The Rabbitohs, the South Sydney Police & Community Youth
Club and the former director of the NSW Liberal Party, Scott Morrison, have
joined the Reverend Fred Nile in
letters to Sydney City Council supporting the proposed 2700-seat church and
seven-storey offices in Rosebery.
The $78.4 million development, to open seven days a week,
from 7am to 10.30pm, has drawn strong opposition from residents, who say it
would flood the streets with noise and traffic.
The supporters’ letters, urging the council to accept the
application for a “positive addition” to the area, praise Hillsong’s
“commitment to the community”.
The letters – which include submissions from Wesley Mission
and the Australia Christian Lobby – have an identical paragraph stating that
the sender “cannot speak directly to the proposed development”.
The corporate relations manager of the South Sydney Football
Club, Chris Keeble said a Hillsong executive, Leigh
Coleman, had contacted her earlier this year, seeking
support.
She said Souths worked with Hillsong on community projects.
“We didn’t fully understand the nature of the development and the
objections from the community, but we do feel that they are making a positive
contribution.”
Following a call to action by the Hillsong general manager,
George Aghajanian, the council has received about 1100 submissions from church
members, about 900 of them from outside the Rosebery area. Residents submitted
200 letters of objection.
The spokesman for the Rosebery Action Group, Graeme Grace,
said he was disappointed about the Rabbitohs supporting the development in its
area. “I think the others really have no idea of what the development will
actually involve – they’re just jumping on the Hillsong bandwagon. It won’t
affect them because they’re nowhere near it.”
Mr Aghajanian said the project would bring great benefit to
the area and community. Opinions “of those in the community who support
this endeavour” should be heard. “Our congregation cannot be excluded
from the community … the members of Hillsong
Church have as much right
as the minority residents action group to get those who are concerned to act on
their behalf.”
Source: www.smh.com.au/news/national/rabbitoh-push-for-hillsong-church/2008/04/10/1207420587473.html