I OBJECT TO THE POWERHOUSE PARRAMATTA

Parramatta is a place of historic significance which keeps being demolished under the disguise of progress.
These colonial buildings mean a lot to our previous generations as well as our future ones.
They are also important to the indigenous people and it’s disrespectful to tear buildings like this down.
People move and visit Parramatta not only to work and socialize but to visit these places of history and the vibe they create.
You cannot replace these buildings once they are gone and that would be not only upsetting but a real travesty.
The Powerhouse Museum needs a new site,one where there is no flooding and that doesn’t destroy own already standing museum (Willow Grove) in the process.
As a rate payer of Parramatta I strongly object to this destruction of this building and any other historically sognificant building.

I have been a resident in the city of Parramatta for most of my 70 years. I strongly object to the proposed Powerhouse move and plan shown on your display. My major concern is:

1. the complete disregard for our heritage, even though 14,000 people
signed a petition in just under a week calling on the Premier to protect WillowGrove and St Georges Terraces; along with Historic House Association and National Trust of Australia (NSW) condemning the governments decisions they have continued on this path of destruction.

Parramatta has a unique heritage and history that should be preserved and celebrated as do other countries with their culture and history. It was Parramatta that saved the early colony when it was on the brink of starvation. Yet even here there has been a gradual erosion of the places where food was grown in the now Parramatta Park and Rosehill, with unsympathetic high rise apartments and towers taking over more and more space and the green environment.

There is a far better alternative for a real museum in Parramatta that has constantly been shown to the NSW Government and Planning Department but that has been consistently ignored. I refer to the North Parramatta precinct.

The area here would allow for a world class history and heritage environment encompassing the present historic buildings such as the Female Factory by the famous architect Francis Greenway.

It could create a museum/display that shows the marvellous Aboriginal history of the Darug people and other NSW groups that also used this part of the land. Also incorporated could be the early colonial history of the area and then the wonderful history of immigration and the multicultural nature of our area that has been so rich. This kind of development would create something that people would want to see and visit not just from our region but from overseas as well. Very few would want to come to see the high-rise that the NSW Govt is planning for this unique area.

2. To destroy the amazing exhibits in the Ultimo Powerhouse by
removing them for the so-called museum proposed in Parramatta I see as nothing short of vandalism. It seems fairly certain that developers of high rise is what is in the Premier and Government's mind despite their denials.
Also the designs made available by the government that is now on display clearly demonstrate we are not getting a Museum in Parramatta at all. The proposed rather ugly design, somewhat like empty milk crates, is smaller, won't fit the large exhibitions we were told we were getting, with cost blow outs increasing by the week and not a sod turned. It is more a hotch-potch of entertainment, more restaurants and eateries (as if we have not enough already in the area) presentation spaces stacked over the east and west wings, along with a research lab, apartments for visiting researchers, a rooftop terrace and a student dormitory. The primary use of the presentation spaces will be to stage exhibitions, chief executive Lisa Havilah says, but they have also been designed for flexible or "secondary" use and available
for commercial events. Ms Havilah seems
not to have much appreciation of history when she said "the difference is one of philosophy: the past versus the future, traditional museum practices versus contemporary" as if our past history has no value.

3. The government has fallen back on its usual mantra touting the
number of jobs it claims the project will create. But far from justifying its plans, the fact that a great deal of work is involved in demolishing an outstanding building and constructing one that is not fit for purpose simply highlights the project's folly.

4. Willow Grove and the St George Terraces are some of the few
remaining historic and heritage buildings in Parramatta. To destroy them for what is now seen to be such a disappointing project and for the sake of a carpark to accommodate it there is nothing short of scandalous. Whoever is responsible for this is completely lacking in vision, appreciation of Australia's true history and cultural realities and seems to have one value only -the bottom line for developers. I reject outright this second rate "museum "

I wish to register my strongest objection to the Powerhouse Parramatta project
It's very difficult to fathom what the thinking behind this is. The Powerhouse Museum is an iconic building and collection. The building should not be sold and the collection should not be broken up. A watered down event space in Parramatta is not what anyone wants.
The Powerhouse should remain in Ultimo and, when the time is right, a new and separate museum be built in Parramatta. And Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace should be left be.
There are three historically important sites that will be lost forever should this project go ahead.

Dear Sir
I write to strongly object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project.
My reasons for objecting are,
a) I do not want Willow Grove and St George's Terraces to be destroyed
b) I do not want the Powerhouse Museum to be moved from its current location
c) I do not want the Powerhouse Museum collection to be moved or dispersed
d) The budget of $1.5 billion would be better spent on the creation of an additional museum elsewhere.
The Powerhouse Parramatta Project will result in the destruction of a unique museum, destroy the last remaining and therefore rare examples of Parramatta architecture, contribute to the loss of character of Parramatta, replace a museum with a multi purpose facility and will be an object of ridicule by future generations.
The destruction of heritage buildings, the destruction of a museum and the destruction of a heritage precinct in the name of a 'cultural project' is beyond comprehension.
I have not made any reportable political donations.
I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project, it should not go ahead.

I Object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Precinct

I am writing to you to appeal for the ‘lives’ of the magnificent Willow Grove and Georges Terraces. My family’s connection with Parramatta goes back to the three first fleets settling Australia in the 1780s-90s. Many of our ancestors were married in St Johns, as indeed, were my parents.
We lived in North Parramatta for some time and my mum, sister and I attended school in Parramatta. There was nothing more satisfying passing by the historically significant sites on our way to school in the 60s and 70’s. We have watched a thriving ‘cradle city’ become an important commercial and business centre. Understandably, that will mean loss of heritage buildings and land. We are now left with very little of that Parramatta to celebrate. However, we DO have these precious few beautiful examples of history, architecture and representation of social change over many decades. Let’s look seriously at the importance of these buildings and what they represent for current and most importantly future generations. Surely we can retain heritage buildings as well as support the growth of cultural centres like the Powerhouse. They are both a cultural imperative, but we can’t replace heritage - we need to retain and revere it.
I implore you to re-think and not destroy this part of our history and heritage. You have choices - these buildings don’t.

I object to the Powerhouse Museum because Parramatta is loosing it’s uniqueness, history and since of pride due to over development. I want my Grandchildren to not only read about Parramatta’s amazing history but also to be able to walk around and actually see and touch it’s history and they, along with future generations will be robbed of that if the current mindset of Politicians and people with no forethought or respect for our history continue mindlessly in suggesting projects like moving the Powerhouse Museum. Not only would this mean demolishing Willow Grove and St George’s Terraces which are rare examples of architecture which no longer exist in Parramatta’s CBD but this project is going to be built in an area which is in a flood zone, costing over a billion dollars at a time when Australia is in a recession and when the people of this Country are in need of so much more. Such a complete waste of taxpayers money is criminal and serious questions should be raised as to who is really benefiting from such a project because it certainly isn’t the people.

This planned destruction of a world class arts, technology and science museum and its architecturally significant home must be stopped.

Plans presented for the Parramatta Museum are of a entertainment sector and have nothing at all to do with a world-class museum. The powerhouse Museum should be left where it is at Ultimo and continue to offer Sydney. New South Wales, Australia and the world one of the finest museums of industrial arts and technology in the world. People of New South Wales deserve better than this, and the citizens of Parramatta deserve their own world class Museum. As a life member of the Australian Ceramic Association and the current president of the Ceramics Study Group I suggests what is needed most of all in Australia is a Museum of Arts and Crafts much like Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Such a museum in Parramatta would be unique in Australia and give an incredible focus that would ensure that it is both loved and utilised. What is important with the current proposal is that it be scrapped and efforts made to focus on the significant history already on the site and creat this unique museum.

I have examined the Environmental Impact Statement and in particular the Consultation Summary Report.
It is obvious that local stakeholders are enthusiastic about the creation of a cultural institution in their city. It is also obvious that the incorporation of part of the Powerhouse collection is of secondary importance. The proposed design bears this out.
There is widespread condemnation of the proposal from the greater Sydney and regional stakeholders for good reasons - the dismantling, removal and storage of existing exhibits, the destruction of the historic Willow Grove and St George's Terrace, the cost and of course the deal done with developers to exploit the Ultimo site.
Design and build a multi-purpose cultural centre in Parramatta and leave the Powerhouse at Ultimo......

My wife and I wish to register our strong objection to the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta.
The stated cost is already exorbitant and, on the record of this government's projects so far, will undoubtedly be overrun. The move will divorce the museum from its present historical link to Ultimo. It will endanger particularly the very large, rare and precious objects, which can currently be seen in working order at Ultimo. The dispursal of the currently-displayed collection is cultural vandalism, especially since the proposed new museum has a smaller display area.
As with the unforgivable sale of the Land Titles Office, it is purely based on greed, short-term gain and the ideology of privatisation at the expense of commonsense and thought for the future. This action would shame any city in the world.
That Western Sydney is entitled to a great museum is not at issue. It should have a purpose-built institution, which could focus on a separate theme, such as indigenous history, art and culture or the immigrant experience. It should NOT involve the demolition of any heritage-listed buildings, such as Willow Grove, which could be a further attraction for visitors to the area. Building such an institution could be done without the enormous expense of the relocation project, and still provide jobs.

I object to the Parramatta Powerhouse for the following reasons
- The economic EIS states that the Powerhouse in Ultimo is past its usefulness. This is not true because the report states the numbers of visitors have doubled in the last five years and continue to increase. Visitors will continue to increase. It is unlikely there will be 2 million people annually at the Powerhouse Parramatta. The economic modelling based on this assumption is floored and should be redone with a more realistic number.
-The Powerhouse Parramatta cannot house all the heritage items in the powerhouse ultimo. This is a significant loss of culture and a social benefit that cannot be fixed when these items are in storage. These items should be on display.
-It is dangerous to move the items out of the powerhouse into the Parramatta powerhouse due to the size of the buillding, location of the loading dock.
-The Parramatta Powerhouse is located in a flood zone. The risk that this holds to the museum items is too great and the damage would be significant or catastrophic. I object because the risk with suggested mitigation measures is not minimal.