By Casey Neill
A proposed Coptic church complex would be disastrous for Greater Dandenong’s green wedge, objectors say.
Defenders of the South East Green Wedge secretary Barry Ross said the $4 million, 1600 square metre development at 785 Thompsons Road, Lyndhurst, would include a priests’ dwelling, sports courts, a physio clinic, horse stables, a cafe and plant nursery.
“We believe that this large church with its 500-seat capacity and 23 metre towers – as tall as a seven storey building – together with all the other actives would be disastrous for the green wedge,” he said.
“Our green wedges, which are the lungs of Melbourne, are in danger of being chocked by churches, temples and mosques.
“While our group has nothing but respect for places of worship, we believe they are out-of-place in the green wedge which is meant to be protected as an open rural landscape for agriculture, conservation and recreation.
“Unfortunately, a number of religious organisations seem to have suddenly realised that it is far less expensive to locate in green wedges than the more expensive land in urban areas.”
Mr Ross said Greater Dandenong Council’s Green Wedge Management Plan would “provide a green, spacious relief from surrounding urban development”.
“Approval of the church complex would certainly fly in the face of this vision,” he said.
“With its bulk, height and all its ‘bells and whistles’, the church complex would be completely out-of-place in the green wedge and would spoil the pleasant, open rural landscape.”
Greater Dandenong Council’s planning register lists the application as “in progress”.
The application also included 181 car spaces and said the centre would provide for mass during the weekend and weekdays, Sunday school for children aged under 12, youth meetings, baptism, weddings and funerals, and yearly fates for all surrounding communities.
The Journal contact Progress Planning, which submitted the application on behalf of land owners St Kyrillos and Philopatere, and was directed to Ogee Architects.
“Objectors may take matters to city council and VCAT, if they wish,” director architect Youssef Gadalla said.
“I am not in a position to talk about this project.”
