Church plans in motion

Councillor David Young proposed the plan influence Pakenham's reputation as a "suburb of many faiths."

By ANEEKA SIMONIS

CONTESTED church plans for Lakeside are now in motion, with Cardinia Shire Council approving the Seventh-day Adventist Church application despite close to two dozen formal objections.
Councillors unanimously voted to approve the religious use of the vacant building, formerly a cafe, in a planning meeting where Cr David Young remarked, “If Adelaide is known as the City of Churches, Pakenham will soon be known as the suburb of many faiths.”
Transforming the residential area into a religious hub was something objectors and social media commentators wanted to avoid.
Council planning documents show 19 objections were formally lodged against the plan.
Highlighted objections include concerns the church “will make the whole estate look like it is based on this religion”, the application encourages segregation in the community and church singers will impact the noise amenity at the site.
A fear of increased doorknockers was also raised, though Cr Kate Lempriere who spoke at length in support of the application assured that “that is not necessarily the case”.
The church, which has now taken ownership of the building on the market for the past three years, will host morning and afternoon worship services each Saturday.
The church can hold no more than 137 seated worshippers at a time – and must close up the building when singing, the plan stipulates.
Cr George Blenkhorn said: “I certainly feel all faiths and communities in the shire should have an equal chance and opportunity to have facilities within the shire.”
Church-goers will worship at the site directly opposite another large church group – the Planetshakers – situated within Cardinia Cultural Centre.
The Pakenham site is among the only four bases nationwide, holding worship services each Sunday.
Another objection batted away by Cr Lempriere related to residents preference for the building to be used as a cafe.
She argued the area was already serviced by enough cafes, wine bars and eateries and that a little religion influence wouldn’t hurt the estate.
“I think I’d prefer (the estate) to look like a place of peace and worship rather than one of alcohol consumption and everything that goes with it,” she said.