Council demerger to go to community vote
Indigenous photojournalist extraordinaire, Barbara McGrady
James Reyne Celebrates 41 Years Of The Boys Light Up
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Enmore Road declared a “Special Entertainment Precinct” BY ALLISON HORE he Inner West council has voted unanimously to support a proposal to make Enmore Road, including the Enmore Theatre, the state’s first “Special Entertainment Precinct.” The motion comes after the NSW parliament passed special laws allowing local councils to declare venues and geographic areas as “Special Entertainment Precincts.” The law was part of a suite of 63 amendments to the local government act designed to promote live music venues. Initially, Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne only wanted to see the Enmore Theatre declared an entertainment precinct. But following a last minute amendment, now the whole of Enmore Road’s main strip will be made a special entertainment precinct. “This groundbreaking change will give real incentives for venues to host live music instead of pokies, through late trading allowances and reduced avenues for noise complaints against music venues,” said Mr. Byrne. Queensland has had a similar scheme in place since 2006, but under the motion passed by council, Enmore road would become the first Special Entertainment Precinct in NSW.
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The Inner West council voted unanimously to transform Enmore Road into a Special Entertainment Precinct. Photo: Wikimedia
If councils wish to create a Special Entertainment Precinct, under the new laws, they must prepare and publish a plan for regulating amplified noise from premises within it and notify residents and people moving into the area about the precinct.
This groundbreaking change will give real incentives for venues to host live music The declaration gives venues incentives like extended trading hours and less onerous noise management conditions. It also passes the power of dealing
Home working?
with noise complaints over to council, as opposed to the Liquor and Gaming authority.
“MITIGATED NOT LITIGATED”
Mr. Byrne says the declaration complements the councils “Good Neighbour policy,” which requires all noise and amenity complaints about pubs, clubs and small bars to be “mitigated not litigated.” “For years live music venues have been going broke as a result of over regulation of noise complaints, enforced by multiple government agencies including councils, the liquor regulator and the Police,” he said.
“This Special Entertainment Precincts program will reduce the number of government agencies someone can lodge complaints to just one – the local council.” Unsurprisingly, Century Venues, the owners of Enmore Theatre, has welcomed the news. They say it will not only be good for their business but also the broader night-time economy. “The designation of the Enmore Theatre as an entertainment precinct under the new legislation is a great step forward not just for us at Century Venues but the entire live performance sector,” Century Venues Executive Director, Greg Khoury, said. “No other night time business generates greater economic flowon effects to communities than live performance spaces.” The Enmore road Special Entertainment Precinct declaration is just one of many moves designed to reignite the Inner West’s live music scene post COVID-19. Earlier this year, council scrapped the need to submit a development application to hold live music and art events in shopfronts, offices and industrial premises.
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Ferris Lane to become an official community site BY LUCINDA GARBUTT-YOUNG hrough the winding lanes of Annandale, there is a long-reigning community spirit. Paths bloom with seasonal foliage, and small front yards have rambling verge gardens. Much of this can be traced back to Kathy O’Donnell, who took over a dilapidated alleyway in 2015. Almost six years later, her now wellknown project is finally gaining official recognition. It began simply, as a labour of love. “We moved to the area and we downsized. I brought a lot of plants, none of which fit in my teeny tiny courtyard,” she said. Kathy was encouraged by a neighbour on an adjoining property to start gardening in the council laneway. Asphalt, rats and debris crowded the area. Without a tap and with only limited access to a hose, Kathy bucketed water from seven doors up to feed the growing space.
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ALEX LYKOS - JAWBONE Alex Lykos writes and performs in Jawbone at the Factory Theatre. (See p. 20)
PUBLISHED DATE 27 MAY 2021 Published monthly and freely available throughout the Inner West. Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the Inner West local council area. 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 Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Publisher Assistant: Mal Moody Group News Editor: Allison Hore Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Contributors: Allison Hore, Wendy Bacon, Peter Hehir, Daniel Lo Surdo, Eva Baxter, Mikala Theocharous, Lucinda GarbuttYoung, Rachel Clark, Georgia Robinson, Mark Morellini, Soofia Tariq, Jamie Apps, Irina Dunn, Renee Lou Dallow, Olga Azar, Patrick McKenzie
MORE THAN A GARDEN
For Kathy, Ferris Lane was never just her garden. She saw the potential for greener urban places around Annandale, and set out to make an entirely public space. “It was [a] clear-cut [vision] from the start. The first thing I planted was herbs.. communal herbs, for everyone,” she explained. Known as ‘The Magic Lane’, Ferris Lane has become an inclusive green space, treasured by locals. People are invited to use the area as they wish. Some simply walk through, others contribute to the garden. Many locals have made a visit part of their daily ritual. There’s teddy bear’s picnics, family lunches and an array of children’s games, all nestled within rare plant varieties and several species of natives bees. Inspired by Wendy Whitely, Kathy and her community have transformed a vacant alley into a place of untrampled community fun.
Turning trash into treasure on Ferris Lane. Photo: Supplied
But by 2018, concern for Ferris Lane’s official status was growing. The green space, now a joy to many, was still zoned as a road. Though this thoroughfare hadn’t been accessed by cars for many years, Kathy and community members were concerned that future developments could see the road reclaimed by Council or State government.
It’s the Inner West’s favourite story… it’s probably Sydney’s Lack of formal recognition for the green space also made it challenging to afford improvements like the addition of a tap for easy watering. There was little scope for government funding. “I’d applied for six to seven rounds of funding from the State and Local council prior to 2018,” Kathy said of her limited grant success. Kathy took 500 signatures to council, which she walked the local streets to collect. It wasn’t until newly elected Councillor Marghanita Da Cruz motioned a rezoning of Ferris Lane into a potential park that council support started to grow. For Clr da Cruz, the call for rezoning was a vital step in supporting the community. “There is a history in Annandale… of the community doing things and then bringing council along,” she said, citing
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If you have a story, or any comments you’d like to share with us: news@altmedia.net.au The community in Ferris Lane, which may soon be formally closed off. Photo: Supplied 4
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development of wetlands and bush care initiatives. “The council is there to support the community, not the other way around.” The community in Ferris Lane, which may soon be formally closed off. Photo: Supplied
A VISION COMPLETE
Almost three years later, permanent closure of Ferris Lane as a road is nearing completion. The community was able to have their say throughout early May on whether the lane should become an official green space. For many, this is a Council acknowledgement of what has been reality for six years. “I haven’t seen the report yet.. but I think most people said, ‘what are you talking about, it’s already closed’,” Clr Da Cruz said of the community feedback. Clr Da Cruz believes rezoning is an important initiative for the Inner West’s future. It will prevent any abolition of the lane due to WestConnex and allow increased care for the area. “Community and biodiversity are two things I’m very excited about,” she said of the diverse plant species that locals have contributed to the garden. Ferris Lane also allows creek run-off to absorb into the ground and nourish existing trees. The seasonality of flora here, which Kathy is meticulous about, has taught many Annandale residents about the importance of local horticulture. Her passion has spread; locals dug up their grass to make gardens. “It [Ferris Lane] is a model for how we can do things,” Clr Da Cruz said. “My vision is that it is replicated all over Sydney.” “It’s the Inner West’s favourite story… it’s probably Sydney’s!” she added. For Kathy, the long fight to finally have ‘The Magic Lane’ rezoned is, at its’ core, about serving the people who visit. “It’s certainly been a challenging journey.. but it’s through the beautiful community that we have been able to continue this,” she said.
Addi Road Volunteers Awarded
Addison Road Community Organisation was very happy to see our volunteers acknowledged at the Inner West Council’s 2021 Amy Large Volunteer Awards. The awards were one of the high points of National Volunteer Week, a time to reflect on how much communities across the country are enriched by the generosity of individuals and groups who give their time selflessly all the year round. Without our volunteers we simply could not do the work that we do. This is especially true at our Addi Food Pantry Marrickville and Food Pantry Camperdown. It’s also what allowed us to start operating our Addi Road Food Relief Hub in the wake of Covid-19 from March 2020, supporting 120 charities and social justice groups who were under enormous strain and doing their best to help people in need. Not to mention our volunteers’ presence behind all the projects and events we create each year, from social justice activities to arts and culture evenings and more. In the last year this spirit of engagement has grown exponentially at Addi Road, with over 200 volunteers donating 6,000 plus hours to meet the needs of their community. Whenever we ask for help, our volunteers are there, making it happen – and making the experience all the happier and more positive for everyone involved. Our partnership with Craig Foster and his #PlayForLives campaign turbo-charged the number of volunteers supporting us over the past year, encouraging everyone from leading sports figures to local sports clubs to help us. As the name indicates, the IWC’s Amy Large
History Week 2021 – From the Ground Up We are honoured that the History Council NSW chose to go with the theme that we proposed for History Week 2021: ‘From the Ground Up.’ For us at Addi Road, both a heritage site and active community centre, ‘From the Ground Up’ is an inspiring and relevant theme. It’s a reminder of the importance of place and Country; of the fundamental connections
Volunteer Awards takes its cues from Amy Large, a legendary community figure who gave her time and energy as a volunteer over and again across the Inner West. It’s an honour to see Addison Road Community Organisation Volunteers recognised as a group – and in her name – with these awards. And to be in the company of so many other brilliant organisations like the Asylum Seekers Centre, The Reverend Bill Crews Foundation, Gunawirra and Dress for Success Sydney. The kind of night where everyone involved really is a winner – and mutually supportive. Along with the group recognition, three of our volunteers were recognised individually; in the ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ category, Joseph Hathaway-Wilson [photo above, left] for his work in the Food Pantry, restocking shelf items, bagging fruit and bread, and assisting the public who come here shopping. Thank you Joseph for being such an important and inspiring part of our team. Your presence here raises us up each time you arrive. In the ‘Adult Volunteer of the Year’ category, Mary Savva [photo above, right] was acknowledged “for going above and beyond”. Mary works at reception here at Addi Road, as well as training new volunteers and supporting our Food Pantry team. She often pitches in at events too. No matter the situation, Mary is always there, a loyal back-stop and a force you can depend on. We love her and feel lucky to have her here with us. In the ‘Senior Volunteer of the Year’’ category it was Robyn White’s [photo above, centre] turn to get some recognition. She’s a Team Leader for Addi Road Food Pantry. Without her the place just would not run. It’s a very big job when between specific environments and human endeavours. It also suggests people’s histories, local histories, community histories – stories from the streets and from the soil that provide the material and the momentum for the making of history. We can’t wait to see how other History Council members will engage with the theme. History Week takes place in September, but event planning and registration will open in June. Watch this space for details on events that we'll be hosting as well as a wide range of happenings across NSW, from the ground up!
you consider we have fed over 250,000 people in the last year, making around 16,000 food relief hampers during Covid, combating food waste and food insecurity while rescuing over 200 tonnes of food going into landfill along the way. Robyn is vital to that work and to every part of our mission. If you really look at those numbers, you can imagine how crazy things can get here – and how much we depend on our volunteers, and most of all Team Leaders like Robyn, to hold it all together. Her background in nursing brings a natural balance of organisation and compassion that has made the year so much better for us. It’s a measure of her contribution that Robyn was also nominated as a ‘Senior Citizen of the Year’. Robyn, you really do make a difference to what we do. Thank you once again to the Inner West Council’s 2021 Amy Large Volunteer Awards for specifically recognising all our volunteers and the amazing work they have done as a group, and for drawing attention to Joseph, Mary and Robyn for their very special part in making our community the force that it is today.
RacismNOTWelcome Support the movement and buy a T-shirt.
RRP: $19.95 plus $5 shipping and handling (Australia only). To find out more about the campaign, go to racismnotwelcome.com To buy a t-shirt, go to addiroad.org.au
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Beloved Glebe Children’s Centre up for sale KU Laurel Tree House has operated its childcare centre on Arundel Street for over 35 years. With the lease agreement expected to culminate at the conclusion of the year, alarm concerning the sale continues to rise in Glebe. “The community have reacted strongly with a message that we don’t want the centre to be closed,” Parker said.
The KU Laurel Tree House in Glebe has educated over 1500 children since its opening. Photo: KU Children’s Services
BY DANIEL LO SURDO he NSW Government has approved plans to sell land currently occupied by KU Laurel Tree House Children’s Centre in Glebe. The impending sale of the Government-owned commercial property situated at 61 Arundel Street has been met by considerable opposition in the inner-city, with the Glebe community believing the sale to be severely misguided. Member for Balmain Jamie Parker echoed the sentiments of his constituents. “We are in a time of high demand for quality childcare,” Parker told Inner West Independent. “I’m calling on the Minister to cancel this sell-off and ensure that public assets are used for public purposes rather than sold for profit.”
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Community opposition has also been conveyed to Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who has implored the State Government to reconsider its plans for 61 Arundel Street. “The City recently learned of the NSW Land and Housing Corporation’s plans to sell the property and has been approached by several locals who are understandably upset and concerned about the plans,” a City of Sydney spokesperson told Inner West Independent. “The Lord Mayor has requested the Ministers [for Education and Water, Property and Housing] urgently investigate the retention of the property as a childcare centre.”
A NEED FOR CHILDCARE
The City of Sydney’s Child Care Needs Analysis, published in 2019, recognised the necessity of increased, high quality affordable childcare and education centres, especially considering the growing inner-city population growth expected in the next two decades.
The report predicts that the Glebe Point Road Village Area encompassing Arundel Street will undergo a 6.3 percent population increase by 2036 - a population growth requiring further high quality affordable childcare and education centres. Whilst the land sale will precipitate the closure of the Children’s Centre, the NSW Land and Housing Corporation maintains the area will continue to serve critical segments of the state.
Parents were shocked by the announcement and have rallied to support the centre “Proceeds from the sale will be reinvested ... into building new social housing to support vulnerable people and families in NSW on the waiting list,” a NSW Land and Housing Corporation spokesperson told Inner West Independent. Despite the reinvestment to be made to innercity social housing, many Glebe residents remain vehemently opposed to the proposal. An online petition against the Land and Housing Corporation’s proposal has attracted over 700 signatures, with aspirations to halt the sale and save the KU service atop the reasoning for the campaign. KU Laurel Tree House has educated over 1500 children on Arundel Street since its opening. KU Childcare has welcomed over 12,000 children and has employed over 2,000 staff members across its history.
Setting the Agenda: Achieving Meaningful Reform for Women in NSW We are at a turning point in our centuries old campaign for justice for women in NSW. In the last few months we have seen a new generation of young people driving mass mobilisations on the streets and huge online engagements as thousands of young women speak out for the first time, demanding an end to the rampant injustice they face on a daily basis. We’ve seen heated debates about misogyny, sexual violence and power imbalances in our parliaments, workplaces and society in mainstream media and it is clear that there is a renewed appetite for change. Whether we are talking about injustices in the form of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace or in society, consent laws, or how the justice system treats survivors, the conversation has changed. We are no longer debating IF women suffer as a result of the misogyny built into every aspect of society, but what can be done right now to change that.
On Wednesday, 28 April 2021, we were incredibly privileged to host some of the @jennyleong.newtown
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incredible young women on the front lines of this fresh charge, working to build the momentum, engage diverse communities, and implement the solutions that we need to achieve meaningful reform: Jaime Evans Director, Women’s March Sydney Chanel Contos Founder, Teach Us Consent
It was amazing to hear from these incredible activists, campaigners and communicators directly about the work they have been doing to push the boundaries, where we are headed next and how we can work together to get where we need to be. Scan the code below to watch the event in full.
Dr Amanda Cohn Chair, Border Domestic Violence Network Dani Villafaña & Erin O’Leary Co-founders, YouthSurvivors4Justice Dhanya Mani Founder, Changing Our Headline
Dr. Karen Williams Founder, Doctors Against Violence Towards Women
Saxon Mullins Director of Advocacy, Rape and Sexual Assault Research and Advocacy @jennyleong
SCAN ME TO WATCH
The steady call for justice for women has become an almighty roar. Now it is up to us to grab hold of this new momentum, and join together to realise meaningful reform. Jenny Leong MP Greens Member for Newtown @jennyleong.newtown
Inner West Mayor guilty of misconduct, finds Tribunal I BY WENDY BACON nner West mayor Darcy Byrne breached conflict of interest provisions and improperly used his power as a Councillor to remove social media comments that he alleged were defamatory, a NSW Tribunal has found. The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) found the Mayor guilty of four allegations of code of conduct breaches and misconduct and partly guilty of two other allegations. It found that he had acted unethically and abused his power. These latest findings add to an earlier code of conduct findings against Byrne, made after an internal review process last year. The Inner West Independent asked the Mayor if he intended to appeal and whether this was the first time findings of this kind had been made against him. He did not answer these questions. Instead, his Media Officer Bill Hawker sent a statement in which Byrne says that he is “disappointed in the decision.” “I thought I was defending the Council’s reputation and never intended to breach the rules,” he said. As he did when the investigation first became public, the Mayor also drew our attention to the timing of the Deputy Secretary of the Office of Local Government ( OLG) Tim Hurst’s decision to refer him to the Tribunal, which occurred just days before he was “due to give evidence at the Parliamentary Inquiry into the NSW Government’s $252 million council grants slush fund.”
I thought I was defending the Council’s reputation In other words, Byrne continues to allege that the proceedings against him were designed to silence him. Hurst defended himself against this allegation during a parliamentary hearing into the Stronger Communities Grants rorts last year, providing evidence that he was not aware Byrne was giving evidence at the time when he referred the matter to the Tribunal. He provided the Parliamentary Inquiry with a detailed chronology of months of interactions with Clr Byrne’s lawyers that revealed that the investigation had been underway for months before the Mayor, one of many witnesses,
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connections between the developers and the Labor Party.
LOCKIE TAKES TO FACEBOOK
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) found Darcy Byrne guilty of four allegations of code of conduct breaches and misconduct. Photo: AAP
gave his parliamentary inquiry evidence.
WICKS PLACE DECISION
The NCAT findings detail ‘misconduct’ that occurred at three Inner West Council meetings in 2019. But the events that led to those meetings go back even further to a meeting in August 2018, at which Councillors hotly debated a motion related to a large and very controversial development, now called Wicks Place, in the Victoria Road Precinct in Marrickville. For years, community groups, Greens Councillors and Marrickville Council staff had raised concerns about the plan for 3000 apartments on a site which is in a heavily trafficked area, under the flight path and on a swamp. All but one Labor Councillor supported it. Eventually, the NSW government overrode opposition and approved the reduced development with 1000 apartments. At the August 2018 meeting, planning officers recommended deferring approval of a change to a Development Control Plan (DCP) for the site so that there was more time to deal with the issue of developer contributions. The Liberals, Labor and independent Sam Macri narrowly defeated the Council officers’ recommendation. Five Greens Councillors and two
Independents (Pauline Lockie and John Stamolis) supported it. This is the same pattern of voting which delivered Clr Byne his Mayoralty with Liberal Julie Passas and then Independent Victor Macri as his Deputy Mayor. The developer was represented at the Council meeting by two consultants, both closely connected to the Labor Party. One of them, Dan Tierney, is well known as the surprise choice as Chief of Staff by Luke Foley when he took over as NSW Opposition leader in 2015. Before working for Foley, Tierney was the Corporate Affairs Manager for Brookfield Multiplex, which had a long history of connections with the NSW Labor party going back to the 1980s. Earlier, Tierney was former Senator Graham Richardson’s Chief of Staff and worked for former NSW Roads and Olympics Minister Michael Knight. After a few months in Foley’s office, Tierney left and became the Development Manager for Danias Holdings, landowners and development partners in the Wicks Place development in the Victoria Road Precinct. The decision to reject the planning staff recommendation to delay the plan for the 272 Wicks apartments and business development was disappointing to those who opposed the development, especially because of what appeared to be close
As a relatively new Councillor, Independent Pauline Lockie had adopted a practice of using her Facebook page to connect with residents by explaining to the community what had happened at the meeting. She posted on her Facebook, “I’m appalled that other councillors ignored strong legal and planning advice from our own staff in favour of developers – and that the mayor was the one pushing this. So much for Save Marrickville.” The Mayor later went onto her Facebook page and posted a link to a Council media release, to which Greens Councillor Colin Hesse responded, “Here’s a promotion from the developers.” Other people also posted comments, some of which suggested corruption. For eight months the comments remained on Lockie’s Facebook page without objection. Then, on March 26, 2019, lawyers sent what is known as a ‘Concerns Notice’ letter on behalf of Byrne to Lockie and Hesse, stating that the comments conveyed defamatory imputations. It’s important at this point to understand the nature of a Concerns Notice. In the statement he sent to the Inner West Independent, Clr Byrne refers to a letter, and while a ‘Concerns Notice’ is a letter, it is also something much more significant. It is a means by which a person who alleges they have been defamed gives notice of an intention to sue but also provides a publisher with an opportunity to make amends by retraction, removal, apology or in some cases compensation. If accepted, it will mean that defamation proceedings will not be filed. For most people who are not in a financial position to defend a defamation case, it can be the only option even if what has been published may be defensible because of the high cost of being legally represented. In this reporter’s experience, small publishers, resident activists and councillors often feel they have no choice but to retract or apologise. Continued on page 8
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Inner West Mayor guilty of misconduct, finds Tribunal BYRNE CALLS ON COUNCILLORS TO APOLOGISE
On the same day as he sent the letter, the Mayor made his first mistake. The Victoria Road development was on the Council agenda again. This time the staff recommendation was to put the Development Control Plan ( DCP) on public exhibition. Clr Byrne then added his own amendments to the motion calling on Councillors who “made potentially defamatory statements and imputations about other Councillors or who through those comments may have brought the Council into disrepute to withdraw these comments and apologise.” Effectively, Clr Byrne took what was a legal matter and attempted to use his position on Council to resolve it by a political vote. Given the demands in the Concerns Notices, Hesse, Lockie and Greens Councillor Lou Steer (a lawyer who was acting pro bono for Hesse) decided that they had what is known as a ‘non pecuniary interest’ in the outcome of the motion. This is an interest which, although not financial, could be reasonably perceived to influence a vote. They declared their interest and withdrew from the meeting.
The real issue here is the rezoning of Victoria Road in Marrickville Byrne proceeded to move the motion but the meeting no longer had a quorum and was adjourned until April 9 when Hesse, Lockier and Steer again withdrew. Byrne moved and voted for the motion which passed. Despite the declarations of other councillors and his own stake in the legal matter, the Mayor saw no need to declare an interest. The Tribunal found that he failed to declare an interest at three meetings in March and April.
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LOCKIE APOLOGIES THEN COPS IT FROM MAYOR
At a Council meeting on 28 May 2019 Clr Lockie delivered a public apology. The words which are standard ones used in many apologies were agreed between her and Clr Byrne’s solicitors: “On 29 August 2018 I published a post on Facebook of and concerning Mayor Darcy Byrne.” “I accept that the allegations made by others on my post were false and defamatory of his good character and I apologise to Mayor Byrne for the embarrassment and hurt to feelings that it has caused him.” Clr Hesse did not apologise. Lockie’s apology and removal of the material was not enough for Byrne. He then posted her apology on his Facebook and Twitter pages adding his own comment. “As a basic rule in life, don’t defame people for personal advancement. It’s just bad manners,” he said. In the comments beneath his Facebook post, he further attacked Lockier for being “unprofessional” “disrespectful.” Other comments allege that her apology was not sincere. This turned a stressful situation into an even more upsetting and humiliating one. Lockie responded by laying a code of conduct complaint against Byrne. Her complaint was lodged through confidential internal processes. Clr Lockie’s complaint led to six findings against the Mayor. The report itself is confidential but the complaint reviewer recommended that the findings be made public at a Council meeting. This occurred but they have not previously been reported in the media. According to Council Minutes of March 10th 2020, the ‘conduct reviewer’ found Byrne breached the Council’s Social Media Policy in making comments about another Councillor which “a reasonable person would consider
Greens councillor Colin Hesse called the Mayor’s statements a “diversion” from the issue. Photo: Save Marrickville
humiliating”, and by attributing motives of personal advancement to Lockie and accusing her of being “unprofessional, disrespectful and having bad manners,” the Mayor had acted in a way that would bring the Council into “disrepute.” He had failed to manage comments on his own facebook post or to apply a reasonable degree of care and diligence, in ensuring he complied with the Council’s Code of Conduct. To this day, the twitter and facebook comments remain on Byrne’s page. So despite the Inner West Council’s social media policy, he continues to humiliate and defame Lockie.
POLITICAL CONSPIRACY ACCUSATIONS ARE A DIVERSION
The Parliamentary Committee that investigated the Stronger Communities Grants and many community members share Bryne’s view that Councils were ripped off by the LNP government’s pork barrelling. In the statement he sent to the Inner West Independent, Byrne said that he will “continue to advocate strongly
(Continued from page7) for the return of $24 million the Inner West was cheated out of” and correctly noted that “no sanction or action at all has been taken against the Premier and Deputy Premier, despite overwhelming evidence that they improperly established this slush fund and oversaw one of the biggest rorts in NSW history.” But it is one thing to campaign against LNP government rorts, and another thing entirely to make accusations that the findings against him result from an abuse of the administration of justice. Colin Hesse has never apologised but agrees with Byrne about NSW government rorts. He told the Inner West Independent that given that Byrne claims to have been defending Council. “Claims by Clr Byrne drawing connections between the NSW Government’s appalling local government grants scheme and the matter considered by the Office of Local Government are a diversion,” he said. “The real issue here is that the rezoning of Victoria Road in Marrickville to allow residential development, a re-zoning opposed by Council planners, may, on the advice of Council staff, cost Council and residents hundreds of thousands of dollars and perhaps millions of dollars to address road and drainage works. There is no benefit to the community of the rezoning.” For six years, many in the community argued against the development which is now being sold off the plan. Construction was expected to begin last August, but demolition and construction is now scheduled to begin on July 1. Businesses and employees are moving out. The costs and benefits to the community, most of whom could not afford to live there, remain to be seen, including whether the development enhances Marrickville as a ‘creative hub’ as its supporters have always argued it would.
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Inner West residents to be given vote on de-amalgamation BY ALLISON HORE nner West residents will be polled in the upcoming local council elections asking if they would like to see the Inner West council split up. Ever since the Leichhardt, Marrickville and Ashfield councils were forcibly amalgamated by the NSW Government in 2016, there has been controversy surrounding the decision. But with the local council elections in September fast approaching, the campaign for de-amalgamation has gained fresh momentum.
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This simple act of democracy is already starting to spark community discussions Now, following a motion put forward at an extraordinary council meeting on Monday night, the community will be able to have their say. A motion to investigate the possibility of de-amalgamation using new aspects of the Local Government Act was put forward by councillor Victor Macri, the former mayor of Marrickville, and independent councillor John Stamolis. Mr. Macri has been a vocal opponent of
amalgamation since its inception. He said, in the Marrickville council, he was able to work effectively with councillors across party lines, despite disagreement. However, he says the mega-council created after amalgamation was much more politicised and less nuanced, and the community are noticing. “The big beast is black and white,” he told the Inner West Independent. “I’m a barber on Marrickville road, so I’m with the community every day, so I’m getting the direct feedback and there’s a huge dissatisfaction amongst the community. And a lot of it is directed to the politicisation of the council.”
THE WEIGHT OF A VOTE
Inner West residents spoke out in support of being given a vote. Photo: Peter Boyle
Mr. Macri’s motion was passed with an amendment by Inner West Greens councillor Colin Hesse asking residents get the vote they “always should have” on amalgamation. Mr. Hesse said putting the proposal to the people would give it “teeth.” “The Minister for Local Government can ignore your vote, just as it can ignore a submission, but in the scale of things a vote has a lot more weight,” he said.
Amendments to the Local Government Act put in a place mechanism to allow council demergers to take place. In order for a demerger to happen, a proposal to split must be submitted to the local government minister within 10 years of the new area being declared. With the Inner West Council being proclaimed on the 12th May 2016, a proposal would need to be submitted before May 2026.
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When the minister receives the proposal, they would refer it to the boundaries commission who will return to the minister with a publicly available recommendation. The minister would then make a decision on whether to allow a demerger, should it be allowed, the minister will ensure council receives appropriate funding or grants to make it happen. As to how the poll question will be worded is yet to be decided.
again, Plibersek touched on how the flu shot will “…help things get back to normal much more quickly; we can go out and enjoy each other’s company more.” Chemistworks Broadway operates 7 days a week. They offer a walk-in service for the flu shot (quadrivalent strain) for $29.99. Alternatively, book ahead at chemistworks.com. au. No prescription is required. Vaccinations
are subject to pharmacist and vaccine availability. Influenza vaccines are free to people from high risk groups identified in the National Immunisation Program. People from high risk groups should seek advice from their doctor and some patients may be advised not to have a flu vaccination. For more information, speak to your local pharmacist or visit www. health.gov.au.
Plibersek spoke about the ease of getting vaccinated against influenza, stating that “…it’s most convenient.” With the option to book ahead and walk-ins accepted at many local pharmacies, Plibersek mentioned that getting your flu shot at a pharmacy “…reduces stress on GPs.” With COVID-19 restrictions starting to relax and venues opening
Catherine Bronger (Pharmacist Owner), Tanya Plibersek MP (Member for Sydney), Claudia Sharkawy (Pharmacist Owner) in Chemistworks Broadway
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Opinion
De-amalgamate or Perish? BY PETER HEHIR hose of you who have been following my opinion pieces in the Inner West Independent over the last two or three years are well aware of my attitude towards politicians in general; and the major political parties in particular. I was an avid supporter, and still am, of the Open Council concept first established here in the Leichhardt Municipality by those working class champions Nick Orriglass and Issy Weiner way back in the seventies and early eighties. By and large, local residents own the area in which they live. Their idea was simple. Those residents have, at the very least, a moral, if not a legal right to the sort of representation that accurately reflects the wishes, hopes and aspirations of their local communities. Even people who rent in an area have these same rights; to ensure, demand even, that the amenity that they possess, in concert with their owner occupier neighbours, isn’t diminished by the actions of either the local, State or Federal Governments. It isn’t just about the three R’s; rates, roads and rubbish. Local Government must be truly local. Local representatives have a huge workload and an equally big responsibility. But above all their primary function is to ensure the protection of the amenity of those who elected them. The further away you are, the more difficult it is to see. This is particularly true of local government. Councillors are not elected to further their own political careers, to make decisions solely with an eye on winning the approval of their political masters, in either of the Liberal or Labor Parties. They are there to do a job for their constituents. Pure and simple…
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A DEBACLE SINCE INCEPTION
Whichever way you look at it, the Inner West Council amalgamation has been a debacle from its inception. It was urged by the State Government, with all the spin that went with it; suggesting that “bigger is better”, “it will be more cost effective”, “rates will be lessened”, and “services can be provided much more cheaply due to economies of scale”, “we can draw on the collective expertise of those senior employees in all three councils” etc.. On and on it went; this spiel touted in a similar vein by those whose agenda it is to deride and swat like 10
INNER WEST INDEPENDENT JUNE 2021
Still from a video of a recent community bicycle ride event calling for the de-amalgamation of the Inner West Council. Photo: Youtube/Isaac Nellist
flies, those annoying residents who dare to stand up against the might of the formidable political machines massing against them; and to fight against them for the good of their communities…
Local Government must
be truly local The amalgamation reality however is so very, very different. It’s the total antithesis of the Minerva that was promised. The Council is massively in debt. Almost $7 million now! We are a long, long way from the Promised Land! It’s much more difficult now to contact your local councillor. The mayor lost me when he brokered a deal with the Liberals to keep the more community minded majority on the new mega council out of power, thus ensuring that he held the reins.
This unholy alliance simply beggars belief! The wholesale dissatisfaction with the Inner West Council by residents right throughout the many suburbs who now find themselves all lumped in together, is widespread and continues to grow. Council meetings are never completed. The agenda is so huge as to prevent reasoned debate on the really important issues. It’s so much more difficult to get the time to express opinions on purely local matters. There are many who feel that neither of the major parties have any business fielding representatives in local council elections. It appears this demonstrably undemocratic and aberrant behaviour is by no means nationwide. There are a number of States where this practice is unheard of and where NSW is looked upon with some bemusement.
A PATHWAY TO A DEMERGER
However we do have a glimmer of hope. If the elected members of the IWC can
be persuaded to act in the interests of the residents of the Inner West and vote to de-amalgamate this unworkable mega monster, then hopefully local representation can be restored. The problem is we have just 10 days in which to do this. The IWC can vote to apply to have a poll included on the ballot paper at the Council elections on September 4th. But the application MUST be lodged before the end of May… This will only happen if you contact your local council representative as soon as you finish reading this and plead calmly and rationally that she or he vote according to their conscience and not blindly fall in step with a pre-meeting, party-caucused position. A conscience vote to reflect the deamalgamation wishes of the vast majority is the only just, fair and democratic way to put this right. And have the State Government foot the bill! So little time. So much to do…
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“Save our homes” BY ALLISON HORE esidents from a number of threatened public housing communities across Sydney’s inner city came together at Martin Place today to call for their homes to be saved from the wrecking ball.
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The rally followed last week’s release of the NSW Government’s Housing 2041 Strategy and called for the future of a number of Inner City public housing estates to be secured. Speaking at the rally was Emily Valentine, a resident of the Bay Street public housing site in Glebe. “Instead of selling off public housing, the government should be building thousands of new public homes each year, providing many urgently needed jobs at the same time,” she said. “Sydney is in the middle of a housing and homelessness crisis. But instead of addressing the causes and effects of this crisis, the government is making it worse by selling off public housing properties.” Emily explained that the residents in her estate were told they would be able to move into the redeveloped block when it’s completed down the line, but would be shifted out into flats in Western Sydney, far from their workplaces, networks and communities, in the interim. “People should be able to live close to where they work and stay in their community, for a community to function it must include all. The poor are being forced out so that the wealthy can gentrify suburbs,” she said. “The NSW government supports this with its “Communities Plus” 30/70 policy.”
A NEW HOUSING STRATEGY
Under the “Communities Plus” model, public housing estates are sold off to private developers to create “mixedoccupancy” developments. In an effort to “deconcentrate disadvantage” 70 percent of dwellings in these buildings will be set aside for private properties, and 30 percent for social houses. It is this kind of development which is set to replace a number of public housing estates in Glebe, South Everleigh and Waterloo. The NSW government said the renewed estates, high rise complexes, will mean a greater number of social housing dwellings will exist. But critics are quick to point out the number of bedrooms will be much lower, with family homes being replaced with one or two bedroom apartments. The latest step in the NSW government’s plans to meet the housing shortage in the state is the release of the Housing
2041 Strategy. The first-of-its-kind document outlines the government’s 20-year vision for “better housing” across the state and includes key initiatives such as establishing a cross-sector housing advisory panel and strengthening relationships with local governments. The strategy also calls for “better use of government-owned land” and the investigation of ways to develop new types of housing and tenure, and new delivery models. Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey says these initiatives will help the government to deliver improved outcomes both in the long and short terms. “We are developing a TSA discussion paper that will call on local governments, NGOs and the private sector to come to us with ideas to deliver additional TSA projects and to meet the Premier’s Priority of reducing homelessness by 50 percent,” she explained. But Shelter NSW doesn’t think the strategy goes far enough to protect current public housing residents from the stress of impending redevelopment.
Everyone has a right to secure housing, we have to fight to protect all public housing “While big on theory and future plans, it is silent on protecting established communities in existing buildings from the threat of disruption and dislocation,” they said in a statement. Shelter NSW CEO John Engler says he welcomes the government’s decision to explore new housing models to meet the growing need, but says it should not come at the expense of existing public housing residents.
Protesters rally on Macquarie Street to defend a number of Sydney’s public housing estates. Photo: Allison Hore
“We all agree there should be more, not less, public housing and it should be delivered in a way that protects existing residents and their communities. Both are possible and preferred,” he said.
THE FATE OF THE SIRIUS
Feminist and left-wing activist Judy Mundey also spoke at the rally. She, alongside her late husband Jack Mundey were instrumental in the 1970s green bans movement which saved a number of historic buildings in Miller’s Point. She worries that more public housing estates across the CBD will be lost like the Sirius Building was. “It’s unconscionable that almost three years later, the Sirius Building and its 79 apartments remain empty, what’s worse, is the fate that befell Sirius and
its residents appears to be planned for public housing in Glebe, Waterloo, Ersikineville and possibly elsewhere,” she said. Originally built in 1979 to house displaced public housing residents from Millers Point, the building was sold off to a private development firm in 2019 for $150 million. The internal structures of the building will be torn out to make way for 76 luxury flats to be sold for upwards of $1.7 million a piece. Ms. Mundey believes the government’s attitude towards public housing has become worse since she began campaigning in the 70s. She said with rising housing costs pricing the majority of people out of the market, the urgency for new public housing now is “as great as it ever was.” “At the time when the Sirius was built, only some 40 years ago, governments still accepted or believed that citizens deserved quality public housing,” she said. “Public housing built by the government for the people, is no more an extravagant concept than is public education or public healthcare. A home is a basic necessity for a decent standard of living.”
Speakers called on the government to end the privatisation of public housing. Photo: Allison Hore
Before her own estate was threatened with the wrecking ball, Emily had been a loud voice in the fight to save a number of other public estates, including the one in Millers Point. She celebrated the Martin Place rally as a way for tenants from all estates to come together with one voice. “Everyone has a right to secure housing, we have to fight to protect all public housing,” she said. INNER WEST INDEPENDENT JUNE 2021
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Delays to pride centre concern Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby hopes such a center would be an inclusive hub for the Inner West’s “vibrant” LGBTIQ community. In 2020, the Newtown Town Hall, currently home to the Newtown Neighbourhood Center, was earmarked as a suitable location for the center. However concrete moves to make Sydney’s first pride center a reality have been slow.
This is very concerning as the trust that has been built will potentially be lost
Members of the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby made a case for the importance of a pride centre at an Inner West Council meeting. Photo: Supplied
BY ALLISON HORE he NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby have expressed their concern about the delays to the process of establishing the Inner West pride center. First put forward to council in 2017 by councillor Anna York, the Inner West Council began investigating options to establish a pride center in 2018. Council
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Expressions of interest for LGBTIQ organisations to pitch a plan to manage and deliver the pride center closed in March. But confidential documents brought before council this week suggest no suitable organisation has been found. Only one organisation, the House of Pride and Empowerment, made a bid to manage the center but their application was deemed “non conforming” and thrown out by the selection panel. Jack Whitney, co-convener of the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, told the Inner West Independent the delays to the delivery of the pride center were concerning. “Delays in this vital service creates reservations in the community that the ever-important Pride Centre will never happen,” he explained. “This is very concerning as the trust that has been built will potentially be lost, and the goodwill will be diminished”.
COMMUNITY NEED AND SUPPORT
The lobby held an action and spoke at Tuesday’s council meeting to reaffirm their support for, and the community need for, a pride center in the area. And they’re not alone. In a council survey, 87 percent of respondents said it was “very or extremely important” to have a Pride Centre in the Inner West. Mr. Whitney worries the openly homophobic views expressed by Liberal Councillor Julie Passas may be dampening the relationship between council and the LGBTIQ community and stimying progress on the center. “The Lobby is concerned that harmful views held by Clr Julie Passas, may hold back the progress of the creation of the Pride Centre… this is someone who recently compared the Rainbow flag to the ISIS flag,” he said. If established, the pride centre will run a number of wellbeing and health support programs for LGBTIQ people in the local area. Some of the issues they hope the centre will address include healthcare, social isolation, bullying and harassment. With a suitable party yet to put their hand up to run the center, Mr. Whitney said the next step for council to ensure the center gets off the ground is making sure it has the funding and “confirming the tendering process.” “We looked at the tendering process and it wasn’t very clear, so I think they need to be clearer around the operational process,” Mr. Witney said. “We’re here to work with the council.”
West Notice of application for State Significant Infrastructure approval under Division 5.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The NSW Government is delivering Sydney Metro West – a new underground metro railway which will double rail capacity between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, with a target travel time of about 20 minutes between the two centres. Sydney Metro West station locations at Pyrmont and the Sydney CBD are now confirmed. These locations join confirmed stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and The Bays. Work started on this cityshaping project at The Bays in 2020, with tunnel boring machines set to be in the ground in 2022. For the purposes of clause 193(4)(b) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000, notice is hereby given that a State Significant Infrastructure application under Division 5.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 has been lodged with the Secretary of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment for Sydney Metro West – major civil construction, including station excavation and tunnelling, between The Bays and Sydney CBD.
Application No: SSI-19238057 Proponent: Sydney Metro, PO Box K659, Haymarket, NSW 1240 Site Description The Bays Precinct to the Sydney CBD via Pyrmont. Project Description This proposal would involve major civil construction work between The Bays and Sydney CBD including: • Enabling works such as demolition, utility supply to construction sites, utility adjustments, and modifications to the existing transport network • Tunnel excavation including tunnelling support activities • Station excavation for new metro stations at Pyrmont and the Sydney CBD.
Components of this proposal are subject to further design, and changes may be made during the ongoing design which take into account the outcomes of community and stakeholder engagement and environmental field investigations. A copy of the State Significant Infrastructure application is available on the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s website (planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major–projects). The Project is subject to the environmental assessment and public consultation requirements under section 5.17 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Sydney Metro will now prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the project in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment will display the Environmental Impact Statement for the project and invite public submissions. Details of the public exhibition period will be notified by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment following receipt of Sydney Metro’s Environmental Impact Statement for the project. Information on the environmental planning and assessment process can be found at planning.nsw.gov.au.
sydneymetro.info
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Application Details
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Call for feedback on gender inequality policies BY EVA BAXTER he Inner West Council has released its gender equal representation policy and draft gender equity strategy for public exhibition in April and May, respectively. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, pre-existing gender-based social and economic inequalities have worsened. This has added a new sense of urgency to the development of a gender equity strategy. Independent Councillor Pauline Lockie said that a range of organisations working to address domestic and family violence in the Inner West have been discussing this strategy for some time.
The gender equal representation policy, open for public exhibition until May 26, states, where possible, councillor committees, boards and panels of up to five members should achieve gender balance. Where there are 6 or more members, they should also include nonbinary and transgender participation.
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“One of the things that (was) identified as a gap was the fact that we didn’t have a strategy or a framework for addressing one of the root causes of domestic and family violence, which is inequality between genders,” she explained. The strategy aims for ‘primary’ prevention, which addresses the drivers of violence, and is distinguished from council’s ongoing investment and support in ‘secondary’ prevention to change the trajectory for individuals at higher-than-average risk of perpetrating or experiencing violence. The strategy references gender diversity, but Jody
But Toomey said, she “didn’t see the need for that delineation.”
A graphic from the council’s draft gender equity strategy showing the difference between “equality” and “equity.” Photo: Inner West Council
Toomey, chair of council’s LGBT+ working group was “disappointed” in the lack of consultation with the working group. “You can’t represent without consultation,” she said. Council will be consulting with the working group in early June.
POLICY BY ANNOUNCEMENT OR CHANGE IN CULTURE?
Some councillors doubt the council’s ability to follow through with the policies. Independent Councillor John Stamolis said, “the Inner West Council is very good on big policy announcements, often a little bit slower to make sure they happen.”
NOTICE OF 2021 SPECIAL POSTAL BALLOT OF NGALAWI HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE LIMITED On the 19th May 2021, Ngalawi Housing Co-operative Limited submitted a Special Postal Ballot to the co-operative’s members proposing the following special resolutions; approve the Co-operative’s conversion from a co-operative with share capital to without share capital by appropriate amendment of the co-operative’s rules, approve the cancellation of any distributed shares and the proceeds of such cancellation to form part of the capital of the co-operative and adopt a new rule book.
The gender equal representation policy responds to a council general manager recruitment panel which last year passed with three male councillors and a follow up suggestion of a female consultant. Greens Councillor Marghanita Da Cruz said, “the fact that (council has) eight women and seven men and we ended up with a panel with three men on it was the problem.” “It’s actually a cultural shift we need, we don’t need to write more laws and more policies, we actually need a change in how people behave and respect and participate in the process.” The gender equity strategy is accepting public consultation until June 10. Members of the LGBT+ community are encouraged to provide feedback.
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“I can see them saying ‘I don’t want committees larger than five’, (to) try and keep the panel small just to try and keep trans people out.”
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We [...] need a change in how people behave and respect and participate in the process
Where there is an odd number of vacancies available and diversity cannot be achieved, council will promote diversity by appointing more women than men.
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New cycle link between Petersham and Newtown
Balmain nurses walk out over staffing ratios BY ALLISON HORE urses from Balmain Hospital rallied on Thursday afternoon to draw attention to their concerns about nurse-to-patient ratios in NSW hospitals.
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The rally was part of a broader campaign by the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), who are calling on the NSW government to introduce a mandated minimum nurse-to-patient ratio.
Inner West Councillor Anna York and Mayor Darcy Byrne pose on the new cycleway. Photo: Supplied
BY ALLISON HORE Albermarle Street and Eliza Street. missing link Sydney’s bicycle It includes a mix of dedicated binetwork has now been filled in directional cycleways, off road shared following the completion of a paths and on-road sections mixed with new-and-improved cycleway linking traffic. Petersham Station and King Street in Newtown. HELPING THE BIKE-CURIOUS The bike corridor is part of a larger The improved cycle route will not only planned cycleway known as “Regional serve those who already ride along the Route 7” which links the Inner West with route, Council hopes it will also give Sydney’s CBD. The route was identified people interested in riding, but not yet as a priority by the state government doing so, the peace of mind to get into last year, as a way to reduce crowds on the seat. public transport following the COVID-19 Data shows, in areas where dedicated pandemic. bicycle routes are constructed the The project is funded number of cyclists This new cycleway increases significantly. as part of the NSW Government’s cycleway In the first year since is providing an program which aims to the construction of the important link in “ensure walking and Carrington Road cycleway our bike networks in Marrickville there cycling are the most convenient option for has been a 50 percent short trips to key destinations.” increase in the number of riders. “The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted Bowden Street in Alexandria saw a 250 the vital role our public spaces and the percent increase over five years, and green links that connect them play in George Street in Redfern has seen a bolstering both our wellbeing and our massive 400 percent increase since a local businesses,” Planning Minister protected bike path was installed. Rob Stokes said. Mayor Byrne hopes more people riding “We will continue to support councils to will help alleviate traffic congestion, an issue which has been repeatedly deliver attractive, usable public spaces flagged in the Council’s Community for their communities to enjoy now and Satisfaction Surveys. once this crisis is behind us.” “Managing traffic congestion was Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne, named as one of the top three celebrated the completion of the cycleway. challenges facing our local government area in the next ten years,” he said. “This new cycleway is providing an important link in our bike networks “Getting more people out riding their bikes safely and easily will go a very that connect significant destinations long way to achieving that goal for our between train stations, schools, parks community.” and libraries,” he said. The next section of the bicycle link The 3.8 kilometre link starts at which will connect Lewisham to Petersham Station and runs along Petersham is set to be completed Crystal Street, York Crescent, Gordon by December this year, weather Crescent, Douglas Street, Railway Avenue, Trade Street, Baltic Street, permitting.
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A study published in The Lancet showed a policy introducing minimum nurseto-patient staffing ratios Queensland hospitals has “saved lives, prevented readmissions, shortened hospital stays, and reduced costs.” The policy, introduced in 2016, limited the average number of patients per nurse to four. The NSWNMA is hoping to see a similar policy introduced in NSW. Organiser Mark
for NSW Health for 12 years. He said appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios at Balmain Hospital would be a way of giving back to the oldest members of the Inner West community, who the hospital serves. But he said it has been difficult to convince the government to make the change. “If someone asked me what’s the pros of being a nurse? I’d say it’s the patients. What’s the cons? It’s dealing with the bloody government,” he said.
SUPPORT FROM PARLIAMENT, COUNCIL
Speaking at the rally on Thursday, Greens member for Balmain, Jamie Parker, said he is “committed to seeing ratios implemented.” He said he would take the campaign calls up with his colleagues in the NSW parliament, and to work with the opposition and other minor parties to “press the government to make real change.”
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) representatives rally outside Balmain hospital. Photo: Supplied/Rayan Calimlim
Murphy said not having a mandated minimum ratio in NSW hospitals puts patients at risk and leaves hospitals out of pocket.
“When you look at the support that’s been given in healthcare, nurses and midwives are the ones that are being left behind,” said Mr. Parker.
It’s not just a moral issue, there’s a patient safety issue at stake
“It’s not just a moral issue, there’s a patient safety issue at stake.”
“Our members are constantly telling us they’re showing up to work to find their shift is short-staffed, or they’re being hammered with requests to stay back and do overtime,” said Mr. Murphy. “The NSW government has the power to fix this. They can improve patient care immediately by implementing shift-byshift ratios here in NSW.” Paul Addy, a delegate of the NSWNMA for Balmain Hospital, has been working
Inner West mayor, Darcy Byrne also spoke at the rally. He said the rhetoric around frontline workers and the importance of nurses has not been matched with action from the government. “Every single citizen of NSW has one of those stories, about how nurses have been there at their time of crisis when they really depended on them,” he said. “It’s a very basic request to have safe ratios, you’re not even asking for anything for yourselves. You’re asking to make sure that the patients you look after are properly cared for and are safe.”
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Barbara McGrady: The First Nations photojournalist BY MIKALA THEOCHAROUS he McDonald Jones stadium in Broadmeadow NSW, is full of fans. Greg Inglis stands in the middle of the field above the scrum, preparing to lead the traditional war cry before the Indigenous All Stars game. In the middle of it all is 67-yearold Barb McGrady, camera in hand. A murmur erupts from the crowd in anticipation, and suddenly she sees it: the perfect shot. Four years later, at 10:50 am on a Thursday, Badde Manors café in Glebe is bustling. The traffic outside and the clanking of the coffee machine make it hard to hear the softly spoken, 71 year-old Barbra McGrady speaking, her quiet and reserved nature belies her powerhouse career that has seen fearlessness documenting the action. “I got into photography… I was about 15. My mother bought me a camera. And she bought me a set of encyclopedias, which was unusual for an Aboriginal family,” she tells me. “So I was always curious about the world, about black people around the globe… I started photographing my community, people around me, the landscape. It just went from there.” Barb (as she’s called by friends and family) is a proud Gomeroi / Murri / Yinah woman, and an award-winning photojournalist. She is the first-ever Indigenous female photojournalist. With no formal training, it’s clear that McGrady has a natural eye for photography. Her work honours legendary First-Nations sportspeople, as well as activists from her community.
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Role model doesn’t even encompass how much of an impact she’s had on me “I felt as though my people were invisible. We weren’t seen, we weren’t heard. I saw all of these amazing black people in Time and Life magazine, and I thought where are we? Where do we fit into all of this?” Our conversation turned to the controversial interpretations of Australia’s past with First-Nations people, and the stereotypes that came with those. McGrady spoke confidently, but quietly. Taking time between each word to catch her breath. “(In society’s eyes) there were no positive Aboriginal sports people, it was all negative and stereotyped… My biggest accomplishment is that I did
Barbra McGrady in Badde Manors in Glebe. Photo: Mikala Theocharous
Barbara McGrady at Mardi Gras 2013. Photo: Supplied
well as the industry, she still faces racism every day. Close friend and photojournalist Lisa Hogben asked me if Barb had told me the ‘Event story”, she had not. “Oh for f*cks sake. Excuse the French, I’ve never been more infuriated in my whole life.” There is a specific government campaign that is dedicated to helping indigenous people. They have helped shape government policy around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and they also host an annual yearly. Hogben had gone along with McGrady to the event as her assistant. “We ended up finding the event organiser and we walked up to him. He immediately started addressing me, a white woman, instead of Barbara, and acting like she was my assistant,” Hogben explained. “This was the head of the organisation, and he was ignoring her. I’ve never felt worse, there was my sister standing next to me and he’s disrespecting her at her gig.” Afterwards, I expressed my anger to Barb. All she said was ‘what did you expect?’”
A FRIENDSHIP BEYOND WORDS
A photo by Barbara McGrady in 2021 “How to be non-chalet (and look deadly)” Redfern Park. Photo: Barbara McGrady
what I set out to do. To put our story out there in the public domain. To counter all the negative stereotypes about who we are as people, our history, our culture.”
RECOGNITION FOR HER WORK
Over the years, McGrady has curated a long list of prestigious awards including the National Indigenous Human Rights Anthony Mundine Courage Award - for social documentary photography, as well as her International Solid Screen Award for Indigenous Women in Photo Media documentation. While drawing international recognition for her work, she still manages to stay humble. “I’ve never seen it as a job, I see art everywhere… (so) that was a huge honour for me to receive that award for indigenous women, cause I’ve seen the amazing women who won it before me… was I really on their level?”
With her work being featured in publications like The Telegraph and The Guardian, as well as being honoured in the 2020 Biennale of Sydney, it’s obvious that McGrady’s work has showcased Indigenous people in a way that has never been done before. She calls it “seeing the world through my black lens.”
ACTIVISM THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY McGrady’s work within her community is truly making a difference.
She’s made such an impact on the Aboriginal community that the NCIE held an exhibition of her work titled ‘because of her we can’, an exhibition that McGrady says left her in tears as it was a “once in a lifetime compliment. Although McGrady is a groundbreaking photojournalist, activist, and inspiration to her community, as
Hogben was very passionate when talking to me about McGrady. It’s evident that the friendship she has with McGrady is extremely special to Hogben, in a way that’s hard to express with words. “Role model doesn’t even encompass how much of an impact she’s had on me, and on black people… she’s taught me about life, and how to look at life more than anyone else.” I very quickly realised how special Barbara is to the people around her, which is what made talking about her Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) so hard for all of them, including Mcgrady. The Disease causes obstructed airflow to the lungs and comes with some nasty side-effects like bronchitis and Emphysema. “My illness engulfs me. It’s all consuming… It’s like I’ve got these two big balloons inside my lungs. The pressure and the pain is unbearable sometimes.” With the help of her cousin and a wheelchair, she photographed Mardi Gras this year despite her illness restricting her. She also gets around Glebe taking photos on her mobility scooter, which is just another example of her unmatched work ethic. “I don’t fit in anywhere, I can’t. I’m just me.” INNER WEST INDEPENDENT JUNE 2021
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NEWS IN BRIEF FIRE INVESTIGATION BY ALLISON HORE teenager has been arrested following police investigations of a house fire on Darley Street in Newtown on Monday night. At about 1:00am on Monday the 24th of May, emergency services were called to the Darley Street home following reports of a house fire. The fire then spread through the roof cavities into adjoining houses and 15 residents in the row of terraces evacuated. It took fire crews nearly 7 hours to fully extinguish the intense blaze which caused significant damage to four
A Members of the ISMA Youth Council and guest speakers. Photo: Supplied
DIGITAL DILEMMA
BY ALLISON HORE ocial media is just a fact of life for children growing up in a digital generation. Despite this, young people are rarely engaged with in positive conversations about social media. But a new program which launched in the Inner West hopes to change this. The program was created by the International Social Media Association (ISMA) Youth Council, a group which represents social media users aged between 13 and 25. It aims to provide young people, their families and their teachers with the tools and
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frameworks to deal with social media issues “in the most positive way.” The program’s inaugural ‘Take Control’ event was held in Leichhardt this month. Ness Song, a member of the ISMA Youth Council, said the interactive nature of the workshops were a highlight.
houses on the street. Fortunately, all residents escaped without injury. “The whole building is damaged by smoke and heat, and 50 per cent of the building is severely damaged,” fire crews told NCA Newswire. Later on Monday, a 13-year-old boy was arrested at Lilyfield in relation to the case. He was taken to Newtown Police Station where he remains in custody. Investigations into the fire continue. NSW Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or www.nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
“It was great to have so many local parents and their children attend the event and hear from our expert speakers on the night,” she said. “We are looking forward to the next event in a few week’s time and hope to see this campaign roll out nationally in the months to come, to benefit families nationally.”
IPART approves Inner West council’s proposed minimum rates By ALLISON HORE n a decision which will leave many households out of pocket, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) have given the Inner West council’s proposed new rates structure the green light. Under the approved plan, rates across the whole Inner West Council area will be harmonised to at least $850 a year for residents and $820 per annum for businesses.
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Over 1000 respondents said that they didn’t support the proposed minimum residential rate The change comes as a result of legislative requirements for amalgamated councils, including the Inner West Council, to harmonise rates structures. Following the controversial council amalgamations in 2016, Inner West residents had been paying rates as laid out by the preamalgamation council area they fell in. For Ashfield residents, this meant a base rate of $727 a year per household. The former Lecihhardt and Marrickville local government areas had minimum annual household rates of $686 and $710 respectively. 16
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However, following IPART’s decision rates structures across the three preamalgamation council areas will be harmonised. Rates will be calculated in proportion to property valuations supplied by the NSW Valuer General, with a consistent minimum rate of $850 per household across the whole council area. According to the council’s calculations, on average, residents in the former Ashfield and Leichhardt council areas will see a decrease in the amount of cash forked out for rates, while those in Marrickville are likely to see an increase. In the 2020 to 2021 financial year, the average Marrickville homeowner is paying around $765. Under the harmonised scheme, that amount will increase to $908.
Those owning residential properties of lower than average value in the former Leichhardt local government area will also see their rates increase significantly from around $686 to the minimum rate of $850. Those in the area with properties of average or higher than average value will see an 8 percent decrease in rates.
COMMUNITY BACKLASH
The path to rates harmonisation has stirred disharmony in both the community and council, with some residents left wondering why they should have to pay more when the level of service received by council would not improve. Harmonising minimum rates will not change the total amount of income
council receives from rates overall, only the way that income burden is distributed among the population. When asked to provide feedback on the new structure over 1000 respondents said that they didn’t support the proposed minimum residential rate. Further, 75 percent of respondents didn’t support the new structure as a whole. Despite the community opposition to the new rates structure, IPART found the Inner West Council’s proposal to be reasonable and to have fairly considered the needs and concerns of residents, as well as their legislated obligation to harmonise rates by July 1. “We found that the council has carefully considered how best to ensure fairness and equity in levying and collecting MR across its community,” IPART said in their decision document. “We also found that the council applied the correct interest rates on overdue rates. We also note that the council has a hardship policy to assist eligible rate payers to help manage their bills.”
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) have given the Inner West council’s proposed new rates structure the green light. Photo: Wikimedia
But households whose rates are set to skyrocket shouldn’t worry just yet. Legislation passed in NSW Parliament this month will allow for an 8-year roll out of the harmonisation.
MARRICKVILLE TRANSFORMED Over 40 new stores, new dining and fresh food plus a new Coles opening at the newly expanded Marrickville Metro on June 10
BY JAMIE APPS nner West’s iconic Marrickville Metro has received a fresh new face lift and from June 10 the doors will open. As part of a multi million dollar redevelopment, the centre will open to an abundance of delightful dining offers, fabulous new retail stores and a dedicated fresh food precinct with a Coles. Marrickville Metro is getting ready to welcome locals and Sydneysiders to the newly expanded centre across the road on Smidmore Street with a five-day extravaganza including mouthwatering food, drinks, culture, art and music. Slated to be the newest lifestyle destination to hit Sydney, Marrickville Metro will run five days of launch activity to ignite all the senses. Opening on Thursday 10 June and running until Monday 14 June, Marrickville Metro will run a variety of free events and activations for all ages to enjoy.
blend the concept of a traditional barbershop with modern day techniques and craftsmanship. Finally, the independently owned Liquor Emporium will have over 500 craft beers, organic and natural wines and non-alcoholic wines available in their new store at Marrickville Metro. It won’t just be permanent spaces available though. Pop-up spaces for casual leasing will also be available for smaller start-ups in order to encourage greater diversity and opportunity for the local community to contribute to the development of the Marrickville Metro community spirit.
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FOOD & DINING
The new food offering at Marrickville Metro will add to the rich foodie culture of the Inner West. As of June 10, over 10 restaurateurs and cafes will bring a mix of family-run businesses and nationally recognised concepts to the close-knit Inner West community. Some of the new, and most exciting, locals to join the community are; • Jacqueline Tran & Cecilia Wang from Rice Pantry: Expanding its menu beyond Vietnamese for its newest venture, Rice Pantry is set to become the grounds for a modern Asian diner and bar. With Head Chef, Bryan Zhu (a favourite former MasterChef Australia contestant) on board, the team will showcase bold, delicious and distinctive flavours of Asian cuisine in a fun, creative and unexpected way. • Fernando Riggio from The Grumpy Italian: Fernando has been filling his customers hearts and stomachs with crazy stories, delicious food and plenty of Italian attitude in his venues in Chiswick and North Strathfield. He is excited to get to know the Inner West community as he serves up all the carb-filled deliciousness we love with traditional pasta, pizza and house-made desserts. • Jorge from Raman: A new concept developed especially for the new Marrickville Metro, Raman will take
Rice Pantry. Photo: Scott Heldorf
traditional middle eastern cuisine and inject a modern flair to their all-day dining menus. • Jay from Firestone: Known for their premium wagyu steaks served on heated hot stone, Firestone will be treating Marrickville locals with all day dining in a colourful and casual atmosphere.
NEW STORES
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Marrickville Metro has partnered with Inner West Council to engage an amazing array of artists. The new site will be accentuated with some of the most incredible local artworks to add that final eclectic look and feel to the experience. The Marrickville Metro team has worked with amazing local artists to ensure that the new space reflects the artistic, creative and diverse community that is its home.
Within the halls of the new Marrickville Metro, visitors to the centre will find stores offering a range of lifestyle, fitness, beauty and convenience products and services. Some of these will include businesses such as the unique art and design store Hypmotive, who will establish their second store in Marrickville. Alongside Hypmotive, you will also find 24-hour gymnasium BODYFIT Marrickville Platinum, pet care and grooming company, Palms & Paws, and Barber Industries, who
Georgia Hill. Photo: Scott Heldorf
Hypmotive Hub. Photo: Scott Heldorf
Large-scale artworks by Georgia Hill, Liz Shreeve and Fintan Magee were installed earlier this year. Bespoke artworks will bring new life to the amenities and features with travelator art, furniture art, parents’ room art and quirky amenity signage. The local art programme not only adds beauty and interest to the development but also provides support to the talented local creative industry in what has been a difficult year.
DESIGN
The key vision for the new Marrickville Metro was to create an Inner West hub for all things retail, food and drinks, arts and culture. By the end of 2021 the area’s population is predicted to reach around 437,000. As the Inner West booms, Marrickville Metro offers a new space to help meet the growing demands of the local community. As Marrickville Metro Centre Manager Dean Young said, “Our vision for this development has been to create an inclusive space that adds convenience and lifestyle opportunities for those who live within our local community. We’re not only upgrading the size of the centre to meet demand; we’re also working to integrate features that really complement and enhance the unique Inner West culture and the Marrickville way of living. Our new retailers have completely embraced this culture and as a result we have some exciting new-to-market concepts delivered by some of Sydney’s muchloved operators.” In keeping with the aesthetic of the local community, the new development has incorporated a previously unutilised industrial warehouse, within the design. By retaining the existing external facade of the warehouse the new Marrickville Metro maintains the integrity of the area’s local heritage, drawing on the rich culture of the urban village community and providing an architectural vision for the future. Previously the centre occupied 22,000 square metres but this development will add a further 11,000 square metres. Included in this development is the addition of a full-service Coles to complete the current Woolworths and Aldi stores. Hames Sharly Architects have also ensured that there will be ample pedestrian access, with the inclusion of a pedestrian bridge connecting the existing and new developments. For those wishing to drive to Marrickville Metro, don’t worry because the new development also includes 455 new parking spaces. Perhaps best off all the new Marrickville Metro will create 600 new jobs for the Inner West community. So get out, discover, play and refuel on delicious bites, shop again and dine into the late evening, all at the new Marrickville Metro from 10 June.
Marrickville Metro, 20 Smidmore St, Marrickville. www.marrickvillemetro.com.au INNER WEST INDEPENDENT JUNE 2021
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COFFIN ED’S NAKED CITY
THE GRUMPY GUIDE TO THE GREAT COVID CLEAN UP WITH COFFIN ED uring the worst of the lockdowns last year we learnt to live without many of the activities that we have always taken for granted, like hanging out at the local pub, taking in a new movie at the cinema or spending a whole afternoon at the beach. These were generally viewed as minor sacrifices when it came to the overall ravages of COVID, both health wise and the damage done to a multitude of small businesses. Nevertheless we have seen numerous aspects of our everyday life, like international travel, that may not return until well into next year. Perhaps in this state of flux and day to day uncertainty it’s an appropriate time to draw up a list of activities, cultural offerings and previously well accepted conventions that we never want to see again. Yes folks, it’s time for the Great COVID Clean Up, when we wave goodbye to everything that no longer resonates in both our hearts and brains in 2021. Here’s just a shortlist of suggestions: THE OLYMPIC GAMES: 80% of the Japanese people don’t want the Games to go ahead, for obvious reasons, but is it time to finally call out the Olympics for they really are? The world’s wealthiest countries flexing their economic muscle in an insatiable grab for gold and political prestige. Somehow we are supposed to disregard the massive human rights abuses of many of these major players, all in the name of sport. If we can’t get rid of the Games altogether, at least ditch synchronised swimming and skateboarding.
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THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: How Australia ever wormed their way into this annual orgy of horrible songs, mediocre singers and blinding pyrotechnic lighting still beggars belief. This year we joined Ireland, Croatia, North Macedonia, Romania and Slovenia to be knocked out in the first semi final and how embarrassing is that! Surely it’s time to remind the Eurovision bosses that we are not part of Europe and request that we be gracefully booted out. COUNCIL COMPLIANCE: Heavy handed council compliance has long been the bane of local music venues and anybody wanting to paint their house in anything other than heritage colours. Ironically during the worst of COVID last year many councils chose to relax their draconian rule book by encouraging
restaurants to include outdoor dining on the footpath and live entertainment where it was previously disallowed. Let’s say goodbye to the worst of compliance and introduce a new paradigm of laissez faire where noise complaints fall on deaf ears and inner city terraces are painted with purple polka dots. THE TRASH TV USED BY DATE: The Australian Communications and Media Authority should be empowered to issue ‘used by’ dates for most of the current crop of TV reality cooking and quiz shows. In the interests of good quality television, an independent panel should be appointed, to annually purge the medium of garbage like Big Brother, Farmer Wants A Wife, The Weakest Link, Celebrity Apprentice Australia, MasterChef and Married At First Sight. Then again I would have no problem if one of the networks chose to run old episodes of the Jerry Springer Show. Who doesn’t love a good old school food fight? AND FINALLY – YOUR OWN CURBSIDE CLEAN UP: There’s nothing more spiritually cleansing than to go through your material possessions and then dump what you really don’t need on the curbside for your next council clean up. Think of anything you accumulated during the worst of the COVID period, or anything that no longer holds relevance and consign it to your nature strip. Top of your list might be any of the Pete Evans cookbooks, his or hers snuggies, a one thousand piece jigsaw, a potty putter, a suitcase record player, a Donald Trump toilet brush or any home gymnasium rubbish. The possibilities are endless!
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Feasting on fabulous food & wine BY JAMIE APPS he best dining experiences come when the combination of food, wine, cocktails and atmosphere work in harmony together. Luckily for Sydneysiders the outstanding new venue, Beckett’s in Glebe has made this a core tenet of their philosophy. Founded by renowned theatre director Wendy Beckett and veteran chef Jeff Schroeter Beckett’s is a must-visit for locals and food-lovers alike. Set within the hallowed walls of the old Darling Mills site on Glebe Point Road Beckett’s is a loving homage to the opulence of mid-century Parisian and New York bars and bistros. The stunning sandstone edifice delivers a uniquely Sydney experience. Co-owner Wendy Beckett is a lauded member of Sydney’s theatre community. She has written more than 25 plays and directed over 40 more. Her most recent play Claudel just completed its run at the Sydney Opera House to critical acclaim. Given Wendy Beckett’s history in theatre, it’s no wonder Beckett’s entertains the pre-theatre crowd. To present her greatest production to date, Beckett’s restaurant, Wendy enlisted the help of a long-time friend, seasoned chef Jeff Schroeter. Schroeter has more than 30 years of experience under his chef’s hat and has worked all around the globe. Beginning in Brisbane Schroeter’s career has taken him to Sydney, London, Switzerland, and Manhattan. He comes from an internationallytrained canon of chefs Sydney rarely gets access to. Schroeter cut his teeth at the Savoy Hotel (London) before moving to Philippe Stark’s designed Royalton Hotel where he worked alongside cheffing legend Geoffrey Zakarian in Restaurant 44 (New York). Ultimately, he returned home to launch and reinvigorate some of Sydney’s most innovative restaurants over the last two decades, including Bayswater Brasserie and Bistro Moncur. With his vast experience, Schroeter has led culinary trends. His talent is to curate opulent menus at affordable prices, something which he has again done on Beckett’s menu. Finally to provide customers with the ultimate food and drinks experience
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Photo: David Li Photography
Wendy and Jeff sought help from two key individuals. They invited awardwinning bartender Charlie Ainsbury and sommelier Sasha Siljanovic to curate the cocktail and wine lists respectively. Jeff and Charlie worked together at Sydney’s iconic Bayswater Brasserie amid Rushcutter’s Bay’s heyday. Jeff knew Charlie would create and curate something special for Beckett’s cocktail and drinks list. “Charlie and I go back a long way,” Jeff explained. “He taught me how to drink properly. I thought I knew but he showed me the quality and finesse in drinks that I didn’t appreciate. So I’ve always loved Charlie and what he can do with cocktails while he’s always loved what I do with food.” When speaking with Charlie he told the Inner West Independent how he set about curating the cocktail menu with a clear vision in mind. “There is a specific atmosphere that Beckett’s emanates, so I was taking inspiration from the interiors and concept of the venue,” said Charlie.
“With Beckett’s olive velvet curtains and live jazz there is that feeling of old-world glamour, so martinis were a no-brainer.” Charlie even developed a cocktail in Jeff’s honour called the Chef’s Martini. It’s a riff on a classic that’s been given a modern twist, which Charlie says is just like Jeff. Charlie’s uses Widges gin, Mancino Secco vermouth and olive brine. Jeff was also inspired by the spectacular and unique atmosphere of the room. “The venue is so unique and it caught me by surprise on opening night,” explained Schroeter. “The room dressed itself up a bit more than I had anticipated. So I actually had to change the menu completely and zhuzh it up a little more to suit the room after the first night.” Jeff now proudly has a menu he describes as “casual elegance.” Wine was the final element needed to complete Beckett’s experience. So in stepped sommelier Sasha Siljanovic with his curated list of over 120 wines.
When asked how the current wine list came to be Sasha revealed that it has actually been evolving rapidly. “The wine list started in one place but has moved quite organically into a very different place. We now have a lot more international and obscure wines, while still having a lot of classics on there as well.” As customers explore their own wine palates, Sasha tailors Beckett’s wine list. “I’ve got this nice little connection with the customers and they are moving me in different directions,” Sasha explained. “I’m finding that each week they are trying something new, so in the last two months we’ve probably changed about 40 wines. It’s going to continue to be this lovely ever-changing process where I see us being in a totally different place again in about two months.” With such an extensive wine list Sasha says he has to keep an open mind when selecting the perfect wine for each customer. “Every time I approach a table I’m walking over thinking there are 150 options for you. Then as we speak it whittles down to one or two.” Ultimately, for Sasha, it all comes down to having an “accessible wine list that isn’t pretentious.” “It’s all about making wine accessible. Sometimes wine lists can price you out of buying a bottle so instead, you have a couple of glasses. But at Beckett’s, we’re saying ‘come here and we’ll set you up with a bottle of wine you’ve helped us pick for you - so we know you’ll love it.’ On that front Sasha and Beckett’s have a great offer in place. “We struck up an amazing deal with Gosset Champagne, one of the oldest champagne houses in France, so we can do their champagne for $19 per glass. A full pour of Champagne for under $20 per glass in Sydney is pretty unheard of!” Beckett’s is open from 5pm Wednesday to Sunday for a glass of Champagne or a meal with a group of friends. With a piano player tinkling the ivories (Wednesday to Saturday), the mood is set to enjoy the delicious food, moreish wine, perfect cocktails and lively atmosphere. Beckett’s really is a work of harmony. INNER WEST INDEPENDENT JUNE 2021
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IndieARTS REVIEW
ALEX LYKOS - JAWBONE
BY IRINA DUNN f Greek origins, Alex Lykos writes and performs in Jawbone at the Factory Theatre, the 12th stage production he has been involved in as an writer/actor/ director. He was creator of the trilogy Alex & Eve, Alex & Eve: The Wedding and Alex & Eve: The Baby, and adapted Alex & Eve for the big screen, which premiered across Australia in 2015 and grossed nearly $1 million. It also played at the Cannes Antipodean Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the LAGFF before getting a theatrical release in the US. He played Alex in all the theatrical productions. “I spent the first half of my life playing tennis. Studied in the US whilst on a tennis scholarship. And stupidly, or ignorantly, I started a life in the arts at 30,” he says. “After playing tennis for so
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BY IRINA DUNN or those of you who have never seen the architectural treasure that is the repurposed 1868 church now operating as the 76-year-old Genesian Theatre – for 65 years at 420 Kent Street – now is the time to take the opportunity. Martin Sherman has adapted for the stage E.M. Forster’s classic novel set in early 20th century British Raj, and has captured the essence of class and racial confusions, sometimes very funny, at others excruciatingly awkward misunderstandings. Englishwoman Adela Quested (Christiane New) travels to India to meet her intended fiancé, local Chandrapoormagistrate Ronny Heaslop (Simon Lee) and, when there, to discover the “real” India for herself. Dr Aziz Ahmed (Atharv Kolhatkar), a Muslim physician offers to take the group, including Adela and Heaslop’s mother Mrs Moore (Susan Jordan), on a tour of the Marabar Caves, which produce violent reactions in both Mrs Moore and in Adela. The expedition results in a disastrous failure. Forster’s novel naturally conveys so much more than what could possibly be portrayed in 90 minutes on the stage, but Sherman has done a creditable job of portraying the cultural misunderstandings between the stuffy British and the excitable Indians. Read the book first, is my advice! It’s a memorable novel. Until Jun 19, Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent St, Sydney. $30-$35+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.genesiantheatre.com.au
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long, I came home and was a little lost. I would spend my days writing captions for the 400 photos I had taken whilst in the US. And I found I enjoyed it and started writing from that point.” His feature Me & My Left Brain was released in 2019. Jawbone is about “how society defines the modern successful man and in this current climate attempts to deconstruct many myths about the strong indestructible male”. Alex wants “the audience to laugh but to also be affected by the story’s protagonist. And if the story can stimulate some discussion around the serious themes that are being examined, then that would be a bonus.” Jun 3-13. Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville. $15-$20.50+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.factorytheatre.com.au
BY IRINA DUNN ndigenous performer Elaine Crombie has to live over the trauma of the Stolen Generations time and again in The 7 Stages Of Grieving, written by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman, and directed by Sharri Sebbens. Crombie was robbed of her Indigenous heritage when her mother was stolen from her parents. “I have no living culture that I can practise or pass down to my sons, whom I call ‘the Giants’. I have no language I can teach my children.” Crombie’s mother introduced her daughter to the world of theatre
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when Elaine was very young. “We used to do little play readings and perform all the drama games, and get dressed up,” she says. Crombie’s mother was herself an actress, Lilian Crombie, who has featured in Ivan Sen’s Mystery Road and Baz Luhrmann’s Australia, among other films and plays. Crombie was thrilled when she received the Helpmann Award for Barbara And The Camp Dogs. “It was nice to be acknowledged for that show in particular, which is about loss and grief and family connection, and it’s about playing out our trauma on stage.”
Crombie plays the guitar and trombone, and started writing her own songs from the age of 16. Soon she hopes to produce an acoustic version of her songs for CD. Of her current role, she says, “It’s a bitter-sweet realisation that I’m really good at my job and really good at putting myself through the paces of grief every night while I’m playing in The 7 Stages Of Grieving.” Until Jun 19. Wharf 1 Theatre, 15 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay. $44-$60+b.f. www.sydneytheatre.com.au
Elaine Crombie. Photo: Rene Vaile
ELAINE CROMBIE & THE 7 STAGES OF GRIEVING
Photo: Craig O’Regan
A PASSAGE TO INDIA
IndieARTS
SPIKE HEELS BY IRINA DUNN urkish born film, TV and theatre director Serhat Caradee jumped at the opportunity to direct Spike Heels, written by Theresa Rebeck. He says, “it is a hilarious and witty play about four people and their struggles with love, lust and infideli-ty. With strong themes about the abuse of power in the workplace.” He started in the industry as an actor,
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studying performing arts, drama and theatre. “Before I made any short films I actually produced and directed plays. Then once I got into AFTRS the technical skills I learnt there coupled with my acting background really helped me tell stories and work a lot better with scripts and actors.” How is working on the stage different to working for the screen?
“The biggest difference between the two mediums is that on stage the audience can choose where to look. On film the director controls where you look and what you see, mainly through editing. When it comes to acting it’s the same. It’s just that on stage you need to project your voice a lot more, so this may make your performance bigger (unfortunately). With film you have radio microphones and boom microphones.” And what are audiences likely to take away from the production?
“Even though the play was set 30 years ago, the audience will understand that the themes and issues of the play are still relevant and timely. As a comedy, the story makes it accessible to all people and audiences will genuinely be entertained and have a fun night out.” Until May 29. Fringe HQ Newtown, 5 Eliza St, Newtown. $25-$35+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneyfringe.com
UNITING INDEPENDENT LIVING - PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
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etirement often gives people more time to pursue their passions and hobbies and with a little bit of preparation and planning you can ensure you have your affairs in order, allowing you to sit back and enjoy doing the things you love. Some top tips for planning ahead for your retirement: • Ask yourself if your current home is suitable for now and into the future. Consider rightsizing into a retirement village to minimise your home and garden maintenance as Carmen, a Uniting Independent Living Resident explains, “Moving to a retirement village was one of the best decisions we’ve made. We have more time to focus on the things we enjoy.” • Seek advice from a financial adviser to determine the various
options available to you and minimise the stress of navigating a system that can often be complex. A financial planner who specialises in the aged pension and superannuation can help to ensure you’re getting the maximum benefits and assist you with planning for the retirement you envision. • Understand your care needs and what you may be eligible for already, Commonwealth Support Programs are an option for those who may need assistance to remain living independently. If you’re interested in rightsizing, book a tour of a Uniting retirement village near you to discover if it’s the next step in your journey. Call 1800 864 846 or visit www.uniting.org/villages INNER WEST INDEPENDENT JUNE 2021
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IndieARTS
JAMES REYNE
CELEBRATES 41 YEARS OF THE BOYS LIGHT UP BY JAMIE APPS ou might think it’s a little strange to be celebrating a 41st anniversary with such an extensive tour, but for James Reyne this tour is extra special. Last year Reyne had planned to tour around the country in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the iconic album The Boys Light Up, but as we all know a pesky sickness got in the way of all of that. Speaking to the Inner West Independent as he now arrives in Sydney though Reyne says “we’ve got a lot to make up for!” “To be really honest I didn’t even realise it was coming up,” Reyne confessed when asked about his feelings surrounding the anniversary. “It was only
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2019 that Scott Crawford, who manages me, reminded me by that 2020 would mark 40 years since the album was released. So we figured we should at least mark it and booked a tour.” Sadly COVID intervened, like it did for a lot of turns and artists, and prevented the tour from going ahead. For Reyne the impact of COVID on Australia as whole was “concerning” particularly in regards to people being unable to work. However, it did bolster his determination to celebrate the record as soon as it was safe to do so. Hence the 41st anniversary tour came to be. When asked why he felt this particular record and singe had such longevity Reyne said, “I think it was just in the
ether a lot, so it got stuck in people’s subconscious.” Over the past 41 years since the release of The Boys Light Up the way music is delivered to us has be revolutionised. So we had to ask Reyne what he thinks this means for the industry and whether songs will stick with people like The Boys Light Up has.
“I think that the way music is delivered now with streaming services means that tend to gravitate towards one particular song rather than buying a whole album. I certainly do that now, when I think ‘oh I like that song’ I go and download that individual track. Whereas when I was a teenage you had to go out and buy the whole album whenever your favourite band released a new one... Ultimately though, every age, every era, and every generation has it’s own songs.” Returning to chatting about the tour Reyne explained why they had chosen to plan such an extensive run of dates and locations. “As I said, we’ve got to make up for a lot of shows that got canceled or postponed last year... We’ve made sure that there are a lot of shows so that we can get to all of the places that we want to get to.” When asked what fans can expect form these shows Reyne answered by saying: “It will be a really good cross section of Australian Crawl stuff and my solo stuff. It will be a really good hour and half show. Everyone is going to know the songs. It’s just a good show with a great band playing all of the stuff that you hopefully know and love.” Jun 6 & Nov 27. Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown. $65-$75+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.enmoretheatre.com.au
GRINDING EYES - TASTE THE MONOCHROME BY JAMIE APPS ydney based psych-rockers Grinding Eyes are back with their second album, Taste The Monochrome. With this new record the trio slip into the sinister darkness of psych-rock in order to take listeners on a spun-out journey. Throughout the 11 track offering the Sydneysiders explore themes of of love, loss, isolation, despair and time travel, set to an ominous soundtrack of psych-rock and shoegaze bound
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together with luscious atmospherics. As the listener slowly but surely succumbs to the trance inducing sound of Grinding Eyes they will always have a safety rope guiding them home. That rope being the trio’s always captivating melodic elements. Sonically Taste The Monochrome is far from limited. Whilst it may lull you into a trance it is one you will embrace wilfully WW1/2
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GERMAN FILM FESTIVAL 2021 BY MARK MORELLINI ilm festival enthusiasts should be delighted to learn that even though COVID-19 has disrupted film production in Germany, there are still 30 titles (27 of which are Australian premieres) that will screen at this year’s German Film Festival. Opening night attendees can expect a small 30-minute reception with a glass of wine, German delicacies and atmospheric music followed by the international premiere screening of Next Door, a black comedy that should leave audiences questioning how much their neighbours really know about them. A film that should garner much interest is The Audition. “This film revolves around the complicated world of violent teacher Anna, played by the impeccable Nina Hoss, who becomes obsessed with the progress of one of her students,” explained festival curator Bettina Kinski. “It’s a multi-layered film which deals with a woman trapped in the pursuit of success.”
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Kino For Kids is a family-friendly program consisting of six films especially dedicated to children and teenagers. Too Far Away deals with an 11-year-old boy who moves to the city with his family and struggles to fit in at his new school. To make things worse a Syrian refugee out-performs him in class and on the football field. Children who enjoy a real mystery should attend Max & The Wild Bunch. Max enjoys living in a castle, but there’s something mysterious going on at night while his mother’s at work. Kinski is adamant that non-German speaking audiences should attend this festival. “The idea of a festival is to bring people together, to experience something and laugh together especially important after last year where people were all separated owing to COVID-19. A language specific film festival is also a beautiful and fun way to learn about a country’s culture.”
SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW
BY JAMIE APPS elmed by Chris Rock Spiral: From The Book Of Saw is the ninth iteration in the Saw film series and looks to act as a soft reboot/offshoot of the franchise. At the core of the film’s story is Detective Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Banks (Chris Rock) as he tracks, and attempts to apprehend, a Jigsaw copycat murderer targeting fellow detectives. Banks appears to be the only riotous police officer on the force in Spiral as we come to learn that the Jigsaw copycat
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is targeting corrupt police officers in a veiled attempt at reforming the system. In regards to the traps/games employed in Spiral these are much more akin to the original films than we have seen in some of the more recent reboots. Rather than huge over complicated traps these are smaller and more simplistic. The opening trap for example simply requires its victim to bit off their own tongue in order to escape. Each of the traps employed in Spiral appear survivable, but some with very dire consequences for doing so. We even get one moment which is a clear homage to the original Saw film. Lastly, the keys element of any great Saw film has forever been the shock twist. Sadly Spiral fails on this front, despite dropping many a red herring in order to throw the viewer off the scent. For the general publicity you go into this with low expectations you will enjoy the ride for what it is. Fans of the Saw series though will enjoy this film simply for the gore elements, many of which certainly had me squirming in my seat. Ultimately the story is thin and the social commentary is clumsy but it hits many of the elements you want in a Saw film. WW
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HOT PICKS Fabian: Going To The Dogs – An exhilarating epic set just before the rise of Nazism that deals with corruption and the moral decay of society. The festival’s centrepiece film. Berlin Alexanderplatz – An illegal immigrant from West Africa is washed up in Southern Europe and becomes involved in Berlin’s underworld. A
beautiful and poetic film. Closing night selection. How I Taught Myself To Be A Child – Quirky story of growing up in 1950s Vienna and centres around the son of an established Austrian dynasty of confectionery millionaire. Contains comedic and dramatic elements. A hidden gem.
Until Jun 20. Palace Central, Norton St & Chauvel. $19-$23+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.germanfilmfestival.com.au
DEATH OF A LADIES’ MAN
BY MARK MORELLINI ccasionally a cinematic oddity surfaces which leads audiences to ask, was this film actually enjoyable? The Canadian/Irish co-production Death Of A Ladies’ Man is quietly humorous, bizarre, and placid viewing, but unquestionably belongs in this category. Sam (Gabriel Byrne) has been an alcoholic womaniser most of his life when he suddenly commences having strange hallucinations such as waitresses with tiger’s heads, the city under fire from prehistoric flying creatures, and rugged ice hockey players suddenly becoming ice skating angels. What is going on? Is he ‘batshit crazy, crazier, or more fucked up than he previously thought?’ If only – he’s been diagnosed with an inoperable
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grade 4 brain tumour and only has 12 months to live. In the time he has left, Sam follows his dream of writing a novel – success follows, but what dire and unexpected consequences does this bring to the man who has finally made amends in his life? Original in execution, but it’s difficult to feel anything but numbness in the finale, owing to the lack of emotional connection audiences may experience towards this tragic character, brought upon by the fanciful hallucinations and dispensable musical numbers. Themes of love, loss, family relationships, and following that allimportant dream resonate, but the film ultimately underwhelms. WW1/2 INNER WEST INDEPENDENT JUNE 2021
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BRYAN ZHU, CHEF AT RICE PANTRY – OPENING JUNE 10!
more for marrickville Over 40 New Stores. New Dining. New Fresh Food and Coles! Open June 10. Find out more at marrickvillemetro.com.au
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