Speaking in a video posted on Hill-song's website, Mr Houston said: "Rosebery is a work in progress. We've always had the feeling, I've always said... that we're going to put all our effort into seeing a campus developed in Rosebery for our city campus, where the need is desperate."

Hillsong owns the former RTA headquarters on Rothschild Avenue, where it last year attempted to get approval for a $78 million super church.

The plan, which involved a seven-storey office block, 2700-seat auditorium and parking for almost 700 cars, was withdrawn by Hillsong after a Sydney Council planning report recommended rejection.

Mr Houston said Hillsong was not yet ready to reveal exactly what its plans were for the site.

"We're open to God, that He's got a better idea and it will become clear. And so, right now we've been in the

process of looking at the different potential outcomes for Rosebery," Mr Houston said on the video.

Last year it was speculated that Hillsong had pulled out from the RTA site and was planning on buying the former South Sydney Hospital site in neighbouring Zetland, which is owned by Sydney Council. But to date no deal has been struck.

"We've been getting a lot of advice," Mr Houston said on the video. "We've got a building committee now, of people who all have expertise in various areas of property and development and financing and so on, and that's

been a real positive thing. So I would like to be able to say 'this is what we are going to do at Rosebery' but we're not quite at that point yet but I think [in] 2009 it will become very clear." Rosebery Residents Action Group spokesman Graerme Grace said residents remained opposed to any large scale development that would generate excessive traffic, but were happy for "suitable development" to take place.

"We are encouraged by Hillsong's formation of a building committee to examine options," Mr Grace said. "We have always maintained that

the key to solving this... is probably in Hillsong working on a land swap deal with other land owners. There are many parcels of land... which are well removed from residential dwellings and are situated on major roads."

Mr Grace said that since Hillsong had withdrawn its DA for the Rosebery site, it had fallen into disrepair. "Since [Hillsong withdrew its DA] the building sports multiple broken windows, other windows and doors are boarded up and the building is defaced by large-scale graffiti."

At the time of writing, Hillsong had failed to return Central's phone calls.

You need, the lights and the mirrors, they're required to reproduce the emotional response  in people, they need an entertainment centre - TANYA LEVIN, former Hillsong member

Signs of the times

2006:

• Hillsong buys 17,000 sq m former RTA site on Rothschild Avenue, Rosebery for $28 million.

2007:

• A Central investigation shows. Hillsong made a $600 political donation to Heffron MP Kristina Keneally's re-election campaign, breaching its corporate governance policy which expressly forbids political donations. Hillsong denies it made a donation, claiming it is apolitical. Ms Keneally has no control over the approval process for the site.
• Hillsong submits a development application to Sydney Council for a 3200-seat auditorium, seven-storey office block and parking for several hundred cars at the RTA site.
• Following objections from residents Hillsong revises its proposal to a 2700-seat auditorium and reduces the number of car spaces to less than 700.

2008:

• Rosebery Residents Action Group submits an objection to the plan on traffic grounds, saying it will have adverse impacts on the suburb. Residents say they fear worshippers attending Hillsong's high powered rock worship sessions on weekends will affect their neighbourhood.
• The group collects more than 500 signatures in a petition opposing Hillsong's DA.
• Ms Keneally is confronted by a group of impassioned residents outside her Rosebery electorate office in January when accepting the RRAG petition against the Hillsong DA.
• Ms Keneally reverses previous position of support for the Hillsong DA, now saying she supports a "suitable quality development" on the site.
• Sydney Council holds a forum on the DA for residents and Hillsong. The 900 capacity auditorium is largely stacked with Hillsong supporters, residents complain that Hillsong dominated the proceedings. A former Hillsong executive, Leigh Coleman, speaks at the forum in support of the DA but does not reveal his links to the church. He is later discovered to have written letters to Central in support of Hillsong under false names.
• Hillsong submits a petition to Sydney Council with more than 4000 signatures and claims all signatures are unique and from local residents. Hillsong staff signed the petition multiple times and some signatures appear more than once. RRAG calls the petition fraudulent.
• Hillsong is accused by parents in Redfern of trying to infiltrate the local PCYC club and gain access to children for recruitment. PCYC manager denies allegations, but conceals the fact she is an active member of Hillsong.
• Hillsong's DA is criticised by Sydney Council planning staff, who recommend it be rejected.
• A day before the Central Sydney Planning committee, which determines DAs worth more than 50 million, is due to vote on the fate of the proposed super church, Hillsong withdraws its DA.
• A Hillsong program which encouraged young women to associate self esteem with make-up and physical appearance is discovered running in local schools and youth centres.
• Hillsong looks at buying and developing the Former South Sydney Hospital site, currently owned by Sydney Council. The council says it
• is seeking expressions of interest from parties interested in the site, but refuses to discuss if any talks have taken place with Hillsong.
• Liberal councillor Shayne Mallard accuses Clover Moore-aligned councillor John McInerney of "multimillion-dollar wheeling and dealings" in a council meeting and asks if Cr McInerney was at a meeting in which Hillsong was told it should drop its Rosebery DA and build its super church at the South Sydney Hospital Site. Cr McInerney denies accusations and threatens legal action against Cr Mallard.

2009

• Hillsong leader Brian Houston says the church's vision for its City Campus expansion and the Rosebery site will soon be revealed.

            Source: Central 18 February 2009