CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE POWERHOUSE
Australia’s major museum of arts and sciences in
Sydney’s most evocative heritage building. Responsibility for facts stated is
taken by Tom Lockley, PO Box 301, Pyrmont tomlockley@gmail.com
Bulletin 72: urgent!
On 21 June the
Government put on exhibition a Concept State Significant Development
Application for modifications to the Powerhouse Museum that they characterise
as plans for ‘a revitalised museum at the heart of a vibrant Creative
Industries Precinct’. Essentially, a SSD enables the Government to override all
other developmental controls, including heritage considerations and Local
Government requirements.
There are 2187 pages
of documentation, including 567 pages of Conservation Management Plan. It takes
a lot of effort to get to the nub of the complex matters raised.
However, it is
already clear that if approved, the SSD could enable the stripping out of the
entire museum, apart from the fundamental structure of the original Powerhouse
buildings and any items connected with this original use of these buildings.
Nothing else is covered by heritage restrictions, so the ‘revitalisation’ could
begin from this base, with the award-winning 1988 museum conversion demolished.
The current heritage assessment states that the significance of the museum as
such is purely local, and not ‘to a degree which warrants a [heritage] listing’
– and to most of us, this is utterly absurd, and we suspect the motivation of
this assessment.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
If you are happy with
the idea of the remaining traditional areas of the museum being stripped out to
prepare for a ‘Powerhouse’ (no longer called a ‘museum’) centred around fashion
and design, you should say so. But if you believe that areas such as
the Steam Gallery are world treasures, and you want the say the PHM’s Sulman
award winning design and heritage adaptation retained, and you want a
world-class museum of applied arts and sciences retained at its central
heritage site, and you want precious financial resources spent on building on
present strengths rather than destruction, you need to say say
so, as soon as possible. If you have sent submissions before, eg to
the two Inquiries, please emphasise your views by sending yet another series of
messages.
Once more unto the
computers, dear friends, once more. Stuff up the email box of the NSW
Department of Planning and Environment via its Major Projects Portal with
your submissions. IMPORTANT: be sure to indicate on your submission
that you are against the SSD, otherwise your submission may be regarded as a
comment. There is no need to write a long submission, a few sentences
will do. Ask any questions of the PR firm Ethos Urban at its email consultation@ethosurban.com . And
get in the ear of any politicians you have access to: this total project is a
travesty of democratic process, as has been shown over the years.
Please, whatever your
opinions, act quickly: the closing date for the ‘consultation’
period is July 21. There are two remaining information sessions at the
Powerhouse Museum, Thursday 14 July: 5.30 – 7.30pm
and Saturday 16 July: 11am – 2pm. (We
are seeking an extension to this consultative period: if you would like to
support this application email renah.givney@dpie.nsw.gov.au ).
We are working on
another bulletin, with more information and detail, but for additional
explanation of the current complex situation, read Kylie Winkworth’s
briefing document for politicians, attached.
For more information
https://powerhousemuseumalliance.com/ See also: https://maasbusinesscase.com/
https://www.facebook.com/savethepowerhouse/
Tom Lockley, 12 July 2022,( tomlockley@gmail.com is the best method
of communication if you have any comments, queries about content or corrections
of fact, which are all greatly appreciated).
Tom Lockley
0403 615 134....