The building itself, on the corner of Cargo Road and Ploughmans Lane, was approved in May, but parishioners were adamant they could not use it without the flexibility of being able to use it until 10pm each night. 

Minister Paul Owens said the church did not intend to be a nuisance.

“We encourage people to follow the word of Jesus, who said love thy neighbour as thyself,” he said. 

MAP: Where the church is located …

Keenan Milham spoke about his upbringing in the church, especially being able to meet other children his age through the kids club, outside his school peers.

“Two of them stood by me at my wedding,” he said. 

Alison Nelson said she and her husband moved to Orange with their then-two-month-old daughter and the church gave them support while they adjusted. 

“There were people who opened their doors to use and introduced me to other first-time mothers,” she said. 

Councillors initially queried whether a limit of people allowed on site after certain times was necessary, however development services director David Waddell said he wouldn’t be comfortable with it without an assessment against industrial noise guidelines.

They eventually voted in favour of the compromise reached between the church and staff, including no more than 40 people on site after 8pm on Monday to Thursday.