Attached.

I object to the design and location of the Parramatta Powerhouse as currently proposed by the NSW Government. While I strongly support more arts and cultural investment in Western Sydney - and believe Parramatta deserves a world-class museum - this should not come at the expense of its cherished heritage. It is ultimately unacceptable to me that any museum should destroy Willow Grove and St George’s Terrace.

Given the Government has recently abandoned its plan, promised since 2014, to move the museum from Ultimo to Parramatta, I believe it should abandon the current EIS process. Community consultation should begin anew and other, better options for a museum put forward.

I make this short submission as a resident of Charles Street, Parramatta since mid-2016. I also have deep roots in north-west Sydney, having grown up in Carlingford and West Pennant Hills. Even back in the 1980s and 1990s, my family always looked to Parramatta for its incredible shopping, great parks and one of Sydney’s best libraries.

I am very proud of how Parramatta has grown since that time. As I’ve gotten older I’ve also gained so much more appreciation of Parramatta’s rich Aboriginal history and its special status as Australia’s first inland European settlement; as a centre of farming, an early seat of government and place of female emancipation. New waves of migrants have settled in and around Parramatta, making it one of Sydney’s multicultural areas. Yet people can still marvel at buildings like the Female Factory, Old Government House and other fascinating examples of early architecture - and be transported back in time.

I would be a five minute walk from the proposed museum. There is already heavy construction where I live, including multiple residential towers (of various aesthetic merit), a new high rise school, a light rail line and proposed Metro line. It’s a dynamic neighbourhood filled with activity 24 hours a day - and I acknowledge the great efforts of all the tradies and construction workers who are building the future of Parramatta with machinery and bare hands.

Yet building Parramatta’s future doesn’t mean we should obliterate its past. The world’s great cities don’t walk away from their history. They balance old and new. I think here of London, Paris and the other grand old capitals of Europe, the temples and shrines of Japanese cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, or even areas like The Rocks in Sydney. It’s possible to support an ambitious, forward-looking vision for Parramatta while holding onto the character and memories that make it special. Willow Grove, formerly a maternity hospital, is an oasis of tranquility in a city changing fast. It has great potential to be opened up to the community further - its front garden perhaps used as a pocket park for yoga or tai chi classes or office workers on their lunch break. The St George’s Terrace are indicative of Victorian era terraces - and a stark contrast from the apartments being thrown up in Parramatta today.

For me, and I suspect many in the community, this is in fact the point. There are so many new buildings going up in Parramatta today - and that’s great, we’re a CBD - but we need to hold onto the old buildings as well.

Museums thrive best when they enjoy popular legitimacy and support from the community they are meant to serve. Unfortunately, the Government lacks a mandate for its current proposal. The original concept of relocating the Ultimo museum (and presumably much of its contents - such as the infamous locomotive) has collapsed. In addition, the Government promised to consider designs for the Parramatta Powerhouse that incorporated Willow Grove. In February 2019, Premier Gladys Berejiklian acknowledged: “We’ve always said of course our intention is to save it”. This was a promise made to the people of Parramatta a month before the state election. It is a promise broken. After the loss of the War Memorial Pool, the Royal Oak Hotel and the forced closure of the Parramatta Speedway, I don’t believe the Government’s wrecking ball should be allowed to swing through Willow Grove and St George’s Terrace as well.

There are better locations for an iconic Parramatta Museum - even a Parramatta Powerhouse - that do not destroy heritage but in fact compliment it. I urge the Government to consider the heritage areas of North Parramatta, particularly the Cumberland Hospital campus, which will eventually be accessible by light rail. There is exciting potential to maximise this precinct with visitors, students and other creative and start-up activity.

The Government should recognise that it has made no progress since 2014 and frittered away whatever community goodwill it enjoyed towards this project. Start consulting and respecting the Parramatta community and present us with a concept for a museum that builds on the city’s heritage and sense of place. A museum that celebrates history - rather than destroys it.

see attached

I’m making a submission to state that I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project.

The reason
My family and I visited Parramatta this time two years ago to see a lost relative at the St John’s Cemetery in Parramatta – Ann Davis.
The history that surrounds our family is all located within Parramatta including – Willow Grove.
Ann Davis came out from one of the ships from the First Fleet which based itself in Sydney.
A book has been written about our family called – ‘Convicted’ by Peter Bradley which indicated our history in Sydney and Parramatta.
I would hate to see history / family heritage / be destroyed for future generations – my family generations - where we can stand and say we are a part of this place.
I hope you consider other options for our family history and other families who like us can’t believe this was even considered.
We are part of the First Fleeters – my father who is 78years was devastated when I told him what was considered.

I find the issue of dismantling the Powerhouse Museum an act of cultural vandalism. Your government champions it as a 'relocation' to gloss over the destruction of a world class and internationally recognised museum.

It's disappointing that you can't be honest about the financial motivation to turn over the real estate to LNP friendly developers. Decades of dedication and hard work has contributed to the building of a Sydney icon which you now want to rip apart and tear up the fabric which has entertained and educated generations of both local and overseas visitors.

The relevance of Australian and particularly NSW history is paramount at this establishment but your government seems hellbent on trampling over what meant so much to so many in your unquenchable thirst for asset sales. The state government's reputation for delivering on time and on budget is non existent but your exuberance for selling anything of value is insatiable.

Constructing a non expandable building on a flood plain to house only a portion of what the museum has built up over the years defies logic and slaps the faces of those who have developed this wonderful institution over many many years. The building is totally unsuitable for purpose and looks more like an event centre than a museum. A lack of disclosure of a business model would indicate their is none or it is unfavourable to the government.

I have heard endless expressions of opposition to the project but very little support. The concept of 'relocation' can also apply to support at the ballot box.