A revamped cathedral precinct would be the “cherry on top” of central Maitland’s revitalisation, the Mayor Peter Blackmore says.
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The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle contacted Maitland City Council earlier this year to see if the city would be its partner in an application for state government mining royalties to establish a cathedral precinct in the CBD.
The diocese wants to restore St John’s Cathedral, Bishops House and the Pro Cathedral.
But it has asked council to be its partner for a funding application for a proposed new cathedral square and expanded car par between the existing buildings and the river.
Upgrades to St John’s Cathedral have already been funded and a development application has been submitted to council.
Councillors are expected to approve the partnership at Tuesday’s meeting.
Given council’s work on The Levee and the redevelopment of Athel D’Ombrain Drive, Cr Blackmore said the cathedral precinct would be another boost for the city’s revitalisation.
“I think it would be the cherry on top,” he said.
“I think there would be interest, not only from people of that particular faith, but people interested in heritage buildings.
“It would add to the east end of the CBD.”
Maitland became eligible for a share of the government’s Resources for Regions funding last year, which was allocated to mining affected areas for infrastructure.
The money comes from royalties paid by mining companies to the state.
Planning, lifestyle and environment manager Bernie Mortomore wrote, in a report to councillors, that Maitland City would not be in a position to apply for the next round of funds because of the capital work and major projects that had been started recently and the ongoing recovery from the April superstorm.
“As the project put forward by the Catholic diocese is aligned to identified strategic direction for central Maitland and will be an extension of works already underway to renew and revitalise the city centre, it is appropriate for council to support the Cathedrals Precinct Proposal,” he wrote.
Diocese strategic assets and development coordinator Boyd McCallum wrote to Mr Mortomore last month to seek the partnership.
“The diocese sees this as a facility which will be of great benefit to not only the faith based community, but indeed the wider Maitland community, who will no doubt benefit from the tourism and employment opportunities which will inevitably flow from the same,” he wrote.
