Pondi

The survival of Penrith Beach is a symbolic fight for equity and liveability in the city’s densely populated west.
This film will address issues such as the socioeconomic contrasts across Greater Sydney – is there really free public access to the city’s natural resources/infrastructure? We will highlight geographical challenges and explore the future habitability of Western Sydney due to increasing temperatures and overdevelopment – removal of cooling tree canopy for sprawling residential estates. Implicit is how climate change affects different communities disproportionately. The cost of living crisis has hit the west hard, meanwhile they deal with harsher environmental conditions eg: aircon becomes unaffordable. The overwhelmingly negative stereotyping of Western Sydney communities will be addressed by intimately getting to know the locals. Different cultural groups will be represented. Migrants will be followed learning to swim – an ‘Australian birthright’.

This film has the possibility to create social impact in multiple areas. The primary area is addressing the stigma that has long affected Western Sydney and its residents from many backgrounds and faiths. Sydney is a city divided down socioeconomic lines with many of the most disadvantaged suburbs in the West, and this film will play a role in the fight for better access to natural resources and better equity. Andy Marks from Western Sydney Uni: “Ten per cent of the Australian population lives in western Sydney. By no means does it get anywhere near 10% of federal or state government funding for recreation facilities or swimming recreation facilities – it would not even come close.” The liveability of cities will also come into focus, addressing new strategies for contested land use and sustainability in the face of escalating climate change. Getting to know diverse people will mean the film can assist with multicultural organisations and the visibility of non-white people in media.

I would like to challenge stereotypes and long held prejudices, and celebrate a place and community – Penrith/Western Sydney- that has has often been treated with disdain. I am also very interested in exploring the environmental situation in Western Sydney where ‘green infrastructure has been replaced by grey infrastructure’ and climate change is calling the whole area’s liveability into question. I feel the film by showing the ‘life’ of this new unlikely ‘beach’, and without lecturing to people, will make audiences love the residents, and raise a lot of questions about the future of Greater Sydney and sustainability in general.

My colleague Boyd Britton was born and bred in Greystanes and though he is now an ‘inner westie’ his family still reside there.
As the film is still in early development our relationships with community and local government are still evolving.
We have been negotiating access to the site with the Executive Director of The Department of Planning and Infrastructure.
We have made contact with local leaders and politicians in the Penrith LGA to propose the project. During our sizzle shoot, we intend to spend time at Pondi and meet local families.

Better social cohesion and mutual understanding in a multicultural society.
More needs to be done to address climate change and the liveability of our cities. Better urban canopy, less heat islands, better planning and infrastructure to enhance our life in Australia.