Grass Roots

2000•50m

Grass Roots is an Australian television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation between 2000 and 2003. The series is set around the fictional Arcadia Waters Council near Sydney, and was primarily a satirical look at the machinations of local government. It was written by Geoffrey Atherden. Part of the series was filmed in the inner west Sydney suburb of Concord. Many external shots of Arcadia waters Council chambers used Concord Council Chambers as a setting and as was other various locations around Concord, particularly in the shopping centre and cafes in Majors Bay Road. Beach scenes were filmed at Mona Vale, New South Wales on Sydney's northern beaches, while the location "Cemetery Point" was filmed at the Mona Vale headland reserve.

Seasons

8 Episodes • Premiered 2000

1. A Week in September

Mid-September in Arcadia Waters Council and it's only days to the local government elections. The mayor of Arcadia Waters, Col Dunkley, has a few problems. The local newspaper has run a story about his wife leaving him, a new showpiece bus shelter is way behind schedule and a member of staff is threatening to reveal something shocking about his past.

2. Late September

Col Dunkley has made it back onto the council, but in the race to be Mayor, Col must win the vote of the newly elected and genuinely independent Karin Schumaker. His main stumbling block is Daryl, a corrupt member of staff who seems to have something on him personally.

3. October to March

There are more big dreams, bold plans and shady deals underway as we follow a year in the life of the Arcadia Waters Council. Col Dunkley and his faction celebrate their win and talk about Col's vision for the year ahead.

4. February to May

When entrepreneur Max Werring tells Col he can get Dame Kiri Te Kanawa for the Arcadia Waters Festival, Col's grand plan to put Arcadia Waters on the cultural map looks as though it is about to be realised.

5. January to April

At a secret meeting with Marilyn Hennessy, Greg tells her that he's going to support Col in every silly plan he has for as long as it takes to get Council to agree to sell its childcare service to her. At the same time, Liz tries to convince Karin that Greg is leading Council slowly and surely towards privatising childcare. Karin says she'll keep an open mind, but Liz would prefer a more unqualified support.

6. April to July

When Col refuses any more financial support to Harry's run down bowling club, Harry feels he has no alternative than to talk to the men-in-suits from the Business Club. The Business Club proposes a merger, a new club on the bowling club premises, but renovated, extended and generally much bigger.

7. Late July 4.55 to 9.00pm

It's been a bad day for Liz. Her childcare workers haven't received their payout cheques, there's an angry parent who claims that his daughter has been corrupted while on work experience, and Greg is threatening to cut her staff down even more.

8. The Whole Year

Col spends most of the year working in secret with property tycoon Morgan Bartok to prepare a visionary plan for the development of a scrubby, neglected headland. This is his vision, his dream, and wouldn't he be the last person to let something tawdry like politics get in the way?