By Ethan Benedicto
A $3 million proposal to develop a new church at 67 Shrives Road, Narre Warren South sparked fierce debate among local residents, with many voicing concerns over traffic congestion, inadequate infrastructure, and the potential disruption to the neighbourhood’s character.
The Immanuel Mar Thoma Church (IMTC), which purchased the property in 2018, sought council approval to build a place of worship for 200 attendees, with 58 designated parking spaces.
However, residents argued that the existing road network was ill-equipped to handle the expected increase in traffic and activity.
Long-time resident Geoff Warner, who has lived in the area for over two decades, expressed concerns over safety and congestion, saying that “Shrives Road is already a danger, especially during peak hours”.
“If they’re going to overflow and park on nature strips, we’ll be stuck.”
Fellow neighbours Mark Sowden and Pierre Camilleri echoed these concerns, adding that even the current, single-lane conditions make it difficult to navigate the area during busy periods, particularly with the nearby kindergarten in operation.
Residents also raised objections about they said was a lack of consultation and transparency surrounding the project, where in a letter submitted by members of the IMTC’s current congregation in Hampton Park, concerns were raised about the proposal’s capacity, noting that their existing location already struggles with overflow parking.
The letter stated that the proposed project did not account for future growth and that there was a need for a larger site in a commercial zone.
Despite these objections, IMTC building convener Alex Varghese defended the proposal, stating that the church had revised its plans multiple times in response to Casey Council’s feedback.
He explained that initial plans included a parsonage and central parking, but those were modified to reduce bulk and move the structure closer to Shrives Road.
“We removed the parsonage, shifted the church forward, and adopted the left-in, left-out traffic rule proposed by VicRoads to address congestion,” Varghese said.
Varghese also emphasised the church’s long-standing commitment to community welfare, pointing to initiatives such as blood drives, toy donations, and bushfire relief efforts.
“Our church has always been about giving back to the community, and this new site will help us continue those efforts,” he said.
Additionally, Varghese clarified misconceptions about the frequency of church events, noting that services primarily occur on Sundays and that daily attendance is minimal.
“The busiest days will be Good Friday and Christmas, like any other place of worship,” he added.
While IMTC remains hopeful for a favourable council decision, tensions persist among locals.
A Facebook group titled “No Church here thank you” had been actively encouraging residents to submit objections before the council’s expected ruling after 29 July 2024.
Warner, who met with council officials alongside other residents, maintained that improvements to Shrives Road, such as footpaths and lane widening, should be prioritised before any development is approved.
“Without proper infrastructure, it’s just too dangerous,” he said.
Despite a traffic report claiming that the development would have minimal impact on Sunday morning traffic, residents remained sceptical, citing the road’s existing issues and lack of pedestrian amenities.
Varghese acknowledged the frustrations but urged residents to direct their concerns to the council, adding that “this isn’t about fighting with the neighbours, it’s about working through the proper process.”
During that waiting process, and as the City of Casey reviewed the proposal, the community remained divided.
