Kogarah MP Chris Minns hits out at council 'land grab' of Hurstville Baptist Church

Kogarah MP Chris Minns said it was “the wrong decision” and unnecessary for the new civic precinct plans.

The church wants to build its own development, which would include a new church, community centre and regional facilities, but the council says the Dora Street site is essential for the civic precinct.

Mr Minns said he was concerned the land was being acquired for a purpose that could include commercial and residential development.

“I believe that acquiring this land is unnecessary as the council owns all of the remaining plots of land between Park and Dora Streets,” he said.

”The council has rejected applications by the church to develop the land, but has happily allowed major developments on sites immediately adjacent.”

Mr Minns said the council had stated its intention to rezone the land after the acquisition, which had the potential to deny the church between $4 million and $7 million of land value.

The MP said he accepted administrator John Rayner was carrying out he wishes of the former Hurstville Council.

“However, the question lingers: ‘What was the previous council thinking when it grabbed this piece of land?’,” he said.

“If compulsory acquisition now extends to taking land that belongs to a church in order to build a council chamber then we have gone too far.”

A council spokesman said the land value was determined by the NSW Valuer General.

The spokesman said the council had made every effort to facilitate a mutually beneficial arrangement, including allowing the church to use the site for five to 10 years while they looked for another location.

A land swap or a space within the civic precinct were other options that had been offered.

The spokesman said the council was awaiting a proposal from the church.