I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project.
I believe I need to make it known that I have not made any political donations.

My reasons are not many nor too lengthy but simply – Australian History. More importantly Parramatta History.
We have had numerous historical buildings demolished over the years and very soon we will have no heritage whatsoever to pass on to our children and grandchildren.

Yes Parramatta is a very Multi-Cultural area, so maybe the history isn’t as important to our overseas citizens as to those born here right now, but those children that are born here have the right to know Australian history as well as their other parents and Grandparents. I would never deny anyone from keeping their own culture alive. But we need to keep our heritage alive as well.

The observation that ‘the West” need to have a cultural Museum nearby is not withstanding. A simple Ferry ride or train ride into the City is not expensive and allows families to have a great day out.

Please rethink this.

One of the other sites proposed earlier was the Parramatta Golf Course. That site is still vacant and very little demolition would be required.
(Or maybe a new swimming pool will be built there as promised – however that’s a whole different story.)

Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,

Judy Richards

The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences holds one of the world’s best collections. It not only tells the many stories of NSW people, history, innovation, industry and culture, it also tells nationally and internationally significant stories. It set new benchmarks for museums in Australia in the 1870s, 1930s, 1980s and 21st century. There is no doubt that the current Powerhouse Museum is a shadow of its former glory. The last five years of indecision, confusion and imposed interpretations of its mission and collections have taken a huge toll. The Museum has also always been for its people - its visitors, communities, collaborators and stakeholders. It’s is one of the richest repositories of knowledge held in Australia. The fight to protect it shows the deep love and respect held by these people. The focus for the future should be on what is needed for the next generations, not on short term political expediency. Has anyone asked what the people of Parramatta and the communities of western Sydney specifically need? Do they want this permeable, multiuse, display, sort of arts institution? Or would they like an interactive Science Centre for their kids? Sydney does not have one unlike Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth. Powerhouse Museum can certainly deliver an amazing new facility for this using some of its collections and expertise in this area. The Powerhouse was the first truly interactive museum in Australia in 1988 - that expertise has not been extinguished. Science and technology are their strengths as shown by their ongoing work at the Observatory and on the main site. The exhibition for the anniversary of the Apollo moon landings were very popular and lauded. Why couldn’t there be a Scienceworks, Exploratorium or Science Museum in London type of museum/centre next to the Parramatta River. I could see families and school children flocking to this type of exciting and educational place. Such a centre could be delivered on a much smaller budget without the issue of flood mitigation, environmental controls or trying to house a 700 tonne locomotive on the first floor. This is just one idea that as far as I know has not been explored or suggested to the western Sydney communities or to the wider Sydney communities. I submit that people want the Powerhouse Museum revitalised on its existing site and maybe something in Parramatta as well - they want to be proud of Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and they want it all together, not with bits hived off in costume institutes, temporary displays and display storage at Castle Hill. The Museum belongs to everyone and this project is taking it away from everyone. Before any more money is wasted the people of NSW should be asked what they want from their museums and what they need for their kids and grand kids. They should be asked where their museums and collections should be and how they want to access them - on site and online. People love and trust museums because they have the real thing for them to see up close and personal. They want it free and that want it accessible. This project does not deliver to any of these needs or expectations. It needs to stop and be recast now. Perhaps the new Western Australian Museum can show what can be done for half of the proposed budget for this ill defined and obviously not world class project. For this budget the existing Powerhouse Museum could be redeveloped and a satellite Science Centre built at Parramatta and still have money left over. Please lets save the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences.

I OBJECT TO THE POWERHOUSE PARRAMATTA PROJECT AND OUTLINES APPEAR BELOW.


• Social history and the loss of sense of place and character of Parramatta are important as they have not been adequately studied and reported on in the Environmental Impact Statement.

The importance of Willow Grove to women’s history as a maternity hospital for over three decades for people of Parramatta to the early 1950s.

• Overall cumulative impacts of further heritage destruction in Parramatta currently been undertaken, make Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces vital to retain for communities’ sense of place.

• Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces are rare examples of architecture that no longer exist in Parramatta CBD and should be retained.

I object to the project ‘Powerhouse Parramatta’ for a number of reasons:
- This project will mean the destruction of Willow Grove and St Georges terraces. I enjoy discovering Parramatta’s historical buildings and would like my children do be able to do the same. Alas if they are destroyed they will not be replaceable.
- I believe that the Berejiklian government decide to go ahead with ridiculous and un-needed destructions and developments using my taxes. Even after many of these are demonstrated to be bad for the environment, heritage and economy they are pushed on forward. This government does not listen to reason and will not ever change it's collective view. The move of the Powerhouse is one such example. The PowerHouse in Sydney does NOT need moving at all, but if it IS moved it should not be at the cost of such an important historical site. Additionally the cost of the move and maintaining the collection (and moving the changing collections in and out will be an ongoing cost.) I also believe that the current Powerhouse site in Sydney will be sold off as development which will cause a further loss of historical site outside of Parramatta.

The Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo is an icon of Sydney's cultural landscape, and should not be demolished and relocated to Parramatta. This is not to say Parramatta does not deserve a new museum to help the decentralisation of Sydney's CBDs, on the contrary a museum built to showcase the Indigenous, colonial and environmental heritage of Parramatta would be extremely beneficial for the cultural development of Western Sydney. However, this does not have to come at the expense of other cultural and heritage assets already existing in Ultimo and Parramatta. The cost of this project is completely unjustifiable and exemplifies the current NSW Government's need for unnecessary re-development, and their blatant disregard for community consultation. It is shocking that the government can insist on development projects such as this when the overwhelming community consensus, across all of Greater Sydney, is that we do not want it.

I strongly opposed the construction of the Powerhouse Museum at Parramatta and urge the government to reconsider destroying an integral piece of Ultimo's history, and to instead consult with the greater Parramatta community about the construction of a more inclusive, relevant museum that encourages tourism, job growth and sustainable design.

I strongly object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because of the destruction of Willowgrove and other heritage sites in the area. A sense of place and the character of Parramatta are important to the people in our community.

Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces are beautiful examples of architecture that no longer exist in Parramatta CBD and should be retained for our children to enjoy as we have enjoyed them. The people of Western Sydney and our heritage count. There are other sites in Parramatta that could be explored as better options for the Powerhouse Museum.

I have not made any reportable political donations and wish for my name to be withheld from being published with this submission.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project on the grounds that it is an unnecessary waste of public funds and I also object to the demolition of the buildings currently on the site being Willow Lodge and the Terraces. I also object to the removal of objects to the site from the current Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo.
The proposed building at Parramatta is also too small and unfit for purpose as a museum. It is a function centre.

Dear Sir/Madam, It beggars belief that this project is progressing. Relocation of the musuem to a smaller, flood prone site that cannot house many of the musuem's collection can only be considered an act of cultural vandalism being carried out to serve short term political expediency ( winning votes in Western Sydney) and a poorly devised real estate deal ( development of the musuem's current site). Should this project progress, the state will lose an important and much loved ( if neglected and under funded) institution and gain nothing in return.
If there can be shown a need to relocate it ,why not relocate it to Newcastle where there are no major state government funded cultural facilities at all , instead of a half hour train ride from its current location? At least such a dramatic move could be justified by promoting a parity of cultural expenditure and making the state's cultural institions accessible to residents outside the Sydney metropolitan area. As a state institution, the interests of ALL residents of NSW should be considered as the first priority. This proposal is being done to serve a minority of residents and is not in the states'interests. Relocation to this particular site in Parramatta is to put it simply one of the dumbest and least defensible proposals ever promoted by a state government in NSW. It is a political proposal without sound planning or policy objectives that should be rejected unless a more suitable site can be found that can house the majority of the musuem's collection and the large scale pieces within the collection in a safe, secure and permanent museum that is easily accessible to all citizens of the state.

Until such an alternative proposal is developed, the current project fails to adhere to the objectives of the act, in particular
Clause 1.3 (a) to promote the social and economic welfare of the community and a better environment by the proper management, development and conservation of the State’s natural and other resources:
The current proposal fails to convincingly defend the need to relocate the museum from its current site instead of renovating it.
Clause 1.3.(b to facilitate ecologically sustainable development by integrating relevant economic, environmental and social considerations in decision-making about environmental planning and assessment,
The current proposal is on flood prone land meaning that much of the floorspace is lost, increasing the construction cots requiring additional commercial space to be included to offfset the cost with no benefit to the citizens of NSW.
Clause 1.3.(f) (f) to promote the sustainable management of built and cultural heritage (including Aboriginal cultural heritage),
The exisitng museum is not so old that it cannot successfully be renovated/upgraded, therefore the life cycle sustainability of the exisitng buildings has not been considered in the assessment.
Clause 1.3 (g) to promote good design and amenity of the built environment,
The proposed design cannot be regarded as good design as it fails to house much of the exisitng collection, and even if a rotating collection is proposed many of the major exhibits simply don't fit. Placing a cultural institution like a museum on flood prone land is planning madness!
(j) to provide increased opportunity for community participation in environmental planning and assessment.
The proposal has not been subject to adequate public consultation as the decision to move the musuem was announced before alternatives were presented to the public for comment.
Please reject this proposal.
Regards Andrew Sweeney

I object to the Parramatta Powerhouse project.
Parramatta needs to keep as many of its historical sites and buildings as possible. The powerhouse relocation to Parramatta will cause the loss of Willow House and St Georges Terrace. These need to be saved as they are attractive, historical and important features in Parramatta. Some of the main attractions to visitors in Parramatta are the open spaces and historical buildings. Yet more of these will be lost with the construction of this project.
It is easier for most people in the Greater Sydney region to travel to the city than to the Current Powerhouse site than Parramatta. Also whilst they are in the city they are near other museums such as the Maritime museum and can possibly visit both together. Car parking is difficult and expensive in Parramatta and public transport is often crowded, infrequent and inconvenient. The site of the project is a long way from the railway station. Most transport in other parts of the Greater Sydney Metropolitan area radiate inwards or outwards from the city . This means if you live in most parts of Sydney that are not near Parramatta you would first need to travel into the city and then out to Parramatta to visit the new museum. This would deter people from visiting it. Parramatta is already crowded with traffic and transport problems and this will only worsen with a new museum.
The current site and condition of the present Powerhouse museum in Sydney is excellent. It seems poor planning to move a successful museum with good public transport links. Parramatta lacks the efficient public transport of the city has and is already struggling with over development. It would lose historically significant and attractive buildings due to this project.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project, because:
- the Environmental Impact Statement has not appropriately investigated or appraised the site's social history, especially that of the Willow Grove Villa and St George Terraces heritage sites
- both the Willow Grove Villa and St George Terraces demonstrate significant examples of unique architecture in the Parramatta area
- As a maternity hospital, the Willow Grove Villa site is important in illustrating early 20th century Australian women's history. The site provides a continuation of Parramatta's female history begun by the Female Factory and Female Orphan School.