Maitland councillors discussed the development application for a place of worship at 2 Seasons Circuit, Chisholm, at last week’s council meeting. 

Resident Mark Smith, who lives adjacent to the proposed site, addressed councillors ahead of the meeting with his concerns about the development. 

Mr Smith told the packed chamber that he and his family built their dream home at Chisholm in 2015.

He outlined his fears that the development would greatly increase traffic and noise in the otherwise quiet neighbourhood, as well as angst over the value of his property dropping. 

Mr Smith said he had “no objection to any religious themes - if it was a daycare or any other business building we’d object to it as well”. 

During debate on the proposal, Cr Peter Garnham said the application “ticks all the boxes”, despite neighbours’ concerns.

“I hate the words ‘place of worship’ because it conjures up all these different scenarios,” he said. 

“(But) to me it ticks all the boxes...it’s not something we should treat lightly, but again it’s allowable in that area.”

The proposed hours of operation included Sunday communion starting at 6am, with Cr Donald Ferris inquiring if it’d be possible to move the start time back to 8am. 

He moved an amendment that council postpone a decision until the applicant, Maitland Gospel Trust, is contacted regarding changing the starting times for Sunday service. 

The move was fully supported by his fellow councillors, with the item set to return to council next month.