Sydney Modern Gallery

I object to this proposal on the following grounds:

1 the long-term viability of this building extension has not been demonstrated
2 the destruction of public green space should not be supported
3 funds could be better used in acquiring artworks and employing primary staff
4 increasing the size of the existing building does not meet the main purpose of the Art
Gallery
5 there is a more pressing need to fund regional galleries
6 the second major city, Parramatta, cries out for an art gallery

OBJECTION to the Sydney Modern Proposal. NO Political Donations.
My Objection is to the Location of the project, Destruction of trees and the loss of green space to the Public, appropriation of Botanic Gardens land arrogant refusal to adequately compensate the RBG.
The most appropriate place to build the Sydney Modern extension is to the SouthEast of the present Gallery, towards the Domain Parking Station. The buildings could be linked and generously proportioned.
The proposal as planned will destroy the Heritage District of Mrs Macquaries' Rd., the beautiful OLD trees and the green space over the disused tanks which is a highly frequented area for sporting activities.
This plan is inappropriate in the way land is being stolen from the RBG without adequate compensation....what arrogance!.

I am very concerned at the loss of trees and of freely available public space. Once a building is placed on the footprint of the proposed development, the AGNSW will control opening hours, and is free to close any part of the building for private functions at will. I have reviewed the Grounds of Objection lodged by Chesterman Andrews Appleton and Donald and agree with their recommendation on the basis of those grounds.'

I am totally in support of the Sydney Modern extension to the AGNSW. The Gallery has a very large collection which is scarcely ever shown to the public. It needs more space to hold major retrospective and curated exhibitions. Its facilities are outdated and outclassed by other major Galleries in Australia. The SAANA. design is sympathetic to the site and the use of the disused oil tanks is exciting and imaginative and will help Sydney become a greater "Destination" city. To hear that one of the objections from the Botanical Gardens Trust is that they will lose parking revenue is astounding -- this could surely be compensated to them by the NSW Govt. Cultural institutions should be encourGed to expand, not be treated like unnecessary accessories. Down with further billion dollar stadiums

As a resident of Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf, I am very concerned about the visual impact Sydney modern will have upon the area. Both for myself as a resident, the local businesses and visitors to the area.

I am especially concerned, because there was no clear consideration of the visual impact on The Finger Wharf - one of Sydney's important Heritage buildings. One point (at the end of the Wharf) was taken as an example and the comment in the report was that few people would be affected.

I have the following concerns:
* The building is very prominent when viewed from the wharf.
* The colour of the building is stark white
* The flat roofs are stark and reflective
* Many large and old trees are being removed for the building and future landscaping does not meet the previous amount of greenery.

I propose the following remedial actions:
* Colours - more natural / designed to blend in / complement the existing buildings.
* Gardens - extensive planting around the building and on the roof spaces.
* Rooftop gardens - used extensively, in a similar way to Lincoln Crescent site.
* Green curtains - foliage to grow down the building, again to make it blend in, especially on sections of sheer wall.
* Trees -to break up the building and to allow the building to blend in.

In summary, the building needs to have much more greenery, especially mature trees, and more subtle colouring.

I wish to object to the proposed extension to the Art Gallery of NSW for the following reasons.

The proposed building design appears unsympathetic to the form of the existing Art Gallery and will have adverse impacts on visitor access and the approaches to Mrs Macquarie's point and the east entrance to the Gardens, if constructed.

The placement of the Sydney Modern, as proposed, will require a major encroachment into important public land adjacent to the Domain and the adjoining Royal Botanic Gardens which provide vital open space in this historic and much appreciated part of the city.

There has been insufficient informed consultation to date with stakeholder groups and the interested public. There also appear to have been little attention given to its location on alternative sites which would bring visitors to other areas of Sydney requiring revitalisation and cultural experience and expression. This is a lost opportunity to set the Sydney Modern in its own space with all the advantages that would bring.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

As a relatively new resident of Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf, I am very concerned about the visual and environmental impact Sydney modern will have upon the area. This concern is held for both myself as a resident, the local businesses and visitors to the area.

The wharf is a unique and spectacular historic site that is visited by many international and national visitors year round. It holds views that are some of the finest in Sydney, and my concern is that the proposed plans - as they stand- will be extremely detrimental to these views, as well as the environment of the wharf and surrounding gardens.

My concerns include that:
The proposed building will be prominent when viewed from the wharf, and thus reduce privacy and make the wharf feel 'overlooked'

A major concern for me is that many large and old trees are being removed for the building, and vegetation disturbed. Moreover, the building itself is quite stark. As this area and its surrounding harbour park is a unique and historic environment, I am concerned this will be reduced - to a significant detriment for the surrounding area.
.
Finally I am concerned that increased numbers of people (large numbers) will create significant noise, and congestion. This will be a disasterous to an area that already carries a significant amount of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.


1. I would propose the following remedial actions to be considered - with more natural, blended colours designed to complement existing buildings.
2.Extensive planting around the building and on the roof spaces. Use of rooftop gardens in a similar fashion to Lincoln Cresent site.
3. Use of trees to break up the building and to allow the building to blend in on the side of the wharf. Also - relocation of existing mature trees where possible and planting of new trees. These will help to reduce noise as well as other possible noise barriers.

Thank you for your consideration

As an individual interested in both the Arts and Botanics
I would like to provide comment on the Sydney Modern Plan.

Whilst I understand it is important for the Art Gallery of NSW to expand and have more of an international presence and to have the ability to host a greater range of exhibitions I do think there are some aspects which need greater consideration in regards to the RBG Sydney.

These aspects are:

The loss of green space from the RBG Sydney.

I think in in such a large city with many residents and visitors it is imperative to try and keep green spaces for all. Perhaps there are alternatives to the loss of this green space or other areas that could be made into green spaces nearby to the RBG Sydney?

The loss of trees especially outside the Woolloomooloo gates.

Even if other trees are replanted these still need to be established. In the short term are there other green initiatives or things that can be done to improve this space?

Impact of the Seawater Heat Exchange on the RGB Sydney.

Consideration needs to be given as to what affect there will be on the RGB Sydney land and its ecology with this system
running.

As a resident of Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf, I am very concerned about the visual impact Sydney modern will have upon the area. Both for myself as a resident, the local businesses and visitors to the area. The views are some of the finest in Sydney and the plan, as it is, will be extremely detrimental to these views.
I have the following concerns:
* The building is prominent when viewed from the wharf.
* The building will reduce privacy and make the wharf feel 'overlooked'
* The colour of the building is start white
* Areas of the building are sheer walls with no winds
* Areas of the building are stark, flat roof - with no vegetation of visual
* Many large and old trees are being removed for the building
* Noise: large numbers of people will create significant noise
I propose the following remedial actions:
* Colours - more natural / designed to blend in / complement the existing buildings.
* Gardens - extensive planting around the building and on the roof spaces.
* Rooftop gardens - used extensively, in a similar way to the Lincoln Cresent site.
* Green curtains - foliage to grow down the building, again to make it blend in, especially on sections of sheer wall.
* Trees - trees to break up the building and to allow the building to blend in on the side of the wharf.
* Trees - relocation of existing mature trees where possible and planting of new trees
* Noise barriers - such a fencing and foliage
In summary, the building needs to have much more greenery, especially mature tree, and more subtle colours to make it blend into the current landscape. This gives the opportunity to make the building a positive addition to the area, rather than the current plan, which would have an extremely negative impact.

Warm regards

Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE), Parramatta is a Western Sydney-based community arts organisation. Established in 1984, we create with, educate and train some of Sydney's most disadvantaged communities: Aboriginal, At-risk Youth, Artists with Disability, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) artists and families, Refugees and Migrants. ICE fully supports the proposed Sydney Modern Project. It is our firm view that the project:
- Presents the visionary opportunity for a much-needed and long-overdue capital upgrade of one of Australia's pre-eminent cultural institutions;
- Will reap substantial economic, social engagement and audience development dividend for the people of Sydney and NSW;
- Provides the architectural, curatorial and programming framework to substantially increase audience and educative engagement with a diverse range of disadvantaged Western Sydney communities;
- Will give the Art Gallery of NSW a range of new and proactive platforms to expand its ongoing and much valued commitment to engaging with audiences, educators and communities from Western Sydney;
- Will enable visitors (local, national and international) to have an enriched and more complete experience of the artistic and cultural history of Australia;
- Offers the chance for the Art Gallery of NSW to explore new areas of artistic/cultural and exhibition practice; and, as a corollary anticipate, develop, engage, entertain and educate new audiences;
- Firmly heralds and takes Sydney into the future, whilst at the same time respecting and celebrating the past;
- Shares a unique provenance with other visionary cultural capital works development e.g. the Sydney Opera House, MONA and the Guggenheim Bilbao

Information and Cultural Exchange is proud to support the project. It will be well worth the investment.

As a member of the Art Gallery Society of NSW, and of its Council, and coordinator of the volunteers who contribute their time and assistance to the Art Gallery of NSW, I support the application for expansion of the Gallery, known as Sydney Modern. The current gallery space is prohibitive for staging major international exhibitions, and members' facilities are currently grossly inadequate. Objections on behalf of the Royal Botanic Garden are somewhat clouded by the statement from Clive Austin, chairman of the Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens, that The Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney stands to lose about $400,000 a year and the opportunity to commercialise part of an adjoining site, and will eat into $400,000 of revenue the RBG earns from street parking on its roads - hardly a more important use of currently unusable land. As the premier state arts institution the Art Gallery of NSW needs this expansion in order to compete with interstate galleries, already much larger, and maintain its important place in the Sydney community.

I believe a strong cultural organisation can only help Sydney and NSW flourish. We are truly left behind other states because the AGNSW is too small, unable to accommodate large exhibitions, permanent collection displays, school groups, and increasing number of tourists.

In its current state, the Art Gallery cannot fulfill its mandate adequately.
The collection, a considerable investment of the State and of private donors over the past 150 years, major national and international scholarly exhibitions, education and entertainment will be enabled by the extension.
It will be stunning architecture we can all be proud of and enjoy.
I look forward to being part of this extraordinary project.

I have visited the exhibition of Sydney Modern project plans at the AGNSW and spoken to many people about it. Experts whose opinions I trust have put into better words than I could why they feel these plans are inappropriate. I support their knowledgeable objections.

I have admired and enjoyed the Art Gallery of NSW for many years and I understand the need for more space. But not at the cost of the well-used public spaces around the present building. Why not have a companion gallery in Parramatta? And at the same time, keep the Powerhouse where it is.

We object to the proposed extension to the Art Gallery of NSW for the following reasons.

1. Its construction requires the removal of invaluable parkland adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens, which also is an integral part of green curtilage around the existing Art Gallery building

2. With its alien forms the proposal is an inappropriate architectural response to the fine Art Gallery building.

3. The proposal takes away green space and it blocks out the views of existing building from the east.

4. It has a detrimental impact on the approaches to Mrs Macquarie's chair and the east entrance to the Botanical Gardens.

5. Its location next to the existing gallery in the CBD represents a lost opportunity to decentralise the important cultural role the gallery plays in the artistic life of Sydney.

I wish to object to the DA for the Sydney Modern Art Gallery.

1.It is proposed to be on 'unbuilt land'. It is unbuilt because it is part of the Domain and Botanic Gardens.

2. The historic views to Woolomooloo from the Domain and Botanic Gardens will be lost forever, after 200 +years.

3.What, why and how was the area given out to tender?

4.We need to protect the 'lungs' of the city as the population grows.

5.The winning design appears not a gallery to view contents, but a function centre which deprives us of all of the above.

6.The design itself is best viewed from the sky. It is imposing, unattractive and meaningless from ground level.

7.There is no provision for parking or public transport that would cater for the expected increase in visitors. This is already stretched. Mrs Macquaries Road cannot take more traffic.

8.The oil tank was a gift to the Botanic Gardens. It should be funded to provide much needed new Herbarium or other scientific facilities.
Why is it more difficult to raise funds for the Botanic Gardens than another art Gallery? The government must realise this.

9.There are other much more appropriate sites for the Gallery.

a.The south east corner of the present gallery.

b.The unused underground site at Headland Park, Barangaroo, close to the casinos, SCC, Entertainment Centre, the new city office buildings and many hotels with ready access to train, ferry and bus services. It would be easily accessible and attract many more visitors.

10.Please save our beautiful city from this ill-conceived and unacceptable development .Our Gardens have already been cut up by the expressway. How can this plan be justified in this position?

As an owner of an apartment in the Finger Wharf I would like to register my objection to the proposal in its current form. My main objections to the plans submitted are:
The loss of greenery and green space.
The visual impact of the large blank walls.
The lack of sympathy of the design with the heritage buildings which surround it. The elevation showing the view from the domain of the proposed building juxtaposition against existing art gallery is particularly jarring.
I have a concern for the traffic impact especially in Lincoln Crescent and can only imagine how this will affective parking availability in the vicinity of the Finger Wharf.
I share the views already expressed that particular attention must be paid to retaining more of the greenery and replacing what can't be saved.

I am an architect , planner and urban designer . I have reviewed the drawings and strongly object to the taking of parkland for the art gallery extension. My reasons are : 1) The open space in Sydney is seriously at risk . Much of it has already been lost (Darling Harbour) and this proposal has a high land take. 2) Loosing green space at the same time as increasing residential and commercial densities in the city is counter productive. Most cities are increasing green space not eroding it . 3) The view of the CBD from the east is currently seen across a green ridge . The proposal increases perceived density as the view will now be building upon building forming an upscaled pyramid . This dimishes the clarity of the CBD and the existing Art Gallery. 4) Art Galleries do not require views and buildings that look outwards .5) I also support the submission of Chesterman,Andrews,Appleton .

I strongly object to the development.

The area as it is a precious scenic green public space along the harbour that should be protected for future generations. I think it is ridiculous that the Art Gallery would propose to take it over to build several concrete pavilions.

It is a lovely undeveloped area of public land that blends into the bushland of the botanic gardens. On my way to work I will often pause and appreciate its natural beauty and the unique view of wooloomooloo, the harbour and eastern CBD. And I see other members of the public doing the same. Either relaxing on the grass, taking photos, walking along its bush trail or doing exercise.

The gallery is taking ownership of land that is used and appreciated by the NSW public. There is no public benefit for this proposal. Any cultural institutions can make an argument that they have exhibits in storage and would like more space. The concrete pavilions are so architecturally dissimiliar to the existing art gallery that there is no need to build it next to it.

It is purely a land grab of prime undeveloped land with amazing harbour views for the benefit of the the Art Gallery of NSW. The land of the botanic gardens should be protected from development so it will still be there for future generations.

Just think about it. Basically an institution wants to take land from the botanic gardens to build multistory concrete pavilions for its own benefit. It is an absurd concept.

There has also be very little public awareness of this proposal. I was only aware of it because of one newspaper article. Otherwise I would never have known. There needs to be more awareness. Otherwise people won't know till they see the bulldozers ripping up the botanic gardens and turning it into a construction site. Then it will be too late to do anything.

As a young adult, I absolutely love the art gallery! As I found such and peaceful but creative place to find myself and connect with the art but also to bring my friends and family. When I was at school I remember my school SCEGGS Darlinghurst taking me there multiple times a year and it was such a fresh breath of air and I think it would be excellent to have a new building to show even more work. I strongly support the new building.

That the diminishment of public parklands and the Domain is unwarranted. Why didn't AGNSW attempt ancillary sites within the CBD? So much for vision.