By BRIDGET COOK
A CHRISTIAN community is working with Casey council to make its dream of a new primary school, secondary school and church a reality in Cranbourne South.
Southern Lights Church Senior Minister Caleb Nicholes made a presentation to the council on Tuesday night about the church’s vision for a permanent home in Casey.
Mr Nicholes spoke to councillors about what the church had planned for land at 271 Pearcedale Road, Cranbourne South.
Mr Nicholes said the church was currently hiring premises in Skye, but want to find a permanent home where members could expand their faith-based community.
“This is in the very early stages and nothing is set in stone,” he said.
“It’s just a vision we have at the moment, but we would love to remain in the south-east area.
“We have hunted high and low for suitable land and have found some in Cranbourne South.”
The church have a vision to create a place of worship for up to 450 parishioners, a primary and secondary school and a convention hall all on the same land.
In his presentation to the council, Mr Nicholes said the church had a Christian school willing to establish a new campus through them.
Mr Nicholes said the church already had a great following and the development would be a success in the area.
“We are a pretty busy church,” he said.
“We are also a very young church with more than 80 teenagers that attend our youth group and 25 young adults.
“There will also be 12 babies born soon into the church.”
The church has met with the council’s planning department and has engaged a planning consulate to prepare its application for a permit.
In a council report, officers stated that while the site was located outside the Urban Growth Boundary, its proximity to residential areas and the lack of current primary and secondary school in the area gave it credence to the location being appropriate.
