Powerhouse Museum to stay in Ultimo; new $500m cultural institution for Parramatta: Labor

A Labor government would keep the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo and instead build a “world-class” cultural institution in western Sydney, leader Michael Daley says.

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A controversial plan to move the Powerhouse Museum to western Sydney would be scrapped under a Labor government, which would instead build a $500 million “world-class cultural institution” at Parramatta.

Opposition Leader Michael Daley today said Labor would spend $45 million on upgrading the Powerhouse Museum at its current location in Ultimo, “saving it from developers”.

“The government’s budgeted $650 million just to move the Powerhouse. The money that will be saved from not moving the Powerhouse will be put into western Sydney,” he told reporters.

“This is a big win for western Sydney.”

The State Government’s concept plan for the new Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta.

He said a $45 million facelift would be a “very good start” to a broader, state-of-the-art revamp of the Ultimo attraction.

In what he described as his first major announcement of the election campaign, Mr Daley also committed to setting up a $100 million Western Sydney Arts and Culture fund and continue the $100 million Riverside Theatre redevelopment.

Additionally, he said Labor would expand the presence of the Sydney Festival’s children’s program and Sydney Symphony Orchestra in western Sydney, as well as provide more funding for public libraries.

“This is in contrast to the Berejikian Government spending almost $760 million on five projects in the Sydney CBD while ignoring western Sydney and the regions,” Mr Daley said ahead of the state election on March 23.

Former Premier Mike Baird announces the preferred location for Parramatta’s new Powerhouse Museum in April 2016.

Under Labor’s plan, it would also “protect” the Willowgrove and St George’s Terrace sites in Parramatta to “ensure they are not sold off to property developers”.

Parramatta Liberal MP Geoff Lee said Labor’s plan to axe the Powerhouse Museum relocation had “failed the children and families of western Sydney”.

“This is major slap in the face for western Sydney,” he said. “Labor wants to give Parramatta a second-class venue for exhibitions. Western Sydney deserves better.

“Our government is 100 per cent committed to moving the Powerhouse to Parramatta, building a world-class museum focusing on science, technology, engineering, maths and art.

“It’s a $640 million investment in arts and culture in western Sydney and will be the anchor for an arts and culture precinct. We will also redevelop the Riverside Theatre in the process.”