Parramatta River’s floodwaters renew fight on Powerhouse Museum move

Three days of heavy rain led to flooding on the future site of the museum, which is still yet to make its controversial move from its inner city location.

The flooding of a construction site where the $915 million Powerhouse Museum is set to be built has added fuel to the fire already burning over its controversial move to Parramatta.

Three days of heavy rain led to the Parramatta River breaking its banks on Saturday, with the water level rising into the basement of the multi-level carpark that will soon be replaced by the museum.

While the flood waters have rescinded slightly today, a flood warning remains in place for the construction site.

The submerged footpath at Parramatta’s Charles St weir and ferry wharf yesterday. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Furious locals who have long argued against building the museum on the site say they have been vindicated by its flooding.

They believe an alternative site at the old Cumberland Hospital, 900 metres away and 10 metres above river level, is more appropriate.

Jennifer Sanders, a former deputy director of the Powerhouse in Ultimo, said one of the biggest impacts of building the museum next to the river could be its ability to attract world class exhibitions.

The overflowing Charles St weir yesterday. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“We have always supported a museum for Parramatta, a museum which the Parramatta community wants and desires,” Ms Sanders said.

“But we do not support the placement of a museum on the banks of a flooding Parramatta River.

“What museum would lend objects to another museum that’s on the edge of a flood prone river?

“It was a dumb decision in 2014 to put the museum on this site, and it is dumber by every raindrop.”

A Parramatta local takes a snap of the raging floodwaters after the Parramatta River broke its banks yesterday. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Greens MP David Shoebridge said forecasters predict that in a worse case scenario, flooding in Parramatta could see water rise between five and ten metres above the normal river level.

This would see not just the Powerhouse Museum, but many homes and businesses in the wider Parramatta CBD completely ruined.

“We’ve had a lot of rain in the last 48 hours and we’re already seeing the Parramatta River flood, but this is nowhere near a one-in-100-year flood event,” Mr Shoebridge said.

“That would be about five to ten metres above where we’re seeing this water already.

The multi-level car park where the Powerhouse is set to be built seen across the Parramatta River. Picture: Adam Yip

“Now who in their right mind would build a museum on the edges of this river.”

Longtime local resident Phil Russo said he has seen the river flood many times over the years.

The worst was in 1988 when the famous Lennox Bridge - just near the planned Powerhouse site — was almost completely engulfed.

“In 1988 we had two, one-in-100-year floods in the one year,” Mr Russo said.

“The Lennox Bridge was underwater and the then Lord Mayor moved to put up a higher bridge, but the public outcry was enormous so it never happened.”