Re: Power House Museum
  TP

It's a good outcome that nobody can complain about. Between them, Castle
Hill and Parramatta will account for the bulk of the collection, so there
are three sites to visit (plus Sydney Observatory)! Nothing unusual in the
museum's history - as already noted, there were several regional branches
for many decades. The collection will never be under one roof unless one
day they build a super museum on several acres somewhere.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/premier-backflips-over-powerhouse-museum-move/news-story/28460e0123bb47a7c9b5d3d19dfd9b18

Premier backflips over Powerhouse Museum move

Gladys Berejiklian has backflipped on an election promise to move the
Powerhouse Museum from the CBD to Western Sydney, instead bowing to inner
city pressure to fund two museums.
*Anna Caldwell
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/journalists/anna-caldwell*, State
Political Editor, The Daily Telegraph
July 4, 2020 6:00am

Gladys Berejiklian has backflipped on an election promise to move the
Powerhouse Museum from the CBD to Western Sydney, instead bowing to inner
city pressure to fund two museums.

The government will keep the Powerhouse’s Ultimo site in the city open, but
is insisting it will still continue with an outpost plan in Parramatta.

The Government had originally budgeted to save $195 million from its plan
to sell Ultimo, but has faced unrelenting pressure from activist groups to
leave the museum in place.
[image: Sydney's Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo. Picture: Jeremy Piper]
Sydney's Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The backflip comes after the state government has relentlessly tried to
build the case for abandoning the Ultimo location, for several years
pointing to a report it would cost $500 million to bring the site up to
scratch and privately citing woeful visitor data.

The government was not able to provide the cost impact of today’s
announcement.

In 2018 it said the Powerhouse Paramatta plan - which includes a new state
of the art building on flood-risked land - would cost $645 million, but
other estimates have placed this cost higher.

Today’s announcement comes less than a month after Ms Berejiklian dumped
her promise to upgrade ANZ stadium and at the time pledged to stick with
the plan to move the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta.

Ms Berejiklian said her new decision, hastily revealed to newspapers late
Friday afternoon, would ensure Sydney had two world class facilities.

“Sydney is a global city of more than five million people and this will
allow us to provide an outstanding visitor experience in the areas of
technology, science, engineering and design at two major locations,” Ms
Berejiklian said.
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[image: People gather at the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo to protest.
Picture: Toby Zerna]People gather at the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo to
protest. Picture: Toby Zerna

“It will mean far more people have access to many more of the amazing
exhibits held by the Powerhouse and importantly, help us create vibrant
centres to inspire learning in the fields of sciences and applied arts for
the next generation.”

The new museum at Parramatta will create more than 1100 construction jobs,
up to 2400 indirect jobs, and hundreds more once opened, the government
said.

In a statement, the government said it would explore if some of the funds
earmarked for relocation costs could be used on renovations.

The Premier said the Government would not waver in its commitment to
deliver a world-class facility at Parramatta.

“The new museum at Parramatta will give us the opportunity to create
something special that benefits millions of people for years to come,” Ms
Berejiklian said.

“At the same time Ultimo will evolve and grow alongside the newly announced
Tech Central the revamped Sydney Fish Market, and rejuvenated Darling
Harbour precincts.”

The decision was made after the government this week faced threats from the
CFMEU who pledged to put a ban on the demolition of key historical in
Paramatta - Willow Grove and St George’s Terrace.

However a spokesman last night could not say what the changes meant for
these buildings.

Tony P