Powerhouse Parramatta

I emphatically support the building of a New Museum in Parramatta on the site as outlined in EIS. The new museum has the opportunity to provide easy access for WS audiences to the NSW State Collections where access meant travelling an hour or more to experience these important objects and histories. I hope the New Museum will focus on First Nation sciences and provide an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to share this important knowledge with all Australians (as they see appropriate).

There is a major opportunity for the New Museum to connect with organisations across Western Sydney, to share expertise and resources within a reciprocal and equitable framework. This may provide an opportunity to share audiences, partnerships with communities and collaborate on major exhibitions and public programs.

The people of Western Sydney will embrace this New Museum as long as it is inclusive, respectful and welcoming for its diverse communities. This must be reflected in the design of the new building and the exhibitions it houses. One significant aspect of the New Museum is that all senior staff from MAAS should be based in Parramatta. Therefore, there should be adequate office space to ensure that this New Museum becomes the centre of MAAS and not a satellite.

I live with my family less than 5 km away from the proposed New Museum and we are very excited that Parramatta will have a cultural institution which is on par with any museum in the world. This exciting development will change perceptions about Parramatta and Western Sydney more generally.

Dear Sir and Gladys,

I strongly disapprove of the proposed moving of the Sydney Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta.

We are informed that there is little parking space at the proposed site, many exhibits will not fit in and will have to be housed at the Castle Hill facility.

The beautiful Victorian style building could possibly be used as a museum, retaining the lovely grounds and be a real asset to Parramatta.

If there must be a museum entity in Parramatta, why not build it and have smaller exhibits there, moved from time to time from Castle Hill ?

To tear down the Powerhouse to me is an act of vandalism.

The Hunters Hill Trust objects to the Powerhouse Project at Parramatta in its current form and location.

As an established organisation of some 52 years standing that values protection of both our natural and built heritage, the general public's accessibility to culture and appropriately placed significant historical collections, we are deeply concerned that the proposed siting of the new museum, as proposed, will lead to the destruction of rare and highly valued heritage buildings.

While Parramatta and Western Sydney deserve their own world-class Powerhouse Museum such a project should not come at the cost of losing State Significant Heritage that contributes to the sense of place, social history and cohesion that Willow Grove Villa and St George's Terrace provide. The positioning of the Parramatta project must be reconsidered in light of the strong opposition, both locally and across Sydney, to the totally unjustified loss of such cherished heritage within our community precincts, now increasingly threatened by re-development.

The proposed facility at Parramatta as designed is not the science museum concept endorsed by Cabinet in April 2018. It is not a museum about science for families. It appears to be designed to support the night time economy of Parramatta, as an entertainment zone for large events and temporary exhibitions. The brief and the location are clearly flawed because the outcome would be a tragic loss of heritage, a facility that is not the museum that was promised and most definitely in the wrong place.

The Government has many options to create cultural facilities in Parramatta and so it is unclear why a deal was done to purchase a site that is flood prone and abysmally inadequate for the original intent of 'relocating' the Powerhouse Museum. The additional cost to protect the site from flooding will add an exorbitant amount to the cost and put any collections that may be displayed there at serious risk. We question why anyone in authority, at this point in our history of climate change, would plan to build an important cultural centre on a flood prone major river?

The Trust reiterates that the Government has chosen the wrong site to build a world class museum in Parramatta. It is a flood prone location and cherished heritage should not be demolished to build a museum - a place of learning where history and knowledge are valued and respected. If the new facility is now planned as an arts and events space - then it can be reduced in size to allow the retention of the heritage that the community wishes to save, or be re-located to another more suitable precinct.

We will continue to advocate for Parramatta's heritage to be protected and for Western Sydney to get a cultural institution that reflects local stories and community aspirations.

I strongly object to the proposed Powerhouse Parramatta project and to the demolition of the following NSW State Heritage Listed sites at Parramatta, NSW -
1. Willow Grove and Potential Archaeological Site
2. St George's Terrace and Potential Archaeological Site

Objections are based on the following factors -

1. SIGNIFICANT HERITAGE IMPACT.
I do not agree with the current EIS, Heritage Impact Statement dated 27 April, 2020 in regard to heritage interpretation of site, on the basis that there is significant heritage impact once demolition of the NSW State Heritage Listed sites occur, including loss of significant trees/vegetation and therefore the proposed suggestion to retain items for heritage interpretation purposes via objects/plaques etc is totally meaningless.
The Heritage Impact Statement has acknowledged the significant heritage impact due to proposed demolition of the above NSW State heritage listed sites.
Parramatta City Council, as the current owner of both NSW Heritage Listed Willow Grove and St. George's Terrace is presumably responsible for associated maintenance.
The sites were heritage listed in the first place under NSW State Heritage Listing due to significant rarity, heritage, historical, aesthetic and social significant criteria related to the Parramatta area as well as to the State and as such, should be retained.

Demolition is permanent and therefore completely unacceptable.
Heritage Interpretation is not an accepted alternative.

2. ESTIMATED LOSS OF PATRONAGE AT PROPOSED MAAS, PARRAMATTA.
My husband and I have decided to NEVER visit the proposed MAAS at Parramatta, as a matter of principle, even though we reside within a Parramatta City Council governance area. I do not agree that the NSW State Heritage Listed sites above-mentioned are proposed to be demolished on the sole basis that they just 'happen to be in the way' of the proposed MAAS construction at Parramatta i.e. a new MAAS building that is completely unnecessary as the MAAS in Ultimo is the primary original location, as it was an original power station and the Heritage Architect had received a Sulman Architectural Award at the time for the exceptional redesign.

3. FINANCIAL.
I question the cost of the proposed MAAS at Parramatta due to reported estimated construction cost of $1.6 billion in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, whereby approx. 1 million+ Australians are receiving temporary Government financial assistance and/or are unemployed. According to NSW State Government reports, it is estimated that the MAAS Parramatta proposed development will provide an expected 4,000 jobs. However, those job allocations are not necessarily providing work for those experiencing homelessness or those that are currently listed as unemployed by ABS.


IN SUMMARY
I urge the NSW State Government to retain both NSW Heritage listed sites above-mentioned i.e. Willow Grove and St George's terrace and associated potential archaeological sites and instead, perhaps consider a re-design or another site within Parramatta which does not involve the loss of either NSW STATE HERITAGE LISTED SITES/ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES OR ASSOCIATED SIGNIFICANT TREES/VEGETATION.


Further to my previous email dated 5 July 2020 regarding my strong objection to the proposed MAAS Project at Parramatta and to the proposed demolition of the following significangt NSW State Heritage Listed sites at Parramatta, NSW -

1. Willow Grove and Potential Archaeological Site
https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2240440

2. St George's Terrace and Potential Archaeological Site
https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2240441

Both the above Heritage Listed properties are apparently owned by Parramatta City Council and therefore maintenance or any lack thereof, is the responsibility of Council

I will NEVER visit the proposed MAAS Parramatta site, as previously stated in my email dated 5/7/2020 and also based on the further following factors.
1. I strongly object to the proposed demolition of the abovementioned STATE heritage listed sites + any destruction of associated archaeological sites or associated trees/vegetation.
2. 'I draw the line in the sand' in regard to proposed demolition of STATE heritage listed sites by any STATE Government and will not ever vote for any Government that demolishes STATE heritage listed sites and therefore I will not visit the proposed non-heritage listed MAAS Parramatta site based on these matters.
3. I have only visited Parramatta on a couple of occasions in order to attend events at Old Government House in the daytime and on the way from Parramatta Station whilst walking to Old Government House, I noticed a groups of young men who appeared to be either under the influence of illicit drugs, alcohol or both and therefore as a female it felt extremely unsafe and I would never want to visit Parramatta in future, even in broad daylight.
According to ABS, in the 2019 December quarter, the unemployment rate was 4.1% in Parramatta., as opposed to the City of Sydney unemployment rate of 2.8%.
No doubt, those figures are currently much higher given the current COVID-19 pandemic situation. It would therefore appear that there is a socio/economic problem within Parramatta and the expected funds re construction of the proposed MAAS Parramatta project in the reported vicinity of $1.6 BILLION, would be best spent on rectification of negative socio/economic factors instead.

QUESTION:
If the State Government is so adamant that the proposed MAAS project continue to be constructed in Parramatta, then why can't it be constructed on another site within Parramatta and not on a site in Parramatta where STATE heritage listed sites currently exist?

I object to the demolition of Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace for the following reasons, and suggest some alternative strategies.

While I support strongly the construction of a museum in Parramatta I believe it should reflect the history of Western Sydney (and bear a name that reflects that history).

Having studied the many documents included within the Environmental Impact Statement for Powerhouse Parramatta I conclude that:
* Being flood-prone, the chosen site is unsuitable for a museum.
* The site contains two irreplaceable heritage structures, Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace.
* Submissions made early in 2020 by both the City of Parramatta and the NSW Heritage Council emphasise the heritage status of Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace, and the importance of their preservation (in situ).
* The chosen design is incompatible with the retention of these heritage items.
* With the recent decision to retain the Ultimo Powerhouse the function of a museum at Parramatta has changed radically.
* With the retention of the Ultimo Powerhouse there is now no urgency to proceed with the detailed design of a Parramatta building. Instead a more appropriate site should be identified (perhaps in the vicinity of the Female Factory and associated heritage buildings), and a plan prepared for the future of Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace.
* Having identified a more appropriate site and different functionality, the the design competition should be reopened.

I object to the Parramatta Powerhouse project, and particularly the proposed destruction of the historic house Willow Grove and St George's Terrace. I am aware of Berejiklian's about-face on the Powerhouse Museum site at Ultimo, but to date she has not indicated any re-consideration of a proposed site for a Parramatta museum like the Powerhouse.

When I started my engineering career with the Postmaster-General's Dept in 1970 at Parramatta, I was based at 95 George St (the building has since disappeared). However, I had the occasional interaction with colleagues in the Nepean Division, which was based at 34 Phillip St. I recall the elegance of the building whenever I visited them. The building still retains that elegance and charm, and it deserves preservation rather than destruction; so does St George's Terrace. Singleton Council's Heritage walk takes one to many buildings that are over 100 years old ... but if Willow Grove (which, I believe, dates from 1870) and St George's Terrace (which dates from 1881) are demolished, that reduces the availability of old and well-preserved buildings should Parramatta Council ever decide to have a similar heritage journey.

I have not made any reportable political donations.

I wish to lodge my strong objection to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project, and the accompanying further destruction of Parramatta's social and architectural history.

Parramatta needs and deserves cultural and arts development. That is not in question. However Parramatta does not need a second rate downsized museum which comes at the expense of Parramatta's Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces, or at the expense of the existing wonderful Powerhouse Museum.

I am in my 60's. I was born in Parramatta, and lived for a time in Philip Street. My maternal grandparents and my mother lived in Philip Street for decades. I remember those two sites very well from my childhood. My mother, who is in her 80's is deeply saddened and angered, as am I, at the continued destruction of Parramatta's historical sites for another glass and steel structure. Willow Grove was for many years a maternity hospital, and my mother used to play with the matron's daughter. I recall the beautiful gardens and stopping to look at the flowers whenever we walked past. It is a graceful, beautiful building which deserves to be sensitively repurposed. Willow Grove provides a very welcome relief and oasis in the streetscape, as do the St Georges Terraces.
Recently I was having a socially distanced driveway catch up with neighbours, where another neighbour raised this subject. Not one person, out of the seven, supported either the new museum in its current form, and especially not the further destruction of the historical properties.

The idea of dismantling the wonderful permanent exhibits of the Powerhouse, and partially replacing them in a new smaller structure in Parramatta is an appalling waste of money and an act of cultural vandalism in my view.
* It is apparent that there is a very keen eye on revenues by converting exhibit space to event venues. Whilst the interest generated by rotating parts of the collection is worthy, I have deep concerns about the movement in and out of storage of some of the wonderful larger exhibits, or in fact if we will continue to see them at all.
* Jobs - there are multiple alternative job generation projects which do not come at the expense of downgrading the current Powerhouse and destroying our historical structures.
* Education - the small space dedicated to education appears to be no more than lip service to tick the education box. If we are to build a new museum, then please do it wholeheartedly with adequate, innovative educational spaces, full museum grade conditioning and the entire space being a world class museum.

I find the proposed destruction of the St Georges Terraces and Willow Brook, along with the second rate museum a hypocrisy on behalf of a Liberal Government who like to call out the "Left" for cancel culture. Here we have cancel culture of historical buildings and a wonderful existing museum by a Liberal Government.

Please do not demolish either St Georges Terraces or Willow Brook. Please also review the current plans to build a second rate museum/event venue.

Finally, I must declare that I have made no political donations, reportable or otherwise.

I strongly object to the proposed demolition of Willow Grove and St George's Terraces, Parramatta. These buildings are a vital and irreplaceable part of Parramatta's heritage. Countries around the world take great pride in preserving their historic buildings, yet in Australia, all too often, developers are allowed to demolish our history because Councils and governments apparently have little interest in their preservation. Rarely is an explanation offered as to the reasoning behind such destruction.

These particular buildings, Willow Grove and St George's Terraces, have an amazing history, yet as thousands continue to object to the proposed "Parramatta Powerhouse" being built on the banks of the Parramatta River, the site of recent flooding, Parramatta Council appears set on supporting not only the chosen and clearly inappropriate site of this development, but also the destruction of these historic buildings. Historians, architects and members of the public are loudly voicing their opposition to such destruction and it would be a travesty for this opposition to be ignored and for the demolition to go ahead.

There is plenty of support for Parramatta to have a museum of some sort, but not on the proposed site and definitely not at the cost of Parramatta's history.

Where can the public view studies, including environmental impact studies, on this development?

For years, the NSW Government has steadfastly supported the closure of the existing Powerhouse in the city, intentionally allowing it to run-down and deteriorate and with little if any forethought as to the future of the contents of the museum; recently, and largely due to loud and growing opposition, common sense has prevailed and the Powerhouse has been saved. It is now time for further common sense to be applied to save these historic Parramatta buildings, not just for the people of Parramatta, but for Sydney and Australia. Once history is deliberately destroyed, it can never be replaced.

I object to the demolition of Willow Grove and St George’s Terraces in Phillip St Parramatta. The relocation and building of a new Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta precinct I understand will be a great boost in tourism and interest in the CBD of Parramatta.
However I am disappointed if it is at the expense of two historic buildings in the area. My understanding of visiting the Powerhouse in the city for many years with my children is that one of its aims has been to give value and appreciation of our history, e.g. steam trains, and to preserve this history for future generations.
The buildings of Willow Grove and those of St George’s Terraces have great historical significance that will be lost if they are demolished, both being built in the 1880s. Willow Grove especially has a rich heritage and beauty.
There must be a way of preserving these valued buildings.

Please preserve our historic buildings!

Save the willow house and st George terraces

I am writing in regard to the plans for the second Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta which, with the current proposal, would mean destroying two beautiful heritage buildings, Willow Grove House and St George's Terrace.
Would it be possible to have a design that incorporated both buildings in the new museum? Could the entire first two floors be enclosed in glass and then the buildings could be retained as part of the museum's exhibitions, with other exhibitions housed within them?
This has been done in other buildings all over the world.
We ask you to please consider all options other than tearing down these beautiful buildings.

I wish to lodge my opinion on the Powerhouse move to Parramatta.

I am delighted that the Ultimo site will stay put.

However I strongly object to tearing down heritage buildings to build a new "state of art" Museum at Parramatta.

By all means build more museums but not at the cost of some of our valuable heritage.

Once destroyed these links to our short heritage will be lost forever. The youth of today and into the future must be able to see how their ancestors lived and made this country what it is today.

Thank you

I am writing as a NSW resident to express my disgust that the Berejiklian government is continuing down a path of destruction & gross vandalism in Parramatta.
I fully support the locals in Parramatta & the CFMMEU in fighting to save the beautiful historical treasures of Willow Grove & St George's Terrace.

Yes, Parramatta deserves an excellent museum, but it must be built on more suitable ground, not subject to flooding & not at the expense of our historic sites.

Do not violate our past !
Do not be stubborn,give in and think out of the box with creativity !
We will admire rather than condemn you !

I object to the demolition or any damage to the heritage
buildings and grounds at Willow Grove Villa and St Georges Terraces to build the ‘Powerhouse Parramatta.

I have never made any reportable political donations and consider myself politically neutral.
Please withhold my name in any publication

Dear Sir,
I would like to add my voice to the thousands of others who wish to preserve St. George’s Terrace and Willowgrove; this small piece of a rapidly disappearing example of Australian history. All around the world countries have realised the value of preserving distinctive examples of their history. Australia’s short history is unlike any other. So much has already gone. Please help us keep what little is left. It seems lunacy to knock down genuine heritage to build a museum: an institution that cares for (conserves) a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, HISTORICAL, or scientific importance.