‘Excessive in the extreme’: Why Paddington is protesting against a kids’ puppet show

8 hours ago 5

A leading Sydney arts company faces stiff resistance from home owners after releasing plans to stage a two-week performance featuring a four-metre-tall puppet at an Oxford Street venue.

The planning row centres on plans to stage a puppet performance at Paddington Reserve Gardens as residents raise alarm bells over potential noise impacts, rowdy crowd behaviour, light spill into homes and crime.

The event would be held at the Paddington Reservoir Gardens.

The event is proposed as part of the upcoming Sydney Art and About festival and will involve the inflatable puppet displayed to crowds of up to 200 people at a time.

Scott Wright, creative director of Erth Visual and Physical, said the performance would explore themes of climate change and deforestation by highlighting the importance of conservation via the curious, child-like installation.

But the prospect of a puppet show within earshot of homes has left some residents up in arms over potential “noise” along with concerns over crowd behaviour, spectators’ flashing cameras, and “health and sleep disturbances”.

The four-metre puppet, Fauna, is the star of the show planned for the Paddington Reservoir Gardens.

Tony Ward is among dozens of residents who have written to the City of Sydney Council to oppose the event, which he argued could affect the heritage value of the gardens.

Robyn Hands, in another letter to the council, argued the proposal could lead to severe impacts “on surrounding residents due to excessive noise, both from crowds and performances.”

“This proposal is excessive in the extreme,” she wrote.

Steven Sher, owner of the nearby Paddington Jewellery store, has also taken umbrage with the plans, fearing up to “600 teenagers” could be attracted to the heritage-listed gardens at a time who may “urinate and defecate” in the garden’s shrubbery and ponds.

“That age group unfortunately have little respect for property or even themselves (and) they will take no care of the history that has been uncovered in the reservoir,” he said.

“Fuelled by drugs and alcohol, (they will) take risks such as hanging over the bridges and railing which will end in serious harm or death to themselves.”

The pushback from residents has reignited debate over Sydney’s live entertainment scene which the NSW government is trying to revive through reforms designed to limit NIMBYs from stifling the ailing sector.

Arts Minister John Graham has taken aim at opponents of the puppet show, saying the NSW government has “worked hard to implement a much better approach to noise complaints and live performance” and declaring “it is no longer only neighbours with objections pulling the strings in Sydney.”

“Common sense would suggest that a puppet show for children should be able to be held successfully while keeping audiences and neighbours happy,” he said.

Wright has defended the planned event, saying the show is aimed at promoting positivity.

“It is no longer only neighbours with objections pulling the strings in Sydney,” says NSW Arts Minister John Graham.

“These days there seems to be a growing trend of people who prefer to complain rather than coming up with positive solutions. There will always be people you can’t make happy,” he said.

Wright also hopes the event will promote positive messages about climate change, particularly for younger audiences.

“The puppet’s name is Fauna, and she’s designed to be a spokesperson for the trees as a way of talking to children about how they can do something about the climate,” he said.

“Climate change anxiety is a very real thing so a puppet show is a way of thinking about the climate change message through good vibes.”

Erth Visual and Physical, in planning documents for the puppet performance, stated the temporary event would have only a “slight impact” on the gardens and would operate with a strict management plan to mitigate impacts from light and noise, including sound level checks carried out throughout the event.

If approved by the City of Sydney Council, the show will be staged from September 4 to 20 from 5pm to 10pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

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