At its first meeting for 2017, Campbelltown Council will decide whether to approve demolition plans for St James Anglican Church at 2 Kent Street, Minto – which was first built 120 years ago in 1897.
It was originally erected on the corner of Minto Road and Cumberland Road and was dismantled and re-erected on its present site in 1918.
The church building has been used as a storage area and has not been used for church services since 1985, according to a report to council.
Some residents have expressed concern that demolition would mean the loss if a a significant historic building in Minto.
“The church represents a big part of our religion and social history. It represents a bygone era and a link with our past,” was one resident’s comment when the demolition went on public exhibition.
But council says the building is not heritage listed in any case.
“The church contains two foundation stones (with historical newspapers located behind the stones) within the external building fabric,’’ the report says.
“Council has also been informed that a time capsule has recently been placed in the immediate area of the Church building.’’
The recommendation is for a green light to demolish the church building, which has structural damage.
However a similar bid for demolition in 2014 stalled and did not go ahead
• The application for a lawn cemetery at Varroville will also be in the spotlight tonight.
A report to be tabled tonight says there are no avenues of appeal against the decision made by the Sydney West Joint Regional Planning Panel to recommend approval of the plans for a cemetery.
The controversial decision was made during the council elections last September.
The new council expressed outrage at the panel’s decision and ordered an investigation into avenues for an appeal.
The report for tonight’s meeting says legal advice was received that there were no avenues of appeal.
However council would have access to an appeal after the planning minister made a determination on the matter.
• Also tonight the council looks likely to approve an application for a new Harry’s Café de Wheels premises at 4 Rennie Road, Campbelltown.
The proposed building would be in the form of a removable container and contain a kitchen, two serving windows (one for vehicles and one for pedestrians) and an accessible toilet.
It would operate 7am to midnight seven days a week.
• A mayoral minute paying tribute to the late Councillor Fred Borg is also included in tonight’s business paper.
“The community of Campbelltown has lost a great advocate,’’ says the Mayor, George Brticevic, in the minute that will be tabled tonight.
It recommends that a letter of condolence be forwarded to the Borg family, along with a copy of the mayoral minute.
• The meeting starts from 6.30pm.
Too much of Sydney heritage is lost due to developers, as long as a structure stands people will ask questions about it. If nothing is there to see, our history will once again be lost.
Shame shame if they vote to destroy this gem
2560 Residents and Community need to stand up to Campbelltown City Council, NSW
Peter Savidis
It’s sad that Campbelltown council will go out and Inspect this church but when asked by the community for council to to inspect mt gilead be4 their decision the community got a straight out NO from council and the development was approved mt gilead ? mt gilead has more historical significance then this church