AusLeisure

The NSW government wants to include two ‘super towers’ on the edge of the Parramatta River as part of the relocation of Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum (Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences) from Ultimo to western Sydney.

Made public by the NSW Government today following an order by the NSW upper house, the documents show that a 175-metre hight residential tower and a commercial tower of 220 metres would be built tofund the relocation.

The NSW upper house ruling has also seen the NSW Government release details of the business plan to redevelop Sydney’s Allianz Stadium and ANZ Stadium – see Redevelopment of Allianz and ANZ Stadiums to deliver ‘negative returns’ on investment.

The towers, which will help fund the the $1.1 billion development would be higher than what is permitted under Parramatta’s local environment plan, but are possible if the government can demonstrate design excellence.

The old Ultimo site, in the historic Powerhouse building, is earmarked for a small museum, a 1,500-seat Lyric theatre and residential and commercial redevelopment.

The documents say 4,426 metre² will be retained for a design and fashion museum at the Darling Harbour site, and the remainder will be allocated for the theatre, creative industry office space, and residential development. The number of residential units proposed has been blacked out.

The economic modelling for the new museum has come to light after the NSW upper house ordered it be produced, and the government caved in and made it public late last week.

Many of the Powerhouse documents are redacted as they are said to contain commercially sensitive information that could prejudice the government’s position when dealing with developers.

Three options were considered in the business plans: a smaller museum of 12,180 metre², a medium-sized option, and the larger option which would involve 21,200 metre² of museum space and include function areas and a planetarium.

As reported by Guardian Australia, visitors to the planetarium will pay a $34 entry charge. 

Image: Artists impression of the planned new Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta, with the concept for one of the towers (top) and a concept for the new Planetarium at the site (below).

12th June 2018 - REDEVELOPMENT OF ALLIANZ AND ANZ STADIUMS TO DELIVER ‘NEGATIVE RETURNS’ ON INVESTMENT

30th April 2018 - NEW FEATURES ANNOUNCED FOR RELOCATED SYDNEY POWERHOUSE MUSEUM PLUS PLANS FOR CURRENT ULTIMO SITE 

5th August 2017 - NSW GOVERNMENT TO PURCHASE PARRAMATTA RIVERFRONT SITE FOR NEW POWERHOUSE PARRAMATTA

21st June 2017 - NSW BUDGET INVESTS IN ARTS, EVENTS AND TOURISM

7th May 2017 - SYDNEY’S POWERHOUSE MUSEUM TO HOST INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

24th April 2017 - SYDNEY MUSEUM ALLIANCE SAYS MOVING POWERHOUSE MUSEUM COLLECTION TO PARRAMATTA ‘ABSOLUTE MADNESS’ 

31st March 2017 - NSW GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES $30 MILLION FUNDING COMMITMENT FOR NEW PARRAMATTA POOL 

25th September 2016 - STUDY DISCOVERS THE CULTURAL TASTES OF MODERN AUSTRALIANS 

28th June 2016 - FREE ENTRY DRAWS CROWDS TO SYDNEY’S MUSEUMS

14th April 2016 - CONFIRMED MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES DIRECTOR TO LEAD INSTITUTION INTO A NEW ERA 

11th April 2016 - POWERHOUSE MUSEUM TO BE RELOCATED TO THE BANKS OF THE PARRAMATTA RIVER

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