Parramatta Lord Mayor to Premier: Don’t turn your back on us

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer has urged the NSW Government to deliver on its promise to relocate the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta and not abandon critical job-generating projects amid the COVID-19 crisis.  

“The NSW Government can’t turn its back on us now,” Cr Dwyer said.

“If the NSW Premier is serious about wanting to supercharge the state’s economy post-COVID-19, she should start by making the Powerhouse relocation a top priority and investing in Sydney’s west.

“The Powerhouse relocation will deliver more than 2,300 jobs during construction and over 3,000 full-time jobs after it is completed, inject millions of dollars into the economy, and attract up to two million visitors a year.

“For far too long, the people of Western Sydney have waited for a world-class cultural institution close to home which they can be proud of. We are tired of being short-changed. 

“Parramatta is the centre of global Sydney. Not only are we an economic hub and engine room of the state’s art sector, our population is growing at almost twice the pace of Australia’s. 

“I call on the NSW Premier to not break her election promise. The people of Western Sydney deserve better than that.”

City of Parramatta Council CEO Brett Newman said Parramatta is Sydney’s Central City but has not received a significant investment in cultural infrastructure since the 1988 Bicentenary.

“Western Sydney gets a meagre percentage of cultural arts funding compared with Sydney’s CBD and eastern suburbs, despite the fact our residents make up almost a third of NSW’s population. The once-in-a-generation Powerhouse project is an important step to address this imbalance,” Mr Newman said. 

“Sydney needs infrastructure projects of this magnitude to survive. City of Parramatta Council is ready to work with the NSW Government to ensure the Powerhouse relocation is delivered as promised.”