Powerhouse Museum should not be moved to old David Jones carpark, say Parramatta Councillors

DEBATE of where the Powerhouse Museum should be relocated to in Parramatta is heating up, with Parramatta Council asking the government to back off from their riverbank.

THE debate of where the Powerhouse Museum should be relocated to is heating up with Parramatta councillors objecting to it being constructed at a site on the river.

At a council meeting last night, councillors discussed potential sites for the museum once it was moved from Ultimo to western Sydney.

All councillors were against the museum being built at the old David Jones carpark site, on the riverbank in Phillip St.

Another option the State Government was looking at was the old golf course site.

Parramatta Councillor John Chedid would like to see the Powerhouse Museum at the old Kings School site or at the old golf course site.

Councillor John Chedid said he’d like to see the museum located at the Parramatta golf course or old Kings School site in O’Connell St.

“This (the riverbank) is the only parcel of land where we can do something for the community.”

Cr Chedid was referring to the council’s plans for the river bank, which included spending about $80 million to transform the area into a mini Darling Harbour-type space with cafes and restaurants.

‘The whole community is excited about what’s planned. All we are asking is (the government) back off from our riverbank,” he said.

Cr Chedid said the government had not properly consulted with the council about possible Powerhouse Museum locations.

Sydney's Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo. Photo Jeremy Piper

“I am very disappointed because this government has done so well with our city. We worked together with the light rail proposal and we worked on the stadium strategy. I am disappointed that we had a good working relationship, why come along and disregard the local views and businesses when it comes to the museum location,” Cr Chedid told The Advertiser.

The council will request a meeting with government representatives to discuss museum plans, including other possible locations.

Cr Bob Dwyer suggested the museum be moved to Westmead and Cr Glenn Elmore said he preferred to see it relocated to the Old Parramatta Gaol.

The government has allocated $10 million over two years to start the relocation process.

North Parramatta Residents Action Group president Suzette Meade said the government’s plan to move the Powerhouse out of Ultimo to Parramatta was nothing more than a “cash-grab to sell another public asset and a gift to developers.”

“ NPRAG would like to see Parramatta house the Museum of NSW celebrating our cultural diversity from indigenous beginnings through to our rich migration history with nearly half our residents born overseas,” Ms Meade said.

Ms Mead said the Fleet Street Heritage Precinct would see the creation of a cultural precinct with museums, art galleries and theatres married with the Female Factory.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see this being a magnificent addition for the community, a destination that would respect and celebrate our nations birthplace in a public accessible precinct facilitating the enrichment of Parramatta cultural and fiscally,” she said.

Deputy Premier and Arts Minister Troy Grant said the riverbank site was close to the CBD and other attractions.

“Equally, the golf course is a large unrestricted site allowing for many different design options and coexistence opportunities,” he said.

Mr Grant said a decision on the museum’s location would be made in the first half of this year.