Property Development

The project has been divided into three stages and the reasons behind these decisions are outlined below each stage:

Stage 1: Demolish the two residential buildings, extend the existing building to build a new hall to be used by the Mandarin Congregation, begin building some of the new car park.

• Stage 1 will not affect the meeting time and place of existing services. The new space to be built for the Mandarin Congregation will be constructed adjacent to their current meeting space. There should not be any major disruption to the Mandarin Congregation’s meeting time and place, while stage 1 is being completed.

Stage 2: Knockdown and rebuild the space that is being used by LifeSpring (English Congregation), build remaining car park and outdoor space.

• The knockdown and rebuild of the Lifespring Hall has been planned for Stage 2 as we will need time to work with the architect to design a new building floor plan and re-submit to council for approval. When Stage 2 begins, Stage 1 works will be complete and we will then need to arrange where different congregations would meet and which space will be utilised by which congregation. A logistics team will be formed to help plan and organise all the details of logistics and movements of the three congregations. At a high level, there are some options for consideration, including whether we need to rent a space/hall with a primary or high school in the local area to hold any of our services.

Stage 3: Renovate the hall used by the Cantonese Congregation and the connected spaces, including the current toilet block, kitchen and dining hall where the Mandarin Congregation currently meets. 

Stage 3 covers the remaining parts of the building and similar to stage 2, arrangements will be made to ensure the affected congregations can still gather for Sunday services and other ministry activities during the week.

The overall timeline and progress of the Building Project will be dependent on how much money is raised and how much we have in the bank. The quicker we raise the amount of funds required, the quicker we can build and make progress on the different stages of the build. It will also be dependent on whether we need to make changes to the plan. As more details are confirmed, we will keep members updated regarding the projected timeline.

This is very much a faith exercise as we don’t know yet how long the project will take and when it will be completed.

The team is working towards new plans being submitted by the end of the year and work for stage 1 beginning sometime in 2025 (starting with the demolishing of the two residential buildings).

At this point in time, obtaining a loan from the bank is a contingency plan. Based on the learning and recommendations from other churches who have completed building projects, the Deacon’s Board and Building Project team believe it is wiser to endeavour to pay for the project through existing funds we have in the bank and what we can raise, rather than taking on additional debt. The reason for seeking to complete the building project in stages is to also help spread out the cost over time.

Back in 2022, it was estimated to be $4.5 million (based on QS Quantity Surveyor Cost Plan estimate). Ongoing discussions regarding this are taking place and we will provide the latest update at our upcoming building forums.

We will look at the priorities for the project to determine what is feasible with the funds that we have and are able to raise (e.g. what are the different packages presented to us from the architect/builders). Our discussions with the architect/builders and church leadership also include negotiating and deciding what are requirements (must-haves) and what are preferences (things that are nice to have, but are optional), as these all affect the cost. As more estimates and information are gathered, we will be able to better determine the feasibility of each stage of the project. The reason why the project is broken into stages is so that each stage is more manageable for us to work towards raising the funds needed. Applying for a loan from the bank as mentioned above is there as a contingency.

As a minimum, due to the planning permit we have, there is a deadline for us to have applied for a building permit and to start building work by October 2025. Part of our work now will be to assess the feasibility of meeting this deadline and confirming contingency plans. If funds are obviously insufficient and contingencies have been exhausted (and the planning permit expires), we will not proceed and continue to wait on God’s timing.

No, we are not starting from zero. We are on track to reaching our target and regular updates will be provided during our Sunday services and at our upcoming building forums.

The general principle is to avoid mixing the funds and dipping into the other accounts, as those funds have already been budgeted and allocated to cover specific needs, but the decision for whether we do, ultimately sits with the Deacons Board and can be discussed as needed.

The pastoral team and all pastors have discussed and agreed the Building Project aligns with the church’s vision for future church growth and to serve the community. This is a long term investment for the future generations. We trust that God will provide all that we need to move forward with this Building Project.

Stage 2 incorporates the building of breakout meeting rooms at the north of the LifeSpring Hall, that will be able to be used for kids’ ministry on Sundays. The rooms can also be used at other times for things like Bible study/small groups, ministry meetings, prayer times etc. If plans for a mezzanine floor are feasible as well, that will also provide potential spaces to accommodate for growing numbers of children at CCCV.

We have been approved to have a maximum of 43 car park spots on site. The final number will depend on the updated designs from the architect.