The following formal submission have been made public
Submitter: Henry HandleyAnzac Hall and Glazed Link
The AWM Act states the Memorial function is to" maintain and develop a national memorial to Australians who have served Australia."
In canvassing opinions of the Memorial , predominantly service people , state it is a memorial to those who have served.
The planned works of Anzac Hall and glazed link provide new space for large weaponry, and shifts the main function of the AWM from Memorial to Museum and from a building whose function is to "depict, as far as possible, the sufferings and misery of war" (1928 Parliamentary Committee) to one that glorifies the weapons of war.
This is contrary to Australian values of remembering the war dead with deep reverence, striving for peace not war, not glorifying war, and focusing our reflection on armed conflicts on the values that took us to war, namely love for the land and for our democratic system of government, which we have fought to protect. It's also contrary to Australian values that a space intended for commemoration of the war dead instead creates an opportunity for the display by arms manufacturers of their wares.
That is the current function of the purpose built Treloar Technology Centre to display and collect Military hardware.!!
The New development proposal is skilful in design, but so was the award winning building now demolished.!!
The grant of $500m to the AWM project is way out of proportion to all other Museums in Canberra - indeed, in Australia - who have budget cuts on top of having to make decisions about which items of their substantial collections are on display at any one time.
It is simply not sustainable to increase the size of a museum because the collection is increasing. This money, when given to the AWM, drains funding from other Museums in the Designated areas and cultural events in the Nation's capital, which is also unsustainable.
As a graduate of Regional Planning I deplore the cynical process of allowing demolition as part of an" early works permit",
This compromises the whole process of community involvement and undermines public confidence in the process. Allowing demolition prior is a fait accompli !
I feel I have wasted my time in this submission "having my say " at this stage, is very flawed cynical process as the decisions have already been made and initial community input was ignored.
In canvassing opinions of the Memorial , predominantly service people , state it is a memorial to those who have served.
The planned works of Anzac Hall and glazed link provide new space for large weaponry, and shifts the main function of the AWM from Memorial to Museum and from a building whose function is to "depict, as far as possible, the sufferings and misery of war" (1928 Parliamentary Committee) to one that glorifies the weapons of war.
This is contrary to Australian values of remembering the war dead with deep reverence, striving for peace not war, not glorifying war, and focusing our reflection on armed conflicts on the values that took us to war, namely love for the land and for our democratic system of government, which we have fought to protect. It's also contrary to Australian values that a space intended for commemoration of the war dead instead creates an opportunity for the display by arms manufacturers of their wares.
That is the current function of the purpose built Treloar Technology Centre to display and collect Military hardware.!!
The New development proposal is skilful in design, but so was the award winning building now demolished.!!
The grant of $500m to the AWM project is way out of proportion to all other Museums in Canberra - indeed, in Australia - who have budget cuts on top of having to make decisions about which items of their substantial collections are on display at any one time.
It is simply not sustainable to increase the size of a museum because the collection is increasing. This money, when given to the AWM, drains funding from other Museums in the Designated areas and cultural events in the Nation's capital, which is also unsustainable.
As a graduate of Regional Planning I deplore the cynical process of allowing demolition as part of an" early works permit",
This compromises the whole process of community involvement and undermines public confidence in the process. Allowing demolition prior is a fait accompli !
I feel I have wasted my time in this submission "having my say " at this stage, is very flawed cynical process as the decisions have already been made and initial community input was ignored.