Hunter Valley coptic monastery set for approval
15/3/13
A plan to build a multi million dollar cathedral and monastery building in the Hunter Valley will be determined by a regional planning panel today.
The St Shenouda Monastery has been operating at Putty for 20 years.
The facility is used as a retreat, a place of worship and is home to a group of coptic orthodox monks.
A $10 million development is proposed for the site, including a cathedral building with room for almost 500 people, a monastery service building, bookshop, lounges and offices.
The 470 seat cathedral is designed according to coptic architecture and will feature three holy altars as well as fonts for the baptisms.
The monastery says it has found a need to develop its facilities as visitor numbers continue to increase.
Only one submission was received when Singleton Council placed the plans on public exhibition last year but it didn’t concern planning issues.
Council has recommended the project be granted conditional approval.
The Hunter Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel will meet in Singleton today to decide whether or not the project will be approved.
