HAWKESBURY Council has received a development application for a ‘place of public worship’ to be built at 10 Beddek Street, McGraths Hill.
The proposed Hindu Temple — Sri Siva Jyothi — is estimated to cost $1.58 million and would be 5847 square metres in size.
The site plan shows there would be a function hall, a temple building, a priest or caretaker dwelling and 50 car spaces.
Under the Hawkesbury Local Environmental Plan 2012 (LEP), a ‘Place of Public Worship’ is ‘‘a building or place used for the purpose of religious worship by a congregation or religious group, whether or not the building or place is also used for counselling, social events, instruction or religious training’’.
Hawkesbury Council director of city planning Matthew Owens said the proposed use in the development application fitted the definition and was permitted in the ‘RU4 Primary Production Small Lots’ zoning that applies to the site.
Owner of the Australian Hotel, Kim Maguire, said the development would create traffic chaos.
‘‘It is coming off the main road onto a narrow street and then it’s going onto two dead-end streets,’’ Mrs Maguire said. ‘‘They are talking about 50 parking spaces. I don’t see how that area can cope with the traffic. We have a few houses around and it’s adequate with what we have.’’
The application in on public exhibition from now until September 2. All submissions will be taken into account by officers when assessing the proposal.
The community can view the development application on the Hawkesbury Council website via the DA tracker or by visiting Council offices between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
All submissions should quote reference DA0503/15. For more, call the assessing officer on 4560 4549.
