CFMEU NSW Green Ban to preserve Willow Grove Buildings

The construction union has weighed in to the campaign to save two heritage buildings slated for demolition to make way for the new Powerhouse Museum at Parramatta.

Key points:

Two Victorian period buildings will be flattened to make way for the Powerhouse Museum
The construction union has urged the State Government to listen to dissenting residents
NSW Premier has stood by the plans to bulldoze, citing lack of community engagement
CFMEU NSW announced a green ban over the buildings and called on contractors to abide by it.

The move intensifies a campaign to preserve the buildings — Willow Grove, a two-storey heritage villa, and St George's Terrace, a row of modest Victorian period homes.

Darren Greenfield, Secretary of the CFMEU's Construction Branch, has called on NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to save the properties.

"These green bans mean no work can be done to destroy these historically significant sites," Mr Greenfield said.

"We hope the Government listens to the people of this community, which are many, that are against the destruction of these buildings.

"We will be here standing in defence of these buildings for whatever it takes into the future."

Suzette Meade from the North Parramatta Resident's Action Group said people would stand firm with the union.

"The Premier should be under no illusion that if a finger is laid on any of these buildings, the community of Parramatta and heritage lovers from all over New South Wales, will put themselves in front of machinery to save them."

Cheryl Bates from the National Trusts Parramatta Branch said environment and heritage impact statements identified the properties at "highly significant" to the Parramatta area, but didn't investigate their adaptive reuse.


The under-threat buildings are a Victorian Italianate villa, Willow Grove, and a complete row of seven terrace houses built from 1881, St George’s Terrace.

“These Green Bans mean no work can be done to destroy these historically significant sites,” said Darren Greenfield, the union’s NSW secretary.

“If the Berejiklian government wants work on the museum to proceed they need to sit down with the local community, listen to what they say and come up with a plan that preserves these buildings.”


Locals and heritage advocates have been campaigning to save the buildings, through the North Parramatta Residents Action Group, since plans for their demolition were made public in June 2018.