https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/breaking-news/sydney-to-get-two-powerhouse-museums-after-ultimo-site-survives-the-chop/news-story/ade8075bff944a0915a089ead637e8cf
Sydney to get two Powerhouse Museums after Ultimo site survives the chop
The NSW Government has backflipped on a controversial decision to move the
Powerhouse Museum from the CBD to Western Sydney.
*Erin Lyons*, NCA NewsWire
July 4, 2020 1:02pm
[image: NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says the government is committed to
providing two world-class Powerhouse museums. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy
Piper]
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says the government is committed to
providing two world-class Powerhouse museums. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy
Piper
The Berejiklian Government says its U-turn on a five-year-old plan to move
the Powerhouse Museum from the CBD to Western Sydney was motivated by the
need to create jobs during the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking from the Ultimo site on Saturday, NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet
confirmed the existing museum in Ultimo would remain alongside the new
facility in Parramatta.
Mr Perrottet said the decision was made to ensure Sydney had access to two
world-class facilities, providing the arts, tourism and employment sectors
with a much-needed boost after the economic impact of COVID-19.
While the historic Ultimo site lives on, the government is still forging
ahead with the new build in Parramatta.
Mr Perrottet said the government had budgeted to save $195 million from its
plan to sell the inner city site, but was willing to forgo that amount to
preserve it.
The cost of the Parramatta build is set at $645 million and the State
Government is exploring whether some of the funds earmarked for relocation
costs could be used on renovations.
“We will forgo $195 million from the redevelopment of this site, taking the
total cost of this project to $840 million,” the Treasurer said.
“Ultimately this is a win-win. A win for the people of Western Sydney and a
win for the people of central Sydney.”
[image: The Berejiklian Government has made a U-turn on a five-year-old
plan to move the Powerhouse Museum from the CBD to Western Sydney. Picture:
NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper]
The Berejiklian Government has made a U-turn on a five-year-old plan to
move the Powerhouse Museum from the CBD to Western Sydney. Picture: NCA
NewsWire/Jeremy Piper
The State Government has faced unrelenting pressure from activist groups to
save the Ultimo museum, but neither Mr Perrottet nor Arts Minister Don
Harwin would touch on whether public uproar helped prompt the decision.
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Instead Mr Perrottet argued the call was made in response to the
coronavirus crisis and the imminent need to inject more jobs into the
economy.
“We want to keep as many people in work as possible … If our projects have
a greater social outcome at the end, that’s what is most important,” he
said.
“There’s no time for pre-pandemic thinking in a post pandemic world.”
Mr Harwin added they came to this decision after reflecting on what would
be the best use of the space and it “made sense” to leave it as is.
“I really admire the people who have put a lot of time in this museum over
the years,” he told reporters.
The retention of the Powerhouse at Ultimo will ensure workers keep their
jobs while the Parramatta build will create about 1100 construction jobs
and up to 2400 indirect jobs once open.
The Treasurer said it was the right decision for the economy and people of
NSW.
The move is part of the State Government’s $100 billion infrastructure
pipeline, which Mr Perrottet said was more important now than ever given
the economic burdens the state was carrying.
As a result of the decision, the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences (MAAS)
will soon have four centres within its portfolio, including the
jewel-in-the-crown Powerhouse at Parramatta, Ultimo Museum, Sydney
Observatory and the Museums Discovery Centre at Castle Hill.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Ultimo area would continue to
evolve with the arrival of Tech Central
https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/technology/worlds-tallest-hybrid-timber-tower-to-be-built-next-to-sydneys-central-station/news-story/01f8df294a0cd5bb4b6d486a7b6532ca
and the revamped Sydney Markets.
The announcement comes weeks after the Premier dumped plans to upgrade ANZ
Stadium.
Tony P