Building for the Future

For a number of years, our church has been exploring options to further develop our site as we long to see more people, especially those who don’t yet know Jesus, call TAC home.

We have a DA approved design, although as it stands it’s too costly for us to manage without the previously considered (but unsuccessful) income generating options.

Recently Mike and Dave presented a way forward for a cost effective expansion that we would fund ourselves.

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FAQ

Click to expand pictures.

New Proposal:

  • 250 seat new church building to be built on carpark and next to current church building

  • A “breezeway” to roof section between buildings (let’s call it an outdoor foyer)

  • The current church building would be renovated to include disability bathroom and partition to make the main space better suited to flexible usage.

  • Parking would be added at the bottom of the site.

  • Parking would be retained around the new building as much as possible (balanced with appropriate green spaces)

This cost approximately $3m to build.

 

Proposed Timeline

2025

  • Gain congregation feedback

  • Kickstart substantial commencement and DA mod costs $200k

2026+

  • Lodge DA Amendment (9 months)

  • Start Fundraising for Building Works

    • $2m to raise from TAC

    • $1m on loan ($100k repayments)

    • + External donors

  • Construction (approx. 12 months)

Giving towards the building fund

There’s still more to explore and decide together, but there’s already enthusiasm and momentum to move ahead. Parish Council has agreed to begin the process of modifying our Development Application (DA) and ensuring substantial commencement so that our current DA does not expire. These processes will also help answer some of the outstanding questions.

To take these first steps, we’re seeking an initial seed amount of $200,000.

If, for example, our 200+ households each gave around $1,000, we could reach this goal—recognising that some will give less and others more. Every contribution helps us take this important next step.

You can give directly to our Building Fund:

Account Name: TAC Building Fund
BSB: 062 416*
Account Number: 1035 6976

*The numbers provided in print are completely incorrect (not even just a switch of numbers as initially thought in text sent out). It was not possible to give to that BSB so there’s no chance of sending money incorrectly. We have updated our website to show the proper account and double checked this. Some people have received an alert that the account name is incorrect, this is due to it being a new account. If you are using the above details then it is definitely the building fund account. Please get in contact with sally@tac.church if you would like more confirmation. Our apologies for confusion.

Some of you have already offered to give large sums of money. Please contact Mike or a warden if you wish to do this at this stage. We may cordon of that for future major fundraising and discuss with you how this will be handled if, for whatever reason, the building project is not successful. We wish to be transparent in all these processes.

 

Watch the Recent Presentation

FAQ

  • Generally yes, same precinct and connections (breezeway from current church), but not identical—hence a DA modification is required.

  • 250 ordinarily. Could be larger at special events even up to 350. We currently set out 140 chairs

  • In Ministry Centre; future options flagged to extend as needed

  • What is in plan is to code. We would add a disability to bathroom to current church building. It would be a short walk across “breezeway” to access bathrooms. Extra bathrooms are in ministry center and lower hall.

  • What is in plan is to code. We would add a disability to bathroom to current church building. It would be a short walk across “breezeway” to access bathrooms. Extra bathrooms are in ministry center and lower hall.

  • It is estimated the construction would take 12 months. During that time the site would be completely inaccessible. We would need to find alternate space to meet on Sundays. Local schools would be idea.

  • The new hall + breezeway offer a large, weather-proof main venue. We would be able to have our carols feast food outside still if we desired; like food truck/stalls in the carpark that wraps around the new hall.

    The current green space is nice. We’ll keep as much as we can. We start with gospel priorities and we (including kids) will make use of what we can. Soccer is a new thing simply because the Hastie’s put out goals. It might be basketball becomes the new thing if we can’t play soccer!

  • The new hall + breezeway offer a large, weather-proof main venue. We would be able to have our carols feast food outside still if we desired; like food truck/stalls in the carpark that wraps around the new hall.

    The current green space is nice. We’ll keep as much as we can. We start with gospel priorities and we (including kids) will make use of what we can. Soccer is a new thing simply because the Hastie’s put out goals. It might be basketball becomes the new thing if we can’t play soccer!

  • Our current budget is $900k. The diocese won’t let us borrow more than what would require ~10% of budget in repayments.

  • Plans target code compliance for this scope. We value green space but can’t have everything; design aims to balance ministry function, compliance, and site character. We are fortunate to have wide streets near us for overflow.

  • Big question. What we’re trying to wrestle with here is kingdom growth.

    Planting is certainly a way to pursue that. It’s not a “simple” alternative. And it ought not to be an alternative at all.

    Planting is something we ought to be thinking about for the future but it would not be wise to pursue both building and planting together - they are both costly exercises.

    A few thoughts from Mike on this:

    • We can see the potential, if not the need, to better setup our site for the next few decades. If that’s within our reach and we have momentum of growth and plans there is wisdom in continuing this path.

    • I wonder if we don’t yet have the “missional heat” to pull off a plant yet. I see this heat increasing but many small churches in our area are struggling. We need to think carefully about why a plant would be a wise way forward to continue the growth we’ve seen.

    • As we grow it seems prudent we at least work out ways to partner with and share a kingdom growth mindset with smaller churches around us.

 

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