Powerhouse Parramatta

I strongly object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project in its current form.
The proposed Parramatta Powerhouse is in no way suitable to house the current priceless historical and technological objects housed in Ultimo that the people of Sydney, Rural NSW, interstate and overseas have come to love. The current proposal is destructive, poorly conceived, dreadfully expansive and frankly an outrageous act of vandalism and Western Sydney will not be served well by the pretense of a ''museum'' proposed by the NSW Government. Not only that, but the huge expense means that Rural NSW will continue to be deprived of funds badly needed for existing museums.
The proposed destruction of Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace is also thoughtless and destructive. Museums are supposed to preserve our history and growth, not eliminate it.
Please leave the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo, save Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace, build a beautiful museum (properly) in Parramatta and help Rural NSW to preserve their museums as well - you could do all of this with the money you propose to waste on this project as it stands.

I object to the Parramatta project. Leading cities of the world protect and cherish their heritage buildings and museums. Why is Sydney not doing the same? What would Sydney be without the Queen Victoria Building, a building which came close to demolition in the 1950s before its value was recognised? Can one imagine London destroying the Tate Modern? The proposed destruction of Willow Grove and St George's Terrace in Parramatta, and the loss of the existing museum site in Ultimo would be acts of cultural and heritage vandalism second to none. The Powerhouse Museum belongs to the people of NSW. It does not belong to the Liberal Government of NSW for the purpose of flogging off the Ultimo site to developers, which is clearly the real intention behind this proposal. The proposal contains so many flaws (an outrageous waste of taxpayer money, poor location on a flood-prone riverbank, the loss of the heritage buildings in both Ultimo and Parramatta, the lack of comparable exhibition space to fit the current exhibition, the risk of damage caused by relocating priceless museum pieces) as to demonstrate its real purpose: the sale of the Ultimo site.

This planning proposal reflects the ideology of a political party which knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

I OBJECT to the Parramatta Powerhouse Project. The plans show it will be utterly inadequate for displaying works of artistic and historical value. In addition the demolition of heritage building Willow Grove is not justified by the projected economic benefits. It is hard to see how these proosed econoc benefits will materialise. The project will leave Parramatta residents with a gigantic white elephant and still lacking a credible museum.

I strongly object to this project.

LOCATION

I live on the Central Coast and the museum is currently very accessible for us. To move it to Parramatta extends our journey and makes a visit far less practicable. Transport links to the west of Sydney are not as extensive and regular as they are to the City. We would not travel as regularly as we do to see exhibitions if the museum was moved completely to Parramatta. To move to this location excludes regional users such as ourselves.

WESTERN SYDNEY

I am very disappointed that some politicians have used the lack of amenities in Western Sydney as an argument for the move. It is entirely possible and indeed worthwhile for the creation of an additional better designed facility of the Powerhouse to be built in Parramatta (and the Central Coast). The Smithsonian in Washington has, I understand 35 facilities, across the US capital. There are enough artifacts for such a additional facility and this argument is highly spurious.

PARRAMATTA LOCATION

The new location isn't suitable and isn't well designed. The destruction of historic buildings is unforgivable. Parramatta has so much history and we must stop this pattern of destroying our heritage. This is not progress and subsequent generations will wonder why we have treated our historic buildings and sites as irrelevant.

To move the current museum to an unsuitable site and attempt to put it in a configuration that clearly doesn't allow for presenting all the museum's objects is untenable .

The design is poor and is focused on retail and food. It would not be the world class Museum that the current facility provides.

COST

The money could be better spent elsewhere and to better effect.

EXISTING SITE

The existing site has considerable appeal and works well as a Museum site. There has been considerable investment in it. We have gone to many great and unique exhibitions. The facility has been poorly managed under the current government but this should not be an excuse to move it. What will happen to it? Selling to developers will create an unbalanced precinct in the area. We need these amenities in this location.

I object to the project on the grounds that the 1.6bn cost will merely yield a mini museum.
Government receipts on the sale of the land will not meet this cost in the current climate. The net result will be another soulless unit/office block and an entertainment venue for Paramatta which few people want.
The concept was brought about by greed to fill various coffers and snare the swinging voters in Parramatta. Neither of which will be achieved and Sydney loses out as a world class city, again.
Think Darling Harbour which was sold for a song to give jobs for the boys and a poor result.

I am formally writing to object to this project. It is a travesty that to build this building which is a sham of a ‘museum’ and shouldn’t even be given the title as it doesn’t even meet the requirements of a basic museum and while new it cannot hold even a small percentage of the original archives of the powerhouse in Ultimo, heritage buildings are meant to be knocked down to build it. I cannot believe we a student of history that this could even be contemplated. The powerhouse should not be moved and THAT building, if it did need to be moved, SHOULD NOT be built. If you were too got replace something like the powerhouse which is a perfectly functioning building in itself you cannot replace a museum with something that cannot even support the workers or the archives. A museum is not a hotspot for bars. A museum is a place where history and the growth of humanity can be appreciated and studied. I object to this project as it does not respect anything of what a museum should be.

I wish to submit my objection to SSD-10416 Development.

Firstly, its situation. As a regular visitor to Sydney I often enjoy visits to the current Powerhouse but in its new proposed location I will not have time to travel out to Parramatta on the train. In Sydney City I can include a visit to the Powerhouse with other sights and activities across the city. I will not be doing this in Parramatta. If I believed the new Powerhouse would be of equal worth and interest to its current form I would happily make this journey, however from all information gathered I cannot see they are of similar value. In London I enjoy hopping over to the Victoria and Albert Museum, taking in a selected wing for an hour or two. I can also visit it for a blockbuster major exhibition. This is what I want to do in Sydney but will not longer do so if the museum goes to Parramatta.

Secondly, I am very concerned about the removal of heritage buildings at Parramatta for the new museum and I believe buildings such as these are essential to our social fabric, both culturally and visually. Their removal is unacceptable. We cannot get them back. Less heritage buildings will ensure Parramatta will grow to look more anonymous, without a rich story mixed in with our present buildings. A balance needs to be retained between new and old.

Thirdly, the storage of the body of material of the museum away from the display and curatorial team is incongrous with a living and functioning museum. Not only does it make transporting problematic, but creates a serious disjunction between study, conservation and communication. A living and vibrant museum should not be broken up from its storage and should not exist in a stand alone sense. When all together, research, discussion, study, teaching and administration all meld together to create this vibrancy.

Fourthly, I object to the cost required to move and establish the current collection to Parramatta and believe this cost is not justifiable in the current climate. This cost is particularly objectionable as the current museum does not need moving.

Lastly, the original Ultimo site exists on the edge of a fast changing and growing precinct which will only make the Powerhouse in Ultimo even more visited in the future. All NSW residents can see through the State government’s shallow reasoning to move the museum. It is just a short sighted venture for financial gain under the pretext of having a better museum elsewhere.

The artefacts in the existing Powerhouse belong to all of NSW. It is our heritage, our history, our stories. It is more than the sum of its parts and by breaking it up, we all lose.

Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth Stock

I object to the Parramatta Powerhouse for the following reasons
- The economic EIS states that the Powerhouse in Ultimo is past its usefulness. This is not true because the report states the numbers of visitors have doubled in the last five years and continue to increase. Visitors will continue to increase. It is unlikely there will be 2 million people annually at the Powerhouse Parramatta. The economic modelling based on this assumption is floored and should be redone with a more realistic number.
-The Powerhouse Parramatta cannot house all the heritage items in the powerhouse ultimo. This is a significant loss of culture and a social benefit that cannot be fixed when these items are in storage. These items should be on display.
-It is dangerous to move the items out of the powerhouse into the Parramatta powerhouse due to the size of the buillding, location of the loading dock.
-The Parramatta Powerhouse is located in a flood zone. The risk that this holds to the museum items is too great and the damage would be significant or catastrophic. I object because the risk with suggested mitigation measures is not minimal.

My wife and I wish to register our strong objection to the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta.
The stated cost is already exorbitant and, on the record of this government's projects so far, will undoubtedly be overrun. The move will divorce the museum from its present historical link to Ultimo. It will endanger particularly the very large, rare and precious objects, which can currently be seen in working order at Ultimo. The dispursal of the currently-displayed collection is cultural vandalism, especially since the proposed new museum has a smaller display area.
As with the unforgivable sale of the Land Titles Office, it is purely based on greed, short-term gain and the ideology of privatisation at the expense of commonsense and thought for the future. This action would shame any city in the world.
That Western Sydney is entitled to a great museum is not at issue. It should have a purpose-built institution, which could focus on a separate theme, such as indigenous history, art and culture or the immigrant experience. It should NOT involve the demolition of any heritage-listed buildings, such as Willow Grove, which could be a further attraction for visitors to the area. Building such an institution could be done without the enormous expense of the relocation project, and still provide jobs.

I have examined the Environmental Impact Statement and in particular the Consultation Summary Report.
It is obvious that local stakeholders are enthusiastic about the creation of a cultural institution in their city. It is also obvious that the incorporation of part of the Powerhouse collection is of secondary importance. The proposed design bears this out.
There is widespread condemnation of the proposal from the greater Sydney and regional stakeholders for good reasons - the dismantling, removal and storage of existing exhibits, the destruction of the historic Willow Grove and St George's Terrace, the cost and of course the deal done with developers to exploit the Ultimo site.
Design and build a multi-purpose cultural centre in Parramatta and leave the Powerhouse at Ultimo......

This planned destruction of a world class arts, technology and science museum and its architecturally significant home must be stopped.

Plans presented for the Parramatta Museum are of a entertainment sector and have nothing at all to do with a world-class museum. The powerhouse Museum should be left where it is at Ultimo and continue to offer Sydney. New South Wales, Australia and the world one of the finest museums of industrial arts and technology in the world. People of New South Wales deserve better than this, and the citizens of Parramatta deserve their own world class Museum. As a life member of the Australian Ceramic Association and the current president of the Ceramics Study Group I suggests what is needed most of all in Australia is a Museum of Arts and Crafts much like Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Such a museum in Parramatta would be unique in Australia and give an incredible focus that would ensure that it is both loved and utilised. What is important with the current proposal is that it be scrapped and efforts made to focus on the significant history already on the site and creat this unique museum.

I object to the Powerhouse Museum because Parramatta is loosing it’s uniqueness, history and since of pride due to over development. I want my Grandchildren to not only read about Parramatta’s amazing history but also to be able to walk around and actually see and touch it’s history and they, along with future generations will be robbed of that if the current mindset of Politicians and people with no forethought or respect for our history continue mindlessly in suggesting projects like moving the Powerhouse Museum. Not only would this mean demolishing Willow Grove and St George’s Terraces which are rare examples of architecture which no longer exist in Parramatta’s CBD but this project is going to be built in an area which is in a flood zone, costing over a billion dollars at a time when Australia is in a recession and when the people of this Country are in need of so much more. Such a complete waste of taxpayers money is criminal and serious questions should be raised as to who is really benefiting from such a project because it certainly isn’t the people.

I Object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Precinct

I am writing to you to appeal for the ‘lives’ of the magnificent Willow Grove and Georges Terraces. My family’s connection with Parramatta goes back to the three first fleets settling Australia in the 1780s-90s. Many of our ancestors were married in St Johns, as indeed, were my parents.
We lived in North Parramatta for some time and my mum, sister and I attended school in Parramatta. There was nothing more satisfying passing by the historically significant sites on our way to school in the 60s and 70’s. We have watched a thriving ‘cradle city’ become an important commercial and business centre. Understandably, that will mean loss of heritage buildings and land. We are now left with very little of that Parramatta to celebrate. However, we DO have these precious few beautiful examples of history, architecture and representation of social change over many decades. Let’s look seriously at the importance of these buildings and what they represent for current and most importantly future generations. Surely we can retain heritage buildings as well as support the growth of cultural centres like the Powerhouse. They are both a cultural imperative, but we can’t replace heritage - we need to retain and revere it.
I implore you to re-think and not destroy this part of our history and heritage. You have choices - these buildings don’t.

Dear Sir
I write to strongly object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project.
My reasons for objecting are,
a) I do not want Willow Grove and St George's Terraces to be destroyed
b) I do not want the Powerhouse Museum to be moved from its current location
c) I do not want the Powerhouse Museum collection to be moved or dispersed
d) The budget of $1.5 billion would be better spent on the creation of an additional museum elsewhere.
The Powerhouse Parramatta Project will result in the destruction of a unique museum, destroy the last remaining and therefore rare examples of Parramatta architecture, contribute to the loss of character of Parramatta, replace a museum with a multi purpose facility and will be an object of ridicule by future generations.
The destruction of heritage buildings, the destruction of a museum and the destruction of a heritage precinct in the name of a 'cultural project' is beyond comprehension.
I have not made any reportable political donations.
I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project, it should not go ahead.

I wish to register my strongest objection to the Powerhouse Parramatta project
It's very difficult to fathom what the thinking behind this is. The Powerhouse Museum is an iconic building and collection. The building should not be sold and the collection should not be broken up. A watered down event space in Parramatta is not what anyone wants.
The Powerhouse should remain in Ultimo and, when the time is right, a new and separate museum be built in Parramatta. And Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace should be left be.
There are three historically important sites that will be lost forever should this project go ahead.

I have been a resident in the city of Parramatta for most of my 70 years. I strongly object to the proposed Powerhouse move and plan shown on your display. My major concern is:

1. the complete disregard for our heritage, even though 14,000 people
signed a petition in just under a week calling on the Premier to protect WillowGrove and St Georges Terraces; along with Historic House Association and National Trust of Australia (NSW) condemning the governments decisions they have continued on this path of destruction.

Parramatta has a unique heritage and history that should be preserved and celebrated as do other countries with their culture and history. It was Parramatta that saved the early colony when it was on the brink of starvation. Yet even here there has been a gradual erosion of the places where food was grown in the now Parramatta Park and Rosehill, with unsympathetic high rise apartments and towers taking over more and more space and the green environment.

There is a far better alternative for a real museum in Parramatta that has constantly been shown to the NSW Government and Planning Department but that has been consistently ignored. I refer to the North Parramatta precinct.

The area here would allow for a world class history and heritage environment encompassing the present historic buildings such as the Female Factory by the famous architect Francis Greenway.

It could create a museum/display that shows the marvellous Aboriginal history of the Darug people and other NSW groups that also used this part of the land. Also incorporated could be the early colonial history of the area and then the wonderful history of immigration and the multicultural nature of our area that has been so rich. This kind of development would create something that people would want to see and visit not just from our region but from overseas as well. Very few would want to come to see the high-rise that the NSW Govt is planning for this unique area.

2. To destroy the amazing exhibits in the Ultimo Powerhouse by
removing them for the so-called museum proposed in Parramatta I see as nothing short of vandalism. It seems fairly certain that developers of high rise is what is in the Premier and Government's mind despite their denials.
Also the designs made available by the government that is now on display clearly demonstrate we are not getting a Museum in Parramatta at all. The proposed rather ugly design, somewhat like empty milk crates, is smaller, won't fit the large exhibitions we were told we were getting, with cost blow outs increasing by the week and not a sod turned. It is more a hotch-potch of entertainment, more restaurants and eateries (as if we have not enough already in the area) presentation spaces stacked over the east and west wings, along with a research lab, apartments for visiting researchers, a rooftop terrace and a student dormitory. The primary use of the presentation spaces will be to stage exhibitions, chief executive Lisa Havilah says, but they have also been designed for flexible or "secondary" use and available
for commercial events. Ms Havilah seems
not to have much appreciation of history when she said "the difference is one of philosophy: the past versus the future, traditional museum practices versus contemporary" as if our past history has no value.

3. The government has fallen back on its usual mantra touting the
number of jobs it claims the project will create. But far from justifying its plans, the fact that a great deal of work is involved in demolishing an outstanding building and constructing one that is not fit for purpose simply highlights the project's folly.

4. Willow Grove and the St George Terraces are some of the few
remaining historic and heritage buildings in Parramatta. To destroy them for what is now seen to be such a disappointing project and for the sake of a carpark to accommodate it there is nothing short of scandalous. Whoever is responsible for this is completely lacking in vision, appreciation of Australia's true history and cultural realities and seems to have one value only -the bottom line for developers. I reject outright this second rate "museum "

I OBJECT TO THE POWERHOUSE PARRAMATTA

Parramatta is a place of historic significance which keeps being demolished under the disguise of progress.
These colonial buildings mean a lot to our previous generations as well as our future ones.
They are also important to the indigenous people and it’s disrespectful to tear buildings like this down.
People move and visit Parramatta not only to work and socialize but to visit these places of history and the vibe they create.
You cannot replace these buildings once they are gone and that would be not only upsetting but a real travesty.
The Powerhouse Museum needs a new site,one where there is no flooding and that doesn’t destroy own already standing museum (Willow Grove) in the process.
As a rate payer of Parramatta I strongly object to this destruction of this building and any other historically sognificant building.

I object for the following reasons:
The secrecy around why the museum is being moved. The astronomical cost of the move in the current financial crisis. Parramatta deserves its own museum and could display many of the items from the current museum collection based on themes that fit the area. The destruction of two historic buildings to build what is basically a function venue is unbelieveable given the purpose of a museum is to conserve and educate. The fact that it is being built on a flood prone site is a serious risk to take.Closing the current museum when the new one is not due to open for 4-5 years is highly questionable. Like knocking down a stadium days before an election.Where will the major drawcard large items from the current museum be housed as they won't fit in the new museum. And back to my first point - what is the point of this move? The premier's answers re jobs and the need for a museum in Parramatta do not justify the closure and moving of an iconic Australian museum and the enormous financial cost.

My name is Liam O'Donoghue. I am writing to state that I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project.

The people of NSW deserve to have continued access to quality cultural facilities that showcase the skills and talents that can be found among the people and the industries of our state. We also deserve to have our historically significant public sites preserved, and our access to those sites maintained and expanded. The current plan fails on those measures, and will instead destroy important heritage sites such as the Willow Grove Villa and St Georges Terraces in Parramatta.

The project as described does not take into consideration the heritage of either the Parramatta area, nor the Ultimo site. This ill-conceived proposal will in no serious sense increase access to, nor appreciation of, the vast holdings of the current Powerhouse museum. The project as described will see what is rightfully a beloved and valuable cultural asset degraded, while the proposed replacement will not fulfil its potential and will actively destroy heritage sites in Parramatta.

Instead of this poorly thought through plan, the Ultimo site should be renewed with greater investment and expansion. In addition to that, an entirely new facility should be conceived of for Parramatta that properly considers and responds to the area's unique and rich heritage. One which does not require the destruction of heritage to house new facilities. Parramatta deserves better than a second rate museum of convenience, and we deserve to have our heritage sites respected and preserved.

I have not made any reportable political donations.

I grew up in western Sydney and now work in Parramatta.

It is the home of some beautiful heritage building that are part of the history of our area and indeed our nation.

Willowgrove is one of these – please don’t let it be destroyed for the sake of a powerhouse museum. Preserve our history - it is vital for the future. There are many sites that can be used to build a new building for such a purpose.

Thanks