Church in Sydney's Housing Crunch

0:00It's April 10th. This is Sydney News Today, your AI-powered local news. Folks in Western Sydney are up in arms over a 130-year-old church in Jamison Town facing the wrecking ball for new homes. The spot's been empty since last May, and last month it hit the auction block as prime land for townhouses or multifamily units. Church properties like this are hot commodities now in New South Wales to tackle the housing crunch. Meanwhile, faith groups across the state are eyeing their underused land for development, but strict zoning for places of worship slows things down. An audit last June spotted 747 such sites that could house over 20,000 new homes in Sydney alone if rules loosen up. Groups are chatting with the government to speed up approvals. Locals like Amanda Davis are pushing back hard, saying there's plenty of nearby empty land and no heritage protection means history could banish. They want it preserved, may be turned into affordable digs that honor its roots. Residents worry it'll erase community memories tied to weddings and funerals for generations.

1:04The good news is, the listing came down this week, and word is local investors snagged it, aiming to keep the building intact with its pre-scorters. The planning minister says faith sites can fast track proposals through a special authority for quick rezoning. Penrith Council is even commissioning a heritage study to guide any future plans. In the end, this could flip into a win, repurposing the church for homes while saving its legacy just like the uniting church hopes with sale. Proceeds funding more housing nearby. It's a smart pivot for empty sacred spaces and growing burbs.