By Mitchell Clarke
A contentious planning application to build a $1.5 million Mormon Church in Pakenham is currently before council.
The Church of the Latter Day Saints is proposing to build a place of worship on the vacant block of land on the corner of Army Road and Murphy Road, opposite Pakenham Hills Primary School.
According to the planning document, the development will include a one storey meeting house, which features a main multipurpose room with a seating capacity of 208, as well as a series of smaller practice rooms and parking.
It’s understood each congregation will host about 170 people on site, with regular scheduled activity occurring between 6 and 8am and 6 and 9pm on weekdays.
The site will also be used between 8am and 5pm on Saturdays and between 9am and 4pm on Sundays, with up to 124 vehicles set to move between the site during 11 and 12pm, when worships and religious instructions are held.
Neighbouring sites have also been warned to expect that “irregular” activity could occur until midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings.
More than 60 car park spaces will be created on the site, with entry to the site set to be located along Murphy Road via two driveway crossovers.
Council documents said the Church had identified a need to purchase the land “many years ago”.
It’s understood the local Mormon community currently meets in a leased facility but has identified a demand and capacity to build its own purpose specific centre.
“The use is a not for profit community services to ensure the wellbeing of people who live and work in the area,” the application stated.
The applicant was contacted for comment.
Cardinia Shire Council development and compliance services manager Owen Hardidge said a planning application notice had been provided to properties adjacent to the land.
Submissions to the project will close on Friday 25 September 2020.
Advertised planning permits can be viewed online at: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/advertisedplanningapplications.
