St Basil’s Church opposes plan to close Staley Street in Brunswick
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
The Greek Orthodox Parish of St Basil’s in Brunswick has voiced opposition to a Merri-bek Council proposal that could see the closure of Staley Street, where the historic church has stood for generations.
Parish priest Ephraim Kourtoglou told Neos Kosmos that two Council officers visited him on Wednesday to outline the Council’s plans for the area.
According to Father Ephraim, the Council recently purchased land on Sydney Road, near the church, which it intends to transform into a public park.
“We have no objection to that proposal,” he said. “But one of the options they’re considering would remove up to 30 parking spaces and close Staley Street completely. That would cause enormous problems for our parishioners.”
He explained that St Basil’s operates daily, not just on Sundays, hosting services for the elderly and youth, along with weddings, baptisms, and funerals.
“If the street is closed to traffic, people simply won’t be able to access the church easily. We’ll use every legal avenue available to stop this from happening,” Father Ephraim said.
A joint media statement from Merri-bek Deputy Mayor Helen Politis and Councillor Katerine Theodosis, sent to Neos Kosmos, confirmed that Council will soon vote on three possible designs for the new park on Sydney Road. One of those includes removing existing parking and closing Staley Street — a move that has triggered strong community reaction.
Deputy Mayor Politis acknowledged both the enthusiasm for the new park and the concerns of locals.
“The community is excited about a beautiful new green space where people can relax and connect,” she said. “But removing parking will disadvantage older and vulnerable residents who rely on their cars for daily activities — from shopping and medical appointments to attending church. We can have both a park and parking; one shouldn’t come at the expense of the other.”
Councillor Theodosis echoed those sentiments, saying that Council must strike the right balance.
“It’s possible to create a wonderful new park while maintaining this vital parking area,” she said. “Losing it would seriously affect the Greek Orthodox church and the wider community, especially the elderly and vulnerable. These are people who’ve helped build this city — their voices must be heard.”
Federal MP for Wills Peter Khalil also weighed in, urging Council to consider the community’s needs.
“It’s great that the Council is proposing a new park for Brunswick,” he said.
“But it’s equally important to retain parking for members of the Greek church, particularly the elderly who’ve contributed so much to Brunswick and beyond. The Council must adopt a balanced solution that reflects the real needs of the community.”
The developments have caused growing concern among Brunswick’s Greek community, which is calling for a plan that supports both new public spaces and continued access to the church’s daily services.
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
