Greetings,

My name is Benedict Kennedy-Cox, a proud GWS resident and, emphatically, I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project.

I am aware you a professional doing you job and I respect that. Additionally, I respect the perspective and knowledge you would have on the situation, I would like to share mine with you.

My reasons for objecting to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project are as follows:
1. Loss of the heritage sites Willow Grove Villa and St Georges Terraces. They are of significant cultural heritage to the recent inhabitants of Parramatta.
2. The $1.2 billion price tag and loss of educational resources involved in relocating the Powerhouse museum are disappointing considering it can not even be called a museum when it is moved.
The bill for the taxpayers is too high for the loss of the knowledge from the Powerhouse Museum that cannot be transferred to the new site and certainly not worth the loss of the heritage-listed sites.

Kind regards,
Benedict Kennedy-Cox

Dear Sir,

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project. I object to the proposed demolition of the property, Willow Grove and other heritage properties of Parramatta in order to make way for the proposed construction of new Powerhouse Museum and other facilities.

I have not made any reportable political donations and I'm not a member of, or aligned with, any political party.

I have been a regular visitor to the Parramatta business district more than 45 years having lived and worked in the area. I continue to visit the Parramatta business district regularly as part of my occupation. It is a sad fact that Parramatta has over the past several decades lost an enormous number of its significant historical buildings and homes. The historical properties currently marked for demolition in order to make way for the Powerhouse Parramatta Project should be retained. Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces are rare examples of architecture that no longer exist in Parramatta CBD and should be retained.

Yours faithfully,

Danny Bricknell

Sir,

I OBJECT to the Powerhouse Museum being relocated to Parramatta.

I OBJECT to the current world class Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo being closed and inaccessible to the community. It is within easy access for the community from the whole of the State as it is located near the Sydney CBD with transport links. As not all the citizens in New South Wales live in Western Sydney, the current Powerhouse Museum serves the citizens.
The Government speaks of using community transport, but non Western Sydney citizens would have to travel to Central Railway Station change their mode of transport and then travel another 30 mins approximately to Parramatta Railway Station and then onto the proposed Museum. I for one would certainly not spend 2-3 hours travel time each way to access a Museum by public transport.

I OBJECT to the proposal as it will be constructed on a known floodplain. Who would construct a building on a known floodplain?

I OBJECT to the 1870s Willow Grove and 1880s St Georges Terrace being demolished. Parramatta's heritage being again destroyed. These are state and local heritage significant sites. With the construction of the light rail throughout Parramatta, the Government has destroyed the Royal Oak Hotel, destroyed the ambiance of The Female Factory site by having the light rail route through the site.

I OBJECT to there being no permanent displays in the museum. This is what a Museum is : permanent displays of our heritage, culture and lifestyle.

I OBJECT to there being no significant storage areas on the site. Even if there is to be basement storage areas, concerns about the building being water-tight need to be addressed.

DO WE NEED more coffee shops and temporary display spaces? NO, we don't as there are plenty of refreshment shops/cafes in Parramatta, particularly in Church Street.

INSTEAD of funding and potential blowout in the proposed budget for a new Museum,
THE FUNDING SHOULD BE SPENT ON RESTORATION OF THE ROXY THEATRE which will provide the community of Western Sydney with a potential 2000 seat world class theatre and permanent performance space.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta on the following grounds:
• That the total building size of the proposed Parramatta Powerhouse at 24,830 sqm will be only 58% of the existing Ultimo Powerhouse. Furthermore, the spatial analysis in the EIS architectural plans shows the total Presentation Space is just 12,644sqm1.
• That an estimated $1 billion or more will be spent to close the existing Powerhouse Museum, build a new facility and then have a building that is vastly inferior to the current Powerhouse Museum.
• That without adequate exhibition space, a significant number of the current exhibits will not be displayed.
• That a facility forecast to host 2 million visitors a year has no provision for car parking spaces.
• That the relocation of the Powerhouse would be to a site known to flood, such as in August 1986 and 10 February 2020.
• That working steam engines in the current Powerhouse will in future become only static displays.
• That former trustee of the Powerhouse Museum, Leo Schofield, describes it as, “one of the most shameful acts of cultural vandalism in the history of this country.”2
• That the 1870s-built Italianate villa, WillowGrove, considered to be worthy of heritage listing, would be demolished. This would be the loss of a unique building and a further loss of connection with Parramatta’s history.
On economic, cultural and common-sense grounds, I would ask that the NSW government re-consider the viability of the proposal for the Powerhouse Parramatta.

I am writing to express my concern about the Parramatta Powerhouse Project.

I have family connections in the Parramatta area and travelling and spending time in Parramatta has made me realise the significance of its history, beginning in early Colonial days. As it was such an important Colonial settlement significant buildings were constructed and the history of their use parallels the early history of the Colony.

It is clear that moving the Powerhouse Museum from Ultimo to Parramatta will result in the destruction of Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces.

Parramatta is in the midst of a massive building program as a result of its development as the major centre of Western Sydney. It is essential that the heritage of Parramatte is not overwhelmed or destroyed during this rampant development.

Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces must be preserved and a completely new approach to the Powerhouse Project must be developed.

I await your response to my concerns.

Dear Sir,

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project. I have lived and taught history in the Western Suburbs of Sydney for almost all my life, over 50 years. I have lived in Parramatta and currently live ten minutes away in Wentworthville. I have visited Willow Grove on many occasions. I have also been a number of times to the Powerhouse in its current location.

I object to the Parramatta Powerhouse project for many reasons:
1. The planned destruction of Willow Grove and the St George Terrace is a stupid and wanton idea. You do NOT destroy history in the name of creating a museum. The irony would be laughable if is was not so awful. We are mad on destruction. Those buildings, a precious part of Parramatta's history and landscape, should be restored and repurposed. Parramatta is fast becoming a wind tunnel of mirror and glass and these gems of our past must be saved. These two buildings are lovely glimpses into our past and their juxtaposition with all the modernity is a wonderful lesson for the residents. They are unique in the city and their loss would be immeasurable. We have loved going to Willow Grove during the Parramatta Lanes festival. My granddaughter commented on it being 'fairyland'. <image002.png>
2. The site is not appropriate. It is flood prone and there is absolutely no suitable parking. The Cumberland Hospital site is a much better option. Why are there no moves to look at creating a cultural hub here?
3. To destroy a museum to create an events centre is NOT the way to improve the cultural lives of Western Sydneysiders. We deserve a world class museum that recognises the significance of our place in the European invasion and settlement of colonial Australia. That is not what is coming. The Powerhouse is not even coming in its present form. We are sacrificing a wonderful museum for what?
4. To pull apart a museum before its replacement is in place is again a risible idea that actually detracts from Sydney's cultural life.
Please reconsider your plans. You are on a moment that is a turning point in the future fof what Parramatta will be. It is vital that the destruction of history isn't that pattern that we adopt in the name of 'progress'.