RESIDENTS of a quiet Tamworth estate are making noise over a religious sect’s plans to build a church in their neighbourhood.
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The group has signalled its intention to object to the Exclusive Brethren’s proposal for a place of worship at Forest Hills.
The East Tamworth Gospel Trust last month lodged an application to construct a $250,000 hall and 35-space car park in Sequoia Dr.
If approved, the 134 sq m, single-storey meeting hall will be capable of housing up to 120 adult parishioners.
But many homeowners claim the residential subdivision is no place for a church that will bring with it significant increases in noise and traffic.
Damon and Susy McCarthy live right next door to the site and are adamant comings and goings from the property will pose a risk to children’s safety.
The subdivision is full of young families and, with no public recreational spaces, children frequently ride bikes and walk dogs along the roadside.
“It’s got nothing to do with the religion itself, because everyone should have a place of worship to be able to go to,” Mr McCarthy said.
“The two main concerns here are obviously noise and the extra traffic flow, which will turn the street into a thoroughfare.”
The application states the church will operate from 8am to 9pm Monday to Saturday, and 6am to 8pm on Sundays.
“As you would expect in an area like this, there are lots of dogs – and when you have that movement and people arriving at various times, once one dog starts [barking] the rest of them will go,” Mr McCarthy said.
Some residents questioned the Exclusive Brethren’s need to build another hall when there were already four within a 10km drive of the estate.
Others expressed concerns the development would resemble the group’s compound-like facility in Carthage St and not fit the amenity of the area.
“The building won’t look like a home because, according to the plans, there are only four windows in the entire building,” Mrs McCarthy said.
The Exclusive Brethren, also known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, is an evangelical denomination whose members adhere strictly to the Bible.
The East Tamworth Gospel Trust’s application will be on public display at Ray Walsh House until April 24.
