An artist’s impression of the proposed church in Merriwa.
Camera IconAn artist’s impression of the proposed church in Merriwa. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Church plan for Merriwa community

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

PLANS are under way to start building a church in Merriwa, with a scheme amendment currently out for public comment.

Whitford Church of Christ has applied to the City of Wanneroo to build a $4 million church on the corner of Connolly Drive and Jenolan Way, and seeking to add a ‘place of assembly’ use to the site.

While the main church is based in Mullaloo, Pastor Dean Groetzinger said they had a north congregation that has met in Merriwa, Clarkson, Mindarie and now Butler, but never had its own premises.

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“Up in that area, we have so much development taking place,” he said. “We have had this block of land where we want to do something that is of benefit to the community as well.”

Mr Groetzinger said Church of Christ had owned the site since 1995, and Whitford Church purchased it outright about a year ago.

“We want to make it much more community accessible,” he said.

“We didn’t want to build a church building that you just use on a Sunday.

“There is a need for community spaces in areas in that region.”

Mr Groetzinger said they planned to build it in stages, starting with the auditorium and café, and the childcare centre.

He said that in the longer term they planned to create a village green for various sports, and the storytellers’ circle.

“We are hoping we can find some grants (to) create a community garden on site,” he said.

The pastor said he hoped the facility would become a space where different generations and cultures could cross.

“We really want to build something that is going to be a blessing to the community,” he said.

The City’s draft scheme amendment document said the church would generate another 1156 car movements per day, but the existing road network was adequate.

Although initial drawings for the site show access to the carpark off Connolly Drive, Mr Groetzinger said there would only be access via Jenolan Way.

The scheme amendment to allow the place of assembly use is out for public comment until January 2, 2015. For more details, see www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au.