CITY HUB December 2021 by Alt Media

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REOPENING THE ICONIC THEATRE ROYAL

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Caring for cats since 1958

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www.catprotection.org.au

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CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

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Newtown artist bringing fantasy to life (See p. 11)

Eastern Suburbs bus routes removed BY EVA BAXTER rom Sunday December 5th the contested South East Sydney integrated transport network was introduced. 22 Eastern Suburbs bus routes have been modified, with a further 24 ceasing to run. These include the 300, 301, 302, 309X, 314, 316, 317, 338, 353, 357, 376, 377, 391, 393, 394, 395, 400, 400N, L94, X40, X93, and X99. The changes have been developed to integrate the Light Rail service into the public transport network. Maroubra resident Marissa said at a ‘Save Our Buses’ rally, “I do not want to be one of the thousands of commuters who are going to be forced off our buses and onto Light Rail, as [buses] are a vital requirement in our everyday lives. “I like to keep an active lifestyle, stay connected to my family and I’m worried I won’t be able to because the Light Rail is less accessible and services fewer areas.”

F HubARTS: A Chorus Line A Chorus Line, wanted to “show the audience the faces and the humans behind the façade they normally see on the stage”. (See p. 25)

PUBLISHED DATE 9 DECEMBER 2021 Published monthly and freely available throughout the Inner City. Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by Altmedia Pty Ltd. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, we take no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Editor & Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Publisher Assistant: Mal Moody Advertising Manager: Mal Moody 0484 042 615 Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au News Editors: Daniel Lo Surdo, Eva Baxter Contributors: Daniel Lo Surdo, Eva Baxter, Bernadette Smith, Pip Hinman Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Contributors: Irina Dunn, Rita Bratovich, Madison Behringer, Mark Morellini, Renee Lou Dallow, Rida Babar, Olga Azar, Jarrod Wolfhunter, Lucinda Garbutt-Young, Tessa Pelle, Mark Mordue, Aston Brown Cover Photo: Stuart Miller Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633 Website: cityhubsydney.com.au

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 Buses are a vital requirement Marissa’s online petition to ‘Save Our Buses’ with over 11,000 signatures states the Light Rail’s “unreliable” and “slow” service should not be commuters only option to get to and from the city. Last month Transdev announced that the Inner West Light Rail (L1 line) would be closed for up to 18 months as issues with the trams are addressed. The Eastern Suburbs (L2/L3) line vehicles are different vehicles to the fleet on the L1 Inner West Light Rail line. Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill told City Hub the bus cuts are happening to force people onto the Light Rail to fulfil a contract signed by the government that includes paying a shortfall if passenger fulfilment is not reached. A spokesperson for Transport for NSW said, “there is no deal to drive patronage from buses onto Light Rail for the benefit of the operator.” O’Neill said another reason for the cuts was streamlining the services for privatisation. “[The changes] are going to hugely disrupt the people of the Eastern Suburbs, for those people that are now

Eastern Suburbs bus routes were removed from December 5th to increase use of “slow” and “unreliable” Light Rail. Photo: Supplied

forced to catch the Light Rail, we know that their journey times are going to be significantly longer. “Buses take 20 minutes to get into the CBD down to Circular Quay from Coogee, the Light Rail takes closer to 45. Journey time is just one thing. “The other thing is we know that at least 50 bus stops are going to be removed, so access to the buses that remain is going to be limited,” O’Neill said. O’Neill said the government is refusing to release the raw data from the consultation summary and is calling for the data to be released. A community survey on the plans was open to residents for an extended eightweek consultation period with 8,801 responses. Transport for NSW found customer journey time, travel patterns, access to key destinations and ease of interchanging were the most important topics to respondents. Question 9 of the survey asked, ‘what statements do you associate with the proposed changes?’ Respondents were given the following answers to choose from, ‘more room and capacity,’ ‘better local connections to things like shops and other services,’ ‘better and new routes,’ ‘more buses more often,’ and ‘other.’ 76% of respondents chose ‘other’ and provided written responses which Transport for NSW has not made available to the public.

INTEGRATE/INTERCHANGE

Due to the focus on integrating bus and Light Rail services, residents may now have to transfer to reach their destination where currently they have a direct service. A Transport for NSW spokesperson said, “based on these changes, many customers will continue to have a direct bus or light rail journey available to their destination, but a number of existing bus trips in the South East may now involve interchanging onto another bus or light rail service based on their current travel patterns. “Some customers who transfer from a bus to Light Rail will be required to pay more for their journey under the current Opal fare structure. “In the majority of cases where customers no longer have a direct bus option in the new network, there will be an option of transferring between buses to continue your journey, and in most instances from the same bus stop. “In these instances, there is no fare penalty for customers transferring between buses to complete their journey.” Marissa told City Hub, “people are not going to know where to go because they’re going to get confused.” O’Neill said, “I was talking to [a student] and he goes ‘under these changes I now have to catch two buses to get home. I currently catch one.’ “How is that fair? “Our job is to make people’s lives better. These bus changes are doing the exact opposite.” CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

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Bus strikes roll on T BY DANIEL LO SURDO he Sydney bus strikes have rolled on this week, as bus drivers in the Inner West began their 24-hour industrial action on Monday demanding equal pay after the State Government’s bus privatisation. Members of the Transport Workers’ Union and Rail, Tram & Bus Union at Burwood, Leichhardt, Kingsgrove and Tempe depots protested the different pay and conditions between those employed before and after the privatisation. Up to 1200 workers will be involved in the strikes.

Train workers wish to end privatisation and also receive a stronger commitment to safety and hygiene standards without reliance on contractors for labour.

Strikes for Sydney bus and train drivers have continued this week. Photo: Creative Commons

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) members will protest on Tuesday through a refusal to drive foreign-made trains, which comprises three-quarters of the fleet. The RBTU has been negotiating a new bargaining agreement after its predecessor expired in May last year and will strike after more than 40 meetings with Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink.

Drivers have been left with no option “Drivers have been left with no option but to take this strike action in order to have their voice heard – now it’s time for the State Government and the operator Transit Systems to listen to their drivers, and end the unfair two-tiered pay system that currently exists,” Transport Workers Union NSW State Secretary Richard Olsen said.

GETTING OFF TRACK

“This is ultimately a problem of the State Government’s making – their privatisation of Sydney’s buses has led to this mess where drivers are on all kinds of different pay and conditions, despite doing the exact same job.” The industrial action on Monday was led by drivers in Region 6, which covers the Inner West. Drivers in Region 3,

spanning southwest Sydney, Drivers in Region 3, spanning southwest Sydney, protested on Tuesday protest on Tuesday. Calls for the State to intervene have intensified after industrial action began last Thursday when workers did not operate buses between 4:00-6:00 am on Thursday and 5:00-7:00 pm on Friday.

RTBU Bus & Tram Division Secretary David Babineau thought that the State left workers with “no other options” but to strike. “We’re confident that commuters will understand that the bus drivers who have worked so hard throughout the pandemic to keep our community moving, despite the personal risks, don’t take action like this lightly,” he said. “We can’t sit back and let the NSW Government create situations like this where you have workers doing exactly the same job on different rates of pay and conditions.”

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

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Moore secures historic election

Clover Moore (front, centre) will return for a historic fifth term as Lord Mayor. Photo: Facebook/Lord Mayor Clover Moore

BY DANIEL LO SURDO

lover Moore has secured the City of Sydney Lord Mayoral race for a fifth successive term in an election that will extend her recordbreaking stay on council. Cr Moore received just under 44 per cent of votes in the City election, with Labor candidate Linda Scott (15 per cent), Independent Yvonne Weldon (14) and Liberal Shauna Jarrett (12) the closest finishers to the longtime lord mayor, as of writing. Cr Moore will enjoy a majority in the council chamber with her Clover Moore Independent Team, who attracted just under 43 per cent of votes in the council election. “I am very excited that our independent, progressive, community-led team has been reelected to run the City for the next three years,” Cr Moore said. “We are very excited about the fantastic support we’ve had from the Sydney community, we know it wasn’t an easy election, booths were very busy all day, so if you did persevere, thank you so much.” Having been at the helm of Sydney for the past 17 years, Cr Moore will be in the top job for another term, where she hopes to increase the City’s focus on environmental action and successfully return the 24-hour economy amid the COVID-19 recovery, which could include free concerts and new outdoor dining options. While speaking to City Hub in November, Cr Moore acknowledged that the pandemic has added a “whole other layer 6

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

of work” over the past 18 months, with the two consequential postponements adding further difficulty to a brewing election campaign. The City of Sydney Lord Mayoral race was contested by an all-female field of six candidates, consisting of Cr Moore, Cr Scott, Ms Weldon, Ms Jarrett, Small Business Party candidate Angela Vithoulkas and Greens candidate Sylvie Ellsmore, with each of the challengers calling for a ‘refresh’ on council.

If you did persevere, thank you so much Ms Weldon, who is set to be elected as a councillor, felt that her success at the polls was an indicator of the City’s readiness for change on council. “The enormous swing in the results is a clear sign that Sydney is ready for change, and I will work my hardest to make it happen,” Ms Weldon said via Facebook. “The residents and business owners of our beautiful city want genuine representation and consultation from local leaders - I will use my voice to fight for them, and create a fairer city for everybody.” Ms Weldon promised to “aggressively electrify” the City and power a green COVID-19 recovery if she had won the mayoralty, while Ms Ellsmore prioritised “urgent action to address the climate crisis”. The extension of Cr Moore’s reign in the City will add a further term to her four decades of service in public office.

STATE OF PLAY

Cr Moore was first elected to local government in the now-defunct South Sydney Council in 1980, a year before its amalgamation with Sydney City Council. She was elected after her efforts as a young mother in the Redfern community, through founding the Redfern Community Concern in the late 1970s and lobbying for improved facilities and living conditions in the inner city. After the State Government replaced all City councillors with appointed commissioners in 1987, Cr Moore stood for the NSW seat of Bligh (now renamed Sydney) in 1988, which she won and retained until 2012, whereby newlyintroduced State legislation prevented her continuing in both capacities. Cr Moore chose to retain her local government position and helped elect her eventual successor, Alex Greenwich, into power. Two years after Cr Moore relinquished her role on Macquarie Street, the State Government and the Shooters and Fishers Party voted to give City businesses two votes in council elections, while residents and ratepayers remained at one. While this move was widely speculated to have been created to skew election results against the incumbent, an increased majority was found and a fourth term was granted to Cr Moore.

FIRMED FOCUS

Under Cr Moore’s Lord Mayoralty, the City has moved to focus on stronger

financial management and greater environmental practice. The City has invested more than $2.1bn in infrastructure and community facilities over Cr Moore’s reign, and have also prioritised responsible planning for the future. Cr Moore’s team has also delivered 17 years of debt-free budgets while in office. This year, the City reached their 70 per cent emissions reduction target nine years earlier than planned, behind the installation of LED lights in Sydney streets and the conversion of 100 per cent renewable electricity in council operations. There has also been an increased array of solar panels on City homes and businesses, as well as greater collaborative efforts with businesses to create stronger access to recyclable waste outcomes, including for cardboard items and coffee cups. Natural gas usage in the City has quadrupled in the past 15 years, with gas-fired co and trigeneration used for pool heating the predominant reasoning for this surge. Co and trigeneration harness excess heat, steam or other gases that would otherwise be wasted to increase the overall efficiency of power generation. Cr Moore told City Hub that trigeneration would be replaced by renewables once it “comes to the end of its natural life” but could not identify the timeline for this occurrence. With Cr Moore holding a majority in office, it is likely that an environmental and financial focus will continue.

Hampers of Hope

amiss with how our society is structured in the wake of COVID-19. A question needs to be asked repeatedly: why are so many charity and community groups, powered by a handful of individuals and a host of volunteers, having to fill a huge gap where the government should be acting? Why are so many going hungry and fighting to keep a roof over the heads? What each of us can do varies. But never let it be said individuals can’t change things. The original idea for Hampers of Hope began with Craig and Lara Foster, a family action. Their friends Michelle Fleming and Gill Larkins, CFO of ASX, joined them to step up their annual gesture and work with Craig on teaming up with Addi Road. Last year was the first explosion of that good will. Craig notes how “people struggling can feel ashamed at this time of year. And they should not have to feel ashamed.” It’s not just what is in the hampers, it is the recognition and communication they symbolise. A Hamper of Hope can “show a little love to people,” he says. Addi Road CEO Rosanna Barbero agrees. “If this was a fairy tale like Santa’s Little Helpers and there really was a workshop with elves, a place where a moment of joy is being created to delight young people and make parents and individuals happy, then that place on earth would be Gumbramorra Hall in the week we do Hampers of Hope.” For more information on #HampersofHope go to addiroad.org.au Story by Mark Mordue

The candle burns down on 2021. All of a sudden Christmas and the New Year are with us again. And with Omicron comes that sinking feeling not a lot has changed as the pandemic continues to affect our lives. Yet this time of year still stirs optimism, a ritual desire to reach for a better world. Sometimes small steps and tiny actions can become the most powerful tools we have. Last year at Christmas time the Addison Road Community Organisation launched the #HampersofHope project. The idea was to create gift hampers for people in need and to brighten this time of year, to be ‘inclusive’ in spirit and action. Our target was 1,000. They contained treats, make-up, gifts, chocolates, all the things you’d expect in a gift hamper from fine cooking oil to frisbees! As it turned out we made over 1,100 hampers as more groups asked to be involved. Not every ‘Hamper of Hope’ was the same, but we tried to make sure each one was truly a gift. Inevitably, every person who helped said they got more out of it than anything they might have contributed.

Volunteers flocked to put them together, people who are surely our greatest resource; corporates and businesses donated generously; individuals gave financial support through our website; celebrity, sports and media figures put their energy behind what was happening, publicising #HampersofHope and giving time to pack the hampers. A plethora of charities and civil society groups then collected them to distribute to their communities. It was a great coming together.Monday to Friday, 13-17 December, it will be happening again. #HampersofHope 2021. The event builds on our more usual work making food hampers for people who in need all over Sydney and beyond. We’ve been doing that work five days a week, every week, inside our Gumbramorra Hall, which we repurposed as the Addi Road Food Relief Hub back in March 2020. As lockdowns, health issues, rent struggles and employment shakeouts followed, the problem of keeping food on the table has remained a central concern. We prefer the term ‘food justice’ to ‘food relief’ as we think helping people to eat reveals something deeply

Picture credits: Main - Rosanna Barbero, Addi Road CEO, and Mina Bui Jones, Addi Road Programs Manager. Above - The team from Twenty10 with Addi Road’s Mark Mordue and Craig Foster. Below - our volunteers gather in Gumbramorra Hall.

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

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SPONSORED CONTENT

ELEGANT ITALIAN DESIGN FOR THE STYLISH AUSTRALIAN HOME

BY RITA BRATOVICH ubo Rosso is renowned around the world for the uncompromising quality of its distinctive furniture and it has just launched its first store in Australia. The Alexandria store in Sydney opened its doors this month, inviting customers to experience the innovation and excellence of this highly regarded Italian brand. Founded in 2009 in the historical furniture making region of Puglia, Italy, Cubo Rosso began as a small artisan company specialising in leather upholstery. It soon expanded into full furniture production, quickly gaining international recognition for its attention to detail and unique style. Infused with a long tradition of meticulous craftsmanship and

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

impeccable aesthetic sensibility, Cubo Rosso furniture is as beautiful as it is functional. Simple lines, solid colours, soft curves and symmetry; it fits easily into any setting, modern or traditional. The range of sofas, which includes modulars, allows any space or purpose to be accommodated. From the more compact, classic shape, to something that is luxuriously expansive, there is a Cubo Rosso lounge that will find its place in any home. Those who want another level of comfort will appreciate the adjustable footrest and backrest mechanisms available in the sofa and armchair range. With the option of manual or electric controls, a simple switch allows you to adjust your seating position to suit your posture. The selection of convertible sofas are

perfect for those with limited space or those who want the convenience of an occasional extra bed without surrendering the space. Cubo Rosso is particularly known for its exceptional leather finishings. The hides are sourced exclusively from European farms by experts who carefully check that it is consistent in integrity and free from defects. It is then treated and crafted with the highest level of care. The end product is not only faultlessly beautiful, it is durable, comfortable, and timeless. In addition to leather, Cubo Rosso offers an exemplary selection of textile finishings. The fabric range is revised and expanded constantly, allowing versatility in colour, shape, and feel. To complement your sofa and armchairs, Cubo Rosso has a range of equally exquisite pillows, rugs and coffee tables. In sourcing materials and in manufacturing, Cubo Rosso is dedicated to sustainability. Using natural raw materials; technologies that require low energy consumption, zero-polluting emissions and photovoltaic systems; and an everincreasing shift towards recyclable products, Cubo Rosso aims to leave a small footprint and a big impression. Cubo Rosso is also proud to bear the official Made In Italy label. Made In Italy is an indication of commensurate

quality and a product wholly sourced and made in Italy. It is a certification given only to Italian companies that consistently satisfy rigorous criteria. Cubo Rosso has been certified 100% Made In Italy for six consecutive years. This year, Cubo Rosso was presented with a design excellence award from Eccellenze Italiane (Italian Excellence), an organisation that honours companies that distinguish themselves within their industry. The Alexandria store introduces the Cubo Rosso range and ideology to Australia. As well as selling the exquisite products, the store offers interior design, interior decoration, and care advice. Your experience begins with a consultation to discuss your vision, continues with design and delivery, and ends with your complete satisfaction. Cubo Rosso plans to have a store in every state in Australia, and a little piece of Italy in every home.

Cubo Rosso will be having a soft opening this weekend between 10am-5pm, food and drinks, all welcome. Shop opening hours: Mon to Fri: 9am to 5pm Sat & Sun: 10am to 5pm

MADE IN I TALY

35/69 O’Riordan Street, ALEXANDRIA, NSW 2015 Tel: 1800 188 168 www.cuborosso.com | www.cuborosso.com.au coming soon

cuborossoau CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

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Inner West “light rail fail”

Sydneysiders impacted by the inner west “light rail fail” demand answers. Photo: Creative commons

BY EVA BAXTER ew bus routes have begun operating to cover the tracks of the out of order for up to 18 months Dulwich Hill to Central and return Light Rail line. The tram service has been replaced by three separate bus routes running either in the inner city, or from Central to Lilyfield, or Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill. Travellers wishing to go from Central to Dulwich Hill must now change at Lilyfield or The Star. Notably, The Star is the only stop serviced by all three routes.

Minister for Transport Rob Stokes said, “we understand the closure is disruptive, which is why we’ve developed a longerterm replacement services plan to provide more travel options for the inner west.” Route 2L1 Central to The Star and return stops at Central, Paddy’s Market, Convention and The Star. Route 3L1 Lilyfield to Central via Glebe, The Star stops at Lilyfield, Rozelle Bay, Jubilee Park, Glebe, Wentworth Park, Fish Markets, John St Square, The Star, Convention, Paddy’s Market and Central. Route 4L1 Dulwich Hill to The Star via Anzac Bridge and return stops at Dulwich Hill, Dulwich Grove, Arlington, Waratah Mills, Lewisham West, Taverners Hill, Marion, Hawthorne, Leichhardt North, Lilyfield and The Star. Transport for NSW said, “if you are travelling between Central Station and Darling Harbour, walking might be an alternative transport option.” A 50% discounted fare applies on board Light Rail replacement bus services. Replacement buses do not stop at Capitol Square, Exhibition Centre or Pyrmont Bay. 10

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

TROUBLESOME TOUR

Tommaso Marzella, a Pyrmont local, uses the inner west Light Rail service mainly on weekends to head west to Tramsheds or Glebe Markets, and to the occasional Tigers home ground game at Leichhardt Oval. He occasionally heads East towards Chinatown for lunch, or to catch a connecting train from Central station. Marzella told City Hub, “I have been inconvenienced by the changes since the trams have stopped. The replacement bus is horrible. Rather than 100% replacing the tram stops, we have several buses for various sectors or parts of the tram line.

This is totally unacceptable “Last Friday night was horrible weather, and I was at the ICC in Darling Harbour for an exhibition and it was raining. I chose to take the tram replacement bus rather than walk. I ended up waiting over 40 minutes for the bus to arrive in windy, wet weather. “On arrival, I discovered that the bus would only go as far as the Star. […] I was told that I needed to get off at The Star and wait for another bus that would complete the connection between The Star and Dulwich Hill tram stops. “I thought about poor older people or disabled people and what they would have to endure in the same situation,” he said. Teraesa, a Pyrmont local, frequently used the inner west Light Rail on weekends and in the evenings, generally from John St Square to Central to catch a connecting train to visit friends and family.

She often caught it from Paddy’s Market to John St Square after fruit and veg shopping, or after dinner in Chinatown. She sometimes caught it from the Fish Markets to Jubilee Park and back to visit Tramsheds. She told City Hub, “I have been inconvenienced, as the trip to Central takes so much longer than it did previously. Now I either get out at Paddy’s Market and walk to Central or catch the 501 bus to Central. The bus stop at Paddy’s Market is a bit further to walk from the markets with bags of shopping after dinner. “I haven’t tried going to Jubilee Park but I’m sure it will take longer than the Light Rail due to traffic. The replacement bus service is unpredictable, so I have to allow plenty of time to get anywhere now,” she said.

DORMANT DEPOT Jo Haylen, Shadow Minister for Transport said at a doorstop at Arlington Light Rail on Dec 1, “it’s over a month now since the government was forced to shut down the inner west Light Rail, forcing thousands of passengers on to slower replacement buses. “That means that people have been stranded, forced to get on a bus, forced to get in a car to get to work and get to school, and it’s businesses like Messi’s that have suffered because of the Light Rail fail,” she said. Small business owner Messi Sahow’s seven month old Café Calibre relies on foot traffic going to and from Arlington. Turnover has been impacted since the closures by 30 – 40%.

Haylen said the government should fairly compensate Messi, “a local business that is doing the right thing but shouldn’t suffer because of this government’s transport failures.” Messi said, “for a small business like us, that’s big money that we’re losing every day, and we just want some answers from the government. “Is it going to be 18 months? Is it going to be 3 months? Is it going to be 6 months? I just want some answers and some sort of help so we can survive through,” Messi said. NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said, “you look at Messi’s story and the circumstances of him opening a business within his community, taking a risk, borrowing capital, opening in the midst of a pandemic, employing local people. “He’s been comprehensively let down by his own government. We need answers in relation to this inner west Light Rail. When will it be operational? When will the trams be fixed? “When will commuters come back to the inner west line, so that this key and important transport piece of infrastructure is up and running in our busy metropolitan City.” Tommaso Marzella told City Hub, “how on earth did we reach this situation where we had to remove all trams because they had cracks? “It all seems very fishy and very unprofessional to me and there has been really no clear explanation that I have seen on this topic. It seems to have slipped under the carpet. “[…] In today’s Sydney, this is totally unacceptable.”

HubNEWS

Bringing the ‘fantasy’ to life BY DANIEL LO SURDO ew Keilar first settled in Sydney at The Abbey, Annandale, finding work and residency as a housekeeper. Over three decades on, the illustrator, now a bonafide Annandale local, is showcasing his version of Sydney to the buying public. “It’s a bit of a homage and a bit of a fantasy in a way,” Keilar tells City Hub. At Artisans’ Nest, a selection of Keilar’s work, including King Street, the Annandale Abbey and Balmain’s Dawn Fraser Baths are fronting the Newtown main street until January next year.

Overdevelopment and renewal in the Inner West have been the subject of concern for many locals worried about the changing character of their streetscapes. Recently, Keilar has led a campaign to save a neighbour’s timber house targeted for development, with the matter now before the Land and Environment Court.

It’s a bit of a homage and a bit of a fantasy

LOOKING LOCAL

Inspiration for a local focus (Keilar says his work is usually of an “international flavour”) was sourced through the Artisans’ Nest shopowner, who after a brief conversation, suggested that “there was more scope” to the spaces that he had frequented over the past 30 years. In discussing his work, Keilar speaks of The Abbey with particular reverence, unsurprising given his connection to the property. “The experience of arriving in Sydney

Annandale artist Lew Keilar will have his work on exhibition until mid-January. Photo: Supplied

and being in such a historic home, and learning so much from the owner about Annandale and why Annandale became the way it is, I think that sense of heritage is what I’m trying to get in the building,” Keilar says. “It’s one of the most beautiful houses in Annandale, in a commanding position

looking down Johnston Street onto White Bay, and … using historical black and white photographs, and looking back at what we see with The Abbey now, and drawing it in modern-day, but with beautiful space around it so you can see it … because there are some truly ugly buildings that are very close to the Abbey.”

WHAT A YEAR!

“Annandale has that capability, you walk down the streets and you get that sense of the age of the community, and the heritage of the place,” Keilar says. “The more we keep and hang on to [our heritage], the more we have chances to tell stories about them and come to know ourselves even better.” Keilar describes his exhibition similarly to his work: minimal, engaging and a study in style and skill. “This is really my first exhibition and I’m really happy to have people see my work and enjoy it. “I never felt like I’ve been in such a situation for an artist to show work, it’s the type of style that suits me.”

Tens of thousands of powerful women, survivors, activists and allies took to the streets this year to say #enoughisenough, calling for an end to the patriarchal power structures that oppress women on a daily basis. Your voices were heard, and this month the NSW Parliament passed vital affirmative consent law reforms. Pictured here marching with Saxon Mullins and Dani, Chloe and Erin from Youth Against Sexual Violence.

We’ve been campaigning for better public housing for years. I met some strong humans while shooting this documentary series for SBS “Could You Survive on the Breadline?”, shedding light on the horrendous state of public housing in NSW and the failures of governments which are forcing so many to live below the poverty line. Watch it now on SBS OnDemand. It was so amazing to join with so many to march down Oxford Street before joining the official Mardi Gras Parade at the SCG back in March, calling for an end to discrimination against the LGBTIQ+ community. We will continue to stand against dangerous religious freedoms legislation and attacks on trans teachers and kids.

This month the NSW Parliament debated long awaited voluntary assisted dying laws. The Greens strongly supported this bill and have a long history of advocating for this vital reform.

Our office was pleased to support our community with almost $400,000 in grants this year.

Scan the code for details.

During the months-long lockdown in Sydney, our office joined with so many local volunteers and community groups from Addi Rd, to Counterpoint and Viral Acts of Kindness, who worked hard to ensure no one went hungry or without support. It’s time for governments to step up and take responsibility for food insecurity in NSW.

Authorised by Jenny Leong MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements.

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

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City lauds ‘bold environmental action’ per cent in the next 20 years. As of June 2020, demand for drinking water in the City has increased by 15 per cent. Most individual buildings in the inner city derive their water from recycled water treatment facilities. The report has uncovered that regulatory barriers to greater water recycling persist and have prevented further progress on this issue. To reduce drinking water consumption in parks, the Parks Water Savings Action Plan was formed to create a more efficient system with stronger connections to recycled water. The Plan identified improved water management practices and documented capital works projects that could deliver better outcomes for the City’s parks and open spaces. The Sydney Park Water Re-Use Project, which was drafted by Turf Design Studio and built in partnership with the City of Sydney and the Federal Government, has provided the park with enhanced circulation and harvesting and recycling of water throughout the inner city.

The City praised the action undertaken during the past council term. Photo: Turf Design Studio

BY DANIEL LO SURDO The City of Sydney’s 2017-2021 End of Term report has praised the environmental action that has been taken in the past four years of council. In the report, the City highlighted the work from the private sector in assisting the goals of the council, while also outlining shortcomings in their climate action ahead of a new term following the results of the local government elections. In July 2020, the City reached 100 per cent renewable electricity to meet electricity grid needs in the inner city. This move is expected to cut emissions by approximately 22,000 tonnes annually - equating to, by the City’s estimates, the emissions of almost 5,000 households. Earlier this year, the City reached their 70 per cent emission reductions target nine years ahead of schedule. Central to this achievement, in addition to LED light installation in Sydney streets and increased solar panel use in homes and businesses, was the move to complete renewable electricity. One month prior to reaching 100 per cent renewable electricity, the City recorded a 26 per cent emission reduction from 2006 baseline targets. In the past 15 years, the City’s population has grown by 62.2 per cent and has increased its commercial activity in spaces including Barangaroo and Green Square. 12

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

“That was at a time of growth of 53 per cent of economic activity in our city, which of course causes emissions,” Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore told City Hub in November. “It could’ve been business as usual if we hadn’t done our work, and we hadn’t also been working with businesses across the city, emissions would have gone up by 57 per cent, instead we’ve got them down.”

 It could’ve been business as usual if we hadn’t done our work Moore’s administration has come under fire for its increased energy consumption in the last 15 years. Since its baseline recordings in 2006, natural gas usage had quadrupled up to June 2021, prompting rivalling candidates to question the measures implemented in council. The City’s gas usage has largely stemmed from pool heating and gasfired co and trigeneration, which harnesses excess heat, steam or other gases that would otherwise be lost to increase the overall efficiency of power generation. Moore said that renewable energy will replace trigeneration once it “comes to the end of its natural life”. The report praised the work of businesses that have targeted and achieved emission reductions in the

past council term. Members of the Better Buildings Partnership, which represent 59 per cent of commercial floor space in the CBD, has reduced property emissions by 66 per cent since 2006. 16 buildings are now also carbonneutral, which means that all carbon emissions are balanced by carbon removal. Better Buildings partners have also marked a 26 per cent reduction in water use since 2006. In the housing sector, the City’s Smart Green apartments have reduced emissions by over 20,000 tonnes and water by 697 megalitres, which have saved owners over $4 million. Buildings in this program are selected on an evaluation of their energy and water consumption, size and complexity, and capacity to implement upgrades. Cleveland Mews, a 66-unit Redfern apartment building and a Smart Green participant, has recorded an 82 per cent energy use saving through lighting upgrades and heat pump installation for its pool and spa.

WATER PRESSURE

While the report found some residential dwellings to have conserved their water consumption in the past council term, overall water use grew by 14 per cent above 2006 levels, failing the City’s zero increase target. The report circled the per capita use of drinking water as a key issue to confronting water growth, as the City’s population is expected to grow by 32.7

The project harvests more than 850 million litres of stormwater a year from the surrounding areas of Newtown, Erskineville, Redfern and Alexandria, cleans and recycles the water throughout the park and then re-uses it for irrigation, managing wetlands and supplying the City’s nearby depot. Stormwater would previously flow to the Munni Channel, and into the Alexandra Canal and Botany Bay untreated. The treatment train includes a gas pollutant trap, a bio-retention system, wetlands and the existing ponds. Water recycled for irrigation is also treated by filtration and UV disinfection.

CANOPY COVER

The City has increased its canopy cover to 19.2 per cent during the past council term, ahead of a 23 per cent 2030 target. This is a 3.7 per cent increase from the 2008 levels. In 2018, the NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment announced their intention to plant five million trees in Sydney by 2030, with an earlier target of one million by 2022 also set. As of writing, over 656,000 trees have been registered. Over 1,100 trees have been planted in the Sydney CBD. During the past term, the City has supported 23 community gardens to help provide access to grants and the donation of materials and plants. The report has also found that 3,390 street trees have been planted in the City since July 2017, with projects in Waterloo, Glebe and Rosebery focusing on increasing canopy cover and providing continued access to inroad tree planting.

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Blood donation service hits Bondi BY EVA BAXTER ustralian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling for 500 new blood donors in Bondi this December, as demand for blood reaches a 10 year high. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is hosting a “pop-up” blood donation service at Church in the Marketplace in Bondi to boost supplies over the Christmas period for many seriously ill people including trauma victims, cancer patients, new mothers, and those having life-saving surgeries.

We need people to come forward Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is bringing its pop-up service to Bondi Junction from Monday December 6th – 23rd, from January 4th – 21st and then Lifeblood will be implementing a bi-monthly service. According to Lifeblood, demand for blood has reached a ten year high, with numbers of donors falling during the pandemic. Lifeblood spokesperson John Feist told City Hub December is a particularly challenging time of year with regular

A pop-up blood donation service is hitting Bondi this December to defy “bailer boom.” Photo: Supplied

donors taking a break, and people distracted by the Christmas and New Year holidays. Feist said research done by Lifeblood suggests there has been something they are calling ‘bailer boom.’ People are feeling socially fatigued, and are responding to that by bailing or cancelling on plans at the last minute, including their blood donation appointments.

“We’re finding that we’re having quite high numbers of cancellations, and people just not showing up to their appointments,” he said.

DONATIONS IN DEMAND

Lifeblood needs approximately 5,000 donations every week to supply NSW hospitals with the blood they need. Across the country, 33,000 blood donations are needed weekly to meet

the demand for patients and people that need blood or blood products. One in three Australians will need to access blood or blood products at some point in their lifetime, but at the moment, only one in thirty actually donate blood. “If we want to meet that patient demand and help all Australians that need blood or blood products, then we need people to come forward and roll up their sleeves and donate,” said Feist. The Bondi junction location makes it convenient for the people of Bondi, according to Feist, “we would appeal to them to keep the appointment and turn up and make their donation. “If something does crop up that means they can’t, we’d really appreciate it if they cancel it with notice, rather than just not show up on the day, so hopefully we can replace that cancelled appointment with somebody else coming forward to fill it,” he said. “This is the first time we have visited Bondi for an extended period of time, and we really need people who have never donated before or who haven’t donated in a while to fill those empty appointments.”

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The Star building heights could increase high rise. The government idea seems to be to simply transform it into an extremely dense, high rise residential quarter, and this is not what residents want.”

SITE SPECIFIC

The Star seeks an increase of building height from the current maximum of 28m to an increase of 105m. Photo: Creative Commons

BY EVA BAXTER lans released for public exhibition last month propose amendments to planning controls to increase building heights on key sites in the Pyrmont Peninsula including The Star, UTS and the two sites of the future Sydney Metro station. The Friends of Ultimo (FoU), a community group founded ten years ago aiming to address local Ultimo issues, told City Hub local communities will be concerned that the plans also identify numerous other sites as ‘capable of change.’ The sites ‘capable of change’ were identified based on criteria that demonstrate they have the potential to be developed or redeveloped to meet residential and commercial floorspace forecasts over the next 20 years. FoU note that the Ultimo Community Centre and the Powerhouse Museum are among those listed as ‘capable of change,’ “despite recent reassurances from the Lord Mayor that all previous services at UCC will be restored in the New Year,” and similar guarantees from the Department of Planning Industry and Environment (DPIE) about the Powerhouse. The ‘Pyrmont Peninsula Sub-Precinct Master Plans’ were released for public exhibition at the end of last month, building on the priorities set out in

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

the ‘Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy (PPPS)’ released earlier this year, to “take advantage” of the Pyrmont Peninsula’s urban character and its “important role in the continued growth and economic success of Greater Sydney and the NSW economy over the next 20 years.”

PUSHED PENINSULA

The Peninsula is Sydney’s fifth largest business district with around 40,000 workers, part of the innovation corridor and one of the fastest growing jobs hubs in Greater Sydney. The Peninsula is home to a residential population of around 20,000 people that live and work in and around the area. NSW Treasury prepared an Economic Development Strategy (EDS) which forecasts that an additional 600,000 – 800,000 square metres of floor space will be required across the Peninsula by 2041 due to increased retail and residential development density associated with the new metro station, as well as more commuters coming in and out of the area. The EDS forecast an industry mix geared towards knowledge industries, with an increase in productivity by 7% due to a growth of jobs in knowledge intensive industries and growth in many of the industries for which the Peninsula is

recognised; tourism, entertainment, media, and IT. The FoU found a number of positive points in the PPPS on its release including its vision for a world-class foreshore walk, venues for 24-hour entertainment, the metro station, more green public spaces, better public transport and pedestrian links, respect for heritage, public consultation and future planning controls to revert to the City.

 This is not what residents want Then, plans for the proposed Blackwattle Bay Sub-Precinct were released in July outlining developments of apartments and office towers as tall as 45m, higher than the pylons of the adjacent Anzac Bridge. The Blackwattle Bay plans attracted community backlash and over 1000 submissions. FoU objected based on its contradictions to the PPPS, specifically the excessive building heights, lack of public housing and minimal affordable housing contributions, lack of proposed public amenities and inadequate foreshore promenade and green spaces. Patricia, a spokesperson for FoU told City Hub, “this has been a happy residential area for many years, not too crowded, it’s got reasonable local spaces. It’s not too

The new plans propose that the Sydney Local Environment Plan (LEP 2012) be amended to include site-specific clauses for the key sites The Star, UTS, Metro site east and Metro site west. The Star is seeking the development of a six-star hotel on the Northern side of its existing site, ‘the North Tower,’ proposed at a maximum height of 105m, and a ‘Union Street Tower’ with a maximum height of 120m at the site of the future Sydney Metro station for commercial, hotel and residential uses. Amendments to the LEP would allow the increase of maximum height of any building on The Star’s existing site to 105m, an increase from their current maximum of 28m. Building height on the future Pyrmont Metro east and west sites would be increased under the amendments from 30m to 110m. UTS seeks to develop an Indigenous Residential college building of 62.9m. Current building height is limited to 42m. FoU said they have no objection to the proposal from UTS. The planning controls for other sites ‘capable of change’ including Ultimo Community Centre, the Powerhouse and more will be given to City of Sydney Council, to “review outdated planning instruments applying to the area, ensuring these integrate with PPPS objectives for possible integration into Council’s current development framework.” According to Patricia, “that appears to mean to us that the City of Sydney would have complete control over whether these changes took place or not. We are hoping that residents in their submissions will mention this and direct their arguments to the City of Sydney.” The Pyrmont Peninsula Sub-Precinct Master Plans are on exhibition for public comment until 4 February 2022 and information sessions will be running online and at the Pyrmont Community Centre at select times in December and January. “I think the essential thing for us is to encourage as many local people as possible to, as the City always says, have their say, that is, to make a submission and to express their exact thoughts on these plans, and what they should say is essentially up to them,” Patricia said “The essential thing is that we get as many submissions as possible to the government about these plans, hopefully they will say they’re not satisfactory.”

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Affirmative consent laws passed

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Affirmative Consent Reforms were passed by NSW Parliament. Photo: Creative Commons

BY DANIEL LO SURDO Commission’s Report into sexual consent reforms recommended n a landmark decision, the NSW that consent law be simplified and Parliament last month passed new strengthened. The Government sexual consent laws to install an adopted all 44 of the Commission’s affirmative consent model across the recommendations before the Bill was state. The law will now reflect those introduced in late October. implemented in Tasmania, in what is considered as the best in Australia. Greens member for Newtown Jenny Leong credited the decision to the The Affirmative Consent Reforms detail Director of Rape and Sexual Assault that “consent to a sexual activity must Research and Advocacy Saxon Mullins, not be presumed” and stipulate that who has led the way for victim-survivors consensual sexual activity involves PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE OPTUS ANDinVODAFONE MOBILE PHONE BASE advancing sexual consent reform “ongoing and mutual communication, WITH LOCATIONS throughout the country. Mr Speakman decision-makingSTATION and a free and 5G AT THE FOLLOWING Rooftop Facility, 209-211 Harris echoed Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009sentiment. Ms Leong’s voluntary agreement”Optus between those Vodafone Ref: S0969, www.rfnsa.com.au/2009003 participating. 1. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment and associated works as follows: Installation of three (3) new 5Gaffirmative panel antennas (0.81m long) “The• NSW Government’s It’s a matter of common sense • Installation of three (3) clearer new 5G panel antennas (0.75m long) consent model sets boundaries • Replacement ofsex, three (3) existing 4G panel with three new 4G panel and respect  antennas (2.1m long) for consensual reinforces theantennas (2.68m long) • Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.68m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (1.83m long) basic principle of common decency • New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling and antenna mounts that• consent is aoffree “I equipment commend Reconfiguration existingchoice equipmentinvolving on the facility and within the shelterparticularly Saxon Mullins mutual and ongoing communication, • The antennas are at rooftop level and there is a slight increase infor the overall scale of the facility bravery in sharing her extraordinary and reinforces that consent should Rooftop Facility, 48 not Chippen Street, NSW 2008 and her tireless herChippendale lived experience Optus Ref: S2145, www.rfnsa.com.au/2008003 be presumed,” Minister forVodafone Prevention advocacy for victim-survivors to ensure The proposed and facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment and associated works as follows: of2.Domestic Sexual Violence Mark their voices were heard, all of which • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.75m long) Speakman said. • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (1.35m long) has contributed to the passage of these “Under our reforms, if existing you want reforms,” Mr4GSpeakman • Replacement of three (3) 4G paneltoantennas (2.69m long) with three new panel antennas (2.said. 1m long) engage in sexual activity with someone, • Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.68m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (1.5m long) bodies, “I thank victim-survivors, peak then• you to do orincluding say something New need ancillary equipment remote radio units,tocabling and antenna mounts frontline services, legal experts, Reconfiguration of existing on the facilityyou. and within the equipment shelter find • out if they want to equipment have sex with academics, and those across the • The antennas are at rooftop level and there is a slight increase in the overall scale of the facility “It does not make consensual sex illegal. criminal justice system for their Rooftop Facility, 134-138 William Street, Wooloomooloo NSW 2011 It does not stop consensual sex. ItRef: does thorough and thoughtful engagement.” Optus Vodafone S8901, www.rfnsa.com.au/2011002 not written 3. require The proposedafacility consistsagreement of the addition ofor new 5G equipment The and associated as follows:includes further reformworks package script, or stifleof three spontaneity. It’santennas a matter • Installation (3) new 5G panel (0.75m long) measures as part of the affirmative • Installationsense of three (3) newrespect.” 5G panel antennas (1.35m long) consent reforms, including five new jury of common and • Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.53m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (1.83m long) directions to address common sexual • Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.53m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (2.78m long) assault misconceptions, research into MAKING CHANGE • New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling and antenna mounts victim-survivor The • State’s Lower House passed Reconfiguration of existing equipment on thethe facility and within the equipment shelter experiences with the criminal justice with process and community Consent Reforms in early November 4. Optus and Vodafone regard the proposed installations as Exempt Development in accordance State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 based on the description above awareness campaigns. Specific education after amendments proposed by 5. Notification is being undertaken in accordance with Section 7 of Industry Code C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment programs for judges, legal practitioners Labor and Greens members were 6. Members of the public may obtain further information on the proposed work, and we invite you to provide written comments about the and police will also take place. unsuccessful. proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to Optus’ representative c/- James McIver, Catalyst ONE Pty Ltd; phone: The newCrows laws in The 02 push came in November 4022 for 9533;change email: consultation@catalystone.com.au and post: PO Box 1119, Nestwill NSWbe 1585commencing by 26 February 2021. mid-2022. last year when the NSW Law Reform

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PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE OPTUS MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION WITH 5G Scan here to access financial support AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS for businesses not-for-profits Existing Facility (Level 10),and 1-19 Oxford Street, Rooftop Facility, Lakes Business Park, Building 2, Surry Hills NSW 2010 2-26 Lord Street, Botany NSW 2019 impacted by the recent COVID-19 Optus Ref: S0209, www.rfnsa.com.au/2010024 Optus Ref: S0490, www.rfnsa.com.au/2019001 Therestrictions. proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G 3. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G

equipment and associated works as follows: equipment and associated works as follows: • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.81m in length) • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.59m long) • Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.68m • New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling long) with three new 4G panel antennas (1.5m long) here toincluding findremote outradio when and and antenna mounts • Scan New ancillary equipment units, cabling • Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within and antenna mounts where you can receive a COVID-19the equipment shelter • Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within • The antennas are at rooftop level and there is a slight increase in vaccine. the equipment shelter; the antennas are at level 10 plant room the overall scale of the facility • Optus regards the proposed installation as a low-impact facility in • Optus regards the proposed installation as Exempt Development accordance with the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) in accordance with State Environmental Planning Policy Determination 2018 based on the description above (Infrastructure) 2007 based on the description above Existing Monopole, 19 Harris Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009 Rooftop Facility, 65-71 Belmore Road, Optus Ref: S5576, www.rfnsa.com.au/2009001 Randwick NSW 2031 Optus Ref: S0041, www.rfnsa.com.au/2031005 2. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment and associated works as follows: 4. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G • Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.59m long) equipment and associated works as follows: • we Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.81m long) are saving lives and stopping• Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.59m long) • Installation of one (1) new 4G panel antenna (2.69 m long) spread of Covid-19. We’re all• Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.81m long) • the Replacement of two (2) existing 4G panel antennas (2.53m long) • Provision for three (3) future panel antennas (up to 1.5m long) with two new 4G panel antennas (2.69m long) in this together, so let’s continue• New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling • Provision for three (3) future panel antennas (up to 1.5m long) and antenna mounts eachincluding other • to New keep ancillary equipment remote safe. radio units, cabling • Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within and antenna mounts the equipment shelter • Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within • The antennas are at rooftop level and there is a slight increase in the equipment shelter the overall scale of the facility • The antennas are at rooftop level and there is a slight increase in the overall scale of the facility • Optus regards the proposed installation as Exempt Development • TANYA Optus regards the proposed installation as a low-impact facility in in accordance with State Environmental Planning Policy PLIBERSEK MP accordance with the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) (Infrastructure) 2007 based on the description above Federal Member for Sydney Determination 2018 based on the description above

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5. Notification is being undertaken in accordance with Section 7 of Industry Code C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment. T: 9379 0700 6. Members of the public may obtain further information on the proposed work, and we invite you to provide written comments about the E: Tanya.Plibersek.MP@aph.gov.au proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to Optus’ representative c/- James McIver, Catalyst ONE Pty Ltd; phone: 02 4022 9533; email: consultation@catalystone.com.au and post: PO Box 1119, Crows Nest NSW 1585 by 26 February 2021. CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

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Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick election prediction RANDWICK

BY EVA BAXTER ll percentages are approximate. The NSW Electoral Commission will not begin declaring candidates elected until December 20th. Results from iVote will not be released until 6pm on Wednesday 8 December, after printing of this publication.

The ALP leads the Randwick City Council election. City of Randwick Council has 15 councillors with three from each of five wards. 88,101 electors were enrolled, with 15 council seats up for grabs, three in each ward. In 2017, the community voted 5 Labor, 4 Liberal, 3 Greens and 3 Independent. In 2021, data suggests 5 Labor, 3 Liberal, 2 Greens and 1 Independent will gain seats. 4 are unable to be predicted at this stage.

WOOLLAHRA

The Liberal Party is in the lead for votes in every ward besides Paddington. 39,871 electors were enrolled to vote in this election, with 15 seats up for grabs, three in each of five wards. In 2017, 8 Liberal Party members, 5 members of Residents’ First Woollahra (RFW) and 2 Greens were elected to council by the community. Current data suggests the Liberal Party will win 8 seats, RFW 5 and Greens 1, with the final seat undecided. The Liberal Party has 48% of the overall vote. RFW has 38% and the Greens have 13%. ABC’s Chief Elections Analyst finds the Liberal Party has a slight negative swing from 2017’s election (-1.0), RFW has had a considerable positive swing (+11.1) and the Greens a negative swing (-7.4).

BELLEVUE HILL The Liberal Party has 59% of votes. Incumbent Liberal councillor Isabelle Shapiro on track to be re-elected, along with new face Sean Carmichael. Incumbent councillor Lucinda Regan of Resident’s First Woollahra is also predicted to be re-elected.

COOPER

The Liberal Party leads with 45% of votes, while Sarah Swan is likely to be elected. RFW have 31% of votes, and incumbent Luise Elsing is also likely to be re-elected.

The NSW Electoral Commission will not declare candidates elected until December 20th, but this is how the results are tracking so far. Photo: Creative Commons

WAVERLEY

The Liberal Party currently leads in every ward. 45,183 electors were enrolled to vote in Waverley with 12 councillors and three from each ward. In 2017, the Liberal Party won 5 seats, Labor 4 and the Greens 3. In 2021, the result is unchanged. ABC’s Chief Elections Analyst finds the Liberal Party has seen a small positive swing (+3.1), little change for the ALP (-0.1), the Greens a small positive swing (+2.1) and Independents seeing a negative swing (-5.1) since 2017 elections.

 Labor Mayor Paula Masselos will likely be re-elected

The Liberal Party has 47% of votes, followed by the ALP at 28%, then the Greens with 23% and Independents with 0.7%.

BONDI

 Labor Mayor Dylan Parker looks set to retain his seat

ABC’s Chief Elections Analyst finds the ALP ahead with 31% of votes across all wards. The Liberal Party is coming in just behind ALP with 25% of votes, The Greens at 20%, Independents 17%, Our Local Community 4% and the Arts Party 0.5%. ALP has so far seen a positive swing since last election (+5.0), the Liberal Party a negative swing (-5.1), The Greens a positive swing (+5.5), Independents a considerable negative swing (-10.1) and Our Local Community a positive swing (+4.9).

CENTRAL

Labor Mayor Dylan Parker looks set to retain his seat on council with Labor leading with 36% of the vote in this ward. Incumbent Liberal Daniel Rosenfield looks safe with 26.3%. The Greens Kym Chapple and incumbent Independent Anthony Andrews are in the race for the final seat, at 16% and 20%, respectively.

EAST

DOUBLE BAY

The Liberal Party leads in Bondi Ward by a small amount with approximately 37% of votes to the Greens 36%. The ALP has so far secured 26% of votes. Liberal Leon Goltsman, Green Dominic WY Kanak and ALP Michelle Gray are predicted to win seats.

The Liberal Party is leading at 54% of votes. Incumbent Liberal Toni Zeltser looks likely to be elected.

Labor is in the lead at 31%, Wilson Marea likely to be elected. Liberal and The Greens have accumulated a similar number of votes in this ward, at 28% and 27% respectively. Liberal candidate Joanne Mccafferty and Greens candidate Michael Olive look likely to win the two remaining seats.

HUNTER

NORTH

The Greens are at 23% of votes. There is no predicted elected candidate at this stage.

RFW is at 45% of the vote and incumbent Mark Silcocks will also likely be re-elected. The third candidate is undecided, but Deputy Mayor Richard Shields is in the running for the Liberal Party.

PADDINGTON

Paddington is the only Woollahra Ward with a party other than the Liberals leading in votes. Residents’ First Woollahra currently has 37.8% of votes, followed by the Greens with 32.3% of votes. The Liberal Party has 30% of votes in Paddington Ward. Incumbent RFW Harriet Price, incumbent Green Matthew Robertson, and incumbent Liberal Peter Cavanagh are all on track to be re-elected.

VAUCLUSE

The Liberal Party is ahead with 61.3% of votes. RFW has 38.7%. New face Merrill Witt for RFW is predicted to get a seat, as are incumbents Mary-Lou Jarvis and Mayor Susan Wynne for the Liberal Party. 18

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

The Liberal Party is predicted to secure two seats in Hunter Ward, going to incumbents Sally Betts and William Nemesh. The Liberal Party has 69.2% of votes. The ALP has 30.8% and incumbent Steven Lewis is predicted to be elected. No Greens ran in Hunter Ward.

Liberals are ahead of likely in North Ward at 32%, incumbent Christie Hamilton is likely to be re-elected. ALP follows with 30%, incumbent Kathy Neilson, who is predicted to win a seat. The Greens new face Rafaela Pandolfini is so far predicted to have the final seat, at 27%.

LAWSON

SOUTH

WAVERLEY

WEST

The Liberal Party currently has 41% of the vote, with incumbent Angela Burrill likely to be re-elected. Labor and The Greens are behind at 28% and 27%, respectively. Labor Mayor Paula Masselos and Greens councillor Elaine Keenan will likely be re-elected.

The Liberal party has 43% of the vote. The Greens follow with 30% of the vote. Labor is in rear with 26%. Liberal Tony Kay is the only incumbent councillor contesting in this ward and looks set to get a seat. New faces for Greens Ludovico Fabiano and Labor Tim Murray are also likely to be elected at this stage.

Independents have taken the lead in South Ward, with incumbent Noel D’Souza predicted to be re-elected. Independents have 40% of the vote, Labor 29%, Liberal 18% and Greens 11%. Former Labor Mayor Danny Said is predicted to be elected; the rest remain undecided.

The count is close in West Ward, with Labor just ahead at 27%, followed by Liberal Party and Our Local Community both at 24%, and the Greens at 23%. Only incumbent Labor councillor Alexandra Luxford is predicted to be re-elected in this ward at this stage.

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Nurse bringing joy to the elderly

BY DANIEL LO SURDO or Jarrod Wolhuter, the onset of the COVID-19 formed an unlikely intersection between his two main passions: nursing and barbering. One year before the pandemic began, Wolhuter, a 37-year-old Kingsford resident, started his barbering business after noticing the benefits of a hot towel shave and a haircut for patients in aged care facilities. He immediately enrolled in a barbering course at his nearest TAFE before earning his certificate and starting his business in the early months of 2020. “I thought if I could apply that to patients in aged care, it would be nice for them to participate in, and I found when I did that, it benefitted them a lot,” Wolhuter tells City Hub. “They became a lot more relaxed, a lot more settled, they actually became quite helpful with the movements around their head … I thought it was really remarkable.”

FINDING CONSISTENCY

Wolhuter found considerable success with patients affected by dementia, who were unusually calm while he operated. “In the mornings, they may be a bit unsettled or agitated or restless, but I found when I put the hot towel on their face it almost acted like something that took them back to their younger days when they would attend barber shops for that type of service,” he says. While Wolhuter found avenues to continue his barbering, he struggled to keep a consistent pattern of business while complying with the infection control rules present in aged care facilities and the community. To combat the restrictions and serve his community, Wolhuter started providing subsidised haircuts out of his garage, where he created a makeshift barbershop to continue his business during the first lockdown. He also visited the Addison Road Community Centre in Marrickville, where he used both his nursing and barbering skills to assist with visitor needs. “It’s been a really difficult two years because of those infection control rules,” Wolhuter says. “Many of the residents have been locked down for about 18 months, with a little bit of reprieve here and there, but a lot of them have gone without social interaction with their friends and families for a long time, so if I can get into aged care facilities now at this moment I think it would be a great service for the male residents

Jarrod Wolhuter (left) has been providing haircuts and shaves to patients in aged care facilities for the past two years. Photo: LinkedIn/Jarrod Wolhuter

especially … so to be able to provide that service and do it safely as a registered nurse, now is the time that it should be embraced.” During the two major Sydney lockdowns, Wolhuter was forced to put his barbering business on hold, with his work in the health sector taking precedence. While he still considers nursing as his “bread and butter”, he hopes that his new business can finally gather some momentum in the new year.

 A lot of them have gone without social interaction “I’m an emergency department nurse as my main discipline, so each time there’s been a lockdown, I’ve put the barbering side of things on hold and have been working on the frontline, I’ve been working in the intensive care unit and emergency department and the fever clinics and the quarantine and vaccination projects as well,” Wolhuter says. “In terms of nursing it’s been exceptionally busy, however, the

barbering was something I felt so strongly about and was so passionate about that it was actually a nice reprieve away from things.” While operating out of his garage in the first lockdown, Wolhuter asked customers to “pay what you can afford” for a haircut or provide his service free of charge where necessary. He says that it was a good social outlet that he used before “we knew what we were dealing with” and thought it was equally beneficial for the community.

COVID STRUGGLES

Restrictions imposed in the Delta lockdown prevented Wolhuter from replicating his setup from last year but has not dampened his spirit to continue his barbering work in the aged care sector. The severity of illness from COVID-19 in elderly people marked the aged care sector as one of the hardest-hit areas of Australian society throughout the past 18 months. During the pandemic, most aged care facilities have been restricted or excluded from guests, forcing many elderly Australians to be

isolated from their family and friends during this period. As of writing, NSW Health has advised aged care facilities that residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and older, plus two children aged under 12 years per day. Fully vaccinated visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit. Residents are allowed to leave the facility for family gatherings or other reasons but must abide by the current public health orders. Facilities are required to issue residents with adequate protective equipment and mask-wearing and infection control advice. All staff in facilities, including nurses, are required to wear a surgical mask while in the facility. There are strict provisions in place for staff entry into aged care facilities, with frontline workers required to isolate from the aged care facility if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or have had any trace or contact with a positive case. CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

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Mountain and BMX tracks supported “How great it is for kids to be able to hone their technical skills on bikes away from traffic so they can build their confidence for riding on the road [and] how wonderful it is for these kids to do something which doesn’t involve sitting in front of a screen.” The motion has also requested that Lord Mayor Clover Moore writes to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and the Minister for Transport and Roads Rob Stokes to provide an update on potential temporary or ‘meanwhile use’ State-owned sites that could be enabled for mountain bike or BMX riding.

That informality and The City will investigate new bike tracks across its LGA. Photo: Facebook/Pedal Camp

BY DANIEL LO SURDO he City of Sydney councillors have unanimously supported the growth of mountain bike and BMX riding in the inner-city. A motion tabled by Cr Jess Miller in November requested the City’s CEO to “investigate the feasibility” of a mountain bike and BMX track facilities within the

local government area, exploring options for a permanent facility in Sydney Park or another location and consult with members of the mountain bike and BMX community to provide input for the project. “This is just about acknowledging how popular mountain biking and BMX biking is,” Cr Miller said at a November council meeting.

opportunity should be there for the kids “It’s really nice for city kids to have access to that bush-like environment,” Lord Mayor Moore said. “That informality and opportunity should be there for the kids because I think living in the city and yet have that experience that you’d only expect living out in the bush or in the suburbs, I think it’s just quite fantastic.”

CHAIN REACTION

Non-profit Pedal Camp, which described the motion as a “pretty historic moment”, has created a track at Sydney Park which Lord Mayor Moore likened to “the bush that I played in as a child” on Sydney’s Upper North Shore. “We’ve got the skate parks and the bike opportunities in other areas of Sydney Park, but this is more natural, the kids building it and getting dirt up their nails,” she said. “It’s really nice for the kids as they probably wouldn’t expect to [have this] in a city environment.” Cr Linda Scott was equally supportive of the motion. “It’s been lovely to see how everyone has been really creative about using our outdoor space around the COVID period,” she said. “I saw the track when it was in action having walked around that park almost every day with my kids, so it’s a lovely thing.” Queensland native Logan Martin won the inaugural Men’s BMX Freestyle event at the Tokyo Olympic Games this year, an occasion that Cr Scott hopes has inspired the growth of mountain and BMX riding in the inner-city.

Lanz Priestley Remembered BY BERNADETTE SMITH n November 2nd the death of Lanz Priestley was announced by his family on Facebook. He will be remembered as a tireless activist for social justice who fought for the rights of homeless people in the city as well as drought-ravaged farming communities out west. I first met Lanz at Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD during Occupy Sydney while working as a photographer for Stop CSG Sydney. In 2011, Lanz was prominent in the worldwide movement against economic inequality and would go on to organise the Martin Place 24/7 Homeless Kitchen and Safe Space, providing food, clothing and blankets 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The safe space was set up with shelters under hoardings around Martin Place after homeless women complained of being molested when they tried to sleep. Eventually, this led to the famous homeless tent city in 2016 that earned Lanz the nickname of “Mayor of Martin Place”. This temporary solution brought visibility to Australia’s homelessness and captured international attention. But legislation to evict the Martin Place homeless was introduced by State Parliament and raids by police finally

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

shut down the tent city in late 2017, although the street kitchen continues to this day. This movement also spread to Perth in Western Australia.

BEYOND SYDNEY

The homeless crisis in Australia is far from over and has climbed to around

290,000 people in 2019 according to the Australian Homelessness Monitor, so there continues to be a great need for the work that Lanz started in providing nutritious meals and warm blankets and clothing through volunteers and public donations. In 2013 when Queensland’s former LNP

government introduced harsh new laws against bikies with the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment (VLAD) Act, Lanz brought rival bikie groups together to protest these laws fearing it would be used to suppress all human rights. Eventually, these laws were overturned but at the time Lanz was concerned that they would spread to the rest of Australia, so he helped organise protests around the country, including outside the New South Wales parliament.

Lanz was a thoughtful, selfless being

Lanz Priestley outside 24/7 Homeless Kitchen, Martin Place in 2013. Photo: Bernadette Smith

Lanz was also active in fighting the TransPacific Partnership Agreement and was also an environmental justice warrior who set up Dignity Water. This continuing project brought regular deliveries of fresh drinking water to desperate households in the lower Murray Darling River and dry west communities using volunteers and crowdfunding. His family in breaking the sad news of his passing said on Facebook, “Lanz was a thoughtful, selfless being. His work has helped, inspired, and united so many people throughout the world. Although it is time for Lanz to finally rest, his contributions will continue to live on”.

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE It is proposed that a payphone be removed from: Outside 69 Oxford Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 (Payphone ID: 02928354X2) The next nearest payphone is located: Outside 258 Crown St near Oxford Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 and is approximately 120 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed. (Payphone ID: 02936121X2) Reference Number 46418

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO INSTALL A NEW PAYPHONE It is proposed that a payphone be installed on: The corner of Campbell Street near Riley Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Reference Number 46419

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

26th January 2022

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

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: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO REMOVE A PAYPHONE It is proposed that a payphone be removed from: Outside 470 Crown Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 (Payphone ID: 02936118X7) The next nearest payphone is located: Outside 70 Arthur Street near Bourke Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 and is approximately 180 metres away from the payphone that is proposed to be removed. (Payphone ID: 02936138X2)

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: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

TELSTRA IS PLANNING TO INSTALL A NEW PAYPHONE It is proposed that a payphone be installed: Outside 359 Crown Street near Fitzroy Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Reference Number 46429

Reference Number 46428

Telstra intends making a final decision on this proposal by:

26th January 2022

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

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: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/payphones

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

HubNEWS

Opinion

Tip the scales back to resident power

BY PIP HINMAN he NSW Coalition and NSW Labor voted on November 23 to gift developers another opportunity to tip the scales in their favour and away from local residents and local government. They decided to remove councils’ ability to charge for compliance investigations, despite warnings that this would lead to councils being forced to reduce compliance activity. We have seen from the Mascot Towers’ and Opal Tower examples where the lack of compliance leads: unsafe buildings and environmental damage.

INNER WEST COUNCIL DEAMALGAMATION

At the polling booths I’ve been heartened by the positive response from residents — young and old — about demerging the three councils: it has become a discussion and it is good to hear from many what could be done to tip the balance back towards residents. Obviously, there could be better representation. Even those arguing against the demerger admit representation has been eroded. Of course there could be a range of options to fix this, including the reestablishment of precinct committees. But Labor and Liberal councillors recently voted against those too. The essence of the YES campaign has been about putting the local back into council: that means that unless residents have a greater say in the running of local services, of local streets, of planting trees and of stopping overdevelopment, the inner west, home to so many engaged and proactive residents, is going to deteriorate further.

Pip Hinman ran for the Socialist Alliance in Damun (Stanmore) in Inner West Council. Photo: Peter Boyle

In many ways the immediate fight to stop WestConnex torpedoing our inner west has been lost, but the bigger fight remains – to pressure the state government to reverse their plans for the Western Harbour Tunnel, to ameliorate its impacts (especially air pollution from the unfiltered exhaust stacks) and to demand more say over road use to make the area a safer place for active transport. For the inner west, this has a lot to do with climate change. But it is simply also about safety and practical common

sense: we want to feel safe cycling, walking and we want more green space to cool our cities down. Regardless as to where you stand on demerger, we all need these things. The question is how to get them? How to tip the power imbalance away from the state government and its developer mates back to us – the people who rent, live and work here?

It is going to take a lot more resident determination It is no surprise that the network of activists who played the biggest role in trying to stop WestConnex from subsuming neighbourhoods are the same people who are campaigning for demerger. They have had their voices ignored twice in succession: once during the fake consultation over the forced merger, and secondly when WestConnex was rammed through despite the overwhelming community opposition to the government supporting tollway companies to put more cars on the roads, and to use our tax dollars to do it.

ELECTION REFLECTION

Many in the Inner West campaigned for the demerger question to be put to residents on election day. Photo: Peter Boyle 22

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

A majority YES vote to demerge will not be the end of this struggle – far from it. It is going to take a lot more resident determination and campaigning, and the new councillors assisting working for them, to put a strong case to the NSW Boundaries Commission and force

the no-holds-barred arrogant state government to act on it. Voting for councillors who will be prepared to put up a fight is going to be important. Given the balance is so tipped away from local democracy, no single councillor, or group of councillors, will be able to do this without working with residents. In my view, most of the angry protesters across several cities, who claim to be fighting for their right not to be vaccinated, represent an alienated section of the population who have had a gutful of state and federal governments ignoring them. The Liberals and other right-wing groups are opportunistically jumping in to stir the populist pot, making this a potentially dangerous Trump-style movement. The brazen political alliance between Inner West Labor councillors and minority Liberals over the first term of the forcibly merged councils stymied progressive reforms and produced a toxic internal culture — all of which played into the hands of the state government. Ultimately, putting renters and rate payers at the centre of council’s work will be the only way to tip the balance back away from council becoming a vehicle for developer greed. The climate emergency and housing affordability crisis necessitate that the incoming council work hard to harness resident power to do the things that local governments are supposed to.

COFFIN ED’S NAKED CITY

THE MEANINGFUL GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS GIVING

hristmas gifts are usually given as a sign of affection or friendship and chosen to suit the particular recipient. Not everybody likes what they receive and some gifts find their way back to a department store or are creatively rewrapped and regifted. Yes, there are some ungrateful bastards out there, as it’s supposedly the thought that counts. Then again if it’s the message you wish to convey with your gift, perhaps the way is open for a new kind of Xmas present – the protest gift! This Christmas, after you have taken care of family and friends with the usual tins of mixed biscuits and boxed handkerchiefs, maybe it’s time to stretch the budget a little and fire off some protest pressies. It’s a subtle, albeit devious way of making your point that could well have a lasting effect on your target. For example, one of your close workmates is an ardent anti-vaxxer – but hey, no hard feelings, as you have been exchanging Christmas gifts for years. He or she boycotts the annual office party but you post them your gift, beautifully wrapped in quality Christmas paper. Imagine their disgust when they unwrap the item only to find it’s a biography of Jonas Salk! Get the picture? So here are just a few suggestions on how you can make a real political statement this festive season, by posting your least favourite person a dastardly appropriate gift. TO CLIVE PALMER: Look out for the most scratched copy of Twisted Sister’s greatest hits in the dollar bin at your local op shop and mail it off, enclosing a card

wishing Clive a ‘million dollar Christmas’ – rumoured to be the settlement he reached with the band after poaching ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’. TO MIRANDA DEVINE: A ‘Headless Body In Topless Bar’ T-Shirt (the New York Post’s most infamous headline) with a card thanking her for her services to tabloid journalism. TO PETE EVANS: An old sun lamp. Pete is no longer selling his $15,000 BioCharger NG Subtle Energy Platform which he once claimed could treat COVID. Enclose a card with the old sun lamp that reads “May not cure COVID, but at least you will get a tan.” TO GEORGE CHRISTENSEN: A traditional Christmas stocking full of horse care medications for colic, worms

and strangles including a family pack of Ivermectin. There’s a cure for COVID in there somewhere! TO CRAIG KELLY: A selection of canned Spam including the ‘Hot & Spicy’ with a card reading, “Try eating it, rather than sending it Craig – Merry Christmas!”. For an even more meaningful statement, paste a sticker on the Spam cans – ‘NOW WITH ADDED INVERMECTIN’. TO SCOTT MORRISON: a ‘CHOOSE EMPATHY’ t-shirt from the Hillsong Church and a bunch of cheap and tacky Hawaiian tourist souvenirs. TO PAULINE HANSON: a CD of Funkadelic’s One Nation Under A Groove with a note attached, “Isn’t It Time You Changed Your Tune?” TO SENATOR MALCOLM ROBERTS (climate change sceptic): A pair of oversized gumboots and a picture of King Canute trying to hold back the tide. TO ANY POLITICIAN WHO HAS RECENTLY FELT THE WRATH OF ICAC: The Kleen Stride Personal Debris Removal System guaranteed to sweep that incriminating evidence aside. TO ANDREW BOLT: Johnnie Walker King George V Scotch Whisky – just the bottle that is, or for a bit of fun fill it with cold tea. TO ????????: Need to be careful here, but you know best whom you really detest. You can still buy a Jack Kevorkian (aka Dr Death) Gift Certificate on the internet these days and it’s a fun Christmas novelty. Best not to put your return address on the envelope in case the joke is not appreciated!

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Ageing Support Supporting people living with HIV aged over 45, through the maze of aged care, disability, and healthcare services in NSW Contact Positive Life NSW on (02) 9206 2177 or 1800 245 677 (freecall)

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

JAGGED LITTLE PILL TO REOPEN THEATRE ROYAL Jagged Little Pill is set to reopen a refurbished Theatre Royal

Sir Howard Panter, Tim McFarlane, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Emily Nkomo, Don Harwin. Photo: James D Morgan

BY MARK MORELLINI inally, after many years sitting dormant in the heart of the city the newly refurbished Theatre Royal has opened its doors and will bring the best in world class entertainment.

The multi-million-dollar refurbishment has transformed this iconic historical Australian theatre into a magnificent world class theatre where audiences will be able to watch major musicals, plays and live music in stylish surroundings. Houri Tapiki, the newly appointed General Manager of Theatre Royal Sydney explained that she is privileged to be working in such an iconic venue. “My love has always been theatre and to be able to return to a venue which is so loved and then be able to lead an amazing team that we’ve built since February is a dream come true.” The Theatre Royal closed in March 2016 and Tapiki explained that the reopening was made possible by past theatregoers who had memorable experiences at the venue over the years. “Everyone has wonderful memories of this venue so when it closed it was absolutely devastating for so many people. There was a period of lobbying by the public and the government wanted to bring the venue back to life putting it out to tender. Ultimately, Trafalgar Entertainment were appointed the operators. This has been an amazing process to watch as an outsider as obviously I wasn’t a part of that.”

headlining an incredible cast of 23 performers on stage. The musical tells the story of the ‘perfectly imperfect’ Healy family and Tim Draxl who plays the head of the family is enjoying the experience. “This musical covers a lot of territory, dealing with addiction, rape, racial integration and adoption. This is a jukebox musical about a fictional family that uses the music of Jagged Little Pill the album to tell the story. It’s quite ingenious in the way they have placed the songs and created this narrative where the songs slot so perfectly into.” Best described as a rock musical rather than the usual fluffy romantic kind of

their family issues? “Definitely! I think those social pressures are obviously universal. We all feel now more than ever I think with Instagram etc being constantly fed these perfect images of what life should be like. We’re all under pressure to be these perfect people who have these perfect lives and I think the Healys are just that.” Draxl explained that anybody who grew up listening to Alanis Morissette should enjoy this musical. “Anybody who had that album Jagged Little Pill must come along and see the show and hear how it has been orchestrated and re-imagined. The show should also appeal to younger audiences as it speaks to them on many

The multi-million refurbishment includes a new auditorium with new seating and staging designed to international standards. The redesign of the theatre has added an extra row of seats which has increased the capacity to 1200. The new floor to ceiling windows at the entrance of the theatre, ribbed ceilings, and the Mercator sculpture by American sculptor Charles O. Perry in the foyer are just a few of the features that have restored beauty and class to the theatre.

 to be able to re-open a

theatre that was tagged as being torn down and turned into more offices... we’re all incredibly excited to to bring it back to life “I think it’s going to be really exciting and also emotional for a lot of people coming back to see how we’ve refurbished the venue, but also kept it true to what it originally was and obviously being heritage listed as well. It’s a beautiful space with an amazing line-up of Broadway Musicals including Jagged Little Pill, Girl From The North Country and An American In Paris to grace the stage.” The Grammy and Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill is currently premiering at the iconic Theatre Royal in Sydney. Inspired by Alanis Morissette’s album by the same name the show stars Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Tim Draxl

Liam Head, Grace Miell, Tim Draxl, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Emily Nkomo, Aydan, Maggie McKenna. Photo: Stuart Miller

musical that audiences may expect, it’s intense with moments of light and darkness. “If anybody knows the music of Alanis Morissette, specifically Jagged Little Pill, the lyrics are quite serious covering intense subject matters. So, this show is an extension of that and delves quite deep in some of those concepts.” Bassingthwaighte plays the role of Mary Jane Healy and Draxl is enjoying playing alongside her. “She’s a bundle of energy. She’s awesome! So bright and enthusiastic and fun!” But will Aussie audiences relate to the story of this seemingly perfect suburban American family attempting to resolve

levels and covers a lot of issues that are incredibly relevant right now.” And is it an honour being involved in the first stage production that has re-opened the iconic Theatre Royal? “Definitely! I’d never performed at the Theatre Royal and this is where I saw my first musical, Phantom Of The Opera where my mother took me many years ago, so it’s exciting from that perspective for me to be performing there finally. But beyond that to be able to re-open a theatre that was tagged as being torn down and turned into more offices, as a theatre community, I think we’re all incredibly excited to be the first production to bring it back to life.”

Dec 2-19. Theatre Royal, 108 King St Sydney. $65-$179+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.jaggedmusical.com 24

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

HubARTS

SHEPPARD’S CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU: “Every time we have tried to write a Christmas song in the past it just hasn’t felt genuine...” (See p. 30)

REVIEW

THE WHARF REVUE CAN OF WORMS

A CHORUS LINE LOWERS THE FAÇADE OF ACTORS

BY IRINA DUNN dam Jon Fiorentino is lead in the upcoming stage production of A Chorus Line staged by the Darlinghurst Theatre at the Drama Theatre of the Sydney Opera House. He brings a wealth of experience from stage, screen and television credits in Australia, the UK and the USA. He’s been in the industry for 23 years, starting in ensemble roles and working his way up to lead roles. He says that Michael Bennett, who conceived and originally directed and choreographed A Chorus Line, wanted to “show the audience the faces and the humans behind the façade they normally see on the stage”. Fiorentino believes that it is all too easy for the audience to see a twodimensional figure on stage and not think about the person behind the performance. Actors have a better time now on the stage than they did when Michael Bennett wrote A Chorus Line, although Fiorentino says that racism and sexism still persist in the industry. He refers to the tragic case of Judy Garland who took her life with barbiturates as an example of how tough it was to be in the industry in earlier days. Fiorentino brings first-hand knowledge of working in numerous productions on Broadway stages where competition for roles was much greater than in Australia.

Photo: Brett Boardman

Adam Jon Fiorentino

Where 100 might audition for a role in Australia, on Broadway some 1000 could be lining up around the block. He’s looking forward to working with the younger cast members, not only to impart his work ethic to them but also to learn from the younger “kids” about what’s going on in their world that he’s now not in touch with. He is pleased that actors are no longer pressured to push themselves to the limit and burn themselves out in their industry. And it’s exactly these problems and issues that Michael Bennett wanted to raise in his show. Fiorentino loves the role of Zach, who gives the artists the environment to be able to “open up and show who are they are” as opposed to presenting an artificial polished piece with nothing of themselves. Feb 11-Mar 6. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $110-$170+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com or Ph: (02) 9250 777

BY IRINA DUNN fter more than two decades of providing Australia’s annual dose of satirical laughs, the boys, aided and abetted by the fabulous Amanda Bishop, are back with their revue called Can Of Worms. Again, Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phil Scott present their yearly assessment of Australian and international politics and political leaders. As the publicity notes, “[Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsytheand Phil Scott] have baited their hooks and are opening another can of worms on a new wharf, to trawl for every political flathead, groper or yellowtail that floats into view. Then the catch of the day will be filleted, battered and grilled and served in a spicy satire sauce with a topical garnish”. The trio says, “All hands on deck for a daring adventure as we navigate the dire Straits of COVID, sail round the treacherous Horn of Scomo, steer well clear of the empty Cape of Pauline, only to be becalmed in the Nationals Bermuda Jacket Triangle before stumbling across a New World, filled with hope and promise! Or not.” Who can forget Jonathan Biggins’ brilliant portrayal of Keating in the wildly successful show The Gospel According To Paul?

Drew Forsythe brings a distinguished career on the stage to the long-running show. Phil Scott, the musical director, is a genius on the piano, whipping up the chords to accompany the biting words directed at the hypocrites, stooges and fools who govern us. Amanda Bishop really shone in this show, her stunningly strong vocals captivating the audience in her portrayal of public personas. These four shapeshifters manage to take on the appearance, voice and mannerisms of the notables they mock. Bishop takes on the personas of Michaelia Cash, Jacqui Lambie, Gladys Berejiklian, Ivanka Trump, Jacinda Ardern, Bridget McKenzie and Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz, who is looking for a place to live in the Emerald City but finds the cost of houses has skyrocketed. Drew Forsythe becomes Pauline Hanson, Kevin Rudd and the Queen, and Jonathan Biggins, in a superb orange wig, inhabits a wonderfully odious Trump, inter alia. If you’re feeling frustrated with the current state of affairs, or should I say the current affairs of state, you must go along to see this show. It will prove to be cathartic! Until Dec 23. Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd &, Cleveland St, Chippendale. $50-$90+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

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THE TAP AFFECT BY MARK MORELLINI ap dancing is a style of dance that you don’t see much of in Australia but The Tap Affect, the inaugural dance project from The Australian Tap Dance Company, is about to change that. Peta Anderson has achieved so much in this field and is one of the co-creative directors of the dance company. She also choreographed and dances in this show. “The concept of the show is the way tap has affected the tap dancers in the show, how it has affected our emotion

and the way it makes us feel. As well as taking the audience on a journey it’s basically about us going on our own journey.” The roots of tap are represented by seven dancers and a percussionist who pay tribute to the masters who created this art form including Eddie Brown, Buster Brown and Eleanor Powell. “We go on more of a percussive journey rather than choreographing a Broadway dance piece. We want the audience to feel how tap dance can make them feel

Photo: Sean Sinclair

emotionally rather than it being in lights and big costumes. We’re stripping it all back and getting into the musicality of tap.” But do audiences have to be tap dance enthusiasts to enjoy the show? “No

Definitely not. I think if you enjoy music and dance, you’re really going to enjoy it! Dec 15-17. Riverside Theatres, Church & Market Streets. $24-$38+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au

STC TRANSFORMS SHAKESPEARE’S ‘JULIUS CAESAR’ FOR MODERN TIMES BY IRINA DUNN f you see no other play before the end of the year you must see the STC’s production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar! This great play presents a dramatic realisation of power and the corruption of power on both a personal and political level, and is just about as perfect in its construction as it can be. It builds the tension to a climax in the

betrayal and murder of Caesar, and provides a denouement describing the violent power struggle that follows as the venal and fraudulent desires of the conspirators are exposed. Given this, why would anyone want to tamper with it? I’ll tell you why. Because the director saw the possibility of relating the play to modern times. The play is the first to be performed at

the newly renovated Wharf 1 theatre, which has been converted to theatre in the round – more than a nod to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. In the middle of the stage is light cube about one and a half meters in diameter and a metre high. Just three actors – Geraldine Hakewill (Casca and Mark Antony), Ewen Leslie (Caesar and Cassius) and Zahra Newman (Brutus) – take on the

Photo: Daniel Boud 26

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

bloody tragedy of Julius Caesar in this production. “All three are so smart, so quick, so playful, and all of them possess the alacrity of mind required to seamlessly shape shift between characters – which is no mean feat,” Williams says. And right from the get-go, we are alerted to the role of contemporary social media as each actor bears a smart phone that records their own and others’ speeches which are live fed to the cube. As the characters of Shakespeare’s play reveal themselves through a dramatic tension that builds inexorably to their downfall, Mark Antony’s speech arrives like a bombshell, shockingly the audience into realising the contemporary significance of Shakespeare’s play. We recognise the familiar phrases Mark Antony (a white-suited and highheeled Hakewill) spits out in his rhetoric – “drain the swamp,” “we will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come,” (recognise that one?) and our current Prime Minister’s, “If you have a go you get a go.” Williams says, “Despite being created centuries ago, Shakespeare’s characters can be read as haunting encapsulations of the psychology of our times”. Although politics is not as bloody in contemporary Australia as in ancient Rome, it is certainly just as ruthless as this fabulous production suggests. Until Dec 23. Wharf 1 Theatre, Dawes Point. $15-$96+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneytheatre.com.au

11 February — 6 March sydneyoperahouse.com “A Chorus Line” is presented by permission of ORiGiN™ Theatrical on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC, A Concord Theatricals Company

Conceived and Originally Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett Book by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante

Music by Marvin Hamlisch

Lyrics by Edward Kleban

Co-Choreographed by Bob Avian

A KALEIDOSCOPIC CARNIVAL OF SHORT FILMS Catch some of the most innovate, provocative and wildly entertaining short films the world has to offer at Australia’s leading short film Festival

Bespoke beachside Festival Garden and Bar Join us under the big top and under the stars at Bondi this summer

31ST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

ACADEMY® QUALIFYING AND BAFTA RECOGNISED

21–30 JAN 2022 BONDI BEACH FLiCKERFEST.COM.AU

FLiCKERFEST #FLiCKERFEST2022

flickerfest #flickerfest2022

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

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NEW YEARS EVE EVENT GUIDE SYDNEY 2021/22

BY JAMIE APPS hankfully it’s looking likely that we will all be able to bid good riddance to 2021 with a proper New Years Eve celebration, unlike last year - obviously pending the impact of Omicron. So the team here at City Hub have taken some time this week to find some of the best events for you to ring in 2022 and get a much more positive year off to a flying start.

drinks with friends or if you want to take in a show before really getting into the festivities and finally if you want to go from Dusk Til Dawn they have you covered. If take up their VIP Dusk Til Dawn package you’ll be treated to an evening hosted by ru-girl Etcetera Etcetera, you’ll have exclusive access to the ohso-italian-chic UP from 5pm to 10pm, your own table with 5 hours of drinks, a selection of premium canapés, drag hosts/pop-up entertainment, DJs and much more. And then from 10pm you’ll be able to roam throughout the entire venue and dance till late. Tickets & Info: www.imperialerskineville.com.au

FIREWORKS The on again, off again, on again fireworks display is now 100% confirmed to be going ahead this year, with both the 9pm family friendly and midnight displays in store for Sydneysider to enjoy. If you want to witness these displays it is highly recommend you get in early to stake out your viewing point by the harbour. Alternatively you could check out the following events to guarantee a priming possie; ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS By purchasing a ticket to the Royal Botanic Gardens event you’ll guarantee a view from one of the closest locations of the fireworks display. Enjoy a carefully curated picnic basket filled with a bottle of water, an entree of caramelised onion, manchego, and heirloom tomato tartlet, the main course of harvest fresh salad with smoky BBQ corn fed chicken breast, a decadent White Chocolate & raspberry brownie for dessert, then hummus & smokey paprika with toasted Kurrajong kitchen lavosh as a snack, and a delicious late-night supper of Gippsland aged cheddar, Tasmanian Brie, crackers, and quince paste. There are also vegetarian options to choose from. Tickets & Info: www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au HARBOUR CRUISE Get a little closer to the action by venturing out onto the water aboard one of the many Harbour cruise events on offer. TARONGA ZOO Ring in the new year amongst the sound of roaring lions & various other animals at the iconic Taronga Zoo Wildlife Retreat. Offering an unforgettable way 28

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to start the New Year, guest will enjoy sumptuous food and wine during an intimate all-inclusive cocktail dinner with live music & unforgettable views of the harbour & fireworks display. Tickets & Info: www.taronga.org.au NYE IN BONDI If you want to escape the CBD but still be by the water then why not head to Bondi beach. North Bondi Fish will be hosting a special four-course shared dinner menu to help you and your friends kick off the new year with some flare. Tickets & Info: www.northbondifish.com.au NYE AT THE OPERA HOUSE Dress up to the nines, kick up your heels and leave the crowds behind as you stroll towards the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House for a sumptuous production of Puccini’s La Bohème. After the show, make your evening unforgettable with tickets to the exclusive Midnight Party. Held in the Northern Foyers of the Opera House, this event includes drinks, canapés and entertainment — and of course, a great vantage point for Sydney’s famous fireworks. Tickets & Info: www.opera.org.au

DINNER AT THE FENWICK NYE is the one night of the year you can truely indulge yourself, so head to the Fenwick in Balmain for just that. Enjoy a multi-course degustation menu with premium beverages delicious Sydney Rock oysters served with passion fruit gel and lemon balm, then Amaebi prawns with green apple, stracciatella & caviar, Cavatelli with spanner crab, bottarga, lime and chilli, and many more delicate dishes during the evening. Tickets & Info: www.thefenwick.com.au NYE AT BAR 83 With unrivalled views of the city 83 storeys above street level, nowhere else in Sydney boasts such an uninterrupted vantage point as Bar 83. Revellers can ring in the new year with live DJ sets all night long, a crisp glass of champagne on arrival and another glass just for the midnight toast. You’ll also be treated to delicious gourmet canapés throughout the evening. Tickets & Info: www. bar83sydneytower.com.au THE IMPERIAL ERSKINEVILLE The Imperial Erskineville have a range of options to help you celebrate the end of 2021. Whether you just want to head down to the local to have a few

THE SUNSHINE INN (REDFERN) If a night of fine dining seems like the best way to bring in a new year then the Sunshine Inn is the place to be. The Redfern bar is offering a six-course degustation menu exploring produce and native Australian flavours from around the country - which is fitting given the year we’ve just endured. Best of all, they’ll be pairing each course with wines from regions in those states. Tickets & Info: www.eventbrite.com.au CAMELOT LOUNGE Marrickville music venue Camelot Lounge have two fantastic events planned to help celebrate NYE. First up is NYE with Smooth Sailing Yacht Rock Party which is for those of you who enjoy yacht rock music of the 70s & 80s. Head down and enjoy sipping on a piña colada whilst listening to a rocking 13-piece band featuring some of Sydney’s smoothest musicians play the highlights of the Yachtest 100. Next up is NYE with The Pragmatics. Sydney’s favourite Classic Bar Band, The Pragmatics, return for another killer New Year’s Eve, delivering three huge sets of back-to-basics raucous covering smash faves and deep cuts from classic rock, hot soul, anthems, Americana and popular indie from 1965 to today. Tickets & Info: www.camelotlounge.com

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MATISSE: LIFE AND SPIRIT MASTERPIECES FROM THE CENTRE POMPIDOU, PARIS BY TESSA PELLE lectrifying colours and emotional power bring the paintings of French artist Henri Matisse to life. An exceptional collection of works from one of the world’s most groundbreaking and influential artists has landed in Sydney for the Art Gallery of NSW’s Matisse: Life and Spirit exhibition.

Comprising of paintings, drawings and sculptures, the exhibition showcases more than 100 works from the inventive artist in a special collaboration with France’s leading modern art museum, Centre Pompi-dou, musée national d’art moderne. From his fauvist adventures to tranquil chapel designs, the exhibition comprises masterworks spanning

across six decades, including the artist’s glorious late ‘cut outs.’ Matisse: Life and Spirit highlights the most influential moments in Matisse’s career, with dedicated sections celebrating his significant voyage to Tahiti in the 1930s to a special presentation devoted to the artist’s Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, France. With an underlying theme of trauma, Matisse’s body of work is a testament to the tireless and anxious way he pursued self-renewal. Not only does the exhibition program highlight his artistic triumphs, but

AGNSW will also host a series of public programs including talks, tours, and workshops over the summer immersing visitors into the world of Matisse. As part of the Sydney International Art Series 2021-22, the program invites visitors into an open and embracing vision that encapsulates the vitality of Matisse’s artworks. This stunning and Sydney exclusive exhibition gives justice to the energy, light and emotion of Matisse. Until Mar 13. Art Gallery Of NSW, Art Gallery Rd, Sydney. $16-$30+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au

PEACH BLACK GALLERY MOVES TO LARGER SPACE WITH BIG BENEFITS BY LUCINDA GARBUTT-YOUNG rtist-run Peach Black Gallery began as a collaborative space for various artistic disciplines. Now in its third year, owners Matteo Bernasconi and Anna Griffiths are moving the gallery to a larger premise. For Bernasconi and Griffiths, this move marks an expansion of Chippendale’s art scene. Along with increased scope for diverse exhibits, Peach Black will share the building with a film and photography studio that can be hired out. It is believed that this collaborative approach will strengthen the artistic network in Sydney. After innovating with online classes during COVID-19 the new space will bring locals back into a creative space,

where they can engage with artists and understand their practice. The gallery will continue to house Bernesconi’s own portraiture work, along with a new program of local artists. Joi Murugavell is set to make her solo debut in the space next April. Opening on Friday December 10, the new gallery will be christened with a weekend of free events that invite the community into a rich art scene. Audiences can attend free life drawing sessions or a Latin concert from Oriente Tres on Saturday 11 December. The Friday night opening will also feature live music, a DJ and drinks. The new Peach Black Gallery can be found at 126 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale. CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

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SHEPPARD’S CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU

BY JAMIE APPS t’s that time of year when every major public place begins to put Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé and Christmas carols on high rotation. This year though Australian pop superstars Sheppard have a new addition to the playlist thanks to their latest single, Christmas Without You. During a recent conversation with our arts editor Jamie Apps for The Commentary Booth podcast Sheppard’s Emma, George & Amy spoke about their reasoning behind releasing this single, how the past two years influenced the song & revealed their favourite Christmas movies to watch during the festive season. When asked why Sheppard felt 2021 was the right year to release a Christmas song George explained that it had actually been something they

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had on their “bucket list” for a while. “We kept getting asked by our friends, managers, labels & families ‘when are you going to do a Christmas song?’ And for some reason this year just felt like it would be the right year to do it.” Perhaps it was a matter of desire and circumstance finally lining up in 2021 to create a perfect storm of inspiration. “Every time we have tried to write a Christmas song in the past it just hasn’t felt genuine,” explained Amy. “Obviously because a lot of Christmas songs involve snow, Santa & reindeer but we can’t relate to that in Australia. So this was the first year where we’ve had something to write about that was actually meaningful to us.” That meaningful element was the feeling of separation the members of Sheppard, and many others around the world, have felt over the past couple of years.

“We’ve been separated from our Dad for the last two years while he has been working overseas & hasn’t been able to come home, so this will be our second Christmas without him. That was where the song’s inception initially began,” said George. “We decided to write an original Christmas song about people who were stuck either overseas or had one of their loved ones who couldn’t be there.” With the release of this song Sheppard are hopefully that as Australia, and the world, reopens they will be able to return to live stages everywhere. “We obviously really want to get around Australia & do a national tour because we’ve only been able to play in Queensland for the last two years. It would be nice to get over to Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide and all of these places that we haven’t been to in years,”

said George. Although as Emma was quick to add, Queensland wasn’t the worst placed to be trapped recently, “We’ve been pretty lucky. We’ve still been able to perform at the NRL Grand Final & State Of Origin, we’ve been able to release an album here & do our album launch.” In closing, to tie into the theme of The Commentary Booth the members of Sheppard each revealed their favourite festive films. For Emma she said, “The Grinch is a classic, but I actually watched Bad Santa recently. It’s certainly not PG rated but it’s hilarious.” George then said he “can’t go past Home Alone.” With Amy closing out by saying, “I love Elf, I think it’s hilarious. I could watch that movie all year round.” Keep up with Sheppard on Instagram @WeAreSheppard or via their Facebook group The Flock.

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DEAR EVAN HANSEN

BY RENEE DALLOW ilm versions of Broadway shows are often hit and miss. Dear Evan Hansen is a deep and meaningful, soul searching film on many levels. Music and Lyrics seem to speak for characters too afraid to speak for themselves, notably the lead character Evan Hansen, played by the multitalented Ben Platt. The film version, however, lets itself down by trying too hard. Like the lyric Evan delivers to the audience, we too, feel that we are “always on the outside looking in.” The audience never really has enough time to fully immerse themselves as scenes merge and submerge themselves.

The obvious angst of the main character, riddled with anxieties and a penchant for depressive thoughts, is outdone by the protagonist, Connor, who is even more depressed, only better at hiding it behind a tough, bullying persona. When Connor commits suicide and Evan, unwittingly becomes his best friend through a letter beginning with, “Today will be a good day, and here’s why...” , a bizarre story takes shape which ultimately brings people together to heal. As Evan is, “Tap,Tap,Tapping On The Glass”, however, the glass eventually shatters and all are left to pick up the pieces of their broken lives. Platt won a well deserved Tony award

for his Broadway turn as Evan Hansen and may even win an Oscar for the film version. Amy Adams as Connor’s gentle, alternative lifestyle guru, and very well off mother, gives a smooth, unfaltering

performance. But it is Julianne Moore, who steals your heart as Evan’s long suffering single mum. When she sings her one song you really will feel your heart break. WWW

BONDI’S ANNUAL FLICKERFEST

TO WORLD PREMIERE BUDDING FILMS

BY LUCINDA GARBUTT-YOUNG nnual film festival Flickerfest will see in the new year with four movie premieres at Bondi Beach. The event, which has been running since 1991, aims to debut unique art on the big screen. Over the last three decades, it has grown to feature work from around the country. The 2022 festival will include The Home Team, a comedy-drama that examines human vulnerability. Two decades after a romantic plumber and his wife find themselves at the only survivors of a suicide space cult, the pair are still

wearing pastel capes and trying to recruit new members. But the couple experience a cancer scare. They’ve also avoided sex for years. It’s all rather bleak. Together, they must rediscover the realities of the planet they’re living on. Other films include world premier of Set Times and State premiere of You And Me Before And After. Flickerfest, is a festival not to be missed. The 31st year will be packed with dynamic films that confront challenging topics with artistic flair. Jan 21-30. Bondi Beach. Tickets & Info: www.flickerfest.com.au CITY HUB DECEMBER 2021

ALANIS MORISSETTE’S

THE MUSICAL

STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON • NOW PLAYING

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