Historic St James Anglican Church may have avoided demolition and gained support for heritage listing, but restoration may never see the light of day.
At last night’s meeting to vote on heritage listing for the 121 year old Minto landmark, Campelltown councillors opposed to the proposal warned the cost of restoration was so expensive the Anglican diocese would never attempt it.
“Could they just put a fence around the old church to make it safe for the public and forget about it once it’s heritage listed,’’ asked veteran councillor Paul Lake, one of three to vote against the push for heritage listing.
“Yes’’, was the answer from council staff.
The other two to vote with Cr Lake were Cr Bob Thompson and Cr George Greiss.
“The council should be bound by its policy to not push for heritage listing without the consent of the owners of the property,’’ Cr Greiss told council before the vote was taken.
“The policy has been working for nearly 10 years and is working.
“If we don’t think it’s working we should review it and change it,’’ Cr Greiss said.
According to a report tabled at the meeting, restoration work to St James could cost anywhere between $560,000 and $660,000, based on two quotes obtained by the local Anglican diocese.
A spokesman told council night that “we respect council’s decision to reject the application for demolition’’.
But he said there would not be any money available for maintenance or restoration of old St James if the heritage listing went ahead and was granted.
“It would be a heavy burden on the church and the parishioners,’’ the spokesman said.
Asked if the diocese had ever applied for heritage funding, he said “no’’.
“It’s hard to say how safe the building is,’’ he responded when asked another question.
Council will now prepare a planning proposal to pave the way for heritage listing of St James, in the 100th year of its relocation to the current site.
