Church campaigns against council over car park

A Catholic church on Sydney's northern beaches has ramped up a campaign against the redevelopment of a neighbouring carpark ahead of council elections on September 8, reports The Manly Daily.

St Kevin's in Dee Why has circulated a message in its newsletter advising parishioners to talk with Warringah Council candidates about plans for the carpark in Oaks Ave.

The council plans to provide a four-lane road through part of the site next to the church, as part of its Local Environment Plan 2008.

The rest of the site would be redeveloped and would include an underground carpark for between 400 and 500 cars .

But a spokesman for the Warringah Catholic Parish, Kevin Begaud said the church did not want its adjoining carpark demolished.

Mr Begaud, who is a member of the Dee Why town centre master plan working party, said the church wanted the road moved away from its boundary as it believed it would be unsafe for church goers.

It also wanted to preserve at least 100 of the existing ground level parking spaces and was not supportive of using underground parking.