It is back to the drawing board for St Agnes’ Parish after residents’ opposition prompted it to withdraw a student accommodation development application.
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However, the parish’s faith-based accommodation vision for university students is very much alive.
The next step is finding a new site close to Charles Sturt University.
St Agnes’ Parish CEO Adam Spencer said they were committed to the student accommodation model and excited about what it would do for the community.
He said the student accommodation would be an investment in the future workforce and the community.
“This is a very selective and high-calibre clientele we are looking for,” he said.
“We want to grow our own and we want this to be such a great experience.”
A $6.6 million proposal for 72-bed student accommodation, including a communal building and separate manager’s residence, was earmarked for 91 The Ruins Way.
Nearby residents believed the proposed development was out of keeping with the neighbourhood.
The cited concerns including traffic, noise, light, privacy and safety.
A petition against the proposal was circulated.
Nearby resident Suzie Johnson was thrilled with the withdrawal of the DA.
“I’ve spoken to so many people [about the DA] and they will be very much delighted,” she said.
“It will be a great relief.
“It was causing a lot of residents so much stress.”
The parish is looking for a new site with proximity to Charles Sturt University for its student accommodation concept.
“We are about supporting the community, not dividing it,” Mr Spencer said.
Parish Priest Father Leo Donnelly said with the large number of students moving on to university from the three parish high schools and other schools in the diocesan system, it was important to support not only Charles Sturt University but, also, Port Macquarie’s growing reputation as a centre of education excellence.
“We had planned to provide a student accommodation facility on The Ruins Way, however we suddenly found ourselves in a ‘not in my back yard’ situation with objections from some locals who seemed to see the potential clientele as a major threat to law and order in their locale,” Father Donnelly said.
“Consequently, we have decided to locate the facility in a more welcoming environment.”
The model includes a chapel and on-site manager whose role will extend beyond facility management to mentoring and pastoral guidance and support.
St Agnes Parish’ general manager of business development Ben Castles noted nationwide workforce gaps that were also having an impact locally, as another factor influencing the decision to build a different style of student accommodation.
“We are hoping that by offering students a more holistic experience while studying in Port that graduating students will make the decision to stay and work in the local community,” he said.
“Thereby, helping us secure qualified workers to meet skills shortages in areas such as education, aged care, social services and disability services.”
The parish has yet to decide the future of The Ruins Way site but it is likely a previously approved DA to subdivide the land will go ahead.