Werribee Karen Baptist Community propose to build $1.1m church at Little River

Plans to build a $1.1m church for 250 worshippers have been lodged with Geelong council. SEE THE DESIGNS

Plans for a $1.1m church at Little River have been put forward by the Werribee Karen Baptist Church. Picture: Supplied

Plans to build a $1.1m church that could hold 250 worshippers in Little River have been lodged with council.

The Werribee Karen Baptist Community (WKBC) purchased land at 10 You Yangs Rd in the town on Geelong’s outskirts years ago with the intent of building a church.

According to the proposal, it plans on redeveloping the property which is currently home to a single dwelling into a church.

The Karen community is a large ethnic group from the war-torn country of Myanmar.

Plans for a $1.1m church at Little River have been put forward by the Werribee Karen Baptist Church. Picture: Supplied

The WKBC currently hold services at Werribee, which include Bible studies and youth activities to help young kids engage in community life.

If the church’s application is successful, it will shift operations from Werribee to Little River.

According to planning application documents prepared by The Planning Professionals, on behalf of the WKBC, the rural location of the Little River site “has far less potential to cause amenity impacts to surrounding properties”.

“The subject site presents a suitable location for such a proposal, given it has good vehicle access from two surrounding roads, (and) is a suitable distance from the closest dwellings so that there would be no noise impact to these neighbours,” the documents read.

Plans for a $1.1m church at Little River have been put forward by the Werribee Karen Baptist Church. Picture: Supplied

According to documents before Geelong council, the place of worship would only be frequented by church members on a Sunday and there would be no worshipping or community activities undertaken during the week.

The township of Little River is located approximately 2.8km to the east of the proposed church, with Lara located approximately 4.8km to the south of the site.

The subject site comprises a rectangular parcel of land approximately 2ha in area in a rural location.

The WKBC has been contacted for comment.

Residents have until June 25 to voice their objections/support.

Originally published as Werribee Karen Baptist Community propose to build $1.1m church at Little River