Parramatta Action Group steps up opposition to Powerhouse move
Image: New corporate visual identity "MAAS, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences" on Stage 2 exterior of Powerhouse Museum, PHM, buidling, Harris Street forecourt entrance. For website home page.
BY LUCAS BAIRD
Activists say the NSW Government is planning to grab heritage land around the earmarked David Jones carpark with the Powerhouse move.
The North Parramatta Resident Action Group has ramped up the fight against the Powerhouse Museum’s move as rumours circulated that the government would acquire the key heritage site, Willow Grove.
Built in the 1870s, Willow Grove is a former hospital which backs onto the David Jones carpark that the Premier, Mike Baird, slated as the preferred site for the museum’s relocation.
But the Save the Powerhouse group claims the State Government could now have their eyes set on the car park’s neighbouring land to provide more space for the Museum’s move, as negotiations between Parramatta Council and the Government drag on.
North Parramatta Resident Action Group President, Suzette Meade, told City Hub that if the government were to acquire and demolish the Willow Grove site, it would be indicative of the “disrespectful” attitude toward their heritage precincts.
“It is all too common in Parramatta at the moment, that our heritage is not being respected and is being demolished,” she said.
“They are not maintaining the fabric of what was the cradle of our nation in Parramatta and there doesn’t seem to be any respect… It is a developer’s dream because everything is just being given the green light with no availability for the community to oppose anything.”
Arts NSW were tight lipped on whether negotiations now included the surrounding area like Willow Grove, but did say, “heritage issues will be considered as part of the government’s decision making process.”
“Negotiations are ongoing and no deadline has been set,” said an Arts NSW spokesperson.
“It is important that the process considers the best interests of the community of Parramatta as well as the Government’s.”
The Save the Powerhouse group has extended their support to the North Parramatta Resident Action Group. A spokesperson said they are concerned that a significant heritage building could be threatened by these developments.
The North Parramatta Resident Action Group has been a long time supporter of the Save the Powerhouse movement. Ms Meade said they do not support removing another community’s cultural assets, and that Parramatta has enough heritage to support its own museum.
The Willow Grove site has most recently been used for the Parramatta Lanes Festival in October, but is mostly occupied by the Aloe Vera distributor, Forever Living Australia.
Ms Meade, who is on the heritage advisory committee at Parramatta Council, has submitted a request to the council to make clear their position on Willow Grove’s future in regards to the Powerhouse move. She expects a response at their next meeting on December 14.
The Parramatta Council were contacted for comment, but did not respond.
