CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE POWERHOUSE

Australia’s major museum of arts and sciences in Sydney’s most evocative heritage building.

9 August 2022

Bulletin 73: A last despairing salvo?

First, thanks and appreciation for all the feedback from the various consultation and information sharing activities that have occurred this year, and also the people who have still continued to write letters, lobby politicians and take other actions. Though things are looking pretty bleak at the moment, the consensus is that we cannot give up.

The overwhelming disappointment of this year’s ‘consultation’ is that, despite a promise that this time the input would be accurately reported, and it would have bearing on the Conservation Management Plan for the museum, a typical process was followed: the consultation took place, but it seems that the draft CMP actually refers to Powerhouse Ultimo after the ‘rejuvenation’ which potentially removes the Wran building and all the museum fittings.

Embodying the feedback, a letter has been sent to the Department of Planning and environment with two strands: an outline of the broken promise of this year’s consultation, and a rehash of the fact sheets that have been sent over the last few years, outlining the gross deficiencies of he process. At the suggestion of Kylie Winkworth, a formal ‘Wrongdoing report’ has been lodged, using the same factual material.

But we can confidently expect the usual reply mantras – for example ‘[our SSD projects] are subject to independent review and monitoring’ (but we have seen no evidence of this) and ‘[our policies] will allow us to provide two world-class museums’ (we wish, we hope, but we need assurance that this is indeed happening),.

For the tragics, a couple of attachments:

· The letter sent to DPIE re the overall process

· From the archive: an email exchange of 2021. This is the type of thing we can expect this time. Facts about perjury by minister Harwin completely ignored.

And you might be interested in https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/348992/Code-of-Ethics-and-Conduct.pdf , first half of page 5. It has a widespread relevance at the present time.

Tom Lockley, PO box 301. Pyrmont 2009

tomlockley@gmail.com is the best method of communication)

CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE POWERHOUSE
Australia’s major museum of arts and sciences in Sydney’s most evocative heritage building. For more information
https://powerhousemuseumalliance.com/　　See also:　https://www.facebook.com/savepowerhousemuseum/　　https://www.facebook.com/savethepowerhouse/