Sanctuary Point: Sydney cafe owner plans apartments at former Anglican Church site

The owner of a Sydney cafe is behind plans to transform a former church site into an apartment complex at a south coast hamlet, saying the proposal was needed to combat the region’s housing crisis.

An artist's rendition of the proposed apartment for Sanctuary Point.

The owner of a Sydney cafe is behind plans to transform a former church site into an apartment complex at a south coast hamlet, saying the proposal was needed to combat the region’s housing crisis.

A planning proposal is before the NSW Government to rezone 48 and 54 Paradise Beach Rd, Sanctuary Point – which most recently had operated as a church – to be a medium density site.

The proposal was lodged by George Georgaklis, who owns North Parramatta cafe The Container.

The two properties at the centre of the planning proposal currently house an old home and an Anglican Church. The church building no longer acts as a public place of worship, after the land was purchased by Mr Georgaklis in 2022.

“We had the two properties conjoined,” Mr Georgaklis said. “48 (Paradise Beach Rd) is already classed as residential, but we need 54 (Paradise Beach Rd) to be rezoned to residential, since it was originally used as a service, not housing.”

George Georgaklis co-owns The Container in North Parramatta.

Height limits will also need to be increased for the current design to be built with the existing height limit being 8.5m, with plans to boost the limit to 11m. It’s a problem which Mr Georgaklis said shouldn’t be an issue.

“I imagine it will be approved because we need more housing along the south coast,” he said.

Another look at the plans for the proposed apartment in Sanctuary Point.

The sudden interest in developing along the south coast came when the cafe owner realised there was a lack of housing in the area.

“We visit the south coast all the time for holidays,” he said. “Huskisson, Jervis Bay – we love it. We realised there was a need for more housing, so we thought we would help out.”

There is currently no estimated cost for the construction of the apartment complex, with Mr Georgaklis saying there will be no cost until the designs are finalised.

Sanctuary Point apartment plans showcase the underground car park.

“Things keep changing and until council approve the final design, we won’t be able to say a confirmed or estimated cost,” he said.

Currently, the designs showcase a four-storey apartment complex, housing 20 two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units.

While the building will sit at 11m tall, under the building will be a double level underground car park for residents and guests.

Mr Georgaklis said he was hopeful the final designs would be approved by Christmas this year.

“The process is a long, tedious process, but we have to stick by the process to make sure it ticks all the boxes,” he said.