 million, so why did we make the manager position of aquatics redundant?” he asked.

“I, as a councillor didn’t even get an answer as to why this position was made redundant at such a key time, let alone the public!”

Cr Lockie said she shared Councillor Stamolis’ concerns with the deletion of the position, “particularly as we’re launching into a huge investment phase with our aquatics area…I just find it a baffling decision to just demote that position at this particular time.”

Former mayor of Marrickville and current Independent Councillor, Victor Macri said the reaction to the report was a reflection of in-fighting within the newly formed council.

“I just think that a lot of the instability within council has been brought on by the councillors,” he said.

“There’s a lot of inexperienced councillors there that are making a lot of work for staff and making it really difficult.

Mr Macri continued, “Councillors are playing games with people, they’re saying ‘oh we’re doing our best and it’s the big bad State Government that’s doing this to you’.”

“The report was only on the managerial positions, it just identified the people and it sought to seek ratification on that…the operation of council belongs in that other realm, not with the elected officials.

“You can’t be given the captaincy of a ship, run it into the rocks and then say it’s the ships fault…you’re steering it!”

Cr Stamolis said that for such an important report in terms of council structure and service, the quality was not only unacceptable for the council itself but also for the community.

Mayor of the Inner West Council, Darcy Byrne was contacted for comment.

Water everywhere, not a drop to spare

by John Moyle Summer is almost here and is already shaping up to be a scorcher and the question of whether or not we will have water restrictions looms large again.

Metropolitan Sydney draws its water supply from a series of dams located outside the city, with around 80 per cent coming from Warragamba.

Every day 1.4 billion litres pours out of the dams to supply Sydney, with 72 per cent going to households and 28 per cent to businesses.

On Wednesday 3rd October Warragamba’s level was at 62.9 per cent and is currently decreasing by around 0.04 per cent a week, but is still a long way from its lowest levels of 32 per cent reached during the Millennium Drought that lasted from 1996 to mid-2010.

Since then Sydney has not experienced water restrictions but has instead relied on Sydney Water’s Water Rise Rules that stipulate all hoses must be fitted with a trigger nozzle and watering is restricted before 10am and after 4pm.

Buckets must be used to wash vehicles, boats and buildings but what of the water used by councils across the city which have to keep parks green and streets clean?

“Average water consumption for all properties in the Inner West was steady at 490 litres per property per day compared to 623 litres per day for residential buildings across Sydney,” spokesperson Inner West Council said.

“Residential properties make up 76 per cent of the total use and showering is the largest use of water, with toilet, washing machine and garden watering also high.”

Inner West Council has a number of schemes in place to help residents reduce water usage, including information on websites, workshops and a rainwater tank rebate.

Businesses in the area can register for a free sustainability workshop.

WELS rated water noozles are a front line to saving water. Photo: Sydney Water

The City of Sydney said that “a localised approach to water management, wastewater and storm water, recycled water options and a reduction of stormwater were all focused on water efficiency.”

“Working with Flow Systems we recently switched on one of Australia’s largest urban stormwater recycling schemes in Green Square, diverting 320 million litres of polluted stormwater from waterways every year and treating it form use in washing machines, to flush toilets and to water parks and gardens.”

The City also partners with Sydney Water on its Waterfix program that is offered to buildings with high water consumption.

The city is a unique environment for water usage due to its many high rise office and residential buildings and the number of water intensive cooling towers to run air-conditioning systems.

And then there are those pesky leaking taps that can waste up to 2,000 litres of water a month, and with water costing around $2 per kilo-litre, that is a good reasons to replace it.

Sydney Water’s Waterfix program looks at the whole of building water issues problems for no cost up front, with the payment coming out of strata savings on water bills.

The 350 unit Summit Apartment Building was a recent participant in the program and saw a savings of over $61,000 on their water bill.

Andre Boerema, Sydney Water’s manager of resident products and services said “The Waterfix service is a package that charges pretty much the same rate as commercial plumbers, but we can do a very large building within 10 days, whereas a normal plumbing business would take a couple of months.”

Woollahra Council will implement a number of conservation measures in place over summer, including harvesting 260,000 litres of rainwater from tanks installed at 20 Council owned sites across the area.

By harvesting stormwater the Council will significantly reduce its use of potable water used on public parks, gardens and sports fields.

The Council is currently using more than 3,500 kilo-litres on Yarranabee, Christison and Lyne Parks, largely through irrigation.

A state of the art harvesting system installed at the Rose Bay Promenade is capable of capturing 200,000 litres of treated water.

Waverley Council’s executive manager, Sustainable Waverley, Sam McGuiness said that “The Council itself is a major user of water.”

“We use water in numerous sites such as childcare centres, our office building, the library, but the main users are at Bondi Park, Bronte Park and Waverley Park, and at all three sites we have constructed water harvesting systems so that we can use water from non-potable systems.”

At Bondi the main storm water drain is at South Bondi and the water is captured just near the skate park which is situated on top of a large underground tank that captures the water before ti flows into the ocean.

“We’ve recently completed the Waverley Park water upgrade and have constructed large tanks so that we can reduce our use of water from Warragamba Dam,” Mr McGuiness said.

A water harvesting system installed at Tamarama is used to fill the Council’s one water truck.

These are actions taken by four councils but by far biggest changes in water usage comes down to individual households who are the largest water consumers across Sydney.

Replacing old hardware and cisterns with WELS (water efficient labelling) itms is a good start.

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Opinion

The Elephant in the Room

Grand Victorian era Ultimo terrace houses. Photo: John Moyle

By Peter Hehir I recently attended a forum at the University of NSW convened by the Nature Conservation Council NSW. Apart from the presenters there were about thirty or so who’d come to listen to speakers including Peter Newman talk about urban sprawl and the need to increase the density of our capital cities.

Peter believed that density increases were inevitable and that attempts to encourage populations away from the coastal cities were doomed to fail. This approach hadn’t succeeded elsewhere in the world so why should it be successful here? He also disagreed with the contention that there surely has to be an upper limit to a city’s population.

The pachyderm is the doctrine that in order to ensure our survival we need to radically increase the population of the capital cities by importing hundreds of thousands of people annually.

This commonly held belief is espoused by our political masters on all sides of politics. It is the driver behind much of the ‘development’ that so many of us find both alienating and obnoxious.

High rise and toll roads top the list.

However this credo is also a long way from being an established fact, having far more to do with large donations to both of the major parties from the development lobby and the toll road multinationals, than from any merit based rationale.

The Sydney basin is a finite geographical area.

It has finite resources. Water catchments can’t be increased. The sewerage system is already at capacity with untreated sewerage discharged into the harbour during periods of heavy rain. Roads and public transport are choked during peak hours.

Bumper to bumper traffic is becoming the norm on the weekends. Open space is deficient in too many LGA’s. Schools and hospitals are at breaking point.

Much of the infrastructure dollar is wasted in our capitals on projects such as WestConnex. Obviously if a greater proportion were to be spent regionally then it would be much easier to entice people away from the capital cities. The sort of density increases that rob residents in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the other capital cities of their amenity, simply wouldn’t be needed.

The Victorian ring of suburbs surrounding the CBD were fully developed in the 1880’s and offer a form of accommodation that is aesthetically pleasing and as such is much sought after. This Victorian architecture strikes a perfect balance between economic land use, amenity, structural art and accommodation.

Clearly when comparing all of the phases of housing evolution throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Victorian terrace has not been surpassed in terms of form, function and the efficient use of land.

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This inner ring of historic precincts should be afforded protection from high density high rise obscenities, with sympathetic infill inspired by reproducing the terrace house as the preferred structural form.

If we continue to tear down existing residential structures and replace them with mind numbing and soulless medium/high rise, we will have completely destroyed our history and our Victorian heritage. And for what?

Ultimately there will come a time when this ‘knock down and rebuild’ approach is no longer an option because there will be nothing left to knock down but high rise.

So what do we do then? Replace an ugly twelve stories with an even uglier twenty-four?

The only sane solution is to develop our regional cities and towns in a sustainable manner, with the necessary infrastructure sufficient to attract businesses, their workforce and the plethora of service industries that inevitably follow.

Reproducing rows of terraces with front and rear gardens and lanes at the back coupled with expanses of open space opposite would be the desired development model.

There is an argument to increase the density of the middle and outer ring of suburbs to some degree but this needs to be done in a sensitive manner, with access to open space as a priority. It should also happen slowly and only in conjunction with moves to encourage populations to establish themselves in rural cities and towns.

High speed rail and a comprehensive, efficient, affordable public transport system is absolutely essential, along with the expansion of regional airports. It makes perfect sense to provide financial incentives to regional communities in order to accommodate businesses and homes where land is relatively inexpensive.

The $45 billion that we are paying for WestConnex would be far better spent developing regional communities.

Where open space can be easily provided, where green places can be enhanced and developed and where the air is fresh and clean. Where wildlife and nature corridors are protected and where aesthetically pleasing structures are the order of the day, with the worst excesses of the developer and the ego of the architect held in check.

It has long been the dream of successive generations to open up the interior, harking back to the soldier settlement schemes following both World Wars.

The time to act is now - before what’s left of the amenity, history, heritage and integrity of the Victorian development adjacent to the CBD’s in our capital cities is destroyed forever.

The business of being independent

BY ANGELA STEVENS For the first time in 60 years the seat of Wentworth might go to a non-Liberal, and while this probably says more about what’s gone on in Canberra than the quality of the candidates, independents and single issue party candidates have picked up on the scent of an opportunity.

One of them, City of Sydney Councillor Angela Vithoulkas, believes she will succeed because establishment politicians aren’t doing the right thing by their constituents.

“People feel that they [the politicians] aren’t getting anything done with running the country and aren’t worrying about the concerns of the people who voted for them,” Ms Vithoulkas said.

“I think that politicians have forgotten that they are caretakers of the people, the budget, the economy, the legislation, and instead they are focusing internally on their own petty topics and that’s why people are upset.”

When asked about the two-party system Ms Vithoulkas emphasised the campaign will be an opportunity for voters to show the mainstream parties it’s time to do right by the people.

She believes the constituents realise they have other options, “People don’t have to blindly vote for who the public has always voted for,” she said.

The founder of the Small Business Party, Ms Vithoulkas is running as an independent as the party’s federal registration is not complete.

Ms Vithoulkas sees herself as an underdog and wears the label like a coat of armour.

She says she believes she can bring about real change in Wentworth where other mainstream politicians have failed, because she already has runs on the board.

A recent campaign has been her efforts to address the negative impact of the Light Rail on her constituents and business owners in particular.

Citing disruptions to her own café VIVO in the CBD due to the Light Rail works, she has led a class action lawsuit of similarly affected business owners against the project.

As the former owner of 17 businesses, Ms Vithoulkas says the difference between her and every other candidate is that she has real world experience that others do not.

Addressing concerns the campaign in Wentworth will dilute her focus on the class action lawsuit against the light-rail and her council duties she said “At the moment I’m not working at a business, so I have plenty of free time.

“The light rail class action is already established and filed so there’s very little more for me to do there, this is an ideal time, it fitted right in.”

Ms Vithoulkas says many Wentworth residents and business owners have also been negatively affected by the Light Rail construction and expects her high profile stand against the project to resonate with voters.

Sydney business woman Angela Vithoulkas is running as an independent in Wentworth. Photo: Supplied

Despite the administrative hiccup, she says she will be putting small business interests at the top of her platform during the campaign and beyond.

Another independent throwing his hat into the ring is Victorian lawyer David Barrow, a selfproclaimed “Fly In Fly Out” candidate running a remote campaign on the single issue Make Australians Australian Again (MAAA).

Mr Barrow has been vocal about the need to simplify the rules around Australian citizenship, particularly when it comes to eligibility for Parliament, documenting on his website his efforts to renounce his British citizenship so as to be eligible for any of the many seats he has attempted to contest.

He was previously best known for running against Tony Abbott for Warringah in 2016 on a platform for marriage equality, raising money for his candidacy via a Go Fund Me campaign titled Tony Abbott Botherer.

Mr Barrow believes his efforts made a difference in the long run even if they weren’t reflected in the vote count.

“I believe I raised awareness in support of marriage equality,” said Mr Barrow. “I also campaigned with arguments against an unnecessary plebiscite on the issue. Finally, we made it as a country!”

Mr Barrow can not hold out much hope of victory in Wentworth if his results in Warringah are anything to go by, but seems to be running as more of a consciousness raising effort than anything else, saying “To be honest, if elected I will demand a recount”.

With a self-deprecating laugh Ms Vithoulkas admits she doesn’t know how she’s polling in Wentworth because she can’t afford to do polling on herself.

Recently, she made headlines selling her house to fund her council election campaign.

“I had no choice. Running a local government campaign as an independent is incredibly expensive in the City of Sydney…you have to cover the entire area, 30 odd suburbs, and one mail-out is 80 thousand dollars.”

The latest reports from the media had her running in fifth place out of 12 candidates.

Ms Vithoulkis claims not to be discouraged running from behind and says she will be holding a fundraiser and is hopeful for donations.

“It’s costing me money and time, but I believe in what I do,” she said.

As for her fellow independent, Mr Barrow predicted “I say my prospects are somewhere between nil and very negligible and I think that is probably about right”.

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Developers set their sites

By Georgia Fullerton One of Double Bay’s trademark arcades has been targeted for a $25.4 million development of 21 units and ground floor retail. This is the latest of a number of development plans put forward in the area, which residents say will jeopardise the unique low-rise character, which is both a local and regional attraction.

The Bay Village Arcade at 28-34 Cross Street will go before the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel on October 4. Woollahra Council has invited members of the public to attend these meetings, they can register to verbally present a summary of their submissions before a decision is made.

Senior Communications Officer for Woollahra Council, Matt Frillingos, said: “Council advertised the development applications to public for comment. Residents with concerns regarding these development applications had the opportunity to make submissions by way of objection. These submissions were taken into account in terms of merit assessment by Council’s planning officer, and tabled in a report to the Sydney Eastern Planning Panel.”

The land is now owned by SJD group, led by

by Shanghai-based developer Shi Jiandong, who bought the land for $45 million.

SJD is already building apartments at 20-26 Cross Street, the “1788 residences”, being sold off the plan by Ray White Double Bay. Documents submitted to Woollahra Council say the proposed arcade development “is of a height and scale that achieves the desired future character of the neighbourhood” at 21.21m high, the building is over the height limit of 14.7m.

In addition to this, developers set their sights on 55 Bay street, to build a seven level mixed retail tower.

Another six-storey 20.3 million development proposal, at 21-27 Bay street, is also over the height

Low rise Double Bay streetscape. Photo: WikiCommons

limit at 21.6m. It is comprised of 23 units plus ground floor retail. Current tenants of the site include The Bridal Atelier and Smarta Laundries.

Vice president of Double Bay Residents Association, Malcolm Young, said there a variety of factors that pose a threat to the area: “Views will be lost both from existing residences and from those of us on the surrounding amphitheatre who look across the Centre to the Harbour. A number of these pending development applications also reduce the commercial business space in the Centre replacing it with units from 1st floor up to the detriment of employment and services in the area.”

Double Bay has experienced the lowest retail trading period in decades following the loss of 200 office workers from the village. Council responded to this with a move to prevent developers from cutting commercial space in favour of more profitable residential space.

Mr. Young said: “Such development so close to the harbour is contrary to the general planning principle that you put higher buildings on ridges, not on the flat where they impede views.”

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Plan.The area has a height limit of four storeys, five storeys for certain sites. There is also in place a floor space ratio of 2.5:1. These controls were subject to community consultation before they were finalised.

A petition was put to Council by 410 residents and over 70 residents from surrounding suburbs to stop an increase on these height and bulk controls.

Mr Young Said: “Our association opposed and continues to oppose development applications which seriously breach these controls. Sadly, some were passed by the last Council, contrary to staff recommendations for refusal. If that trend were to continue, instead of the Centre having a sunny, strollable village character where people like to sit at a pavement cafe in the sunshine and shop in specialty shops, its lanes and streets will become a dark, windy and soulless place surrounded by six and seven storey buildings.”

Mr. Young argues that there are also technical reasons why the development would be a detriment to the area: “Parking in and around the Centre is a nightmare for residents. Traffic through the Centre towards and from the city is a snarl.

All these new apartment blocks should certainly provide for the parking needs they generate, but therein lie the technical problems about excavating in the Centre. The subsoil contains acid sulphates which are a danger to both person and property.

Furthermore the Centre has an aquifer running under it which generates a water table only just below ground level.”

On June 14, The Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel recently refused a seven-storey apartment building proposed for the corner of Bay Street and Guilfoyle Avenue. The building would have housed 39 units, with space for 33 parking spaces.

It was refused as it did not comply with height controls and that the loss of commercial use would be detrimental to the Double Bay Centre.

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FEATURE

ANTENNA DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL

Australia’s international documentary film festival returns for its eighth edition, presenting 38 stimulating feature-length films and 10 shorts from 23 countries. Australia is prominent with a selection of 16 films.

Happy Sad Man. Photo: Supplied

Putin’s Witnesses. Photo: Supplied

Island Of The Hungry Ghosts. Photo: Supplied

UNDERMINED - Tales from The Kimberley Mervyn Street’s Gooniyandi Dancers.

Photo - Stephanie King.

What Is Democracy, Astra Taylor.

Photo: Deborah Degraffenried

By Mark Morellini Each year this festival grows in popularity, evident from the new partnership Antenna has established with Dendy Newtown, which means that documentary enthusiasts in the inner west can now more conveniently attend this festival.

David Rokach, the Festival and Artistic Director, explained that the purpose of this festival is to promote and support documentary film culture in Australia, providing access to some of the most talked about documentaries from around the world and introducing audiences to the endless possibilities of what non-fiction cinema can be.

With so many documentary films on offer, festival-attendees may ask, what is the filmmaker’s responsibility towards its audience?

“Documentary, like any art form, is a medium used to reflect and ask questions about the world around us, ultimately about ourselves.

The filmmaker’s responsibility then is not simply to record and present a ‘true story’ but to show us how they see that story. It’s that voice that makes a story poignant, challenging or revelatory and that gives a story its significant.”

Putin’s Witnesses which details Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rise to power in the early 2000s, has its Australian premiere on opening night and should prove to be a popular choice at the festival. Exiled and provocative filmmaker

Vitaly Mansky will be a guest at the festival.

“One of the most daring and challenging films in the program is Astra Taylor’s What Is Democracy? In a time where issues of race and gender inequality are paramount, Taylor examines the deep roots these problems have in what we call ‘democracy’ today. What I particularly like about this film is the way Taylor challenges our very limited understanding of the term democracy, showing us how it is used and abused, and makes us ask whether what we call democracy is even worth fighting for.”

Island Of The Hungry Ghosts which is regarded as one of the strongest Australian documentaries of the year has its highly anticipated Sydney premiere at the festival.

“The film follows Poh Lin who is a trauma counsellor living on Christmas Island and her job is to offer asylum seekers advice and support while they are detained indefinitely. As Australian government policies make her job harder she finds herself increasingly powerless to help her clients,” explained Rokach. “If you want to see how we treat our asylum seekers in this country then this is the film you should watch. It’s very cinematic and poetic, having won the best documentary award at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival.”

Four years in the making this controversial film will move, shock, anger and possibly leave the

more sensitive viewer teary. “As a filmmaker one of the key purposes is to leave people feeling differently and to offer a perspective that we haven’t seen before and maybe to penetrate people’s perspective so they can see this thing that has been occurring in a different way,” explained the film’s director Gabrielle Brady. “So one of the purposes was how do we move people to see what is really happening because a lot of the feedback from the film has been: ‘Wow! It’s like I’ve had a blanket over my eyes and I’m seeing what has been happening all these years for the first time.’ We’re not wanting to make a storm in a tea cup but we’re wanting to make a real difference and wanting people to have a shifted gauge.”

Screened in over 50 festivals around the US and Europe, Brady said it’s very important that Australian audiences watch this film. “I was very nervous bringing this back to screen at the Australian festivals because the stories are so much closer to us. We know this narrative – my hope is that as many Australians [as possible] watch this film and that we set a dialogue about what is happening in our offshore detention centres.”

Audiences may ponder why this film also showcases the yearly migration of the red crabs – is there a link between the main story concerning the trauma experienced within the detention centre?

“When I arrived on the Island part of my work was how we could visually and cinematically tell this story. One of the first visual stories I was witness to was the migration of the red crabs, which for me was this incredible metaphor that sits there on the island - the sensation of this epic display of nature, this massive movement that happens every year, a force that cannot be stopped and that felt like a stark contrast against the non-movement inside the detention centre, this detainment, this indefinite detention.”

Brady said it’s incredibly important that her film is screening at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival which always brings the best of cinematic and independent films to audiences in Sydney.

“There are a lot of people that took part in the film and who reside in Sydney, so it’s a very personal screening for us and we’re very excited - the screenings in Australia are the most important.”

David Rokach concluded by saying that documentaries today are produced for the big screen and that Antenna provides a theatrical experience that does justice to these films.

“Their dazzling visuals and immersive soundscapes can be experienced to the fullest and when the lights go on, the buzz of a festive crowd, the Q&A’s and the discussions that can emerge, allow the audience to enter the larger world of documentary culture.”

Oct 9-14. Chauvel Cinema, Verona Cinema, Dendy Newtown, Museum of Contemporary Art. $20-$90+b.f.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Often acclaimed as the preeminent Lloyd Webber/ Rice opus, this heroic, drama-filled, sung-through musical is an apt non-opera Opera Australia production. The historic political story of the life and death of Argentinian icon, Eva Peron - affectionately known as Evita - has particular resonance in the current zeitgeist of new feminism and examination of power. Arguments still persist about whether the poverty-born actress who married her way into leadership should be worthy of worship or scorn.

Evita takes neither side, presenting the story and the main character with an even balance of light and shade, allowing audiences to make up their own mind.

The staging is deliberately minimal and verges on surreal, modelled apparently on Brechtian theatre. Rice’s lyrics definitely have the bawdy invective of Brecht good for some frequent laughs.There is the questionable use of a very large screen over the stage which almost continuously projects real black and white newsreel footage of Eva Peron and various historic events. It’s incongruous with the action on stage and adds nothing to plot or mood. More effective as a device is the moving tableau chorus - ensemble singers frozen in a group pose who move simultaneously across the stage. It’s a great visual gag. In fact there is some impressive choreography in this production.

Of course, the main attraction is Tina Arena as Evita.

The seasoned performer exuded confidence, presence, control, and proved herself to be a credible actor. Her voice is beyond praise.When she sings the audience is spellbound. She has one big moment, alone on stage, singing You Must Love Me which is breathtaking for her rendition - the song itself doesn’t match her ability.

Naturally, the other highlight is Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina which is also stunning and alas, does not have space after it to allow for what would undoubtedly be a resounding ovation.

Kurt Kansley is also standout as Che Guevera who acts as a narrator and has a lot of stage time. A very poignant song and moment is Another Suitcase In Another Hall, sung by Juan Peron’s mistress, a minor role with a star-maker tune. Some of the music sounds dated, but it mostly holds up well. It’s worth being familiar with the real story, as the plot is pretty dense and the lyrics are fast and clever and sometimes hard to catch. See it for Tina. (RB) Until Nov 3. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $49.90-$299.90+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

a&e

12

city hub 4 OCTOBER 2018

REVIEW: Luna Gale

Georgie Parker. Photo: Phil Erbacher

Photo: Jeff Busby

REVIEW: Evita

Luna Gale is the name the 19-year-olds Karlie (Lucy Heffernan) and her partner Peter (Jacob Warner) give to their baby, who becomes the centre of a custody battle when her grandmother wishes to take over her care.

The young couple are meth addicts trying to go straight and keep their child, while Karlie’s mother Cindy (Michelle Doake) is a religious fanatic, and this presents a moral dilemma for social worker Caroline (Georgie Parker), who

must decide on the child’s fate.

This doesn’t sound like a very enticing night at the theatre but American Rebecca Gilman’s subtle and engaging script takes the audience on a roller coaster ride as our sympathies vacillate between the two opponents in this struggle for control of the baby.

However, it is not until the second act that the play becomes really interesting, when even Caroline appears to be a deeply flawed character with a deceitful solution to the conflict.

Her character is the most deftly drawn of all as she struggles with the participants as well as the system that she serves.

Although the subject of the play

The Right Foot

DirtyFeet is bringing back their free workshop series, The Right Foot, which teaches creative dance to participants of all backgrounds and experiences.

Held annually since 2012, the workshops are for young people aged 14-26 with or without a disability and focus on dance training, improving the health and wellbeing of participants and confidencebuilding. For the first time, the workshops will culminate in a performance at partner venue, Riverside Theatres Parramatta.

“Each year we have a cohort

of returning participants and have been progressively able to build and develop their contemporary dance technique and understanding of improvisational structures,” says Melinda Tyquin, The Right Foot’s program manager.

“We now want to give participants a performance setting to apply these skills, and see first-hand the impact theatrical elements make when creating movement.”

DirtyFeet is a Sydney-based not-for-profit contemporary dance organisation that seeks to support dance artists and

In Waiting

Liviu Monsted’s fascination with death has culminated in a dark comedic play, In Waiting.

Estelle Avery finds herself in a waiting room with a cast of recently deceased characters who

12 STAGE 14 SCENE 15 Sounds 15 SCREEN

have unresolved issues, to be helped by a mysterious psychologist.

“I don’t think there’s a single day I haven’t thought about death,” says writer-director Liviu.

may appear to be grim or, indeed, boring to those with ostensibly little interest in the subject, the play draws us into a drama that arouses our interest and subtly plays with our sympathies in order to show what a complex situation social workers such as Caroline must deal with.

Director Susanna Dowling does a great job of bringing out the emotional and ethical dimensions of the subject of child custody to give us a richly rewarding drama on the Ensemble stage. (ID) Until Oct 13. Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli. $35-$73+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.ensemble.com.au

Photo: Hayley Rose Photography

promote community engagement in the arts. (ES) Oct 6-Nov 10. Studios 404, 404 Church Street (Cnr Ross

‘I’ve always been fascinated by depression and that sense of isolation and how we can connect with each other by talking about death. After all everyone dies, so it’s a real universal theme that I think’s overlooked from a psychological standpoint.”

Many of the initial cast members found some of the heavier themes in the script, such as domestic violence, suicide and abuse, too confronting to play.

Liviu insists though that there is a “playfulness” in the production.

The “emotional and cathartic” writing process included three months of research into the psychology of death.

Each character represents one stage of grief.

Liviu says lead character Estelle,

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

St), Parramatta. FREE (Registration Essential).

Tickets & Info: www.dirtyfeet.com.au

played by Katie Regan, is a close representation of himself.

“She has a morbid curiosity, she’s always thinking about death, she has a playfulness with it as well. A lot of the questions she asks, I’ve asked. And I give myself those answers in the form of Ignus the psychologist.”

Psychologist Ignus is played by actress Alison Benstead. Alison was kept separate from the cast until six weeks before opening night.

“It really created an awe and presence for Ignus the character.”

(LT) Oct 11-19. Blood Moon Theatre - World Bar, 24 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point. $32.74-$41.18+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.eventbrite.com.au

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

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Come along and experience all the excitement of Paddy’s Pop-Ups, as well as the amazing bargains Paddy’s is famous for – fresh fruit and vegetables that are seasonal and vibrant and thousands of hidden gems just waiting to be uncovered at amazing prices.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS WEEK 1: 3RD - 7TH OCTOBER BATH BOMB MAKING WORKSHOPS, PAMPER SESSIONS, STACKS OF SQUISHIES AND EVEN A POP-UP BOWLING ALLEY!

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS WEEK 2: 10TH - 14TH OCTOBER BRING THE KIDS ALONG FOR BALLOON TWISTING, FACE PAINTING, DESIGNER FAIRY FLOSS, PLASTER PAINTING AND CARNIVAL GAMES.

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HALLOWEEN WEEK: 24TH - 28TH OCTOBER AN IMMERSIVE SPOOK-TACULAR EXPERIENCE THAT HAS TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED! GET YOUR HALLOWEEN MAKE-UP DONE BY SOME OF SYDNEY'S BEST. Just find the 'Paddy's Pop-Up Path' which will point you in the right direction!

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13

THE NAKED CITY

Yen

RAISING THE ENDEAVOUR!

Jeremi Campese, Ryan Hodson, Hayley Pearl _ Meg Clarke

Anna Jordan, author of the critically acclaimed play Yen, has seen her work travel all over the globe. So far, her plays have been performed in the United States, Germany, and Sweden in addition to in her home country, England.

When Yen officially opens at King’s Cross Theatre, Jordan can add Australia to her evergrowing list.

The production, staged by New Ghosts Theatre Company, vows to stick close to Jordan’s original script.The story is one of grit and adversity as teenage brothers Hench and Bobbie Dazzler (played by Ryan Hodson and Jeremi Campese) must survive after their mother, Maggie (Hayley Pearl), moves out of the house leaving the boys and their dog,Taliban, to fend for themselves.

Everything changes for the three of them, however, when Jenny (Meg Clarke) enters their lives, bringing hope and possibility with her.

The production not only aims to tell an engaging story, but to further the national discourse on woman’s safety and sexual abuse.

Producer Loredana Cross says, “there needs to be a continuous effort in education and prevention in ending violence against women. We hope that Yen will help to continue this conversation.”

The production is also putting its money where its mouth is, as it has vowed to donate proceeds from select performances to the Blue Knot Foundation, an organisation working to give support and relief to survivors of childhood trauma.

Fans of theatre “that’s funny, powerful, and heart-rending” should be sure to check out Yen. (GM) Oct 3-13. King’s Cross Theatre, 244-248 William Street, Potts Point, $20-$35+b.f.,Tickets & Info: www.kingsxtheatre.com

With Coffin Ed News that the wreck of Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour has been discovered off the coast of America has already seen calls that it be raised, restored and returned to its ‘rightful place’ in a suitable setting in Sydney. Whether this will ever happen remains to be seen in what could easily become an international dispute as to who actually owns the sunken ship.

Both the Rhode Island State Government in the USA and the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in England are claiming legal rights with Australia and New Zealand each pushing their case in an argy bargy four way tussle. Given that the Endeavour was scuttled in 1778 during the American War Of Independence and has been lying on the seabed ever since, there may not be much left to drag to the surface.

If a bunch of rotting barnacle clad timbers and the odd metal artefact ever sees the sunlight it might be a case of divvying up the meagre spoils to satisfy the claims of four different countries.We could end up with a Phar Lap like situation where New Zealand has the skeleton of the famous racehorse, Melbourne has the stuffed hide and the National Museum in Canberra has the old boy’s 6.35 kilogram heart.

As for all that remains of the Endeavour junk pile ever being returned to Sydney and then being restored at a cost that would surely

run into millions, there’s probably more chance of Phar Lap’s assorted body parts being put together in a common exhibit – although his skeleton did cross the ditch in 2010 for a brief reunion with his hide at the Melbourne Museum.

There have already been a number of replicas of Cook’s famous ship and in August of last year a British replica, originally built as a floating museum was sold at auction for what seemed a bargain basement price of £110,000. If that’s the market value then the Australian Government could probably buy a dozen or more replicas for the same cost of putting the underwater jigsaw together.The Government has in fact allocated some $50 million for a four year celebration of Cook’s voyage to Australia and theoretically we could end up with more Endeavours than Elvis impersonators at the Parkes Festival.

Maybe at least one of these replicas could be given to Australia’s first nation peoples to symbolically burn at Botany Bay on Invasion (aka Australia) Day.Wow, even the very suggestion is enough to send the culture wars into apoplexy.At the very least, once the four year celebration of Cook’s arrival has mercifully finished, all existing replicas could be rounded up and ceremoniously scuttled as a dive site in the Whitsundays.

In the meantime why not let the bloody Endeavour remain where it is and preserve its historical fate rather than creating something that is about one twentieth of the original. After all we are content to leave the Titanic where it rests, was the Lusitania ever raised to the surface and if the Lost City Of Atlantis was ever discovered, would we be refloating it and relocating it to Disney World in Florida?

Sydney NYE Festival

Street Food Circus

Following the success of last years inaugural event, NYE In The Park returns to the gardens of Camperdown’s Victoria Park with the intention of continuing their fight against the “overcrowded, overpriced, and ultimately, underwhelming” nature of New Years Eve in Sydney.

The event promises two stages hosting live music, dancing, gourmet food, and reasonably-priced drinks in a relaxed setting. Musicians include The Presets, Confidence Man, Hayden James, and many more. With doors opening at 5pm, party-goers are invited to grab a drink and enjoy the sunset in anticipation of the fireworks display, signalling the start of a night to remember.

A diverse line up of drink options and gourmet food will be available. The NYE in the Park team has promised to add even more bars for this years event, ensuring that you will never have to fight through a crowd just to get a drink. The team has also emphasized their attention to the restroom situation, adding even more clean toilets this year to ensure that punters avoid the sometimes distasteful nature of such festivals.

So grab some friends and get ready for “the. Best. New Year’s. Ever.” (WF) Dec 31. Victoria Park, Parramatta Rd, Broadway. $79-$169+b.f. (On-sale 12pm Oct 9.)

Tickets & Info: www.nyeinthepark.com

Street Food Circus is ambitious project which brings together music, dance, theatre, live performance, food and drinks. But it needs your help to make the dream a reality.

Street Food Circus is a new venture brought to you by a collective of independent industry specialists combining the best in Sydney’s street food, experimental bar culture and nightlife to create an event at the crossroads of a new local performance culture scene.

Having now found a picturesque shade filled hidden garden gem with a huge tram like shed and artisan BBQ diner inside the grounds of Fraser Park in Marrickville the team now need your help to fund the program and support the artists who will make the event special.

To help stimulate, inspire and further build the local creative ecosystem head over to the Street Food Circus page on Pozible.

Without your support this event simply won’t be possible. (JA) Crowd Funding Campain: www.pozible.com More Info: www.streetfoodcircus.com.au

Program: 4th October 2018

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Bob Evans

By Jamie Apps In the past if a musician released a ‘Best Of’ or ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation record it was a sign their career was winding down, or possibly even finished, that however is no longer the case according to Bob Evans.

Kevin Mitchell is the man behind Bob Evans, and perhaps also known for his time in Australia rock phenoms Jebediah. Throughout his career Mitchell has produced five studio albums under the Bob Evans moniker. Having produced all of these records with a specific vision

because I don’t have a new record but needed something to tour behind.”

Obviously with the perception that compilation records indicate a career conclusion City Hub had to ask if this was the case for Bob Evans. To which Mitchell responded by saying, “No, is that what these sort of records still imply? Maybe there was a time in the past where ‘Greatest Hits’ or ‘Best Of’ albums implied something but these days with the way the music industry has changed, the way people listen and consume music I don’t think that is the case anymore.”

Moving forward Mitchell is continuing with the Bob Evans project, however it will have a new in mind Mitchell came to a approach and style. This new style is “watershed” moment which had him showcased on the lone new song questioning where to from here. from the record, Drowning.

Before taking the next step in the “In the past the acoustic guitar is story of Bob Evans it was important what has defined Bob Evans and for Mitchell to “tie up the last five separated Bob Evans from Jebediah albums in a neat little bow” for fans. who are an electric guitar band. The With that idea in mind Mitchell next record I’m making though will approached Full Circle as more of an have elements of acoustic guitar but introductory course to Bob Evans it’s going to be far more of a rock for new listeners. album than any Bob Evans record “The idea behind this record is to that I’ve made before.” celebrate all of the work that I’ve Oct 20. Leadbelly, 42 King St, done,” Mitchell explained before Newtown. $34.17+b.f. jokingly adding, “In a lot of ways its Tickets & Info: also an excuse for me to tour again www.bobevans.com.au

Last Dinosaurs Yumeno Garden In their newest album, Last Dinosaurs transports listeners to an otherworldly place - Arita, Japan - the isolated village where the band retreated to garner musical inspiration.

The ancient, rural town provided the band a space to explore their thoughts and craft emotionally raw songs, resulting in its third album, Yumeno Garden.

Its venture into different musical approaches enabled the band to bring fresh sounds to the table.

The album’s first track, Eleven, is the most likely to ignite a dance party, while the rest of the songs are more laid back. All the songs have a similar mellow undertone, but they vary enough to keep the album interesting.

Italo Disco is a clever, innovative single, and Shallow Boy fits perfectly with the band’s aura.

The band’s vibes are so chill that it doesn’t need a song titled Everything Is Relative to show how it feels, but it has one anyway and it’s brilliant. (EE) WWWW

Eves Karydas summerskin With the Australian pop music scene booming at the moment it requires something truely remarkable for a new artist to standout in that space. Luckily for Eves Karydas her debut album summerskin is just that.

The ten track offering is littered with soon to be radio hits, in particular you should keep an ear out for Couch, Further Than The Planes Fly and Damn Loyal.

Underpinning the entire record is a synth laden electronic music production style which is all the rage at the moment. What makes Karydas jump out from the crowd though is her honest, heartfelt, powerful and polished pop vocal performance.

Get on this one now because once these hit the radio airwaves they’re going to be stuck in your brain for a long time. (JA) WWWW

Alpha

Alpha starts off some 20,000 odd years ago attempting to take us to the last days of the Ice Age. It is about a boy named Keda (Kodi Smit-McPhee).

Keda it seems has an objection to killing and has an overly emotional family. Perfectly normal in the current day, but in times when apparently the motto “survival of the fittest” never rang truer, it just seems too unrealistically jarring. On a hunting expedition with his father Tau (Johannes Haukur Johannesson), Keda is separated from his tribe, and must now face his fears and become an Alpha male.

Storyline sounds familiar? Yes, it is quite predictable and given that the boy has been ‘taken’ by the

Bloodfest

Tap Tap - Ruby Grace Barker

Guilty

elements, it might have been more entertaining to perhaps get Liam Neeson to go find him.

While coming to terms with the dangers lurking around him Keda starts an unlikely friendship with a wolf where the duo literally swap personalities with the boy turning into an alpha male, and the wolf going from the leader of the wolf pack to a tame, domesticated animal. Besides being visually stunning and containing messages of hope and survival especially for the young audiences it is basically a far-fetched Disney-like tale with more of a bark and less of a bite. (JR) WW1/2

Where is the best place to catch some amazing horror shorts just in time for Halloween inspiration?

The International Kids Horror Film Festival, aka Bloodfest.

Using horror as a vehicle for imagination and growth, dozens of young film makers will feature their frightening and hair-raising short films over two big nights at the Event Cinemas at Bondi Junction. In its second year running, the festival will see 16 award categories in junior and teen sections, coughing up cash,

Gut-wrenching, devastating and incredibly sad, Guilty re-enacts the final 72-hours in the life of Myuran Sukumaran, the Bali-9 convicted criminal who became an accomplished artist while in Kerobokan prison.

Myuran was killed in 2015 by a firing squad, along with fellow Australian Andrew Chan, and this documentary is a portrait of a man facing execution, revealing his inner struggle Photo: Peter Milne to come to terms with his imminent death.

Real-life news footage of The film will screen around the country Myuran’s family appealing against his death on October 10 which is World Day Against sentence are interspersed with re-enactments of The Death Penalty. The film is moving and his final days, in which he spent most of his time emotional, and only the hardest of hearts painting some ravaging self-portraits which he could watch this and not question the death asked his family to smuggle out of the prison and penalty. (LS) WWW1/2 show to the world.

trophies and deadly industry prizes.

Allowing kids to explore a world of thrilling make believe, Bloodfest is creating an opportunity for young people to explore the things they fear, and confront them in a way that fosters creative exploration and individuality.

Not only will the participants be scripting, shooting and editing their short films, they will also be involved in proof reading, curating images for the films and website testing. Under the guidance of

Bloodfest’s co-directors Natalie Richards and Curly Fernandez (affectionately named ‘The Undead’), the young people involved in the festival will be given a glimpse into the Australian film industry.

As part of the horror film festival, Bloodfest will also be holding an exciting school holidays film workshop for 15 lucky kids where they will be joined by a guest celebrity horror screen writer while receiving classes from the Bloodfest’s producers,

Natalie and Curly. Taking place in a real haunted house near Central Station, the kids will learn about horror film techniques, acting and the horror genre with all participants guaranteed a screening of their masterpieces at the Bloodfest festival.

On Bloodfest, producers Richards and Fernandez both believe “it is a safe space for young to explore the taboo, to self-lead in what they find frightening and to artfully confront those fears.”

(RH)

Oct 29-30. Event Cinema - Bondi Junction, 500 Oxford St, Bondi Junction. $22.19-$43.29+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.bloodfest.co city hub 4 OCTOBER 2017

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city hub 4 OCTOBER 2018