The Building and Property Committee is responsible for considering the plans and specifications of proposed new congregational buildings or the alteration of existing congregational buildings. Approval of the plans and specifications is only granted after consultation with the church architect to ensure that the proposal when constructed will meet the needs of the congregation and is suitable for the site it is located on and represents the full, proper and economic utilisation.
The Church Architect, Andrew Wilson, is engaged by the PCV to assist the Committee in the assessment of applications referred to him by the Committee.
The Church Architect can be engaged to advise and assist boards with church and manse building matters as detailed in PCV Code 2.20(c) as follows:
c) obtain the advice of the Church Architect, on such contractual terms as they agree, when:
i) there is any serious defect in any building; orii) a new building is to be erected or purchased; or
iii) an existing building is to be substantially altered.
However, plans and/or specifications of proposed works are not required to be prepared by the Church Architect.
Boards of Management are required to obtain the approval of the Building and Property Committee when a new building is to be erected or when an existing building is to be substantially altered.
Approval is a two stage as follows:
Step 1 Obtain in principle approval
Step 2 Obtain Final Approval.
There is a checklist to be completed for each approval. A copy of the checklists can be downloaded below under the heading checklists.
The following extract from the PCV Code Committee Regulations 5 Building and Property Committee subclause 7 details the information to be submitted with the application.
Documentation of Applications
Applications must be accompanied by sufficient information to enable the committee to make a proper evaluation of the proposal and with completed checklists obtainable from the committee for either in principle or final approval as the case may require. This information should include, but not be limited to the following:
a) reasons for the proposed changes and a brief description of the project;
b) outline of proposed uses for the new spaces or facilities including expected number of people;
c) where appropriate, the number of members and adherents of the congregation;
d) anticipated cost and method of funding the proposed works;
e) plans (including a site plan) and specifications, notes and general information of sufficient detail to clearly define the extent of works proposed;
f) in the case of extended or altered buildings, drawings indicating the existing conditions;
g) details of any discussions with local Council and requirement for Planning and/or Building Permits.
When the Committee receives the application, it is forwarded to the Church Architect for comment to ensure that the proposal when constructed will meet the needs of the congregation and is suitable for the site it is located on and represents the full, proper and economic utilisation.
The Church Architect will consider the proposal and make recommendations to the Committee on whether there are any issues that have not been addressed or whether there are any changes required to the application.
The Committee will consider the recommendations from the Church Architect and make a decision as to whether to approve the application or whether to request additional information or changes to be made to the application and advise the applicant accordingly.
The applicant should be aware that this approval is only one of the steps in the process and that the approval of the congregation and the Presbytery are required before the building project can proceed. See 2.20 and 2.21 of PCV Code for details of these steps.
Church Architect Contact Details
Andrew Wilson
WARC Studio
4/493 Riversdale Road Camberwell VIC 3124
Phone 9012 6655; Mobile 0410 028 759
Checklists
Checklist for Building Works Approval In Principle
Checklist for Building Works Approval Final
| Convener | Members |
|---|---|
| Ralph Kop Ph: 0400 665 197 Email: rkop@iinet.net.au | Dennis Wright Glenys Wright |