by Geoff Robson

Ministry at St John’s, Darlinghurst is under threat of being drastically scaled back, with the Church’s proposed property development being opposed by the City of Sydney Council.

The inner-city parish hopes to construct an apartment/retail/church ministry complex on its own land to provide a ‘sustain-able income stream’ for ministry. But residents and politicians, including Lord Mayor Lucy Turnbull and NSW Greens MLC Sylvia Hale, are against the plans.

The Rev Greg Thompson, rector of St John’s, says the develop-ment is essential to the church’s ministry. “We’d certainly have a serious financial crisis if the development doesn’t go ahead,” he said. “We are talking about a huge reduction in our ministries to be able to survive.”

Mr Thompson said residents are concerned about the effect on land values. Opposition has included the interrupting of church services, picketing outside the church, and distribution of leaflets with incorrect information. “Basically, it’s been a disrespect of the church as both a community and a place of care and support for people,” he said.

Sylvia Hale told Southern Cross that residents have ‘very legitimate concerns about the development’. “In the most densely populated area of Sydney, it is inappropriate to be developing some of the last remaining open space in the area,” she said.

Ms Hale said that the Greens did not support dishonest tactics, but said the process of community consultation was ‘flawed’. “Residents have not been able to participate in determining the outcomes of the development.”

Greg Thompson says the parish has worked hard to communicate its plans to locals, issuing invitations to public meetings and distributing information leaflets. He said the anxiety of many residents had been fuelled by misinformation.

St John’s has been planning a development for nearly eight years, with the present plan lodged with the Council in February. The City of Sydney Council has recently rejected the proposal, despite the plans receiving the approval of the Heritage Council. The matter is before the Land and Environment Court and is due to be heard at the end of November.

A spokesman for the Lord Mayor said that the City of Sydney ‘is committed to heritage principles and is working hard for the best outcome for the community’. “It also recognises the good work done by the church in support of local people,” the spokesman said.

Mr Thompson said the nature of the parish’s work and the ongoing heritage costs require an income-producing property. Heritage obligations cost the church between $750,000 and $1 million every ten years.

Around 150 people a week come through the doors of St John’s seeking aid such as food and shelter or help in dealing with addictions. The parish runs Bible studies and a church service called ‘Street Wise’ to present the gospel to these people.

Sylvia Hale said the Greens believe that the church should be enabled to provide social services to the community, and said it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that churches do not carry the full burden of caring for the disadvantaged. “The Greens call on the Government to provide adequate support for the church, to ensure that the homeless and destitute are cared for, the historic integrity of the church and its curtilage are preserved, and the community does not lose its open space,” she said.

Andrew Sillar, secretary of the Sydney Diocesan Property Trust, described the development as ‘a critical project for the parish’. “We support the parish and are doing all we can to assist,” Mr Sillar said.

If the Land and Environment Court finds in favour of the parish, a second stage requires Council to approve the final design.