Bulletin 45: we need to get busy…
It has been long time since the last bulletin, but the
fight is not over. The Government persists in the ‘move’ and the only
competent part of the Business Plan, the process of gutting the Museum,
prepared by Root Associates, is under way. But the basic museum has not yet
been irretrievably damaged, and the bulldozers will not be trying to make
holes in the massive walls till next June. However, effectively, this year
is the main chance for resistance and it is essential for all the forces
opposing the museum destruction to come together and act.
We are a democracy, and this stupid decision must not
proceed.
This link leads to a statement which the Government obviously accepts as
being true. It has been submitted ad nauseum to the Government and
they cannot find anything wrong in it, because it is 100% facts. (remember
those?)
In regard to the Legislative Council the Government
members’ contribution was a 215 word statement which essentially simply
stated that the whole Inquiry was ‘fake news’. It is given far more
attention than it deserves in this link.
On 12 July the Government issued its
final response to the Inquiry. This short document had nothing new
beyond the statement that Highly qualified consultants in cultural
infrastructure, museum logistics, urban planning construction and operations
contributed via peer review processes and governance panels.
Mr Harwin made a similar statement
on 29 August 2017 at the Inquiry, and this
has been thoroughly repudiated: there is no evidence of involvement of
appropriate experts until June 2017, and the meagre process between June and
September 2017 cannot be characterised in any way as appropriate peer
review.
We sought evidence from the politicians, Create NSW, CIPMO and MAAS Museum
on any later similar processes, with no response. Our extensive network
knows of no one who has participated in such a group. In the questioning
process we were informed that Johnstaff, the firm which has carriage of the
preparation of the Business Case, had recently employed a museum expert, and
asked for the name and / or qualifications of this person, with no response.
(Johnstaff is a firm mainly noted for their work in such fields as
hospitals, and searches of their employee lists on Linkedin in 2017 found no
employee with experience in museums and even no employee with experience in
any related arts field).
We challenge the Government to produce evidence supporting their assertion
of appropriate peer review of the ‘move’ idea at any stage.
The Government is still proceeding at speed on this
project even though the catastrophe is as evident as the iceberg was to the
lookouts on the Titanic. Why?
One of the email group members has come up with an
interesting theory of why the Government is proceeding with this irrational
idea. The theory is that the Government wants to convince the Parramatta
people that they are intent on making the area the centre of action for the
city, and the best way is to damage the city, and indeed the cultural
reputation of the whole country, by degrading this iconic museum and moving
it to Parramatta. I floated this idea with other correspondents, and one
said it ‘sounded very Machiavellian’. If this is so, and the proponents are
preening themselves because of this cunning idea, they need to read
chapter 9 of The Prince, ‘Concerning a Civil Principality’.
A few weeks ago I had a discussion with Lisa Havilah, Chief Executive of the
museum who has been contracted with the task of carrying out the
‘move’ to Parramatta. During the conversation I was able to go through the
single sheet list of facts with which everyone is familiar so there is no
doubt that she has been exposed to the reasons why the move would be a
disaster. I was impressed that she listened, indeed she is the first
significant figure who has done so. During the discussion I mentioned the
instructions of previous directors that had been given to staff and
volunteers to present a favourable view of the ‘move’ and
she said
that she had no problem with staff and volunteers expressing their
opinions.
(I have sent this paragraph to Ms Havilah for fact checking and she has
agreed it is an accurate report of our conversation. I remain impressed with
some aspects of her administration, notably an openness in communication and
her desire to make wider contacts within the community, for example by
restoring the interaction with the Affiliated Societies. But the move idea
will still be opposed to the utmost.)
One point that arose is whether the community would accept the move and get
behind the museum when the process was finalised. I registered my strong
opinion that the move must not be allowed to go ahead, and if it did the
proponents would be totally condemned. Over the weekend on TV we saw people
happily playing in new parks made possible by Westconnex, but there is a
significant difference between this project and the museum ‘move’. Whatever
one’s opinion on the provision of new expressways, the fact is that the
project produces some improvement in the status quo. The museum ‘move’ is a
complete loss to everybody except, perhaps, for a few developers enriching
themselves from the total waste of money by the Government and the trashing
of our heritage. In no way can the project be seen as an ‘improvement’ in
Australian cultural facilities.
Recently the Greater Sydney Commission, a Government instrumentality, conducted a consultative process regarding Pyrmont-Ultimo development and related issues, including efficacious and appropriate methods of achieving a ‘vibrant, mixed-use precinct’ in this area. Though the consultation centred on proposed developments at Crown Casino, the submissions typically mentioned the developments planned for the Powerhouse, always in a negative way. More details on this can be found from this page.
Finally, tomorrow evening (Tuesday 1 October 2019) in The Rocks there is a
major event: ICOMOS, the International Commission on Monuments and Sites,
is holding a meeting in the Rocks entitled
Policy, Power & the Cultural and Heritage Values of the Powerhouse Museum.
The speakers are Kylie Winkworth and Jennifer Sanders. Attendees at this
meeting will include many experts in appropriate fields. The highly
qualified speakers will, of course, be preaching
to the converted, but if anyone else
would like to go there are a few tickets left for non members on
Eventbrite .
There is a lot of ‘stuff’ in this bulletin, but not much indication of
appropriate action. I hope that the next bulletin will not be long delayed,
and will have plans for action. Please continue to let me have your ideas
and thoughts, and thanks to all the people who have communicated over past
months.
(tomlockley@gmail.com ,
0403 615 134, 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://
The business case is online at the private website http://