St Mary by the Sea: an update on the Browns Bay proposal
Church releases open letter to address questions around potential relocation and community eatery.
By Lizzie Brandon
The proposed “replanting” of St Mary by the Sea from its current site in Deep Creek Road, Torbay, to the former ANZ building in central Browns Bay continues to attract considerable community interest.
ShoreLines first spoke with Reverend Dion Blundell at the end of March about the proposal. Readers can listen to that interview online or read both a summary article and full transcript of the discussion.
Listen to the interview | Read the summary | Read the full transcript
Seeking an update on how the project may be progressing, ShoreLines contacted the reverend again in mid-May. Questions covered matters including:
- The future of the current Torbay site and whether community use remains part of sales discussions
- How the proposed Browns Bay operation may have evolved since March, including location, logistics, staffing, and financial considerations
- Whether a public meeting was being planned
- Whether partnerships with supermarkets or food rescue organisations remain part of the vision
A few days later, Monique Jonas, secretary to vestry, replied, advising that the Torbay site has not yet sold and supplying an open letter prepared in response to what the church described as “significant community interest” in its plans.
The letter notes that the church has received both support and criticism:
“We have received messages of support and encouragement and messages of concern. This open letter is intended to address the fear, uncertainty and doubt of some.”
The letter also provides further detail about the church’s proposed direction. According to the vestry, the vision is centred on addressing cost-of-living pressures while creating opportunities for community connection.
Key elements outlined in the letter include:
- A daytime café and evening social enterprise serving affordable meals
- Employment of local people and payment of a living wage
- Reinvestment of any surplus back into local community initiatives
- An alcohol-free environment intended to provide a safe space for families
One notable update concerns the proposed scale of the operation:
“We anticipate starting small, serving up to 250 meals per week in the first six months, with the goal of growing slowly to meet local demand.”
The letter also includes a “commitment as neighbours” stating: “We are dedicated to being responsible members of the Browns Bay business precinct and residential community. Any concerns or unintended impacts arising from our operations will be taken seriously and addressed promptly.”
After reviewing the open letter, ShoreLines sought clarification on several matters that had not been directly addressed. The magazine’s wish to report accurately and transparently was emphasised to mitigate reliance on speculation or third-party commentary.
In reply, the vestry acknowledged the interest in its proposal, but said:
“We want to provide relevant, accurate information that meets community needs. To that end, we have produced the open letter that I sent you last week. As you intuited, we are actively working through many considerations. When there are more updates, we will provide them.
“Speaking for myself, I am cautious about getting into too much correction of messages that have been put into the public about our plans. We are keen to have good relationships with the people of Browns Bay.”
The church also confirmed that it has “declined the invitation to attend a BBBA-hosted public meeting”.
ShoreLines will, of course, continue to provide updates as further information becomes available.
