Published March 30, 2016 - Deborah FitzGerald
"The sale of the Powerhouse building and proposed relocation of the museum continues to generate an extraordinarily negative and passionate response from the community."
The Save the Powerhouse community group based at Ultimo is heading west to meet with other action groups taking the State Government to task with grassroots campaigns.
Spokeswoman Patricia Johnson said the campaign focus remained on keeping the Powerhouse in Ultimo, while supporting fair arts funding for western Sydney to build a new, world-class cultural facility chosen by the community.
Ms Johnson said many people in western Sydney shared the view that the Powerhouse should stay in Ultimo.
She said co-operation between community action groups would be the most effective way of opposing and ultimately reversing the Government's policies.
"Reaching out to western Sydney is an initial step in this direction."
"Baird's attempt to divide the Inner Sydney and Parramatta communities over the Powerhouse issue simply did not work," Ms Johnson said.
"We have approached Parramatta community group leaders to discuss ways we could cooperate with them in future protest actions and have been encouraged by their response."
The North Parramatta Residents Action Group, with more than 600 members, has invited Save the Powerhouse supporters to visit Parramatta to talk about common concerns.
"They'll also give us a fact-finding tour of the iconic cultural heritage sites that are currently under threat of high-rise development by the Baird government," Ms Johnson said.
Balmain State Greens MP Jamie Parker will join the delegation travelling to Parramatta.
"The sale of the Powerhouse building and proposed relocation of the museum continues to generate an extraordinarily negative and passionate response from the community," Mr Parker said.
It is clear that western Sydney will be short-changed by the introduction of a transplanted, inferior institution.
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