Melbourne council rejects bid to build new church in green wedge
An artist's impression of a proposed development in Cranbourne South. (Supplied: AnC Planning Consultants)
In short:
A growing religious congregation in Melbourne's south-east will need to continue searching for a new spiritual home, after an application to build a new church was rejected by the local council.
The Bethel New Life Christian Fellowship had applied to build the two-storey church in a green wedge in Cranbourne South.
What's next?
The church group can appeal the decision before a tribunal, but says it will discuss next steps with its community.
A new church proposed for protected land in Melbourne's outer south-east is unlikely to go ahead, after councillors knocked back an application for a planning permit.
The Bethel New Life Christian Fellowship had wanted to build the $3.5 million dollar church in a green wedge zone in Cranbourne South.
The green wedge was established to protect biodiversity, agricultural land and rural townships against development.
Despite council officers recommending the project proceed, the councillors rejected the application at a City of Casey council meeting on Tuesday night.
"Green wedges have a clear purpose," councillor Dave Perry told the meeting.
"They're meant to provide a physical buffer to urban sprawl."
The church group wanted to build its new place of worship along Cranbourne-Frankston Road. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
The proposed development would have included a two-storey church for up to 400 patrons and 120 car parking spaces, built opposite a bustling residential development.
The religious group said it had outgrown its space in an industrial part of Dandenong, which serviced hundreds of people in Tamil and English.
"For a growing community, it's not possible to stay where we are," pastor John De Britto said.
Mr De Britto said he was disappointed with the council's decision.
"90 per cent of the church community live in Casey, so the council is not listening to those members of the community."
The Bethel New Life Christian Fellowship says it has outgrown its church in Dandenong. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
The church group bought the $1.8 million site on Cranbourne-Frankston Road in the hopes that they would be able to continue servicing the congregation in a new home.
However, the application sparked controversy among the local community, with many raising concerns about its potential impact on biodiversity and traffic.
Despite more than 230 objections to the proposal, council officers had recommended approval subject to 56 conditions.
Cr Perry said the size of the building was central to the decision to reject the application.
"We're talking about a 3,515 square metre building that's up to nine metres high," he said.
The application to relocate the church group to a green wedge zone sparked controversy across the community. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
When a council refuses to grant a planning permit, the application can be appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Mr De Britto said the church's congregation would meet on Sunday to decide what to do next.
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