A notice of motion was brought forward on October 16 by Cr Greg Watson and Cr Andrew Guile to oppose the heritage listing of the Huskisson Holy Trinity Church. 

The church was deconsecrated some years ago and the Anglican Church is planning to sell the premises to purchase a larger site to fit the growing congregation.

Community group, Save Husky Church, has been established to fight the sale of the church, and has lodged an application for an Interim Heritage Order with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH). 

The quorom was split seven votes to six in favour of opposing the potential heritage listing on Wednesday night, and to notify the OEH of the decision. 

READ MORE: ‘Savage’: DA lodged to demolish Huskisson Holy Trinity Church

In 2005, Shoalhaven City Council voted to remove the church from the heritage items listed on its Local Environment Plan. Councillors also voted to provide the OEH a copy of its earlier submission opposing the listing of the item as an item of local significance. 

A development application (DA) has been lodged with council to demolish the former church and hall, which has been strongly opposed by the Save Husky Church group. 

According to the DA,  a range of uses for the site will be considered and could include tourist accommodation, food and beverage, retail, residential and parking. 

Council staff have had initial discussions regarding a possible proponent-initiated Planning Proposal that will be submitted to consider the most appropriate zoning for the subject land given that it is no longer a church.

READ MORE: Plans for Husky church demolition ‘won’t damage town’

Save Husky Church member Shirley FItzgerald spoke at the meeting on Wednesday, and said she believed the motion had been put up “in haste”. 

“I am concerned with which haste the motion has appeared, there has only been a few days allowed for people to get their heads around it this detracts from discussion,” she said. 

The group has gained more than 1200 signatures on a petition to save the church from potential development and Ms Fitzgerald said council’s decision did not support the community’s views. 

“Residents [have] talked to us about how angry they are about this proposition,” she said. 

The request for an Interim Heritage Order has been reviewed and will be considered by the NSW Heritage Council at its November 2018 meeting.

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