13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Opposing housing may be reasonable, objecting to a puppet show is not
Every now and then, objections to planning in Sydney are rational: building mass housing in suburbs with no schools or other infrastructure, for example.
But also every now and then, a groundswell of objection rises that beggars belief.
Paddington is really giving NIMBYs a bad name.
Six months ago, its residents were up in arms about the installation of a toilet aimed at preventing Allianz Stadium patrons from relieving themselves in front gardens.
Now it's a puppet show that features Fauna, a puppet representing trees in a 'good vibes' tale about the environment which aims to relieve anxiety in children about the climate crisis and is set to take place in the sunken Paddington Reservoir Gardens.
As urban affairs reporter David Barwell writes, various objections to the puppet show – part of Sydney's Out and About festival in September – have been made with concerns ranging from light and noise to urination, defecation and crime.
One objector worries the puppet show for 200 people could damage the heritage value of the gardens.
Another says the show 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.
