Rabbitoh push for Hillsong church

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