Parramatta Council supports St John’s Anglican Cathedral development

A council has decided whether to endorse a Parramatta church’s plan for a megalithic development or reject the ‘unashamed symbols of corporate ambition’ it proposes. Find out the result.

St John's Anglican Parish Hall could be demolished under the church’s lofty plans to transform land it owns at Parramatta.

After a strong debate, Parramatta Council has voted to push the $400m St John’s Anglican Cathedral proposal closer to the finish line by giving it the green light to send to the Planning Department, which has the ultimate say in the ambitious project.

Two out of the four members of the public who addressed the council meeting on Monday night opposed the proposal that includes a residential and office tower, an aged care centre, student accommodation, three auditoriums and a public square next to the historic cathedral, which celebrated its 220th anniversary this year.

History enthusiast James Coleman slammed the proposal, which, subject to a development application, could signal the demolition of the 111-year-old heritage-listed hall.

“Approval will demonstrate a preference for blatant commercialism as the principal driver of the project,’’ he said.

“Two centuries of civic importance and value will be degraded as we are presented with two massive, speculative towers, which will be with us for generations.

“These towers will stand as unashamed symbols of corporate ambition which will permanently degrade a space which must surely stand as the jewel in Parramatta’s civic crown.’’

Concept designs for the area around St John's Anglican Cathedral, Parramatta.

Labor councillor Cameron Maclean’s motion to defer the proposal was lost. He proposed to wait to December to allow the Planning Department to further investigate the State Environmental Planning Policy.

Opponents said the church’s bold project, which would occupy space at Church, Macquarie and Hunter streets, would flout the recently endorsed CBD Planning Proposal.

Independent councillor Kellie Darley labelled it “ad hoc planning on the run’’.

“The ink has just dried on the Local Environmental Plan, we’re already looking to make a significant change to the zoning,’’ she said.

But Our Local Community councillor Michelle Garrard said the church’s plans had been before the council since 2018 and refuted that it was “policy on the run”.

“We’re not rushing work — this is the fourth time, at least I can think of, that this matter has come to the chamber.

“I believe development next to heritage can … enhance heritage. It’s that way all over the world where there’s been a number of high-rise building next to small sandstone, heritage homes or places.’’

Councillors Garrard, Donna Wang, Dan Siviero, Georgina Valjak, Henry Green, Pierre Esber, Paul Noack, Sameer Pandey and Angela Humphries supported the plans.

Lord Mayor Donna Davis, councillors Darley, Cameron Maclean, Patricia Prociv and Phil Bradley opposed it.