City Hub 13 July 2017 by Alt Media

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Block buster draws battlelines BY GEORGIA CLARK Tensions are high as Redfern’s landmark Indigenous hub comes one step closer to its transformation into a 16-storey student housing facility with the submission of the DA for the development’s third precinct last month. The site, known colloquially as ‘The Block’, has been the subject of escalating contention since the Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC) announced plans to turn the former affordable housing site into a 522-room student housing precinct, which will provide leverage to subsidise 62 Indigenous affordable housing dwellings. But opponents of the $70 million project, known as ‘Pemulwuy,’ have grave concerns that the cultural heritage of the site will be compromised by the monopolisation of student housing on the precinct, which some fear will ultimately push the Indigenous and poor out of the area. Jenny Munroe, Australian Wiradjuri elder and founder of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy established on The Block almost three years ago, expressed concern that gentrification of Redfern by projects like Pemulwuy continue to cause division within the community. “The Government, in its racism and push to gentrify, which translates to ethnic cleansing is pushing the black people and poor people out of the community and [this] is also happening with the private sector with the Aboriginal Housing Company and in the public sector with the development of the Waterloo Housing Commission,” she said. But according to the AHC, the development of the student housing precinct was necessary as a means of generating the capital required to sustain the affordable housing. But Ms Munroe says that the student housing is at the expense of the Indigenous housing, and that the removal of existing housing from the Block has already created divisions within the community. “A lot of people of the community were forcibly removed out of [the Block] because of the promise to be rehoused, they had to be removed to far western Sydney,” she said. The pushback comes nearly 40 years after the

The infamous “block” in Redfern. Credit: Supplied

area was handed over to the AHC after Indigenous activists successfully rallied for a grant from the Whitlam Government which allowed the Aboriginal Housing Company to develop affordable housing on the Block. The area famously sparked a public outcry after it deteriorated into some of the most infamous ghettos in Sydney before it was demolished six years ago to make way for plans to develop the area. Protestors now say the development risks compromising the Indigenous heritage of the area, as opponents argue the site’s sole use should be Indigenous housing. But AHC argues that capitalising on the demand for student housing in Redfern is necessary as a means of generating the income to subsidize the affordable housing. “Whilst the AHC is extremely appreciative of the minister’s offer to assist the project with a $5 million grant, during discussions held with ministerial representatives the terms offered alongside this grant could not be agreed,” they said. Geoff Turnbull, REDWatch co-spokesperson said the development will safeguard the community by providing a safe cultural space and facilitating housing for the underprivileged. “I do not think building the Pemulwuy Project will exacerbate the tensions and disagreements already

within the Aboriginal community. In fact I think getting Aboriginal housing back on the Block will be a way of rebuilding some of the hope that there will be an ongoing Aboriginal presence in Redfern into the future. But there will be always people who will not agree but that is life,” he said. Ms Munroe is rallying for a watchdog to inspect the books of the Aboriginal Housing Company, saying that there is internal corruption and a lack of transparency within the organisation, which she says is made up predominantly of Mundine family members, after other members were “forced out” of the company’s membership. “There should be a delay on developments until we can have a look at the organisation and its track record,” she said. According to Ms Munroe, the Indigenous community haven’t had a voice within the AHC for a very long time. “It’s an historical grievance that we were inaugural members of the organisation and a lot of the original members were forced out. It closed at 100 so most of people now members are basically family members of Micky or affiliates. “The fact it doesn’t even have to house Aboriginal people anymore- they’ve breached

duty of care to Aboriginal people, which the organisation was established to serve,” she said. But the AHC says that their governance and administration remains strong and focused on the improvement of the quality of life of Indigenous Australians, with the project having undertaken community engagement and according to a representative, supported by the community for almost eight years. “The AHC has existed for over 40 years, and the focus has remained on the betterment of the community in its entirety. The board positions are filled by AHC members that are dedicated to facilitating positive change and development in regards to housing, education and employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People,” said a spokesperson for the AHC. But Mr Turnbull said such claims around the integrity of the governance of the AHC were previously investigated and found to have no basis. “In the AHC case when Minister Frank Sartor wanted to stop any housing being built by the AHC on the Block in 2005, he raked over everything he could about the AHC rumours to no avail,” he said. The AHC spokesperson said the Pemulwuy development will foster an atmosphere of Indigenous cultural awareness and community, to facilitate cultural integration and ensure the facilities do not deteriorate into a ghetto as they have in the past. “The Pemulwuy Project is one project within an Indigenous Community. Plans are in place to develop educational and cultural experiences within the accommodation, including self-learning on the area and community, celebrating national days, and integrated facilities that will provide cultural integration,” they said. But for Ms Munroe the development signifies another injustice for the Indigenous community, which she says is being “purged” from the area by gentrification. “The reality is that the Aboriginal people not predominant in this community anymore, we’re ghosts, becoming more and more invisible and if the government and housing company keep getting its way we will be pushed right out,” Ms Munroe said.

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BY ALEX EUGENE Association supports current lockout laws for Local campaign group Keep Sydney Open Kings Cross.” brought thousands of partygoers out on the But new statistics released by the NSW streets of Kings Cross last week. Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research A music festival aptly titled “Meet Me has found that assaults have risen in areas In the Cross” featured a slew of Australian outside the lockout law zones. live acts supporting the push against lockout Dr Don Weatherburn, director of BOCSR laws, and hundreds of punters proudly said the laws had only caused violence to be sported white T-shirts with the ‘Keep Sydney displaced outside Kings Cross. Open’ logo. “If you look at the report, you’ll see there “We’re done with waiting for the are definite upswings in the number of government to give us permission to enjoy assaults occurring in the area immediately our city. Let’s light up the Cross. The fun surrounding the lockout precincts and in the starts NOW!” proclaimed the group’s areas within easy reach of those precincts,” Facebook page. he said. The entirely volunteer-run organisation The report showed that assaults had referred to the event as a “precinct activation”, fallen by 50% in Kings Cross and the CBD, The Kings Cross Hotel were ordered to remove and successfully pulled off the festival with but outside those areas had risen by 17%, the Keep Sydney Open banner, which was not the help of hundreds of helpers and in-kind including Newtown, Bondi, Double Bay and council approved. contributions from local businesses. Coogee. Credit: Courtesy of Kings Cross Hotel One such display of support was the Kings “It’s a matter of concern that we’ve Cross Hotel, who displayed a huge “Keep Sydney Open” banner on seen major reductions in assault in the target areas, but there’s the front of their venue during the festival. been some spillover into other parts of Sydney,” said Dr But the City of Sydney ordered the hotel to remove the sign Weatherburn. because they had not sought council approval, threatening them Several venues around Sydney have closed down since the with a six thousand dollar fine. lockout laws were introduced in 2014, including the iconic “We had good intentions in putting the banner up. It was about Midnight Shift on Oxford Street. Anecdotal evidence from many supporting a community initiative and local businesses in the area,” businesses blames the laws for their declining patronage. said Dan Lacaze, marketing director at Solotel, which owns the Tyson Koh from Keep Sydney Open said the “Meet Me In the Kings Cross Hotel. Cross” festival was a response to the worrying trend. The sign was removed, and an apology was issued by the hotel. He said droves of creative people had already left for Melbourne The council had been alerted to the “illegal” banner by the 2011 and Berlin, but that he and many others refused to give up the fight. Residents Association, who claimed it had made Kings Cross a “Sydney is our home. We want this place to sing day and night,” “political situation”. he said. “How dare they? If we get vilified for being sticks in the mud or The 2011 Residents Group want the lockout bans extended to dobbers, so be it,” said Peter Young, the group’s secretary. more areas. But the government has no such plans, and recently 2011 is the postcode for Kings Cross, and the group represents local wound back the lockouts by half an hour, allowing venues to trade interests. On their website, a statement reads “the 2011 Residents’ until 2 am instead of 1.30am. city hub 13 JULY 2017

Bay residents say plans are fishy BY ALEX EUGENE The iconic Sydney Fish Markets will be relocated and receive a much-needed facelift starting in 2018, which the Berejiklian Government has proudly announced as a guaranteed attraction for “more tourists and locals”. The old Fish Market site will become home to a new high-rise residential building - 2750 apartments in fact- nearly three times the size of the neighbouring Harold Park development. When completed, the controversial WestConnex motorway will bring thousands more cars onto Anzac Bridge via an Annandale interchange, funnelling even more cars into what is already one of the most congested areas in Sydney. And if that weren’t enough, as a result of the $250m taxpayer-funded project, a cluster of commercial party boats will also be bumped along, much to the apprehension of residents. All Occasion Cruises already has 22 boats at Blackwattle Bay, which operates seven days a week from 7 m to 1 am. The company, whose website boasts “a 5-star standard cruise package for any kind of event” will be relocated to the bay in Bowman Street, a residential area in Pyrmont. The bay currently hosts low-key water sports such as weekend dragon boating competitions, which will also be forced to find new homes when the party boats move in. Elizabeth Elenius, Convenor of the Pyrmont Action group was shocked, saying the boats would be a huge disruption to families and locals. She said they could have been located to Rozelle where other commercial maritime operations were located, and did not infringe on residential areas. “If [the redevelopment] is done as a partnership with the community it can be good. But this makes a mockery of any government or politician being in favour of community consultation,” she said.

Maire Sheehan of the Bays Community Coalition is concerned social infrastructure will not be sufficient when new high rise apartments go up in the old Fish Market site. Credit: Alex Eugene

As for the Fish Market and the new highrise apartment building, “there has been no communication whatsoever from Urban Growth,” she said. Urban Growth is the government agency overseeing the redevelopment and implementation of the Bay Precinct Urban Transformation Program, which includes the renovation of White Bay Power Station, Glebe Island, Wentworth Park and Rozelle Bay as well as the Fish Market site. Ms Elenius said the Pyrmont Action Group was not opposed to more housing in the area, but that the lack of infrastructure to support it was a concern. “We haven’t seen any traffic and transport plans. That should be community consulted before any relocation happens.” A report released by Austroads earlier this year ranked Harris St, Pyrmont as the second-slowest traffic thoroughfare in Australia, with vehicles travelling in the area at a laggard 14.5km average. Sydney was also found to be the most congested city in Australia, even topping the list internationally ahead of New York, San Francisco.

A spokesperson for UrbanGrowth NSW said car parking, public transport strategies, cycle paths and footpaths would all be “considered during the design process” for the new Sydney Fish Market. “Broader planning and transport studies for The Bays Precinct are progressing, and will inform both a draft strategic planning framework and a transport update for The Bays Precinct, expected to be released in 2017,” they said. Maire Sheehan, former Mayor of Leichhardt and a member of the Bays Community Coalition, said the area would turn into a “congestion nightmare” if roads were not taken into consideration hand in hand with the Fish Market redevelopment. She said the project was being touted as a “global city destination” but that so far, it wasn’t providing the minimum requirements for such a vision. “All the social infrastructure is overcrowded now so there must be more built first. The development will bring in thousands of new residents, and they will need schools, transport, sports facilities, green space and health services,” she said. Ms Sheehan also said housing affordability had to be considered. “This new development must include a minimum of 30% affordable housing. If it does not the teachers, nurses and firefighters that are needed for the social infrastructure will not be able to afford to live in the area. This is not the mark of a global city,” she said. Denis Doherty, convenor of Hands off Glebe, said traffic and affordable housing were among several concerns of the residents in the area. “The greater influx of traffic caused by the newly expanded market will only result in further congestion of Glebe and Ultimo. There

are other concerns such as pollution of the bay and the effect on the school which has not been considered,” he said. Mr Doherty also said locals were not happy about the residential area being “largely for the wealthy” and not making allowances for social housing. Jamie Parker, the Greens member for Balmain, said he was concerned about the loss of public space in the wake of the plans. “Already, our local area is one of the most densely populated in Sydney, and suffers from a massive under-provision of community recreation facilities and public green space. We need to use the Fish Markets precinct to address this deficit, before filling it with yet more high-rise residential developments,” he said. Recent figures from the Bureau of Statistics show that Pyrmont and Ultimo is home to over 22,000 people, equating to over 10,000 residents per square kilometre- double the number of residents in neighbouring suburbs Bondi and Newtown. With the new high-rise apartments forecast to provide 2750 new dwellings, Pyrmont’s population is set to increase by roughly 40% once the Fish Market site is redeveloped. “The government is set to massively increase development density in the Blackwattle Bay area, but we have not seen any proposals that meet the already existing unmet demand for public open spaces, child care facilities and spaces for children to play,” said Mr Parker. The spokesperson for UrbanGrowth NSW said they were “preparing a social infrastructure assessment and a related active recreational needs study for The Bays Precinct, in consultation with local councils and key government agencies including the Department of Education and Sydney Local area Health.”

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Historic Callan Park left to rot BY DYLAN CRISMALE Community members are urging the NSW State Government to act on the Callan Park Master Plan, with the future of the site still unknown despite the plan having first been drafted almost a decade ago. In May, the University of Sydney announced the closure of Sydney College of the Arts in it’s current form, with plans for the arts school to have vacated the historic Rozelle premises by 2019. The announcement has caused concern among the community who fear lack of action by the state government will cause irreparable damage to the already declining heritage site. Hall Greenland, President of the ‘Friends of Callan Park’ community group said: “We would like to see a public trust established by the NSW State government to implement the Callan Park Master Plan, that is, we will need a financial investment from the NSW Government, which is achievable as they are sitting on a massive surplus, but because of their neo-liberal ideology the State government refuses to spend any money on this iconic heritage park.” It has been six years since the Callan Park Master Plan was written by Leichhardt Council in 2011 and referred to the NSW government for implementation. The Master Plan as designed, if implemented would see the renewed site occupied by nongovernment organisations; health, education and arts services with low-cost rent on the condition that they maintain the properties. NSW Member for Balmain Jamie Parker MP said, “To finally secure the future of Callan Park, we need to see the implementation of the Callan Park Master Plan, which would see this wonderful parkland be preserved as a place for recreation, relaxation and mental health recovery,” he said. In 2015 Mr Parker successfully introduced a private member’s bill, in which the NSW

graffiti, more damaged heritage items now than ever before and so the liability cost to the people of NSW for all of those premises is just increasing all the time,” he said. “It’s not too late for that plan to be implemented but Callan Park would be really coming to life now if the Master Plan had been implemented properly or at all back in 2011 and the situation is getting worse by the day.” There are fears amongst community members that the State government has plans to privatise the site which is currently protected by ‘The Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002’ which ensures public ownership of the site. “Of course, the Government has it within their power to amend the act to allow for privatisation, I think if they thought they could get away with it they’d do it tomorrow” added Mr Byrne.

The historic Callan Park site has fallen into disrepair. Credit: Supplied

Government establish a specialised trust, finalise the site’s master plan and develop a sustainable long-term funding model all of which has not yet come to fruition. “The government must implement the MasterPlan in order to preserve Callan Park’s open space, restore its heritage buildings to prevent demolition by neglect, and support mental health facilities within the area,” Mr Parker said. Former Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne said it was a shame the plan had not been implemented some years ago, when the buildings were in better condition. “It’s very frustrating because in the preceding six years the demolition by neglect in Callan Park has proceeded at great pace, the buildings were in much better condition when the Master Plan was submitted in 2011 than they are now,” he said. “There’s more smashed windows, more

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Refugees hung out to dry at Archibald Prize BY SORAYA PEREZ MOHAMMED An Iranian artist currently seeking asylum in Sydney has had her work exhibited in the Art Gallery of NSW last Friday, to challenge to the political discourse about people seeking asylum. Atefeh Hekmat was the lead artist on the Archibald Prize entry- a collaboration with 27 other refugees to create a portrait of Guo Jian, former refugee, now an internationally renowned Australian Artist. Ms Hekmat said: “I did this project because it’s an opportunity to appreciate all those who have welcomed me and seen the contribution I can make, both as an artist and a friend.” “This portrait aims to provoke the viewer into considering their own positive interactions and relationships” she added. Using the theme of ‘Connection’, the portrait of Guo Jian is flanked by 27 tiles, each carrying personal stories of connection contributed by people who are seeking asylum, volunteers and friends of the House of Welcome community. House of Welcome CEO, Lyn Harrison said: “Many of today’s politicians purposefully choose language that dehumanises people seeking Australia’s protection. It is heavily focused on removing the human connection that exists between people.” “The Archibald Prize, presented House of Welcome with the opportunity to remind people of the personal connection they have made with friends, relatives, classmates and colleagues who have fled their country of origin. We want people to reflect on how that connection has positively touched their lives and then choose to take positive action to ensure Australia provides a welcoming home to those who need our protection.” The federal government’s crackdown on immigration has created more obstacles for

Atefeh Hekmat’s Archibald prize entry. Credit: Soraya Perez Mohammed

immigrants and refugees hoping to make Australia home with proposed changes adding to the requirements for citizenship, being voted on by Parliament by the end of the year. Most of these refugees are in ‘limbo’- waiting for their Temporary protection visas to be processed, but with limited english skills and no access to legal help, many are unable to complete their applications.

Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition explained the Government has given a deadline of October 1st for Asylum Seekers to make their applications for protection without providing any legal support. He said: “A very big problem [many refugees have] is finding people who can support them because it’s a very complicated document. It has to be written in english, all the documents

and supporting evidence have to be provided in english and there is no funding for that, so that’s caused a very big problem for the community groups who do assist.” In addition, Mr Rintoul said that the conditions of Bridging visas meant most people had no way of getting an income. “They’re on Bridging visas without the right to work so they have big difficulty in supporting themselves. They rely on charity, they rely on friends…family if there is any family who can support them, so that’s extremely difficult,” he added. Due to new regulations people who are granted refugee status under existing policy now only receive TPVs preventing them from being eligible for citizenship or getting an education. Ms Hekmat, a qualified art teacher in Iran once operated her own art gallery holding exhibitions with the support of art teachers and friends. There are hundreds of refugees who similarly hold qualifications and are willing to work but are prevented from doing so while they wait for their protection visas. Mr Rintoul believes the rhetoric of Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is damaging to the struggle many refugees face. He said: “The Minister makes a lot of disparaging comments about refugees and migrants. He’s called people illiterate and innumerate, suggested that previous groups of immigrants who have come to Australia have been responsible for domestic terrorism.” “They [the Government] use immigration issues to try and portray themselves as strong on national security issues even though there is no connection between either refugees or immigration and national security… they make that kind of connection because they think they can get some electoral advantage out of it.”

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Mergers front and centre in September

The Randwick Town Hall which is being renovated. Credit: Mel Somerville

BY MEL SOMERVILLE The NSW Government’s proposed amalgamations will be a major issue for candidates to address in the lead up to Randwick Council elections, which will be held on Saturday the 9th September. The proposed merger of Randwick council with Waverley and Woollahra councils has been halted pending Woollahra’s appeal to the High Court, and current Councillors are divided on the issue. Randwick Mayor, Independent, Noel D’Souza said: “Randwick Council’s position has consistently been that we are financially viable and strong enough to stand alone. With the climate changing it’s prudent that we consider our options.” Mr D’Souza, who will be running again added “I will be working with the other Independent Cr Anthony Andrews, to get good outcomes for the community.” Retiring Liberal Cr Kiel Smith believes a merger would benefit residents, he said: “I think it is a great shame that the merger has not yet been able to proceed as it means residents and ratepayers will continue to miss out on the improved infrastructure and better services that could be delivered by leveraging the merger synergies.” “The process thus far, whilst no doubt unsettling to many in the workforce of the three Councils, has driven greater information sharing and the leveraging of best practice amongst the Councils which will have medium and longterm benefits regardless of whether the end merger happens or not,” he added. Other Councillors have been clearer on their opposition to mergers with Greens Councillor, Murray Matson and Labor Councillor Tony Bowen moving a motion in mid-May to mount legal a challenge at the local proposed merger. The motion which passed at the Extraordinary Meeting on May 9 also saw Council resolve “to publicly release its legal advice 10

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to establish and enhance the credibility and transparency of Council’s actions”. Randwick Council is following the precedent of Ku-ring-gai council who won their appeal against a forced merger with Hornsby Council in March by arguing that the process the Minister (at the time Paul Toole) was unfair. A spokesperson for Randwick Council said: “Randwick Council resolved back in early May to commence our own legal proceedings against the merger. They’ve lodged paperwork with the Land and Environment Court, seeking a junction to stop the merger, we’re also what’s called a Friend of the Court. We’re not a party to Woollahra’s case but we’ve indicated to the High Court that we have an interest in what the outcome is.” The City of Sydney has been merged and unmerged around a dozen times in the last 100 years, the High Court could find that there is some error in the current merger proposal allowing the Eastern Suburbs Councils to stay unmerged. If the State Government want to proceed with the merger they can, but they’ll need to present a new merger proposal and begin the process again. Out of the 15 current Randwick Councillors, two Labor Councillors, Cr Greg Moore and Cr Pat Garcia and two Liberal Councillors, Cr Robert Belleli and Cr Kiel Smith, have indicated they will be retiring from Council. Cr Tony Bowen, Cr Geoff Stevenson, and Cr Kathy Neilson, all Labor, are running again as are both Greens Councillors, Murray Matson and Lindsay Shurey. Ms Philipa Veitch will be the new Greens candidate in West Ward, which includes the suburbs of Kensington and Kingsford. None of the remaining Liberal Councillors including Deputy Mayor, Liberal Cr Brendan Roberts, have divulged their decisions. Candidates will be officially announced once the role closes on July 31st.

Pushing boundaries: why size matters BY ALEC SMART When you think of countries where local council boundaries are fragmented and their administrations centralized by government decree, when populations with disparate interests and economic ties are consolidated, often against their will, you would be forgiven for suspecting some sort of gerrymandering was taking place. However, when the government that’s imposing these measures is facing the strongest resistance from colleagues in their own political party, including legal challenges and Court appearances, you begin to wonder the rationality behind persevering with the changes. On May 12, 2016 the NSW Government announced the formation of 19 new “mega-councils” in NSW through the mergers of 42 existing municipalities, following recommendations in its Fit For The Future council amalgamation program. A 20th council, Bayside, was formed through the fusing of Rockdale City and the City of Botany Bay.Yet despite the NSW Government announcing their consolidation proposals over a year ago, 11 are stalled, pending legal objections. Five councils are fighting the mergers through the law courts, including Woollahra, Mosman, Lane Cove and North Sydney. In the case of the proposed merger between Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick, Woollahra Municipal Council was granted leave on May 12 this year to appeal to the High Court against its forced amalgamation with its neighbours. Randwick Council subsequently announced that it was also commencing legal action in an attempt to stop their merger with Waverley and Woollahra. “Randwick Council’s position has consistently been that we are financially viable and strong enough to stand alone,” Randwick Mayor Noel D’Souza declared on May 17. However, Phil Jenkyn, Spokesman for the Save Our Councils Coalition, a non-partisan group dedicated to ending the amalgamations, is sceptical that Woollahra’s legal challenge in the High Court will be resolved or even heard any time soon. “It won’t be resolved before the September 2017 local government elections,” he said. “In any event, the judges are likely to reserve their decision until November or December.” So where does this leave Waverley if two brides are holding out against the arranged marriage? “Waverley’s position remains the same and has not changed,” said a Council spokesperson. “Our first preference is to stand alone, but in the event that the State Government robustly and consistently implements council amalgamations, our next choice is to merge with Woollahra and Randwick Councils.” Founded in 1859, Waverley District Council consists of four wards, Waverley, Bondi, Hunter and Lawson, represented by 12 elected councillors, who elect a mayor at the start of their four-year term. The current sitting mayor is Councillor Sally Betts, and the next council election will be held on September 9, 2017. Waverley was one of five local councils the Independent Local Government Review Panel announced in October 2013 could be merged to form a ‘global city’ council managing 500,000 residents, which would have united it with the whole of the eastern suburbs and Botany.

After an unsuccessful legal challenge from Botany in the Supreme Court in September 2016, Botany was absorbed into the new mega-council of Bayside, while the ‘global city’ merger was downscaled, leaving Waverley to unite with Woollahra and Randwick. Waverley, with an estimated population of 73,000, spread over an area of nine square kilometres, is now set to be absorbed into a reduced, more centralised Eastern Suburbs Council. This new municipality would comprise 274,000 residents in an area covering 58 square kilometres, spanning the eastern suburbs from Dover Heights, Bondi, Coogee and Little Bay in the east to the eastern edge of Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Eastlakes in the west; from Watsons Bay, Vaucluse, Point Piper and Darling Point in the north, to Port Botany, Phillip Bay and La Perouse in the south. The amalgamation process outlined that each new council be appointed an Administrator, an Interim General Manager, and one or two Deputy General Managers, all selected by the NSW Government.

Berejiklian was handed a poisoned chalice when she was consigned to enforce the council amalgamation policy she inherited from her predecessor, Mike Baird, who resigned suddenly from politics in January 2017. On February 17, following prolonged legal action by holdout councils and an extensive community backlash, Ms. Berejiklian announced that her government would drop six pending mergers in regional areas of NSW. The backlash came in the form of voter dissatisfaction at the polls, with the National Country Party, the Liberal Party’s coalition partner, losing seats in local government elections in what was perceived as a public reaction against amalgamations. Yet despite this resistance, Premier Gladys Berejiklian still insists that all existing Sydney council mergers will continue, despite halting the pending mergers in regional areas. Perhaps a more effective solution to the forced amalgamations is the introduction of Joint Regional Authorities (JRA), an idea proposed by City of Ryde Mayor Councillor Bill Pickering.

Eastern suburbs residents are strongly opposed to the merger of their local council. Credit:Kiran Foster (Flickr)

Phil Jenkyn, Spokesman for the Save Our Councils Coalition, outlines why they oppose the forced amalgamations: “The real reason for the Government’s forced council’s agenda is not to reform local government but to dominate it for the benefit of big developers and big business. Government is not really interested in reform; they’re interested in control. “Woollahra and Randwick Councils are two successful councils that are both sustainable and efficient, and have been so found by IPART,” they said. IPART is the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, which advised the NSW Government on its local government overhaul. “The expert evidence both in Australia and overseas, which is supported by relevant material, shows that bigger councils are not better, they are more bureaucratic and less democratic, and not as well able to meet the needs and aspirations of local communities,” said the spokesperson. Many think NSW Premier Gladys

Joint Regional Authorities would not dissolve council boundaries and merge electorates, but allow for neighbouring councils with shared interests and resources to create a region-based association, consisting of equal numbers of representative councillors from the districts concerned, to oversee initiatives and projects in their common interest. “The JRA basically maintains council independence. This model is actually formed with the agreement of the councils involved,” said Councillor Pickering. “The JRA consists of two representatives from each council working on collaborative measures, which could be anything from IT to preservation of historical buildings, environmental concerns, development processes and so forth,” he said. “Once these things have been agreed to, they have to be agreed to by all parties – you just can’t opt in and opt out. So, you’re getting all of the benefits of a so-called amalgamated entity without losing the representation and independence.”

FEATURE

Harrison Storm Photo: Supplied

discovered by Terry McBride, the co-founder and CEO of Nettwerk Music Group. Nettwerk is responsible for artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Avril Lavigne, Angus & Julia Stone and Coldplay so it was an incredibly surreal moment when Terry reached out to Harrison. “Terry sent me a Facebook message essentially asking if I wanted a record deal. In the music industry there are lots of people coming at you promising things so you have to be careful. I had to

We Want You! The CiTy hub iS looking for a number of dynamiC volunTeerS To regularly ConTribuTe To our webSiTe and Sydney newSpaper. These roles will involve professionally covering various topics on both the news side and also the arts/entertainment side. As part of our arts/entertainment team the City Hub will open the door for you to cover Sydney’s thriving theatre, music, art and film scenes. You will have the opportunity to conduct interviews and occasionally attend performances as a City Hub representative. This role is a practical internship/contributors position (no coffeeruns for you!) and one in which a number of our current editors have undertaken before rising through the ranks.

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Google him to make sure it wasn’t some sort of hoax, obviously I’m glad I did that now.” Since signing with Nettwerk Harrison has also signed with ie:music, an artist management company responsible for the likes of Robbie Williams and Ladyhawke, which he again says is surreal. “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. It’s really humbling and inspiring to see that the people who look after them see something in you.” The final stage of Harrison’s life which love has played a major role in was his decision to move from the Mornington Peninsula to Wollongong. When asked why he had made the decision to move Harrison answered with a giddy giggle saying, “Love I guess. I chased my heart after being in a long distance relationship and finally made the jump.” Even though it was a big move in terms of geographical distance Wollongong is such a natural fit for Harrison with its plethora of beaches. “I’m still right into surfing and generally hanging out at the beach with mates so that’s how I like to relax and recharge when I’m not playing or writing music.” One added benefit of now residing in Wollongong is the ease of access to Sydney for live shows, which Harrison will be taking full advantage of this evening with a show at Newtown’s Marlborough Hotel. “I think the show last Friday in Melbourne was a real boost for the morale so I’m really excited for this show.” explained Harrison, “We’re playing with this really awesome local band, Tenderfoot, who have got some really amazing songs, and I’m bringing the band up from Melbourne so it should be really fun.” Harrison can’t be sure what the future will hold for him because as he put it “I don’t even know what I’m doing tomorrow but if I can travel, play music and maybe be somewhere warm then I’ll be happy.”

Jul 13, 7pm. Marlborough Hotel, 145 King St, Newtown. FREE. Info: www.harrisonstorm.com

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lonely and it can get cold but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.You develop some of the most genuine connections with people you’ve never met before so it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.” Not only did this experience steel Harrison to the struggles of breaking into the music industry but it also helped him to refine his performance into the captivating experience it is now. That hard work and growth certainly paid off following the release of Sense Of Home as it led to Harrison being

Licence No. 173676c

By Jamie Apps Love. This one simple word but incredibly complex emotion has been the one constant thread weaving rising musician Harrison Storm’s life together. Harrison’s life can be divided into three distinct stages; his early years growing up in the Mornington Peninsula, diving head first into music and now finally moving up to Wollongong. During his childhood it was the love for his parents that certainly shaped the person Harrison would become. Whether it was tagging along with his Dad on surfing trips up and down the coast or sitting around being serenaded by his Mum, each of these experiences are still evident in the man today. “Mum had this beautiful Ibanez acoustic guitar which she would always play Black Bird by The Beatles or other finger picking style songs that she wrote, so that’s how I grew into that.” explained Harrison, “Dad used to listen to a lot of Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac and Van Morrison so that influenced my style as well.” Whilst his parents instilled a passion for music into Harrison he says they always pushed him to study and have a back-up plan. This led to Harrison enrolling into a Civil Engineering degree at university, however after just two and half years the call of music was simply too strong. “Civil engineering is the total opposite to music so I found I was sitting in calculus lectures and lectures on concrete, but I was thinking about music. I loved science, math and engineering but the love for music was stronger so I had to deal with that internal battle and eventually went with my gut and dropped out.” Following this incredibly difficult decision Harrison dove head first into music by hitting the streets busking in order to raise the funds to record his debut EP, Sense Of Home. Despite requiring “months and months” of intense busking “up to three or four times per week” to reach the goal Harrison wouldn’t change anything about the experience. “There is nothing like busking, it’s intense, it can get

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Sent to: arts@altmedia.net.au city hub 13 JULY 2017

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Between Worlds Musical City Hub asked director Jason Langley what the musical revealed about Captain Cook’s character. “In Australia we have a primary school knowledge generally of Captain Cook, we know about Botany Bay but we don’t know much beyond that. He had three huge voyages in his life, after his second voyage he retired and went on to live out his days with his wife but for some reason (he didn’t need more fame or money) he went off and did a third voyage and it was the third voyage that took him up the arctic and took him to

Blake & Nicholas

The name Captain James Cook often generates passionate debate but a new musical entitled Between Worlds tells the noncontroversial and entertaining story of Cook’s last few weeks in his third and final expedition of 1779 to Hawaii. The musical reveals how Cook was mistakenly identified by the indigenous people as the God “Leno” but then died in a brawl only a month after arriving in the islands. Between Worlds has been ten years in the making and will be presented as a staged workshop performance that has gone through some radical changes during its development.

Kitty Hopwood. Photo: Caroline Foldes

Mauritius

Written by American playwright Theresa Rebeck, Mauritius is coming to Sydney for the first time, entertaining audiences with a unique and intriguing story of obsession, desperation and betrayal.

Hawaii.” Between Worlds explores Cook’s love and interest towards Polynesian culture and the deep bond he made with a man named Tupaia who taught Cook how to navigate spiritually much to the disbelief of the royal navy. This musical is an imaginative tale that aims to entertain audiences with a captivating look at the last few weeks of Captain Cook’s life. Its well worth seeing for yourself. (DJ) Jul 15-16. Australian Theatre for Young People, Pier 4/5 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay. $25.Tickets & Info: www.betweenworldsmusical.com

Mauritius follows two sisters who inherit a stamp album, containing the holy grail of stamp collecting. These rare stamps are worth millions and this stirs up tension and disagreements between the two on whether or not to sell them. Momentum builds when three low life stamp collecting men get involved. Associate producer Annette Freeman said, “It really is quite a tense and fascinating story, it is built around the rare stamps and how people will go to any length to get a hold of something that they really want.” With a talented cast of only five characters, the intensity of their emotions and conflict on stage will grip audiences. “Like any good night at the theatre, we’d love audiences to be entertained and to engage with the characters and to wonder what their motivations are and to be shocked and surprised at the twist at the end,” Freeman said. In collaboration with the Australian Philatelic Society and various stamp enthusiasts around Sydney, Mauritius has many depths and is a rare concept never seen before. “The story of the stamps – the rare stamp. I don’t know of another play or film that revolves around that particular idea, the idea of a very tiny, very rare and very precious object,” Freeman concluded. (JM) Jul 12–29. New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown. $38-$32. Tickets & Info: www.newtheatre.org.au

a&e

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12 STAGE 13 SCENE 14 Sounds 15 SCREEN

This Much is True This Much Is True is a beautiful ode to the ratbags of society. It’s set around the bar at the fictitious pub The Rising Sun which is meant to be the 150 year old hotel,The Old Fitz in Woolloomooloo. “Never before has a play about The Old Fitz been done at The Old Fitz.There’s something special about that and quite an odd experience to be in the pub, describing the pub, to the people in the pub. It’s definitely a comedy but it also will bring a tear to your eye,” said Septimus Caton, who plays Lewis. Lewis is the alter ego of Louis Nowra, the playwright, who has an obsession with telling the stories of the kinds of people whose eyes you would avoid in the street. This is a beautiful homage to the backbone of these working class societies; a tale of the underdog. “Our aim is to make you feel a part of this group. There’s a beautiful love and respect between these characters, mad as they are. There is poetry in the language, something classical and romantic about it, reminiscent of Banjo Patterson; there’s Australiana, the sound of cockatoos but at the same time it’s a beautiful ode to the inner-city world,” explained Caton. The question is, how much is true? The play is based on the stories and characters that Nowra

Septimus Caton. Photo: John Marmaras

heard and his experience of what being a local means, which he still is to this day, he can be seen drinking there with his chihuahua. This is the final instalment of a trilogy, but the play stands on it’s own, so if you haven’t seen the other two, Summer of the Aliens and Cosi, that’s ok. (MS) Jul 12-Aug 12. Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling Street (Cnr Cathedral Street), Woolloomooloo. $30-$42.Tickets & Info: www.redlineproductions.com.au

Australian Grafitti

When Mason Phoumirath first met Disapol Savetsila - both budding drama students - he would never have dreamt they would be collaborating on a Sydney Theatre Company stage.Yet just a few short years later, Phoumirath finds himself playing the lead in Savetsila’s first major play, Australian Graffiti. “We studied at University together. It blew my mind that Sydney Theatre Company was going to do his play,” says Phoumirath, “It’s amazing that a story like this comes to a main stage theatre company like STC.” Emerging from STC’s workshopping process called Rough Draft, Australian Graffiti immediately stood out as having a very strong story. Paige Rattray spotted the potential and would go on to direct the show. Since immigrating to Australia almost 20 years ago, Ben’s Thai family has uprooted their restaurant business more times than they care to remember. Moving further and further inland, to the heart of Australia, their latest venture is in a dusty old country town where they struggle to attract any customers, let alone find their place to belong. What’s more, the chef has died and strangely his body is not decomposing. Then there is the mysterious graffiti that appears on the local church. For Ben though, a friendship with local girl Gabby (Airlie Dodds) begins to open his eyes to another way of life. “She shows him something of the culture - this big world apart from the restaurant - and it opens him up,” explains Phoumirath, “He discovers that it’s just not as simple as discarding your culture and taking on a new one.”

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

Disapol Savetsila. Photo: James Green

Phoumirath admits that there is plenty he is looking forward to but as a young actor on the cusp of a career it’s “the joy of acting” that excites him most. (GW) Until Aug 12. Sydney Theatre Company,The Wharf 2, Pier 4-5, Hickson Road Walsh Bay. $32-$35,Tickets & Info: www.sydneytheatre. com.au or PH: 02 9250 1777

Contributors: Alannah Maher, Alicia Sim, Athina Mallis, Barbara Karpinski, Caitlin Burns, Chantal Walsh, Craig Coventry, Daniel Jaramillo, Emily Shen, Georgia Fullerton, Greg Webster, Irina Dunn, Jade Morellini, James Harkness, Joseph Rana, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Olga Azar, Peter Urquhart, Rita Bratovich, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Shon Ho, Zeiya Speede, Jade Morellini,Vanessa Powell, Olivia Lyle, Alex Eugene, Ellouise Bailey, Manuel Gonzalez, Tommy Boutros.

THE ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN & TinkerBell IN RETURN TO PANTOLAND

The Incredible Here and Now

Peter Pan and TinkerBell fly into the magnificent State Theatre and audiences who have been anticipating this musical pantomime should be mesmerised by the artistic staging, colourful costuming and imaginative lighting. Bonnie Lythgoe who is credited as executive producer and director of the show, successfully introduced pantomimes to Australian theatergoers with previous productions of Aladdin, Snow White and The Seven Dwarves and Cinderella. Perfect holiday entertainment for the entire family, this pantomime boasts a cast of over 25 performers, and stars Todd McKenney as the dastardly (but very likeable) Captain Hook, Tim Maddren as the free spirited and mischievous Peter Pan and Jamie Hadwen as the feisty TinkerBell. All the characters from the classic story by Scottish novelist J.M Barrie come to life on stage, including Wendy, John and Michael Darling, the Lost Boys and the muddled pirates. Audiences (especially the young children) will be entranced by the array of characters who appear on stage,

Bardiya McKinnon. Photo: Eric Berry

Western Sydney takes the stage for the world premiere of The Incredible Here and Now from Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta. Based on the award-winning novel of the same name from Felicity Castagna, the play follows a young man, Michael (Bardiya McKinnon), navigating life, love and family in Sydney’s west. “It’s a true Parramatta story written by a local,” says Jeneffa Soldatic, The Incredible Here and Now’s co-director alongside Wayne Harrison. “It’s an unbiased view of what it means to grow up in the Western suburbs as part of a wonderful, diverse community.” Traversing iconic spots across Parramatta and Granville, the huge production will involve a unique set to

evoke the rich atmosphere of the suburbs for a distinctly local audience. Focused on diversity, the play gives voice to the experiences of those growing up in Sydney’s west without moral judgement. “Growing up in the west, I never knew there to be a story for us. It was always from the perspective of an outsider viewing the west,” says Soldatic. “When something goes on stage, it is illuminated – and there’s something really comforting about seeing yourself reflected in art. Diversity in stories is important.” (ES) Jul 13-22. Corner of Market Street and Church Street, Parramatta. $22-$39+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au

THE NAKED CITY

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BRAIN!

With Coffin Ed In a week where two AFL players were rubbed out for king hitting another player and Australia anointed a new world boxing champion, there were certainly mixed messages regarding pounding blows to the head.Amidst the outburst of sporting jingoism that surrounded Jeff Horn in Brisbane with a ticket tape parade and even a bear hug from Alan Jones, did anybody put in a good word for the human brain? Boxing of course has long had its critics but they are quickly silenced during the euphoria that greets the crowning of our own world champ. Despite all the focus in recent years on coward punches and deaths caused by blows to the head, we cast all that aside when it comes to boxing. After all the bare naked fist is contained in a glove and there are rules which govern the contest. Nevertheless the eventual aim of the prize fight is to pummel the opponent’s head to the point where the brain finally says – “that’s it, I’m losing consciousness and I am going to shut down”. Boxing fans love a knockout! We’ve all seen those simulations of the brain copping a punch to the head, where it flops around inside the skull like a jelly on a plate in an earthquake in Tokyo. Luckily we don’t actually see it during a prize fight and simply embrace the whole romance and history of boxing as the noble pugilistic art – that’s of course unless you are a neurosurgeon or somebody who regards

the brain with all the awe and wonder it deserves. A few weeks ago I was watching a TV program on Scott Flansburg, an American man who is widely known as the “human calculator” due to his ability to solve mathematical equations at an incredible speed – often faster than a normal human being could do with a calculator.Amongst his many such talents he can also be given any numerical date in history and tell you what day of the week it is, virtually instantaneously! When his brain was scanned by neuroscientists they found that unlike most people whose mathematical calculations are restricted to a small part of the brain, Scott used his entire brain at lightning speed. Rather than actually juggle any numbers consciously he claims to almost immediately see the answers, as if the brain is working at a furious subconscious pace.

Subjected to numerous scrutiny over the years there’s no doubt that he is a true marvel, one who graciously spends much of his time as an educator, inspiring children that mathematics can be fun. Needless to say he won’t be stepping into the ring any time soon and he remains an incredible example, albeit a most unusual one, of what a wonderful instrument the brain is.Whilst nobody has yet appeared with the ability to match him, you would have to think that there is somebody out there with a similar phenomenal gift. Maybe that person is lurking here in Australia and should she or he suddenly materialize, the stage could be set for a World Title Fight. Not with bloodied boxing gloves but simply with the power of the mind – two “human calculators” going cranium to cranium to see who is the fastest of them all.The event is unlikely to full Suncorp Stadium but should an Aussie champ triumph, would be there be a ticker tape parade and a bear hug from a shock jock? It’s all totally fanciful but perhaps the human brain is deserving of a bigger fan base than it currently attracts.A bit more reverence for that big lump of grey matter might see less coward punches and a decline in the burgeoning ‘sport’ of mixed martial arts.Again given the human propensity to inflict pain on others and often enjoy that infliction as a spectator sport, it’s unlikely to occur.All we can hope for is that brain waves greatly outnumber brain snaps, be it Kings Cross on a Saturday night or Donald Trump with his finger on the nuclear button!

Photo: Robert Catto

including the very animated cockney girls, Indians, female pirates and mermaids. Immersed audiences who are encouraged to participate by boo’ing and cheering throughout the show, will be rolling down the aisles in laughter, as a hilarious script overloaded with puns will have adults competing with the children for the loudest laughs. The energetic choreography of dance sequences and exuberant musical numbers interspersed with renditions of popular songs also add to the creativity and enjoyment of this theatrical delight.

The story of Peter Pan, which teaches children the importance of family values and also resonates that dreams can come true if you believe in magic, is a spectacular pantomime which is not to be missed. Theatergoers should ‘listen to the child in their heart’ and head off on a remarkable journey to Neverland with Peter Pan,Wendy, John and Michael, as they ‘follow the second star to the right and head straight on till the morning’. (MMo) Until Jul 16. State Theatre, 49 Market St Sydney. $58 - $94 (Adult VIP).Tickets & Info: www. ozpanto.com or 1300 139 588

Belinda Fox - Tilt Instability, fragility and turbulence. These three words do more than just describe the physicality of ceramics utilised in this upcoming exhibition.They provide a uniquely physical experience of the social and political conflict inherent to the current global refugee crisis.The ceramics, amongst other artistic mediums, creates space for the viewer to quietly meditate on the ideas and experiences which have informed the installation. Tilt is an exhibition by Belinda Fox in collaboration with Neville French.The series of ceramics, digital media and works on paper within the exhibition began as a conversation about current media reporting on the refugee crisis.As an increasingly globalised society where the struggles of these people have become increasingly apparent in our collective consciousness, it is vital to provide spaces where compassionate and empathetic conversations may take place. “It is a quiet show.The beauty and tragedy is heightened. I hope to make us stop and really think” Fox said. Drawing from a harrowing photograph depicting a sinking refugee boat in Lesbos, Fox has aimed to create a collection of delicate multi-layered works which focus on the silent suffering of these desperate people. Fox invites you to,“really feel this

situation as a human, for one second to put yourself in this sinking boat… holding on by a thread.” However, the exhibition avoids prescribing fixed responses.This sense of neutrality is informed by the aesthetic allure of the works. The viewer must forge their own reply to this highly politicised and divisive issue. It gently asks for a quiet discussion about our collective way forward as a thoughtful people. “The world is tipping” says Fox, “Do you feel it? Which way will it fall?” (EB) Jul 14-Sep 3, 10am- 5pm. Manly Art Gallery & Museum, 1 West Esplanade & Commonwealth Parade, Manly. FREE. city hub 13 JULY 2017

Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE Sydney By Jamie Apps

Ainslie Wills

The Teskey Brothers: Honouring that old school Motown sound and working it into something of their very own, The Teskey Brothers, bring their debut album Half Mile Harvest to Sydney tonight. Thu, Jul 13, Brighton Up Bar Ainslie Wills: With her beautifully crafted and honestly told stories,Wills has gathered an army of lifelong converts at home and internationally.The past year

has also seen Wills’ captivating live show reach great heights, which you can experience tonight. Thu, Jul 13, Lansdowne Hotel Moody Beach: Sydney’s new indie heartthrob Moody Beach (a.k.a. Melissah Marie) takes inspiration from a wide range of sources such as Roy Orbison, The Cure, Blondie and The Pixies to create her transfixing alt-indie-pop. Thu, Jul 13,The Union Hotel Bag Raiders: This year Bag Raiders’ hit song Shooting Stars has ridden a wave or if internet memes to once again show up high in the charts. Capitalising on this regenerated love for their music the duo is heading out on tour as part of Splendour In The Grass and a subsequent sideshow in Sydney tomorrow evening. Fri, Jul 14, Enmore Theatre Creo: Building a reputation for being an incredible live act, CREO’s ability to translate their meticulously textured indie-rock

sound into a ferociously loud and energetic free-for-all is one of the key elements that should make people sit up and take notice this week as they arrive in Sydney. Fri, Jul 14,The Chippo Hotel Drown This City: Part of a new breed of heavy post-hardcore music which is determined, focused, angry and with all the firepower in their arsenal to make the requisite noise and calamity. Setting themselves apart thanks to the intense and impassioned delivery of firebrand front-woman Alex Reade, who’s vocals are both brutal and beautiful at the same time. Sat, Jul 15, Factory Floor Gold Class: Formed in 2014 by a union of workmates and friends from a Melbourne bar and creative-writing course, Gold Class’ string of lean, explosive live shows culminated in a distillation of the then-fledgling group’s wiry punk, carried by Curley’s booming baritone and themes of personal politics, sexuality and identity. Sat, Jul 15, Lansdowne Hotel Marais Meets Muffat: Renowned early music specialists The Marais Project and The Muffat Collective come together this weekend in a celebration of the special exchange of musical culture that occurred in the late 17th Century between France, Germany and Italy. Sun, Jul 16,The Independent Theatre Cut Copy: Ahead of their highly anticipated Splendour In The Grass appearance, the Melbourne four-piece will play Sydney’s Metro Theatre mid-week. Cut Copy’s infectious live show is matched only by the beautiful complexity of their songs. Layered swaths of melody, sections with dissonance and nods to many genres all packaged into timeless pop songs. Wed, Jul 19, Metro Theatre

A Ghost Story

In Hearts Wake By Jamie Apps With the release of their latest album, Ark, Byron Bay band In Hearts Wake completed their trinity of albums celebrating the environment and it’s three major elements. Kicking off the trilogy was Earthwalker which celebrated the land, that record was then followed up by Skydancer celebrating the air and now we have Ark which is focused on our waterways. When asked to explain why the band had chosen to go down this path exploring deep underlying but vitally important messages Jake Taylor told City Hub, “When we put so much time and effort into making a song we want to make sure it’s got depth and substance to it, so that’s why there are so many things hidden within them.” For every record In Hearts Wake release they attempt to also create a complementary community environmental initiative. So for Earthwalker they ran a campaign where they planted trees with fans and for Ark they’ve teamed up with Tangaroa Blue for the We Are Waterborne Initiative. “We’re cleaning up waterways around Australia in the hope of showing others that it’s not easy but that anyone can do it.” said Jake. “Hopefully by doing this we can help the planet whilst also spreading our message far and wide.”

The Teskey Brothers Half Mile Harvest

city hub 13 JULY 2017

We asked Jake what he would say to the leaders of Australia if he had the opportunity to speak to them about the environment and his answer was incredibly straight forward. “Pushing towards a sustainable future might not be the most profitable solution but what good is money if you’ve got no planet to spend it on?” Growing up and living in Byron Bay certainly factored into the bands love for the environment. Unfortunately they don’t get as much time as they would all like to get out in nature due to their touring schedule, which can see them travelling up

to nine months out of the year. “When we get days off we like to just hang out in parks, go surfing or go hiking in search of hidden waterfalls because that’s where we all feel the most at peace.” This weekend the band will be playing in Sydney as part of their only Australian headline tour of the year. With that factor in mind Jake explained that this show is “going to deliver something on a scale like we’ve never done before.” Jul 14, 7pm. Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown. $55+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.enmoretheatre.com.au

Yoko-Zuna - Luminols

Melbourne has become a cosmopolitan hub for a vast array of musical styles but one sound you may not expect to be so craftily recreated is that of traditional Motown Americana soul.The Teskey Brothers new record Half Mile Harvest easily captures this sound and transports the listener to a distant time and location. Josh Teskey’s vocals are rich and soothing throughout, imbuing the record with incredibly deep emotion and soul.The underlying instrumental components are permeated with blues influences whilst also remaining raw and earthy thanks to the decision to record everything naturally. Listening to this record you will be captivated by the emotions and stories of heartbreak but simultaneously soothed by beautiful music. (JA) WWW1/2

kids ghost costume, and invisible to the rest of the world. As the ghost Affleck returns to his home where he witnesses his girlfriend attempt to cope with her loss. One scene in particular appears to last forever, in reality it’s four minutes of a stationary shot, as Mara slumps to the floor eating a pie until she vomits. It is this scene in particular which highlights the loose concept of time A Ghost Story is the sort of arthouse cinema employed by the film.Throughout the film time can which will have audiences either raving about it’s drag on slowly or it can shift in an instant, which emotional impact on them or disgusted by it’s is both transfixing but also jarring as it has the simplicity.As an example during a screening of the audience beginning to questioning the reality of the film for the Sydney Film Festival I witnessed both timeline. ends of the spectrum, from people leaving early to a Rather than following the typical supernatural woman sobbing uncontrollably. horror tropes this film instead focuses on the The film introduces the audience to a young couple, loneliness and grief experienced by both Affleck played by Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara, living and Mara’s characters. By choosing to frame the in the middle of America before the sudden and film this way director David Lowery has created unexpected death of Affleck’s character in a car something unique and touching. accident.Whilst on the morgue table Affleck rises (JA) from the dead but is now shrouded in a sheet, ala a WWW

Photo: Ellie Mitchell

This EP is a Yoko-Zuna taster. It is a mixed bag of styles, each track differing stylistically from the last. Each is surprising and interesting by itself and together they make a treat for the adventurous listener. There is a considerate dose of hip-hop and an even helping of electronic, mixing together in a very comfortable genre spanning few minutes.The band has no selfconsciousness in the mix weighing them down to one area or another, instead they traverse the planes with spirit and with vigour.Their travels don’t tire them, rather they inspire the listener and bounce off each other’s energy with no intention of slowing down. In this too short EP, the band cement themselves as innovative musicians, continuing the work of their debut album, This Place Here, with tantalizing experimental choices, hinting at further innovation in the future. (SP) WWW1/2

Baby Driver Baby Driver is essentially an action heist flick with elements from musicals woven into its genetic makeup. This feat is achieved by director Edgar Wright as he seamlessly syncs action elements and sequences to the beat of the music playing through lead character Baby’s (Ansel Elgort) headphones. Plot wise this is a straight forward heist tale, with a love story woven in as Baby approaches his final job for crime boss Doc (Kevin Spacey). Obviously that final job rapidly descends into chaos and the bullets begin to fly in time to the crescendoing score. The choreography of Baby Driver by Ryan Heffington is flawless as it creates tension during the action sequences but also helps the sparks fly during the romantic moments between Baby and Deborah (Lily James), akin to anything we saw during this years other big musical La La Land.

Baby Driver is an incredibly stylised film which leans heavily on the synchronicity between its phenomenal soundtrack and what we see on screen to add to its lasting impression. (JA)

WWWW

The Beguiled

Reviewed by Lynda Wehipeihana The Beguiled is a beautiful film directed by Sofia Coppola. Set in Virginia during the Civil War. Corporal John McBurney (Colin Farrell) is found in the woods injured and is bought to Miss Farnsworth’s Seminary School for Young Ladies. Miss Farnsworth (Nicole Kidman) is an uptight moral women conflicted by her attraction for McBurney after she gave him a sponge bath whilst he lay unconscious from a serious leg wound. Edwina (Kirsten Dunst), one of the teachers, and

McBurney fall in love.When Edwina finds McBurney in the bedroom room of one of her students he runs after her and falls down the stairs breaking his leg so badly Miss Farnsworth has to amputate with a saw. When McBurney becomes conscious he is enraged and wants revenge for what has been done to him, however the women of the house plan to protect themselves and revenge is taken out upon him. Hell hath no fury like a women’s scorn. WWWW

It Comes At Night

Not to be confused with Stephen King’s supernatural horror masterpiece It, this dark and sinister film is arresting and should have audiences afraid of what may be lurking in the dark. As the story unfolds, a flesh-eating virus of epidemic proportions is engulfing the country which has forced a family of three (headed by Joel Edgerton) to hide in the wilderness, venturing outdoors only by day and wearing gas masks. They allow an uninfected family to enter their refuge, but instantly deliberate, how well do they know these people and can they be trusted? This clever psychological thriller, which is astutely directed and enhanced by imaginative

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‘fear evoking camera work’, is suspenseful and momentum builds slowly, successfully targeting the audience’s anticipation of something terrifying to occur at every turn. The success of this film is that it’s never disclosed what ‘It’ is or how the sickness is passed on. This intensifies the mystery and audiences will live the fear these people are experiencing. Ultimately the film explores the ideology of which is the lesser of two evils? The undisclosed virus which permeates the outdoors or the devilish occurrences which eventuate, justifiably spawned by paranoia and the desperate need for survival? (MMo) WWW1/2

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