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.

I object to the Project on the following grounds:

1. Unacceptable loss due to destruction of heritage buildings
Heritage buildings are irreplaceable and belong to all Australians. The loss of heritage items is an unacceptable burden on society and our history and a new museum is not an adequate reason, if there is any, to destroy irreplaceable heritage items.

2. Existing and proposed museum not mutually exclusive
It is not unusual for a museum to have one or more annexes, as the Powerhouse already does. Creating a more substantial satellite to the Ultimo museum would be complementary to the existing exhibition and storage spaces.

3. Great cities offer the widest possible range of cultural attractions as close as possible to their centres
Great cities do not sacrifice world-class cultural institutions to build new ones in satellite cities such as Parramatta: they manage to operate both.

4. Relocation costs are wasted expenditure with no return on investment
Moving major exhibits from Ultimo site to Parramatta will come at huge cost but not improve the experience or number of visitors.

5. School excursions from regional areas such as Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Hunter may makea day trip to Ultimo on the train whereas Parramatta will be too far. Many school students and their parents travel to the museum at Ultimo as a regular excursion from places across Sydney. This will not be possible for as many students if the museum is decentralised.

6. New Economic Circumstances
The Government funds being depleted at all levels, spending hundreds of millions of dollars just to move a museum from one location to another cannot be condoned in any circumstances.

7. Loss of exhibits from public exhibition
The significant reduction in exhibition space will deprive visitors of the opportunity to view exhibits which can no longer be placed on display.

8. Lateral Thinking
A modicum of lateral thinking would allow the Proponent to realise that it can have a new museum at Parramatta for less than it will cost to relocate the existing Ultimo museum.

I do not object to a museum and cultural facility being built in Parramatta. In fact I believe a Power House 2 should be built there to display the many artefacts currently in storage. I do object to:
1. The Power House, Ultimo being closed.
a. Many of the world class and unique large exhibits will not be able to be displayed in a building that is to be multi-use. They will likely be stored, never to be seen again; dismantling may well cause damage.
b. The Power House building is uniquely suitable to permanently display the very large exhibits, such as aeroplanes and steam engines/locomotives.
c. The Power House is currently situated at the centre of Sydney's transport network. Unlike Parramatta, it is possible for almost anyone who can get to a train station to have more or less direct access to the museum. To get to Parramatta from, for example, Wollongong or Newcastle, a tortuous journey is required. To the current site it requires one train, then light rail. From railway stations south, north and west of Parramatta, the same applies. Apart from residents of suburbs directly east of Parramatta, many would find the journey beyond them.
2. The current Parramatta plan requires removal of some of the very few heritage buildings this state has. For future generations we need to care for and nurture the European history that exists here. Parramatta is one of the few places left in the Sydney environs that has a visible history of European settlement. Already much of that has been destroyed. We must keep what is left.
3. The current plan requires building on a flood plain. With climate change and rising sea levels, this would seem foolhardy to say the least. This also would seem to support the previous comments that the extremely large and heavy exhibits would require huge amounts of expensive work to keep them safe. Nothing containing valuable works of art should be kept on such a site. The severe floods in Prague some years ago demonstrated this.
Finally, I would like to say that this world class museum is a place frequently dropped into by tourists, who are often on a couple of days stopover between flights and, unfortunately do not have time to negotiate our slow city transport to visit historic Parramatta. The Power House should remain where it is. No one would dream of suggesting that the Louvre. the Victoria and Albert Museum, or the Prado be moved. PLEASE DO NOT DO IT!

I object to the project strongly for the following reasons
- project built on a well known flood plain
- destruction of historical buildings on the site instead on integrating them into the design
- Overall reduction in size and reduction in permanent display space compared to Ultimo site
- inability to display large iconic exhibits
- does not meet environmental standards for museums
- No provision for storage and curating staff
- cost and business cases not fully articulated by the Government
- Lack of consultation and input from community in the project development
- destruction of existing Ultimo site
- Project concept caters for commercial interests over the community needs
- Building and form resembles a convention centre rather than a museum
- Overwhelming public opinion against the proposal

To whom it may concern,

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project.

As someone who was born at Parramatta hospital and was a long-term resident of the district, I have a strong personal history with the area and the parks and buildings within it. To think that the NSW Government is mandating a plan to permernatley destroy some of the most significant historical heritage of Parramatta is bewildering!

As the second oldest city in Australia, it is imperative to save any buildings of significance within Parramatta. They can never be replaced—especially not by prefabricated glass buildings with zero architectural merit. Added to that, staggeringly, the proposed Powerhouse building is proposed to be constructed on a known flood plain. Investigation of the recent past plainly shows the evidence of previous flooding at the site. A simple Google search image is attached.

Parramatta certainly deserves a world-class museum that can be built in an area that does not destroy its history and that is based on the recommendations of experts, not paid Government consultants. The proposed Powerhouse building has seemingly been designed as a retail and event space and is not appropriate as a museum, according to the experts.

Sydney has been the unfortunate victim of having many of its important historical buildings torn down in the name of “progress”. I attach a picture of what was a magnificent building on George Street, Sydney, which was shamefully demolished. Now a glass box, soulless Apple Store stands in its place. There are sadly many more examples of this in the history of Sydney.

Thankfully, across Sydney there are some great examples of our historical buildings being saved and repurposed. The Rocks and the QVB are perfect examples of what retaining our history can achieve. I hope that common sense will prevail and in future the same will be able to be said about Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces.
Parramatta’s history must be retained at all costs. Alternative possible sites for a museum at Parramatta are endless. Alongside the madness of this destruction, every NSW taxpayer (and voter) I have spoken to finds the ludicrous costs of the museum relocation to be obscene.

Let’s be clear, the general population is fully aware of the Government’s objective for the current Powerhouse site in Ultimo: to give another windfall to the almighty real estate development sector by giving it more public land to build more glass towers.

Regards,
Scott Davis