The former Wendouree Uniting Church on Grevillea Road closed down last year, but could continue serving its community in an essential way.
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A planning application submitted to the City of Ballarat proposed turning the church, with its chapel, former Sunday School, offices, and community hall, into a child care centre for 120 children.
The church held its final service in August last year, and was sold not long afterwards.
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Parishioners at the time noted an ageing and dwindling congregation had made the decision to sell a practical one.
A portion of the proceeds of the sale went to Ballarat Regional Healthcare Chaplaincy, and to a new meals program for Uniting Ballarat to combat social isolation.
The church has been on the site, on the corner of Webbcona Parade, since the 1960s, with a major expansion in the '90s.
The planning documents note the site, zoned General Residential, is on 3354 square metres.
Diagrams show much of the existing buildings would be retained, with a few doors added or removed and new fences installed.
"The existing structure remains in good condition and as such makes an ideal proposition for re-purposing," the planning report notes.
READ MORE: Wendouree Uniting Church closes its doors
"The proposal requires no extensions to the existing structure and result mostly in cosmetic changes only."
The closest childcare centre in the area is 2.5 kilometres away, and "the site is ideally located to take advantage of future residential (growth) in the Mount Rowan area".
The existing street frontage and parking access would be kept to allow one-way traffic, and the business would keep 26 car parks.
A wheelchair access ramp would be retained, while an exterior shed would be removed, according to the plan.
Existing vegetation would also be retained.
A detailed diagram shows the proposed use for the buildings - the chapel, with its stained glass windows, would become a kindergarten.
The hall, which includes a kitchen and laundry as well as store rooms, would turn into a space for three to five year olds.
The Sunday School classrooms would be separated by a "sleep" space, with one room for children up to two years old, and one for children aged two to three years old.
Existing offices would be retained.
READ MORE: Pleasant Street Uniting Church sells
The central courtyard would become a play space with capacity for 18 children, while new fencing along Grevillea Road and the removal of a double-doorway would create larger outdoor safe play areas.
Additional toilets would also be installed throughout the facility.
An attempt was made to contact the author of the planning report but no response was reached before deadline.
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