Proposed Toowoomba place of worship by Plymouth Brethren Christian Church opposed by 145 residents in petition to council

A controversial new development has received significant backlash from almost 150 residents as a congregation responds to the concerns.

The church behind a proposed place of worship just south of Toowoomba has pledged to change its design after nearly 150 residents opposed its approval.

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, represented as the West Toowoomba Gospel Trust, lodged plans with the council in July last year for a 148 sqm building alongside the New England Highway facing Schmidt Court in Top Camp.

According to the report by Precinct Urban Planning, the original design would cater for 50 people for weekly services and prayer meetings, and up to 110 people for special events up to eight times a year.

“It is noted that services will not include the use of amplified sound/music and all windows and doors will be closed during service times to assist with noise management,” the report said.

But a petition opposition the development by neighbouring residents Geoff and Karen Reid, which featured 145 signatures, was tabled at December’s council meeting.

Petitioners argued the church “did not meet the relevant assessment benchmarks” and would lead to a “substantial and unacceptable increase in traffic movements”.

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has lodged plans to build a new place of worship on Schmidt Court in Top Camp, which has been opposed by more than 140 residents in a petition to the Toowoomba Regional Council. ORIGINAL PLANS SHOWN

“Another place of worship (operated by the Plymouth Brethren) exists 700m away from the site of this proposed development,” the petition said.

“It is difficult to see the rationale for two churches proposed to be operated by the same religious order to be in such proximity to each other.

“Surely the applicant should be encouraged to expand the existing place of worship rather than proliferate incompatible uses throughout the rural residential zone.”

In response to the backlash, church spokesman and Toowoomba businessman Gavin Kingon said it had lessened the impact of the development by expanding the amount of carparking.

“What we are working to do here is provide a modest new hall which is close to the homes of our church members, and which is designed to minimise impacts on any neighbours,” he said.

“Unlike other types of Christian church, we don’t hold mass gatherings like weddings and funerals, and music is not a part of our service, so really (this) would be low impact.

“That said, following feedback from the community and Toowoomba Regional Council, we have worked over the past months to progress the plans for the benefit of neighbours and the broader community.

“The revisions … include providing more parking onsite which will mean no parking is required on the street (and) landscaping and building design to give the hall a more ‘residential’ appearance.”

Mr Kingon said the PBCC, a subsection of the Plymouth Brethren movement that dates back to the 1820s, had been operating in Toowoomba for more than 50 years.