I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project.

Because already Sydney has lost enough of it's identity due to "progress".

By tearing down our beautiful and grand old buildings that are rich in history, deep in character and that have huge architectural significance, decimates our community's sense of place, identity and connection, and, i believe, is also criminal.

Let's preserve the last of our modern history for future Australian generations and save Willow Grove Villa and St. Georges Terrace's.

And let's NOT move the Powerhouse from Ultimo and keep it where it is.

I have not made any reportable political donations.
Please withhold my personal information from my submission.

Process
- Consultation should not be occurring in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis. It is not business as usual and things of this nature should be suspended
- I note the State Government cynically released the architects design to the public including the controversial demolition of Willow Grove just before Xmas. No wonder trust in politicians is at a record low. Do they really think voters are stupid?
- The Covid-19 effects on the State economy are likely to be profound. Activities of this nature should be reviewed to see if money could be better spent in more critical areas (hospitals, nurses etc) once the immediate crisis has passed
- Public consultation should be broadened from what you want this Powerhouse Museum development to achieve to should this development happen at all. If not, what should go there instead.

Concept
- The Powerhouse museum should remain in Glebe. It is common knowledge the State Government wants the Parramatta development to happen to free up the land in Glebe for redevelopment.
- The close association of certain members of this Government and developers is noted and will no doubt be subject to review by ICAC should the development proceed unchanged.
- Parramatta Council and all local residents I know are opposed. The only people possibly in favour would be some retailers who will gain from increased foot traffic.
- Unfortunately Parramatta residents are too busy surviving to protest and complain. That’s a middle class activity. Try this in Balmain or Killara and see what happens.
- There is a dearth of cultural facilities in Parramatta but the Powerhouse is too large and the wrong sort of cultural institution for Parramatta. A smaller museum that focuses on Western Sydney and culturally significant aspects such as sport etc would be more in keeping with the region.
- The size of the building is insufficient for the Powerhouse's existing exhibits. The Powerhouse should remain in Glebe, where it belongs, and a much smaller museum should be built on the site adaptively reusing the heritage already there.

Site Design
- The site is a poor choice being prone to flooding. The design to mitigate against this is expensive. I hope the operators factor in a large cleaning budget because that riverbank is overtopped every second time it rains. (I’ve lived next to the river for 31 years and know this better than any hydraulic engineer).
- The Trustees of Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences or whoever should be demanding more maintenance money for a building of that design. Window cleaning? Bird control (plenty of feral pigeons around)? Siting of utilities?
- The design is typically postmodern and looks hideous. An Army pillbox would be marginally more attractive.
- Architects have been let off the lease so the result is to be expected. Funny how they didn’t want to keep Willow Grove and the Terraces. No doubt they were given the hint in the briefing. .
- A winner of a design competition simply means architects judging other architects. Here’s a revolutionary idea- put up half a dozen designs and ask local residents to vote on it. Include in each design a construction budget. Architects would HATE it- that in itself tells you it’s a great idea.
- Willow Grove should be retained and adaptively reused as part of the site offering. At a minimum the façade of the Terraces should be preserved.
- A smaller building would allow Willow Grove to be retained. If necessary Willow Grove could be physically moved forwards notwithstanding chimneys, stone foundations etc as happens in Canada.

Cultural Vandalism
- There is relatively little heritage left in Parramatta. What’s left should be preserved.
- Willow Grove is a particularly beautiful building. The site it is on is particularly beautiful.
- There aren't many Terraces left in Parramatta. If this Govt has its way there will be even less.
- The building is heritage protected. What does it say about a Govt prepared to ignore its own laws to bulldoze through a development nobody particularly wants? -- If Government is so convinced they are right I’ll set Govt a challenge. Take a photo of Willow Grove and a photo of the Lightbox and ask ordinary residents which they prefer. Then respect that decision. No surprise this suggestion won’t ever be taken up.

I note the CFMEU, reflecting community sentiment, is showing leadership on this issue with a Green Ban. I'm not generally a fan of militant unions but all power to them.

Please see the attached letter supporting Powerhousing Parramatta.

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.