The public meeting gave an opportunity to let the community know that it is possible to fight for things you care about. My talk began with a small mention of the last time we fought this same battle – and WON! In fact we changed the entire council and it stayed that way for nigh on 20 years.

But where there is money to be made, you will always have the vulture circling.

All they require is an enabling council.

Not one of the Councillors or mayor who voted for this privatisation had the courage to front up to the community meeting- despite the fact that many people there had not made their minds up.

It became quite clear that the community activities are being ousted - despite murmurings by the council representative that community events would be re housed. It is clear that the submissions that people were continuously asked to send in –will be ignored. Each of the community groups involved in the Pavilion have already been approached and told to prepare for this.

With a $38 mill development that the community don’t want - why is this happening – and who will benefit?

There are many theories floating around and some of them involve nepotism, many of them include talk of an underground car-park servicing people in the Pacific Bondi (formerly the Swiss Grand) who have publicly donated money to various campaigns and who lack enough car parking space.

Another much asked question was that if Bondi is one of Australia’s most sought after destinations and we currently totally bear the brunt of all the costs involved- why are we not applying for and receiving some help so that we don’t have to consider losing our only community building in this densely populated area.

One other very important fact to note is with Council stating that there is no loss of community space - why aren’t the 3 music rooms, the art rooms, the pottery room or the Gallery included in their calculations of current hireable Community space.

Finally, the community is disgusted by the idea that the beautiful balcony would be lost to the general public and given over to commercial interests. As well as this, it is clear that the ‘theatre’ is no such thing - it has neither a bar, dressing rooms, and less seating. The community is not interested in high end art –they want support for accessible inclusive artistic pursuits.

This expensive ‘upgrade’ will require commercial interests to pull it out of the red.

Our Plan B must include young people. We must pass the baton to them and they must understand that it is their future that this Council is selling off.

Make a lot of noise Bondi. You are not being listened to or heard yet.