Powerhouse Parramatta

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because, as you would already be aware Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace, are one of a kind in the Parramatta CBD and their loss would have a significant impact on the community's connection with heritage.

So many of Sydney and Parramatta’s historic buildings have been lost to ill-considered planning, we cannot afford to lose any more.

People love to visit countries and sites where history is on display - Europe, UK, USA all have wonderful preserved cities, towns and villages which are huge attractions and dollar-earners through tourism. Australians have a right to be proud of, to be aware of and to be able to visit able our history through our buildings established from early colonial days to the 21st century

The plan for a Powerhouse museum in Parramatta is a wonderful concept, and there are alternative sites.

Please consider this as a serious objection to the site you have marked which would involve the destruction of Australian history and mark a more appropriate site for your Powerhouse museum. I support the Union’s Green Ban as well and have not made any political donations to any parties.

Dear Marcus,

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because of the necessary
destruction of historic Parramatta Buildings. Please find another
alternative,

Sincerely,

Robyn Bowman

I OBJECT TO THE POWERHOUSE PARRAMATTA
I have not made any reportable donations.

I grew up in Carlingford in 1950s and Parramatta was the ‘go to’ area for most of our needs. I have very fond memories of the area and always valued it and its uniqueness in terms of history and buildings. The Park, the River and Parramatta Lake are lovely locations to relax. My husband and I retired back to Parramatta because of its historic value and we love it.
My objections are on the following grounds:
• The social history and sense of place will be lost with the destruction of historic buildings which add to the character of Parramatta and this has not been adequately considered in the planning and EIS. These buildings are rare and important to Parramatta’s sense of place and must be retained.
• Resultant Destruction of the Willow Grove building which has significant historic and architectural value as a former women’s maternity hospital.
• Resultant Destruction of the St George Terraces which also have significant architectural historical value. These are rare examples that no longer exist elsewhere in Parramatta
• There are other sites where the museum could be situated without such wilful destruction. For example, the Fleet Street Precinct would lend itself well to this development and light rail will be nearby.
• The site is flood prone and unsuitable for housing museum items. It will also be a safety risk to people
• The site is inadequate in terms of museum space and is significantly smaller than the existing space in the city
• Storage of exhibition items will need to be off site and will result in valuable items being damaged or at risk of being damaged in transport. These will need to be rotated because of a lack of space
• The majority of the new space is set aside for entertainment and functions – not the PHM as promoted. I find this deceptive and the short space of time in which to respond is cynical because of the information buried in a myriad of reports to be read.
• The cost is unjustifiable given alternative locations.
Please consider my objections and stop this wilful destruction of our history.

I AM SADDENED TO KNOW THAT IT IS PLANNED FOR THE ABOVE TO BE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW POWERHOUSE MUSUEM. WE HAVE SO LITTLE HERITAGE IN AUSTRALIA AND PARRAMATTA’S PAST IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT PART OUR HISTORY. TO DESTROY SUCH BEAUTY AND ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE SEEMS SHORT-SIGHTED AND THERE MUST BE AN ALTERNATIVE SITE.

PLEASE RE-CONSIDER THE OPTIONS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

I am writing to express my sincere and passionate desire that Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace at Parramatta be protected and saved from destruction.

The significant of the site and its contribution to the culture, history and heritage of the area cannot be understated.

Please reconsider the importance of the site to the community. The Parramatta area deserves more. Australian social history deserves more.

Dear Marcus,

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because.. I believe the powehouse museum should remain in ultimo. Parramatta has a lot of history and we need tangible evidence of our past. There is plenty of land elsewhere to build another museum without congesting the city of parramatta. We need a balance between concrete and green. I have not made any donations to any political party. Please take care of the past instead of wiping it off the map.

I am writing to lodge my objection to the said state government proposal
that destructs the historical Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace at
Parramatta.

History of our settlement, development, city must be preserved and not
destroyed for the benefit of all future generations.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace are one of a kind in the Parramatta CBD and their lose would have a significant impact on the community's connection with heritage. There is already so much of Sydney’s original heritage been destroyed in the Parramatta area, an area of historical significance. Please preserve and protect what is left.


There is a simple solution. A three point plan. Please follow it!

1. Keep the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo
2. Create a brilliant Museum and cultural destination at historic Cumberland Hospital Precinct in North Parramatta. (Read more here http://nprag.org/alternative-vision-fshp/)
3. Save historic Willow Grove & St Georges Terraces, and realise the existing Parramatta Council vision for a public square alongside the river

I wish to object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Development.

The reasons are as follows:

1. Heritage – so many historical buildings around Parramatta have already been lost. We need to preserve those that remain, including Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces. Parramatta’s history and its part in the history of our nation go without saying. It would be a national tragedy to lose more of that history. The architecture, the stories and the society that the buildings represent is irreplaceable. I live in an 1870s house and I am not allowed to alter its façade at all, and for very good reason. However, I do not see the point of saving any historical buildings if there will be exceptions when it seems convenient to some.

Historical buildings have formed part of ‘modern’ developments all over our country, including in Parramatta (e.g. Parramatta Justice Precinct). I am confident that the developers in those instances would have found it more convenient to simply demolish the old buildings, but the greater, long term interests of the community were taken into account and the buildings were retained. Other examples where historical buildings have been retained in and around new developments include: Maitland City Council is building its new offices around the historic façade; Bishops House and London Court in Perth CBD and Newcastle Museum.
2. Financial – anyone can build a brand new ‘modern’ building with brand new fixtures, fittings and features. That can be done anywhere and they are everywhere. A point of difference is gained by retaining heritage buildings for fine dining, functions or even just a kiosk or café. There are examples of this all over the nation as well. Premium prices are paid at The Mint, Old Government House, Bishops Court, and many others. It makes commercial sense to retain and work with the uniqueness of Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces.

3. Environment – the area where the development is proposed floods regularly and any flood mitigation strategies would be expensive. Flooding may render some or parts of the building unusable for periods, may prevent travel to and from the building and may at some point be more extreme than predicted, causing widespread damage. Using the area as an open space precinct, as proposed by Parramatta City Council, makes much more sense.

4. Viable alternatives – there are alternative sites for a museum precinct or function space or whatever you wish to call what is currently planned (Cumberland Hospital Precinct in North Parramatta). There are also alternative ways to use the site that would retain the heritage buildings, be more commercially sensible and more in line with the flood prone environment. At the very least, if it is decided that there will be a large development at that site, I cannot understand why tenderers were not asked to retain the historic buildings and ensure they formed part of the development.

I have not made any reportable political donations.

I wish my name to be withheld from publication.

I am writing to inform you of my objection to the destruction of Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace at Parramatta. These buildings from the 1870's are of historical significance in Sydney and it would be an absolute disgrace and a shameful act on behalf of the council to destroy them.

It was supposedto be a replacement for the Ultimomuseum.

The Ultimo museum is now not going to be replaced.

This was designed to do a job that no longer exists.

Therefore,this poorly conceived milk crate on stilts that will destroy Heritage buildings in Parramatta has no reason to be built.

If anything is “Not Fit for Purpose”this is it.

Dear Marcus,

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because I believe the historical and cultural significance of the Willow Grove building is more important than moving the existing Powerhouse to this location - I also believe the proposed location is inappropriate.

I believe that this building should be protected and preserved for future generations as an example of Australia’s architectural history and this is irreplaceable Once destroyed.

I believe that there are several more suitable options including : Keep the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo

Create a Museum and cultural destination at historic Cumberland Hospital Precinct in North Parramatta.

Save historic Willow Grove & St Georges Terraces, and realise the existing Parramatta Council vision for a public square alongside the river

Thank you for considering my submission.

Rachelle Calder

I would like to express my opposition to the destruction of Willow Grove in Parramatta. Australia does not have an abundance of quality heritage buildings and we should do all that we can to preserve our history for future generations.

Please prevent this architectural treasure from being demolished.

Dear Marcus,

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because.. I have travelled the world and I am in ore of the fact countries have been able to preserve their beautiful building for hundreds of years. yet we are so fast to pull our heritage to the ground. I am fifth generation Australian and I want my children and grandchildren and my great grandchildren to witness the beauty of our early architecture. PLease don't let this happen . Once it is gone you can not rebuild it.

I have never paid a donation to a political party. I do not want my name published with submission

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because..
Once Willow Grove is gone, it’s gone forever. The few remaining historical buildings in Parramatta need to remain. Willow Grove has a history, a story. We need to add to the history of Parramatta ( yes) without tearing down It’s past.

I am writing to object to the destruction of the heritage buildings in Parramatta to make way for the proposed Powerhouse Museum.

I urge the State government to abandon the current plan of destroying the few remaining heritage buildings still standing in the city in order to construct a failed design for a Powerhouse in the western suburbs.

Please save the heritage buildings and use them for public purposes.

The museum should not be built on that site for environmental and heritage reasons.

We can have both heritage preservation and new museum facilities - these can be compatible and the State should strive to achieve this for the people of NSW.

I OBJECT TO THE PROPOSED LOCATION OF THE ‘NEW’ POWERHOUSE MUSEUM PARRAMATTA
I have not made any reportable donations.
I have long term links to Parramatta:
- I worked here from 1977 to 1988
- I lived here from 1983 to 1985 and now live here again - from 2018 to date
- In the interim years I lived in Epping – within the Parramatta LGA
- I have been closely involved in various community projects and volunteering activities in Parramatta since my retirement in 2007
- In 2008 I was Parramatta’s ‘Senior Citizen of the Year’ for this work
I am not objecting to the construction of a new museum in the Parramatta City area (following from the recent and eminently sensible announcement that the Ultimo Powerhouse is to remain at its current location); I am objecting to its proposed location. I am objecting on the following grounds:
- much of the proposed new space is planned to be for entertainment and functions – not a museum. This is misleading. The new spin now is that we will get two museums – this is at best misleading. I object to an entertainment precinct being touted as a museum

- The construction of the proposed building on the proposed site would need the destruction of ‘Willow Grove’ and the St George terraces. Both have substantial cultural and historical significance that can never be replaced. They must not be lost

- There is no need to destroy these sites – alternative designs could readily be developed that would save them both - especially now that the Ultimo Powerhouse is no longer to move here

- There is no need to build it at this proposed site – there are other sites where building would not necessitate the destruction of history – these are on the record

- In its haste to be a major CBD, much of Parramatta’s history is under stress and threat – once the Lennox Tower, Meriton’s huge towers and the other new developments already under way are completed the nature of this part of Parramatta will be vastly changed. There is no need to further compromise that future with the proposed ‘museum’

- with ‘Willow Grove’ and The Terraces gone and buildings like the ‘El Phoenician’ demolished (for walkways to the proposed building) the character of this area will be gone – we will have lost the opportunity for it to be constructively preserved as a living part of our city and our sense of history and place

- Parramatta is an historical jewel that we all have responsibility for. It can be a major city that also preserves its history. It wouldn’t be the first to achieve this. We just need the will. Now.

Dear Marcus,

I strongly object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because it is totally ludicrous to destroy heritage in order to build some expensive, frequently substandard structure in order to display our heritage.
Where is the sense or logic? Willowgrove is a beautiful example of Austalias past.
Please think outside the square and preserve our Heritage.

Regards
Eva Fleck

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because the destruction of Willow Grove would be a disaster for Parramatta history. The Cumberland Hospital precinct is the ideal area keeping the history there as well.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because the Willow Grove and St George’s Terrace are unique and important heritage areas that need to be saved. Also the Powerhouse Museum needs to stay in its inner city , purpose built location.
I have not made any reportable political donations and I wish my name to be excluded from the submission