Premier Mike Baird’s plan for Powerhouse Museum to boost Parramatta as a tourism destination
PREMIER Mike Baird hopes the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta will help lure tourists away from hot spots such as Bondi and the harbour to explore Sydney’s west.
Parramatta
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PREMIER Mike Baird hopes the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta will help lure tourists away from hot spots such as Bondi and the harbour to explore Sydney’s west.
On Monday, Mr Baird confirmed the old David Jones carpark on the banks of the Parramatta River will be the site of the museum, as reported by the Advertiser last month.
The new museum will be 40 per cent bigger than the current Ultimo site. Construction is due to start in 2018 and finish in 2022.
By 2030 the government aims to double the number of annual visitors to the Powerhouse to one million with a bigger focus on students and families, and making the museum a “fun place to learn”.
Mr Baird hopes the museum, as well as appealing to schools and families in Sydney, can help put Parramatta on tourists’ must-see list when they visit Sydney.
“(Parramatta) is a rich part of the history of this country and, I think, has been neglected in terms of the state governments promoting it,” he said.
“I think it will become the envy of the nation. A science museum that everyone across the country will want to come to and that’s great news for Parramatta and western Sydney.”
But the cost of moving the museum from Ultimo to Parramatta and the compensation to Parramatta Council for its carpark are yet to be finalised.
Mr Baird said the final cost should be determined by the end of this year and the government was currently in “constructive discussions” with the council for negotiating a price for the land.
He confirmed on Monday that the money raised from the sale of the Ultimo site, as well as additional funding, will be used to pay for the construction of the new museum, which is also set to get a new name when it is completed.
Another challenge will be the logistics of moving all the exhibits – including large trains – to Parramatta.
Mr Baird said the Powerhouse’s relocation to Parramatta meant that for the first time one of the state’s five major cultural institutions would be in western Sydney.
“Locating the Powerhouse at Parramatta will ensure western Sydney has a new world-class cultural institution that will be a major drawcard for local and international visitors,” Mr Baird said.
“The site on the banks of the Parramatta River is the ideal location for the new Powerhouse Museum, which will serve as the anchor for a new arts and cultural precinct.”
Deputy Premier and Arts Minister Troy Grant said detailed planning work would now be undertaken, including consultation with the council and the community.
“This site will deliver a vibrant, exciting community hub by the beautiful Parramatta River that can be easily accessed and enjoyed day and night,” Mr Grant said.
The current Powerhouse Museum will stay open until construction of the new site in Parramatta is completed.
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