I object to the Powerhouse Museum because it is at the expense of heritage in Parramatta.
Willow grove and the terraces are an important part of our heritage.
I am proud westie , born in Parramatta. I love this city . Aside from our awesome community, what makes it special as a CBD location is the blend of new developments and our historical buildings. Our heritage must be protected.
I don't object to the Museum itself. But I do object the museum being built at the expense of Willow Grove and our terraces.

Dear Madam/Sir,

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta. When at work I'm a frequent passer-byer of the heritage villa, Willow Grove, and St George's Terrace.

I object to these buildings being demolished to make way for the Powerhouse Parramatta. I will withdraw my objection if both these constructions can be included in the new Powerhouse project.

Re: The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the “Powerhouse Parramatta” project
I object to the project for many reasons some of which are as follows:
• The statement fails to include the construction and operational impacts of demolishing the existing complex at Ultimo, of which there are many. Why destroy an existing world-class collection and precinct in the name of what the good people of Parramatta might ‘deserve’? Parramatta and western Sydney has its own marvellous history. Celebrate it by showcasing it in its own building and with its own collection. Leave Ultimo alone. It has been said that the Ultimo complex is no longer ‘fit for purpose’. It seems, rather, that the ‘purpose’ has been redefined to allow for current development intentions.
• The statement fails to address the many publicly articulated local community concerns and sensitivities regarding the proposed demolition of existing culturally significant buildings, viz, ‘Willow Grove’ and St George’s terrace. To demolish existing heritage buildings to create space for an excuse for a museum is not an intelligent project.
• The statement fails to convince that the new complex will properly display items and objects as they were displayed at Ultimo, indeed, there does not appear to be any space dedicated to display of existing collection items; nor does there appear to be sufficient space allocated for objects under climate-controlled conditions.
• The statement fails to convince that the complex will act as a museum at all. It does suggest that it will house any number of commercial activities and will likely be a soulless as the surrounds of Darling Harbour. The statement fails to integrate the early history of the original collection from 1879 into the present.
• The statement fails to offer a design in keeping with the social, historical, and cultural heritage of Parramatta, a city which today hardly suggests it had any history of early settlement at all. From the plans, the proposed building is just another pile of steel and concrete among many and which resembles, yes, a ‘milk crate’.
• The statement fails to convince that the complex will be accessible. It is said that Parramatta is the geographical centre of the city of Sydney. Where is the appropriate transport? How does the deserving population of Western Sydney travel to the complex? How does the visitor from Broken Hill, Bega or Ballina do the same? Not to mention the expected hoards from Barcelona and Beirut. And where do they park their vehicle?
• The statement suggests certain costs such as for development … for which, read, demolition of existing heritage building, redesign of streetscape, create new laneways, coping with the flood zone; and then for construction … read: employment costs, building materials, kickbacks to builders, etc. The figures are mind-boggling. If such amounts are available for such a project what does this suggest about a government which has also removed significant trees in the cause of light rail, created a hole where a stadium once was, persists in ignoring the pleas of the Windsor community regarding the destruction of the Macquarie era heritage precinct of Thompson Square and the demolition of a valued local Windsor bridge. Corruption leaps to mind. NSW taxpayers’ money can be better spent.
• Lastly, the EIS fails to convince that the Government has any conception that Parramatta could have its own world class museum, with its own purpose, without the destruction by dispersal of an existing world class museum collection and buildings in Ultimo.

I lived in the Parramatta district during my formative teens. I attended school. I understood then the significance of both its early settlement and its convict history (a forebear spent time in the Female Factory), plus its place as a destination for generations of newcomers to Sydney. That is what should be celebrated—with a complex dedicated to that purpose and on an appropriate site.


Jennifer Halloran Brookes
21 Rossi Street
Yass NSW 2582
03/07/2020

It has come to my attend that there is a "their proposal to demolish heritage
buildings Willow Grove Villa and St Georges Terraces to build the ‘Powerhouse Parramatta”

If this is true the logic does no stack up
- destroy historical heritage to preserve items worthy of a museum!!!! What nonsense!!!

I am not arguing on detail but on the principle stated above.
All levels of Australian governments over the decades have not properly respected and treasured our cultural heritage.
If this historical building were to be destroyed, it would be another example of disregard for our architectural heritage.

These building could be maintained AND repurpose.

Please have the courage to say NO and think outside the box

I most strongly OBJECT to the Powerhouse Parramatta project.

I am dismayed that our cultural heritage is not being respected and preserved. All too often it is demolished in the name of progress and replaced with something far inferior.

Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces are excellent examples of architecture that exists nowhere else in Parramatta and for that reason their preservation is paramount.

It is galling to see how little we value our history. In Europe, the architectural history of towns and cities is preserved, making them a major drawcard in tourism. If Parramatta is to become a major drawcard for tourism, then buildings such as these must not be demolished.

The social history of Parramatta has not been adequately studied and reported on in the EIS and for this reason,the demolition must not proceed.

I have not made any reportable donations to political parties.

The destruction of the Ultimo site, the jeopardy that major objects will be placed in in the course of removal, the destruction of St George Terrace and Willow Grove are the reasons for my objection. Siting a museum with the valuable objects on a flood plain also seems to be an act of folly. Let Parramatta have its own museum and keep the Powerhouse where it is.

I fully object to the parramatta Powerhouse project. It doesn't make any economic or social sense and it is at the expense of beautiful heritage buildings that cannot be replaced. Even if you are benefiting financially from this, those benefits do not outweigh the costs on any level. It is a travesty to our future to knock down so many stunning heritage buildings that have immense character. When Jack Mundey marched the streets of The Rocks, he was undermined for being antiprogressive. Please think about what The Sydney Rocks would look like today if Mundey had not been successful in his opposition to 'progress' ...

And i will leave you with a short video of the home my parents once lived in adjacent to Parramatta park. They were told when Parramatta Council removed the many trees from the verge that the result would be way better. It's now exactly what my parents told council it would become ... a junk yard for old couches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ9a6zp4FT0&list=PLzZ6deJHpszg623CCd9AYq0wntnrHebog

I have lived and worked in Sydney and Summer Hill for many years and visited the ‘River City’ on my days off.
More and more we live in confined concrete jungles. Historical and green spaces become a quiet Oasis for the mind, the eyes and create a sense of belonging. Willow Grove: an established green Oasis - supplying oxygen to polluted city air and a much needed refuge for birds.

Heritage and history is and always will be important. It is not enough to put sentences of respect for the land on a bras tag of a new building or create new playgrounds.

Is it not important for State Heritage and for future generations to preserve and honour historical buildings and parks like Willow Grove, St George’s Terrace, the ‘old Parramatta’?

We have responsibilities in life and they are not just about making money!

I urge you to re-consider this project, save the billions for the new Parramatta Powerhouse Museum construction as well as the move and use this money for preserving history and natural established parks. I also know for a fact that many people in the community think that way…

Sincerely,

Tanya Iseli