Pastor defends church development application

Published 11:32am 1 July 2022

Pastor defends church development application
Words by Jodie Powell

The pastor of a proposed church near Dayboro has defended a planning application that has attracted hundreds of objections.

Gary Levens told this week’s Moreton Bay Regional Council meeting many of the objections to plans to build a new church at King Scrub were based on rumour rather than the actual detail of the application by Dayboro Church Limited.

Speaking during the community comment section of the meeting, Mr Levens said he had met with councillors Darren Grimwade and Cath Tonks and Deputy Mayor Jodie Shipway to discuss the application and to “attempt to clarify some of the points in the application which seem to have caused alarm in our community and some of which seem to have been misunderstood”.

“The councillors thought it had brought clarification to them and suggested I bring it to the whole council.”

Sunday services

Mr Levens said that contrary to concerns the church would operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week, it would only open for one to three hours at a time and longer on Sundays.

“That’s just nothing like what we want,” he said.

“We will not operate like a business and weekday usage will not be full crowds, but more like five to 20 people gathered for Bible study or prayer meetings and full crowds will be on Sunday.”

Addressing community concerns about an illuminated sign mentioned in the planning application, Mr Levens said such a sign was never the church’s intention.

“Somehow the word ‘illuminated’ slipped through in the application and I want to state quite emphatically that the sign will simply be our name on a white background on the side of the building, not illuminated.

“That will clearly be withdrawn.”

No shops

Mr Levens said objections concerning a coffee or op shop on the site at 3449 Mount Mee Rd, King Scrub, were unfounded.

“These have never been included in our application and seem to have been part of a rumour that objectors have picked up on.

“There are no plans for any commercial operations from the church whatsoever.”

Mr Levens said objections relating to wedding receptions at the venue were similarly misguided.

“Our application mentions that the facility will be used from time to time for weddings.

“The objectors seem to interpret that as wedding receptions that endure noisily into the night hours.

“When we spoke about weddings, we referred simply to the religious ceremony that takes place inside the church during daylight hours and lasts usually for about an hour or so.

“Wedding receptions will take place somewhere else…but certainly not at the church site.”

Moreton Bay Regional Council chief executive officer Greg Chemello said the application was still under consideration by council officers and would be brought to a general meeting in the next few months.

More you might like

More single-use plastics to be phased out over five years

Plastic microbeads, polystyrene packing peanuts and plastic-stemmed cotton buds are set to be phased out of Queensland by September 2023 with the State Government moving to ban more single-use plastic items.

Boost to Moreton Bay’s frontline with 18 new officers ready for duty

A number of first year constables are set to start their policing career in Moreton Bay following their graduation this week. Find out where the new officers will be stationed here

Share

Related Stories

Popular Stories

Students unite to celebrate diversity and harmony

Multicultural students from Australian Christian College Moreton had the opportunity to showcase their culture to the wider community by taking part in an array of fun activities to commemorate Harmony Week. See the pictures here

Having a ball with "unknown" Paralympic sport
News / Local

Having a ball with "unknown" Paralympic sport

Once a week the “most unknown, yet most accessible” Paralympic sport takes over a hall in Morayfield, running the biggest program in Greater Brisbane. ** FREE TO READ **

Clubs land state's top awards
News / Local

Clubs land state's top awards

Three Moreton Bay sports clubs have been named the best in the state at the Keno & Clubs Queensland 2024 Awards for Excellence. ** FREE TO READ **