The Blue Mountains Brethren community has plans to expand with a second church in Wentworth Falls only a few kilometres from the first one.
And a third property - the former Wentworth Falls Bowling Club - has also been bought by a member of the church, but will form a separate development application before Blue Mountains City Council.
Plans for the second church were revealed at the September council meeting, when an extensive proposal was put before the council.
There is a current church operating at 4 West Street and the Brethren Christian community had hopes to turn a suburban brick home at 263 Blaxland Road into another place of public worship. The church has been operating in the area since 1898.
But the plans were stymied at the September 28 meeting when Ward 2 Cr Romola Hollywood asked for the matter to be deferred.
The plans hinge on being allowed to alter the Local Environment Plan [LEP] from 2015 - to amend the current permit use at the 1970s nondescript three bedroom red brick home purchased in 2018.
In a 240 page accompanying document Leura Gospel Trust has asked council to consider adding the additional permitted land use as a "place of public worship".
A Trust spokesman Nelson Clark told the Gazette they had been liaising with council staff for three years on the proposal. They were also talking to council staff about possible future plans for the former bowling club, he said.
The Blaxland Road documents submitted to council cover traffic, bushfires and parking concerns and much more. It said the facility would be limited to twice weekly services for 40 churchgoers who live close by. Windows would be kept closed during the service to limit noise and there would be no band. The public is able to access any details about the application on the council website.
Cr Hollywood asked for a deferral of the report pending a further briefing. She was concerned it may set a precedent for other requests to change the LEP.
"This is a request for a significant change to the way our LEP operates and I have grave concerns about that," she said at the meeting held via remote technology.
"This is land on the edge of the town, zoned E4, which is an environmental living zone used for residential areas where development needs to take account of environmental considerations. Significantly, this land is bushfire prone. It also above protected vegetation areas. An increase in hard surfaces, such as a large concrete parking area, could adversely affect the sensitive ecological communities below it," Cr Hollywood said.
"I also know local residents living in this area are unaware of this proposed change but, separately, they have been raising concerns with me already about increasing traffic and the changing amenity in Blaxland Road. This proposal could set a precedent for watering down our strong environmental protections in our LEP and increasing overdevelopment."
In a statement Mr Clark said: "The applicant will continue to work with council staff to address any concerns raised at the council meeting in addition to the extensive studies compiled in the submission.
"We are awaiting clarification on what those concerns and requirements are, and will continue to work with council to ensure we reach a mutually positive outcome. The applicant has no further comments at this stage and looks forward to receiving advice from council as to how to move this application forward."
Despite earlier confirming church members were involved with the purchase of the bowling club. Mr Clark later added he could "confirm it is not connected at all with the application before council and not a church investment. Can confirm property is owned by Australian investors and they are seeking ways to best use the property."
The proposal to defer was passed unanimously.
Links: Doors close at bowlo
