In a significant breakthrough to its impending property crisis, Moore College has settled on a short-list of five possible sites for its future location.

The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) campus at Lindfield is currently the preferred option.

"There are still a number of significant issues which need to be resolved" but these do not at this stage appear insurmountable," says the Principal of Moore College, John Woodhouse.

The others include redeveloping its current location in Newtown or purchasing one of three alternative sites " the University of Sydney's Cumberland campus at Lidcombe, a site within a proposed education precinct at Sydney Olympic Park or greenfields land in outer suburban Sydney.

Key decision makers in any possible acquisition of the campus at Lindfield (known as UTS Ku-ring-gai), which is surrounded by bushland on Sydney's North Shore, would include Ku-ring-gai Council, the NSW Government and UTS.

There have been more than three years of extensive consultation and planning about the property needs of the college in light of its central role in the Diocesan Mission.

UTS is considering the long-term use of the campus but has not yet announced its decision about whether it will vacate the property.

If Moore College were successful in purchasing the property under current zoning requirements, the college would relocate the whole of its theological teaching activities to the 22 hectare campus.

It would enable full-time residential theological training and the potential addition of postgraduate and in-service training.

In a report to the Sydney diocesan Standing Committee, Dr Woodhouse said depending on the outcome of negotiations, the preferred location "appears to be within the reasonable financial capacity of the college and its associate parties (including the Diocese)'.

It is understood that the College will make a detailed submission to the Standing Committee in the middle of this year.

Move seen as a win for the local area

In a letter to Ku-ring-gai Mayor Elaine Malicki, the college's Director of Property Planning, Doug Marr said the current community use of the site would continue.

"Moore College's operations at the Lindfield site would comprise a continued use of the existing teaching, sporting and child care facilities, would bring a significant reduction in traffic movements, would retain the Sulman Award winning buildings and would provide for appropriate community access," Mr Marr wrote.

"Subject to successful negotiations with the present owner, UTS, Moore College could see its campus operations at Lindfield to commence in 2008 or 2009."

A spokesperson from Ku-ring-gai Council told Sydneyanglicans.net that the Council and the Ku-ring-gai community value the site as an educational facility.

In 2005 the College sought public comment about the relocation plans.

A nearby resident of the UTS campus, Keith Young, was one of many people who responded, prompting the college to investigate the site.

"It is an academic institution and a beautiful place " it would be ideal for Moore College," Mr Young told Sydneyanglicans.net.

Growth hindered by inadequate campus

In its 150th anniversary year, Moore College is facing a serious property crisis due to increasing student numbers in recent years, which are expected to continue to rise.

Over 130 full-time students entered the college this year, almost 40 per cent more than the previous year. Numbers of female students increased by 50 per cent.

The theological college started life in Liverpool in 1856 and has been situated in inner city Newtown for 115 years.

In recent years its lecture and study rooms have become so overcrowded that classes can longer be held in some of them and it has run out of room in its library.

It also has a lack of student accommodation and limited parking.

The college owns around 20,000 square metres of land in Newtown adjacent to the University of Sydney, including teaching facilities, offices, a dining hall and student and faculty housing.

Under the Diocesan Mission, student numbers are hoped to reach 600 by 2012, perhaps 1,000 within a few years after that " viewed as impossible within the current Newtown site.

The College Council has decided to keep all options open at this stage, but has expressed a serious interest in the possibility of moving the College to the Lindfield campus if this should become possible.