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Jean Stuart speaks on her life dedicated to community activism PAGE 1-2
BY ANNIE LEWIS or more than 20 years, one Pyrmont resident has staunchly campaigned on behalf of the community against planning and development proposals that have been “nonsense”. Jean Stuart is the convener of the Pyrmont Community Group, an organisation she helped start-up in 1991. “In 1993, we urban gorilla-ed a block of land on the headland and turned it into a green park, because there was no park in Pyrmont,” she said. “The Sydney Morning Herald always runs a competition every year for conservation, and in ’93 we won the
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award for a park in Pyrmont, creating the park. “On one weekend, 130 people descended on it and just created the park. They just did what they thought they would like, and everyone was allowed to bring the plants they liked and plant them. It was a great day.” Jean and her partner Allan began flipping properties while living in Victoria. “I’d renovate a house and then at the end of the year sell it, make a capital gain, buy a slightly better property and upgrade,” she said. “So my children were brought up in the rubble.” Then after attempting to live on a farm, Jean and her family moved to Sydney
and came across an old hotel which was “25 rooms of dereliction”. There wasn’t one room that didn’t need a new floor, or new windows and doors, and squatters lived in every room. “We had never been to Pyrmont and Allan, and I stopped outside this house, and I looked up, and I could see a tiny little sign, which said For Sale, it was only about half a meter wide,” Jean said. “There was a vacant lot beside it with a lot of covered shelters, and a guy was working in them, and I thought, “Oh my God, they must be growing marijuana here.” “So I went around, I said to him, ‘Do you know anything about this house?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I do, I’m a squatter, and I
live here. Do you want to see through?’ So I said, ‘Yes’.” Allan thought it was too much work, but Jean knew she wanted the property. After buying the property at auction, it took five years to restore. So then it took five years to restore, and Jean has lived there ever since. As a resident of the Pyrmont area, she has never been afraid to rally when needed. Her primary cause for concern has been surrounding issues of planning and development. “It can take 25 minutes to get from here, going down Point Street, turning into Pyrmont Bridge Road to get to the fish market, which is ridiculous when you can walk it in 15,” Jean said. Continued on page 2
CAMPAIGNING FOR PYRMONT
(Continued from the cover) “We can support larger-scale development and maintain the unique heritage nature of Pyrmont – it’s not an ‘either/or’ choice,” he said. “However, we must plan for the precinct strategically, rather than on a site-by-site basis, to ensure the long-term liveability and sustainability of the area.” In Jean’s mind, the plans do not take into account what the community has been saying for more than 18 years. She added that it also does not adequately account for social
infrastructure and would see Pyrmont lose its essence. Jean has one message that she urged her fellow residents in the area to take to heart. “People should remain alert, involved and write to their politicians,” she said. “The last thing we need in Pyrmont is the removal of the height restrictions. “We do not need to be an extension of the CBD. We are not geared for it. We need to be alert, so we don’t have that thrust upon us.”
Overlooking Johnston Bay in the 1990s. Photo: pyrmonthistory.net.au
“There’s no forethought, for the public moving. It’s very dense. Something like 26,000 people come every day to work in Pyrmont.” Jean said that over the years, the fabric of the area has changed. When she first moved in, it was mostly housing commission before being handed to council. “Pyrmont was always a working-class area … there were only 300 people or so living in the main area,” she said. “Now it is different.”
In late 2019, NSW Premier Gladys Berijiklian announced that Pyrmont and the Western Harbour precinct would be transformed into the next jobs hub and economic driver of Sydney. At the time, Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the NSW Government would immediately move to amend the planning controls with a focus on jobs and economic activity to better support proposals to develop the area.
Jean directs operations in the 1990s. Photo: pyrmonthistory.net.au
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CITY HUB 23 JULY 2020
PROTECTING PYRMONT
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE OF PYRMONT
Rob McCourt, principal of McCourts Law Firm. Photo: Ann-marie Calilhanna
BY ANNIE LEWIS fter nearly two decades of running a law firm in Pyrmont, one business owner is looking to the future more than the past and hopes to see the area flourish. Rob McCourt, principal of McCourts Law Firm, believes the suburb and surrounds has an incredible amount of potential. He rediscovered Pyrmont in 2002 by chance when he was looking for a new building to work in. “I had always been in the CBD with my practice, but my lease was up, and I was looking to move,” Rob said. “By chance, I came down to Pyrmont to look at some office space in the Nokia building, and I hadn’t been down the bottom of Harris Street in years. “It was a whole new world. At the time, I was amazed at how much it had changed. I had friends who worked for CSR when it had a refinery down here. It had changed quite a bit, to say the least.” Rob spotted a space at the bottom of a residential building, and while at first,
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he was hesitant about the location he realised it ticked a lot of boxes. So in 2002, he moved into Jacksons Landing at Pyrmont and has been operating his business out of there ever since. Rob said while the population has increased, apartment buildings have sprung up, and council has done a lot of work on Pirrama Park - in many ways Pyrmont has not changed. “In terms of other developments, I think it has been underdone,” he said. “I don’t necessarily see that the architectural landscape has not improved. You look at Harris Street, which if anything has gone downhill and is not living up to its potential.” Rob believes that suburbs that want to attract a mix of residents, businesses and even tourists need to have a developed “high street”. “To have a high street, you need to have businesses, an appearance and a streetscape that attracts people to wander up and down it,” he said. “At present one of the problems with Harris Street, that I believe, is that it
does not have a beginning and an end. “In other words, as you come down towards the water, there is not much to draw you down here.” Rob added whether it’s a high-end shopping strip or a restaurant hub, it needs to be defined as such and adequately planned. He said that Pyrmont had attracted small businesses in the past as available office spaces were often targeted towards them. “On the other hand we now have the Googles, the Foxes, the Channel 7s and the Star Casino,” Rob said. “There are some large corporations as well but whether the two intermix well, I am not so sure.” Pyrmont needs to work out what its future is before it can be defined, Rob said. “If we tear down everything and build high-rises, it will be defined by nothing but towers,” he said. “If we are going to try and create an integrated community, then it needs to have a lot more thought go into it.
“We need to keep what we have got in terms of the old buildings and upgrade them as much as possible. We need to create a mix between the old and the new.” In an ideal world, Rob said, Pyrmont could become what Brooklyn is to Manhattan rather than what North Sydney is to the CBD. “It’s got to be a good mix between working life and residential life, but that’s not always easy to do,” he said. “Pyrmont has the opportunity to be a fantastic place to live or work in the next 10 or 20 years, but we need to have a lot more connection between the local community and the working community. “They are talking about Pyrmont being a second CBD, and I think you have to ask ‘do we want to turn into North Sydney’ which I think is a fairly soulless place.” At the end of the day, life and character are crucial for Pyrmont to define what it is. “It has a lot of potential. It just needs to be planned and well thought out,” Rob said. CITY HUB 23 JULY 2020
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PROTECTING PYRMONT
END OF AN ERA
Sherryl Ryan, founder of Culture at Work. Photo: Ann-marie Calilhanna
BY ANNIE LEWIS
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ringing the arts, sciences, and a sense of community has been the passion of one Pyrmont resident for years. Sherryl Ryan, founder of Culture at Work, since 2008 has provided the suburb and surrounds with a gallery that focuses on bridging science and art. But, her history with the area started before that. “Many years ago I came here with other artists when there was nothing here,” she said. “You could see all of the ground was flattened and you could see the Terminus pub on the corner, and so we sat there, and we had a beer, and we were taking photographs of Pyrmont at that time. “We hopped on to the unopened ANZAC bridge which had no cars on it, and we took photographs there. We had an exhibition of that.” In 2000, Sherryl and her family moved to Pyrmont after buying an apartment off the plan, and then in 2008, she discovered a vacant artist studio. It was this building that would be home to the long-term project Culture at Work. In that time, Sherryl has never been
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paid for her work, but to her, it has been very much worth it. “We’ve had about 30 artists in residence in this building, and they’ve created phenomenal works,” she said. “It’s just been a brilliant opportunity for lots of artists. “It’s not just standing at an easel, but being able to meet scientists and work with universities and travel overseas and all different kinds of opportunities have come for lots of the artists who’ve been here.” While she has studied the arts mainly, Sherryl has always been intrigued by the sciences after growing up in a family who found careers in that area. “So I guess that was the start of it, having a building and then trying to do something extraordinary,” she said. “Because I’d worked at Australian Council, I worked at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, I’d worked at the Object it was I felt so lucky to be able to have done all of those things, and I wanted to share it with other artists and support them and nurture them.” Without a doubt, Pyrmont has gone through some dramatic changes since 2000. “Then you could walk down the street, and there was no one here,” Sherryl said.
“It’s been a great place to have a community, and everyone is very supportive, and it’s been, what can I say? It’s like a privilege in some ways. “But the thing is that I’ve been able to also at the same time bring this building back to life.” In a “devastating” turn of events, the building that has been home to dozens of artists, and community events has been sold by the government. “We’ve put so many years and work into this and without asking for money other than ad hoc grants that we’ve been able to get from the City of Sydney or different trusts,” she said. “So we worked hard to get the money to pay the rent of the building and the insurances, but because it’s been sold that means that we are only here for a short time now and we’ll have to leave. “Which will mean that Culture At Work won’t exist. The arts won’t be here in Pyrmont anymore.” Even during the coronavirus pandemic, Sherryl has found ways to help the community still. “On the last Sunday of every month in front of our building we set up big trestle tables and we take boxes, paints and all these different materials out, and parents and kids come and play
and make together,” she said. “They’d threatened before that they were going to sell the building, but we’d saved it every time. “It’s challenging for us because we’ve put so much in and it doesn’t make sense what’s happened to this building.” Sherryl said that while the population density has increased, there is still an underlying sense of community. But, she encouraged her fellow residents to see past the luxury apartments and boutique stores. “In the past, the housing commission was very obvious, but now you wouldn’t know,” Sherryl said. “You see less poor people on the street I would say, but there’s still a lot of people who don’t have anywhere to go. And I think that’s a tragedy. “We work in Pyrmont so there’s a lot of diverse organisations that are in Pyrmont and I guess that goes from the poor to the rich.” Sherryl said the board of Culture at Work, the artists and the community have all made the last 12 years an incredible experience. She added that while the face of Pyrmont may be changing, the community can still band together.
COMMUNITY BANK DARLING SQUARE City West Community Financial Services (CWCFS), then trading as Pyrmont Community Bank, created a limitededition version of Pyrmont Monopoly. Launched in January 2019, the purpose of this initiative was to raise money to directly support the Pyrmont and neighbouring community. WE ARE THRILLED TO ADVISE THAT AS OF 15 JUNE 2020 WE HAVE RAISED $52,000.
As you know your own community better than anyone, we would greatly appreciate your thoughts on how best this money can be spent. Whilst we acknowledge that most of you are understandably focused on the immediate response to the Covid19 pandemic, we would encourage you to consider how this funding could be spent to support the local community in an enduring way over the next few years. We encourage you to share this request amongst your local networks. All individuals and groups who live, work or run a business in Pyrmont or the neighbouring area are welcome to submit a proposal for consideration. Incorporated and auspiced groups are also welcome. Priority will be given to proposals that can demonstrate how the initiative will support the Pyrmont and neighbouring community in an enduring way and directly address a local need.
Please include in your proposal the following information: • • • • • • •
Name of applicant (group or individual) How the funding is proposed to be used and what is the desired outcome Whether the project can be assisted by applying for other, complementary grants Who will benefit from the funding (eg age group, number of people) How and when the initiative will be implemented What measures will be in place to ensure it is successfully implemented Outline how you will measure and communicate the success of this initiative and how you will recognise CWCFS (eg include our details on marketing and promotional opportunities) • Name and contact details of who to reach if any further information is required.
Please email all proposals to secretary@cwcfs.com.au by 1st September 2020. At this stage we haven’t determined how many initiatives we will fund with this pool of money. This will instead be guided by the nature of the applications received. Proposals will initially be reviewed by the CWCFS Board at the September Board Meeting. Further information will be sought from applicants if required during October prior to a final decision being made by the Board and successful applicants being announced at the November Annual General Meeting. We are proud of how we have supported the Pyrmont community since the Community bank opened in 2009 and we look forward to continuing to provide this support in years to come. And finally, if you haven’t yet visited us at the new branch in Little Pier Street, Darling Square, it would be really great to see you. Only a short light rail trip away, right near the Haymarket stop, our branch staff are ready to welcome you.
If you require any further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Secretary at secretary@cwcfs.com.au.
City West Community Financial Services Limited ABN 34 134 051 219 Franchisee of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178 AFSL 237879 Shop NE12, 11 Little Pier Street. DARLING SQUARE Ph. 02 9518 9866 P.O. Box K405, HAYMARKET NSW 2000
www.cwcfs.com.au
CITY HUB 23 JULY 2020
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PROTECTING ULTIMO
SAVING A NATIONAL TREASURE
Save The Powerhouse campaigners Patricia Johnson and Jean-Pierrere Alexandre. Photo: Ann-Marie Calihanna
BY ALLISON HORE iving just a few steps away from the doors of a much-loved Sydney attraction has made this couple passionate defenders of it.
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Ultimo locals Patricia Johnson and JeanPierrere Alexandre started the “Save the Powerhouse” campaign back in 2015, just following then Premier Mike Baird’s announcement the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo would be closed and the building would be sold. “Immediately after the announcement we had a meeting in the Ultimo Community Center and we decided to start that campaign,” Jean-Pierre explained. “It’s a national treasure, it doesn’t belong to the government of the day, so we felt we had to do something about it.” Since starting the campaign the pair have organised community meetings, met with many politicians and set up a Facebook page which has received support not just from those in the local community, but from people around the world. “The campaign may have started in Ultimo but it very quickly spread not just in NSW, but we have supporters in the USA, Britain, New Zealand and many other states around Australia,” said Patricia. 6
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“It really became a national campaign.” For Jean-Pierre and partner Patricia, the plight of the Powerhouse Museum was right on their doorstep. The couple live in a small old terraced house only a few steps from the Powerhouse Museum. When they moved to Ultimo in 2007, Patricia says they were impressed by how “fond” the community was of the museum. “It has been a part of daily life for many people for so many years. They’d go there as kids, and then take their kids there as young parents, and then they would take their grandchildren there,” she said. “It’s absolutely part of daily life in Ultimo and that is why we are especially pleased that the decision has been reversed to move it to Parramatta.” The relocation and staged closure of the Ultimo museum, expected to cost between $420m and $645m, was due to start on July 1. But after the NSW Government backflipped on the plan, the industrialscience museum will remain open in Pyrmont with a second location to be opened in Parramatta. When Jean-Pierre and Patricia heard the news that the move was not going ahead the pair said they felt “relieved” and “excited”. On top of the Powerhouse campaign, Jean-Pierre and Patricia are the conveners and founders of “Friends Of Ultimo” group which campaigns for smaller-scale issues
impacting the local community. They are closely watching updates from the NSW government’s Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy, which encompasses Ultimo and could see more high rise buildings developed in the area. Living in a terrace house, Patricia says “naturally” she and Jean-Pierre “are biased to low rises”. “The awhole area around us at the moment is low rise and we’ve got a lovely village green just around the corner with a church and a pub. It’s all very traditional, and that’s the way that people in Ultimo want it to stay,” she explained. “The government wants to make Pyrmont and Ultimo an extension of the CBD, and we say we don’t want to live in the CBD because a CBD is a terrible place to live,” Jean-Pierre added. While Jean-Pierre and Patricia are worried about the effects that new developments will have on the area they say they are not against it, they just want it to be well planned and have a focus on improving public spaces. “Pyrmont and Ultimo have to change and evolve like anywhere else, we’re not against progress. But it has to be done in an orderly fashion,” said JeanPierre. “You don’t put developments and new highrises until you’ve solved traffic and public transport issues and you have
public amenities such as schools and green spaces. And it has to respect the character of the village as well.” Patricia echoed Jean-Pierre’s call for more green spaces. “We definitely need more green open spaces. Over the years they have been eroded, and we need them to be reinstated and expanded.” While the Powerhouse Museum’s Ultimo location has been saved. Jean-Pierre and Patricia say that the Save The Powerhouse campaign is not yet over. They will continue to lobby for additional funding for the museum so that it does not fall into disrepair and are working alongside Parramatta community groups to ensure heritage buildings there are preserved when the new museum is built. It is this cooperation and collaboration that Patricia sees as key to community campaigning and she encourages everybody to get involved. “Ultimo has its own community groups, and in Pyrmont you also have a couple of other groups. Each precinct conducts its own campaigns but we also cooperate,” she said. “It’s always worthwhile to get behind community campaigns. That’s what we’ve found. When someone gives the lead other people follow, we think that’s how social change can work.”
HubNEWS
“New mega parks trust struggles to build trust.” (See p.8)
COVID-19 comeback
BY ALLISON HORE iners at a number of inner-city restaurants and bars are being asked to get tested and self-isolate after being visited by patrons while they were possibly infectious with COVID-19. A patron, who is said to have acquired COVID-19 through community transmission, visited Holy Duck! at Kensington St, Chippendale on July 10 between 7.15pm and 9.30pm. The patron was one of 18 confirmed COVID-19 cases across the state on Sunday. The restaurant closed on Saturday night for deep cleaning and has provided details of all staff and customers present on the night to NSW Health for the contact tracing efforts. Anyone who attended the restaurant is being asked to stay in self isolation for 14 days. On Monday two Paddington venues were also confirmed as having been visited by potentially-infectious COVID-19 carriers.
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HubARTS: Queens Of The Pub An explosive new exhibition of photography and costuming. (See p. 11)
Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide. Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city.
Holy Duck! restaurant in Chippendale. Photo: Holy Duck!
Visitors at popular Oxford street Italian joint, Love Supreme, on Tuesday July 14 from 5.30pm to 9pm are being asked to monitor symptoms. The restaurant will be closed to allow time for staff to be tested and for extra cleaning. Meanwhile, the Village Inn has also
Cash injection for Callan Park
Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by Altmedia Pty Ltd. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, we take no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Editor & Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Publisher’s Assistant: Mal Moody News Editor: Allison Hore Contributors: Allison Hore, Wendy Bacon, Alec Smart, Annie Lewis Cartoonist: Sam Mcnair Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Contributors: Erika Echternach, Irina Dunn, Madison Behringer, Mark Morellini, Olga Azar, Renee Lou Dallow, Olga Sedneva Cover Photo: Ann-marie Calilhanna. Community activist Jean Stuart Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633 Website: cityhubsydney.com.au If you have a story, or any comments you’d like to share with us: news@altmedia.net.au @CityHubSydney
closed for additional cleaning and staff testing after a patron at the venue on Saturday 11 July from 6:30 to 10pm tested positive. Anyone who attended the venue between those times is being asked to get tested should symptoms occur.
Rozelle Hospital in Callan Park. Photo: Wikimedia
BY ALLISON HORE he NSW Government has announced $10 million additional funding will be committed to Callan park. The park in Lilyfield, in Sydney’s inner-west, has been considered “forgotten” and “neglected” and has faced threat from vandals and redevelopment. Jamie Parker, Greens member for Balmain who has campaigned for the protection of the Callan park, welcomes the additional funding. He says it’s
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thanks to the efforts of community groups like Friends of Callan Park who have campaigned tirelessly to protect the space. “Today we can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Callan Park won’t be soldoff for apartments or further demolished by neglect,” said Mr. Parker. “I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone in the community who has contributed to this win.” The additional funding comes as part of the NSW Government’s plan to bring
together the management of all of Sydney’s parks into one super-agency, the Greater Sydney Parklands (GSP). The move will bring together the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust, Parramatta Park Trust, and Western Sydney Parklands Trusts, as well as the parklands of Callan Park and Fernhill Estate. The department will be headed by Michael Rose, Chairman for the Committee for Sydney. The agency will oversee more than 6,000 hectares of parkland in the greater Sydney area. Callan Park is the first park identified by the Greater Sydney Parklands as in need of urgent need of restorative work. The $10 million allocated will help improve connectivity between the park and the waterfront and to deliver the Landscape Structure Plan which aims to restore the park’s heritage buildings and landscaping. “This investment in Callan Park is just the start and demonstrates our commitment to revitalising and growing our city’s great public open spaces, starting with one of its great forgotten jewels,” Planning and Public Spaces minister Rob Stokes said. Mr. Parker says seeing Callan Park managed alongside more well known sites like Centennial Parklands “recognises that this beautiful park has always been one of the great parklands of Sydney”. CITY HUB 23 JULY 2020
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HubNEWS
Trust missing in NSW mega park authority
Kippax Lake in Moore Park survives thanks to 40 years of community planning. Photo: Wendy Bacon
BY WENDY BACON he Minister for Planning Rob Stokes announced a new super agency for managing Sydney’s parklands last week. This is the latest in a number of controversial moves by the NSW government to concentrate and fast-track planning power since the COVID pandemic began. The new Greater Sydney Parklands (GSP) agency will absorb 6000 hectares of land currently managed by the Centennial Park and Moore Park, Parramatta Park and Western Sydney Parklands trusts as well as Callan Park in Rozelle and the Fernhill Estate at Mulgoa. Businessman Michael Rose has been appointed the Chair of GSP board. He is also Chairman of the North West Rapid Transit Group the pro-development lobby Committee for Sydney and a trustee of the Sydney Harbour Trust. An ex-partner of one of Australia’s most powerful corporate law firms Allens, he has been a special advisor to one of the big consulting forms KPMG. The announcement came in the wake of the Minister fast-tracking more than 60 approvals for developments, a number of which involve a loss of trees and are opposed by local communities. It is also only three weeks since the establishment of another super agency to manage all stadiums and major venues, which will be headed by influential businessman and current Chair of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, Tony Shepherd. He was one of the strongest players in the planning of the massive WestConnex tollway system and a proponent of the tear-down and rebuild of Sydney Stadium. He supported building the stadium on Moore Park but had to be satisfied with the current construction plan that is currently threatening the edges of the Park. At a time when many are focused on more sustainable living, working
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from home and recreation in their local communities, Shepherd still dreams of profits from expensive tollways and big global sporting events. Stokes is keen to persuade a sceptical public that he is not on another prodevelopment mission. “We’ve seen in the past how parklands were often victim to more powerful voices for development. This is all about giving parks a powerful voice of their own,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald. But the problem for the government in selling its so-called 50-year vision is that many believe that what it says it wants to do is unlikely to be what it actually plans to do. Beyond the smooth words of planning are networks of power and influence with their own plans that are often not disclosed. When announced, these plans leave no room for genuine community involvement in key decisions. The current framework for managing parkland could do with reform. The trusts are dominated by government rather than community appointments. More funding is needed to relieve pressure to cover costs. But it is hard to see how a structure which absorbs smaller trusts into a single bigger trust with just seven directors can do anything but sideline diverse communities that are essential to vibrant open public spaces. Given the government’s prodevelopment record, there is little wonder that community campaigners who have dedicated their time to fighting to preserve parkland, are worried. Aware of the likely opposition, Stokes attempted to finesse the announcement by timing it to coincide with a desperately needed $10 million grant to maintain Callan Park. While the Friends of Callan Park could justifiably claim this as a win for the inner west community, President of Friends of Callan Park Hall Greenland lost no time in writing to the SMH the
next day. “The abolition of the various trusts managing Sydney’s parks and their incorporation into a new Frankensteinesque bureaucracy is the opposite of what is needed. The aim should have been to fully fund and democratise these trusts with elected local community representatives. This is precisely the kind of trust that the Friends of Callan Park and the former Leichhardt Council advocated for the forgotten jewel of Sydney’s parklands, Callan Park. It is a pity the Minister for Planning’s retrograde step may obscure his historic announcement in committing $10 million to enhancing the open space at Callan Park.” Greenland who is also an ex Leichhardt Greens Councillor told City Hub that he saw the move as yet another example of the way the NSW government is constantly bureacratising and removing power from Councils and communities. The move has come under attack from Labor, which it said put public domains such as Moore Park at risk of being sliced “bit by bit” for other purposes. Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne also opposes the new body. Nowhere is the cynicism greater than in the community surrounding Moore Park and Centennial Park, which are currently managed by a single trust. For more than four decades, various community groups have campaigned to protect the parkland. In recent years, hundreds of trees were destroyed to make way for the Light Rail, the rebuild of Sydney stadium is putting pressure on the edges of Moore Park and cars are still using the park for parking. A cabal of businesspeople led by retailer Gerry Harvey have plans for massive overhaul of the Entertainment Quarter on the old Showground site next door. This would include 20 storey buildings and an expansion of commercial development. Labor sport and recreation spokeswoman
Lynda Voltz said the revamp was an outrageous move that put Moore Park at risk given the neighbouring SCG Trust’s attempts to get its hands on the parkland. Spokesperson for community group Keep Sydney Beautiful Maria Bradley told City Hub that “a super agency with pro-development members is at odds with the NSW government’s own Green Spaces value statement that the public should be custodians of public spaces. There are no public members in this super agency.” She says that the existing trusts are not a problem but rather the lack of funding from the State Government. This is a monumental land grab that if successful, will have far-reaching impacts. For example, it could lead to Gerry Harvey’s Carsingha Unsolicited development proposal for Moore Park being given the green light as well as land lost for carparks at Moore Park and ES Marks Athletic Field.’ Convenor of the Paddington Darlinghurst Community Working Group Will Mrongovius said, “We’re very concerned as it appears it will be a further erosion of community input to the running of Moore Park & Centennial Park. The Centennial parklands Trust authority should not be weakened in any way.” “Local residents & community groups are very sceptical as successive governments have reneged on assurances that on grass car parking would be removed- this goes back over 20 years. The current pandemic illustrates how valuable parklands are, they should not be used as car parks for selfish bodies like the Sydney & Cricket ground trust,” he said. Independent MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich also has concerns. He told City Hub that he has already met with Minister Stokes. He urged “him to ensure that the new trust is tasked with defending the parklands from encroachment and alienation and has a strong local community voice.”
HubNEWS
Dog poisoning scare near Enmore Park BY ALEC SMART n extremely sick puppy that fell ill after eating something left on a path in Enmore, in Sydney’s inner west, has provoked fears the notorious dog poisoner has struck again. In a 14 July post to the Newtown 2042 Facebook community page, the owner, Julien Bouskila, warned “Hey all, just wanted to let everyone know to be careful with their pups around Enmore Rd. “My pup is currently in intensive care in Sydney Uni with a toxicity poisoning of some sort that he picked up on our regular morning walk (Addison Rd, Enmore Rd, right hand side block). Be safe!” The dog has since been treated and is on the road to recovery, and police have been notified. If confirmed it was a poisoning, it follows a similar incident that took place nearby in Enmore Park on 1 Oct 2019, when morning dog walkers discovered raw chicken scattered in the off-leash dog walking area, which they suspected was baited. After a dog named Charlie fell severely ill and was rushed to a veterinary hospital for emergency treatment, the Inner West Police Area Command issued an urgent warning for dog owners.
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“Dog baits of raw chicken containing green rat poison have been located in Enmore Park. Please use extreme caution when walking your dogs at the location. If you suspect your dog has eaten a bait take them to a vet hospital immediately. DO NOT WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS TO APPEAR.” The Inner West Council also released a statement warning “A total of seven pieces of poisoned chicken were found in the park. We are asking pet owners to be mindful of potential bait hazards in parks and notify police immediately if found.”
We are asking pet
owners to be mindful of potential bait hazards Charlie recovered, thankfully, and the Inner West Police Area Command announced on their Facebook page: “We have received the happy news that Charlie, who ate a dog bait at Enmore Park in Sydney’s inner west earlier this week, is out of hospital. If you follow our page you’ll know how much we love dogs… and rest assured, we are doing everything possible to track down the person responsible for this baiting.”
Dog walkers in Enmore Park should beware of bait. Photo: Alec Smart
TRAGEDY
However, a number of previous dog baiting incidents across Sydney resulted in tragedy. In Aug 2019 at Rushcutters Bay Park in eastern Sydney, a woman was walking her Husky near the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia when it ingested a ‘yellow, aniseed-scented’ substance left at the base of a tree. The dog later died and another that ate the same bait was rendered severely ill. A Woollahra Council spokesperson confirmed it had received reports of two possible cases of poisoning at Rushcutters Bay Park. They told 9News: “Rangers and park staff are conducting
extra patrols of the area. We ask people to be cautious when walking their dogs. If your dog becomes sick, seek immediate attention from a vet.” In Sept 2019 a greyhound was taken ill after it ingested a large amount of rat poison that was left in baited mincemeat on the bayside at Lilyfield. And on the coastal walk at South Coogee, baited meat was found scattered on the ground. For information that could help track down the person(s) responsible for dog baiting, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. If you discover suspected baits, retain them and contact police on 131 444.
COFFIN ED’S NAKED CITY
DESPERATE FOR A DRINK
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few weeks ago media were aghast at a queue of some 250 outside the Golden Sheaf Hotel in Double Bay on what was the pub’s traditional Wednesday student night. Punters were jammed up like sardines on the pavement outside in a scene that sent health officials into fits of apoplexy. The irony of punters queuing almost face to face only to social distance when they were allowed inside was not lost on anybody. The pub subsequently copped a $5500 fine and agreed to employ security so that future queues were socially distanced and numbered no more than 20 at a time. Health issues aside what the incident did demonstrate is how conditioned many people are to the need for social drinking. The consumption of alcohol with a group of friends in a welcoming environment is something ingrained into the psyche of many Australians. There has been no shortage of takeaway booze during the pandemic but lining
By Sam Mcnair #thatsneakyrabbit
up the tinnies at home is not quite the same as meeting your buddies for a jovial session at your local pub, club or small bar. Locked out of their local pub some social drinkers have even tried the Zoom experience, gathering together a half dozen friends for an hour or two in the evening and a session of virtual imbibing. The alcohol is real but the sharing of beer
nuts does not translate too well to the cyber environment. The Covid cluster emanating from the Crossroads Hotel has demonstrated that pubs and clubs are problematic during a pandemic, regardless of the hygiene precautions that are enforced. Once patrons have a few drinks, inhibitions
tend to be shed and social distancing sometimes goes out the window. The pubs and clubs employ thousands of workers and fulfil an important social role in the community. It’s a fine balancing act for both the Government and health officials to decide what restrictions should be placed upon them during the current period. There’s probably no all encompassing definitive answer here and it’s up to the venues to be as vigilant as possible – likewise their patrons. In the meantime, the pandemic has thrown up all kinds of ingenuity in the face of adversity. Who knows where we will be heading in the next six to 12 months? Time to set up a covert Tiki Bar in your home and invite no more than ten of your good friends around for a socially distanced good time. Home brewing could take on a new dimension with a hush hush community still that cranks out both bootleg gin and hand sanitiser. Then again, if you really wanted to give your liver a holiday, you could extend Dry July until the end of the year. For many of us however that is just unthinkable! CITY HUB 23 JULY 2020
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HubARTS
HOUSE OF CARDIN: The story of world-famous fashion designer Pierre Cardin is brought to the screen.
(See p.11)
GIANT DWARF REOPENS A midst the COVID-19 lockdown our arts institutions were some of the hardest hit. Perhaps none more so Aaron Chen
than Giant Dwarf Theatre, who were about to reopen in their new venue when the lockdowns came into effect. Now after four long months the venue is finally able to welcome patrons in to enjoy shows. Since the start of July the venue has been holding shows and they are now back into the full swing of things. Last Thursday the venue welcomed back its weekly comedy night, Giant Comedy. Giant Comedy is your chance to catch some of the brightest and best in the comedy biz. With acts such as Aaron Chen and Gen Fricker gracing the stage. Each night there will be two shows, an early show at 6:30pm and a late show at 8pm, with only 30 tickets available to each performance. Looking ahead Sydneysiders can keep an eye out for Totally F*ct Trivia, The Burlesk Of The Bizarre, and he Kings A Night Of Drag. Get down and support the arts because 2020 has been rough! (JA) Tickets & Info: www.giantdwarf.com.au
PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE EXISTING MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION including 5G AT PARKLAND TOWERS, 56-62 ANZAC PDE, KENSINGTON NSW 2033 The proposed upgrade to the existing facilities involves: • Installation of three new 5G antennas on new mounts; • Reconfiguration and replacement of existing panel antennas (measuring no more 2.8m long) on new mounts; • Replacement of 600mm microwave dish; • Reconfiguration of existing and installation of new ancillary equipment that may include RRUs, GPS antennas, cabling and other items associated with safety and operation of the facility; • Reconfiguration and installation of equipment within the existing equipment shelter. Vodafone regards the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”) based on the description above. 3. In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2018 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Should you require further information or wish to comment, please contact: Jodie Leeds from Nokia Solutions & Networks on 0420 310 857 or at communityrelations.vha@groups.nokia.com by Thursday 6 August 2020. Further information may also be obtained from the RFNSA websites at ww.rfnsa.com.au/2033003
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CITY HUB 23 JULY 2020
QUEENS OF THE PUB Q
ueens Of The Pub is an explosive new exhibition of photography and costuming by Gerard O’Connor and Marc Wasiak. Portraying scenes from different eras, O’Connor and Wasiak force a modern day confrontation of the past through the intricate and precise costuming. The story told by each scene speaks to the wit, wantonness, chaos, and control of the exhibition. The message of the project is to honour the queens of the pub, diversity, and recycling. The cast features people of diverse ages, backgrounds, gender, and sexual orientation. Queens Of The Pub combines cinematic skills and the sensibilities of the 21st century to showcase overlooked pleasures of the past.
Beached Queen - Gerard O Connor, Marc Wasiak
O’Connor and Wasiak are an award winning artist duo who have worked together for over 20 years and exhibited worldwide. In 2016, they exhibited at XIX Encuentros Abiertos, Festival de la Luz, Argentina, one of the largest photographic festivals in the world. Their works are in multiple collections including the Ministerio de Cultura in Argentina and Government House in Canberra. Wasiak said, “This is the future, the past, and the only way to be a queen. Wear your crown proudly even if it’s from the gutter.” (RBa) Until Aug 16. Galerie pompom, 27/39 Abercrombie St, Chippendale. Info: www.galeriepompom.com
PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE VODAFONE MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION AT 30 CHALMERS STREET, SURRY HILLS, NSW 2010 including 5G The proposed upgrade to the existing facility involves: • Installation of one new 5G panel antenna; • Replacing the existing panel antennas and reinstating it at a lower height • nstallation of a new shroud to reduce visual impact of the facility • Installation and reconfiguration of ancillary equipment, including RRUs, breakout box, hybrid cablings and GPS antennas; and • Installation and reconfiguration of equipment within the existing equipment shelter. Vodafone regards the proposed installation as a Low Impact under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 2007 based on the description above. In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2018 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/ or comments should be directed to Cathy Chung at Nokia Solutions & Networks on 0406 001 832 or at communityrelations.vha@groups.nokia.com by Thursday 6 August 2020. Further information may also be obtained from www.rfnsa.com.au/2010107.
HubARTS
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA VIRTUAL ACADEMY
Engagement at the ACO said, “Since its beginnings in 2012, ACO Academy has continued to grow from strength to strength. “This year we will harness the opportunities technology provides to offer bespoke and inspirational learning experiences for these talented musicians. I can’t wait to see the results of our ACO musicians connecting with students in this way!” The ACO is supported by BNP Paribas, which forms part of the ACO’s national Learning and Engagement program which aims to open pathways, Photo: Jeff Busby provide support, and inspire the next generation of Australian musicians. Karine Delvallée, Chief Executive BY RIDA BABAR the academy’s 2020 program which Officer at BNP Paribas, Australia and was delivered online for the first time. he Australian Chamber Orchestra New Zealand, said, “BNP Paribas has The program, led by ACO violinist (ACO) recently delivered the been the Presenting Partner of the Aiko Goto ran from July 6-9, including inaugural Virtual Academy which ACO Academy since 2017. Through intensive virtual masterclasses, provided young musicians the chance this program, we are proud to support private one-on-one lessons, technical to be mentored by professionals from the ACO and grow the next generation tutorials, workshops, and specialised the comfort of their own home. of Australian musicians. discussions all designed to provide The academy is open to secondary “It’s wonderful to see how the career guidance and skill development school students advanced in violin, Academy has helped the careers of for the young musicians. viola, cello, or double bass. Sixteen many of its students over the years.” Tara Smith, Director of Learning and talented string players were for chosen
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MAKE THEM SUFFER HOW TO SURVIVE A FUNERAL
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ustralia’s metalcore scene is truely something to behold. With bands like Parkway Drive, The Amity Affliction, Northlane, and Perth’s Make Them Suffer all excelling. The latter of these groups are e once again staking their claim for the throne with their new record, How To Survive A Funeral. Across the album’s 10 tracks Make Them Suffer appear to be working at the peak of their creativity and confidence. With this record they have been unafraid to take risks both with the lyrical and melodic content of the record. Throughout the course of a full play through the band regularly shift from dark, aggressive metal to softer, more melodic approaches. Initially this can be jarring but upon successive listens the hooks sink in and draw the listener deeper into the bells ape the band have created. Bones, Erase Me, and The Attendant are all highlights which demonstrate the variability of the record and are worth checking out if you’re apprehensive about this record. (JA) WWW1/2
THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY HOUSE OF CARDIN
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he novel written by Charles Willeford is described by book critics as a ‘fast-paced and hyper-tense thriller’, but unfortunately the same cannot be said about the new film from the producers of The Talented Mr Ripley. Boasting a quality cast headed by Donald Sutherland and Mick Jagger, the story delves into the lengths an art critic will go to when blackmailed to participate in a very unusual art theft, resulting in arson, fraud, and murder. Aptly categorised in the neo-noir genre, this movie is visually stunning
T utilising mesmerising locations and art deco which compounds to the rising atmospheric tension and intrigue. However, in all its grandness and high production values, the film falters through the dull and tediously slowpaced nature of storytelling and an underwhelmingly inconclusive finale, which leaves audiences with more questions than answers. As an art critic in the film explained, talking about an art form is much easier than creating one – or is it? (MMo) WW1/2
he story of world-famous fashion designer Pierre Cardin is brought to the screen in this very insightful documentary. Born in 1922 he entered the world of fashion during WWII and to date, his brand is one of the largest in the world with thousands of licensees globally. Regarded as untouchable, a genius and even a god Pierre Cardin is the most recognisable name in the world. When Chinese children were asked who the president of France was, they responded Pierre Cardin! This documentary explores his life from early beginnings, how he built his empire, and why he was so respected and
admired within the industry. Vintage photographs and film footage interspersed with informative interviews from world-famous designers, models, and fashion writers, detail how he revolutionised fashion. Many lesser-known facts about Cardin are also revealed, such as his claim that he discovered French actor Gerard Depardieu and that he had more passion for theatre than for fashion. When asked what the secret to eternal youth is Cardin, who is approaching his 100th birthday, responded work – “work can make a person noble!” (MMo) WWW1/2 CITY HUB 23 JULY 2020
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Open all week from midday till late With accommodation, private dining rooms, as well as daily food specials & Sunday live music from some of Sydney's finest artists from 3pm Call (02) 9692 0301 to make a booking 61 Harris Street, Pyrmont 12
CITY HUB 23 JULY 2020