Spaces for transformation
In 2022, a small group of leaders from Norwest Salvos dreamed of adding community spaces to our already impressive facilities on Edwards Rd, Nelson. The dream was simple: develop a community hub for our neighbourhood to engage with us through the programs we offer, and find Jesus.
A grant application was made in mid-2022 to the $2 billion NSW Government Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant program, to develop a section on land on the premises, in what was called the “Norwest Community Hub and Recreation Centre”.
At the end of 2022, we were awarded $3 million towards what was titled “The Salvation Army Norwest Community Hub project”.
An evolving dream, led by the Spirit
In the intervening period, the staff team had significantly changed, as well as the nature of some of the ministries offered from Rouse Hill Corps. However, the dream of Norwest Rouse Hill has always been to be an Oasis in the community, so armed with project approval from WSIG, we dreamed once again.
The Rouse Hill corps leadership team met to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Representatives from the leadership team and Regional Management team were appointed to the Project Control Group: Terry, Randy & Matt. We secured the ability to utilise the DHQ-owned parcel of land next door to church (where the red brick house is currently), and to renovate the existing house as a part of the grant program.
And so, the dream continues:
- a purpose built facility for our Hope Market,
- community gardens,
- indoor and outdoor classrooms for TSA Youth Services to run weekday programs,
- an all-abilities playground,
- barbecue areas and spaces for us to engage with our community.
The Norwest Community Hub will promote more active and regular community participation with our services, increase access to essential social support services and deliver weekday recreational activities for young people with a disability through our partnership with TSA Youth Services.
A new Hope Market for our community
Our market currently serves hundreds of community members every week - a number that continues to grow - in a facility that is not ideal for this purpose. Our incredible volunteers make the best of their conditions, but all realise that the ministry and community need have already outgrown our space.
A purpose-built warehouse facility will be built: a 32 metre Trimdeck building with ample space for Hope Market, back-of house areas for undercover unloading, hamper packing, sorting and cold storage. Completing the building will be bathrooms (including a public, accessible bathroom), kitchen & meeting spaces for our volunteers.
The opportunities for our market are uncapped - with the population growth across the region, and the cost of living crisis, we are excited to see how far the market can grow.
To see the history and heart behind our Hope Market, check out the video below, filmed in 2021.
Spaces to connect and grow
What started out as an inclusion within the application for a sensory garden quickly “grew” into a new plan to redevelop our existing community garden into an inviting space for people to connect, with a mixture of native landscaping and garden beds, seating and barbecue areas, and even an outdoor classroom...
We would love to even incorporate a water feature into the design - in a move that reflects the original prophecies that have been given by God to Rouse Hill Salvos over the years: an Oasis, a Spring, a place of refreshing.
We are really dreaming in this space, and looking to other Salvation Army sites to see how they have created lush community garden spaces that provide a backdrop for transformational ministry.
For an example of how other sites are utilising spaces like this, watch the video below to see how the Salvos in St Kilda have utilised a community garden as a community meeting and ministry space.
TSA Youth Services
Currently situated at Blacktown, the Youth Services team operate a number of programs with at risk youth, including the recent Drive for Life program. They also host day programs for young people with disability, including school groups. Their dedicated team makes a real difference in the lives of many people, and provides a great opportunity for our community to connect with The Salvation Army.
By partnering with us in this grant program, the Youth Services team will operate from new offices in the Community Hub facility, expanding their current programs with school and community groups, and partnering generally with Rouse Hill Salvos to engage with our community.
A safe place for kids to learn and play
In the original proposal, recommendation was made for a disability-specific playground space. Since then, the dream has evolved, to create an “All abilities” playground which caters to kids with and without disability - a place where all children can find activities for recreation and fun, and an asset to both our ministry and our community.
This safe and certified playground will be a fantastic ministry tool for the team at Youth Services to run day programs for children of all abilities.
It will also be a wonderful asset for the Kids ministry programs at Rouse Hill Salvos, and the events we run such as Carols on the Lawn - as well as a great way to engage with whole families who come into our space.
Frequently asked questions
How was the original proposal created?
Back in 2022, some members of the staff team at Norwest Salvos started dreaming, along with our Area Officer and the team from TSA Youth Services about coming together for a combined grant application.
Since then, the dream, and grant application has developed and changed significantly as the staff team has evolved, and as our ministry needs have shifted, all under the direction and leadership of the Rouse Hill leadership team. Currently, Rouse Hill corps leadership team is represented on the Project Control Group by 4 people: Matt, Randy, Terry, and our Area Officer. Feel free to approach any of these people for more information, including detailed background history on the way the grant proposal has evolved over time.
What we have arrived at now is a wonderful example of how the Holy Spirit can direct plans into all sorts of new directions, and open doors for ministry when a church is faithful to listen to His voice.
Where can I find more information about the grant?
Information about the NSW Government Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant Program (WSIG - or formerly called Westinvest) can be found by clicking the link below.
How will this impact our current ministries?
When completed, it will significantly increase the capacity of Hope Market, and give us the ability to expand our current offerings, potentially even to multiple days per week. It will also provide extra community facilities that can be used by all of the ministries of the corps - Kids Ministry, Youth & Young Adults, Seniors, Mens & Women’s ministry, and our small groups.
In the short term, there will be some disruption, as the new facility is built. The Hope Market will be the first to experience this, as they will operate out of the existing shed for the second half of 2025, while the red brick house is demolished and the new facility is rebuilt.
At various points in the construction, there will be other inconveniences - most notably when the carpark undergoes expansion to the east. We will seek to communicate as comprehensively as we can to ensure that our church community is as minimally inconvenienced as possible during this time.
Construction will likely take place in the second half of 2025, and so there will be construction works occurring on the eastern side of our block during weekdays. The site will be fenced securely, and NSW State Government signage will indicate that something exciting is happening here.
What is the timeline and next steps?
There are a number of key milestones to come over the coming months:
- Firstly, a DA Application is to be lodged to Council before the end of 2024.
- The existing shed will be emptied during the first half of 2025, in preparation for the market to occupy that space during construction.
- A tender process for construction will happen during the first half of 2025.
- Construction is pencilled to start during the second half of 2025.
- Whilst some smaller elements of the site may be completed earlier, the earliest estimate of full completion and commissioning is set for the first few months of 2026.
Can I help in any way?
Absolutely!
There will be a number of jobs that we need volunteer help with as this project progresses:
- We will need to sort and clear out the storage shed and all of our shipping containers.
- We will need to empty the red brick house to prepare for demolition.
- We will need to support the Hope Market team as they settle into their temporary location.
- We will need more Hope Market volunteers at the end of the project, as we look to expand the operations of our market.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for information about helping with these tasks and more as the project progresses.
Who do I talk to for more information?
We would love to chat with you during this process to tell you anything you would like to know - no information is “secret” or “off-limits”!
The three people most closely involved with the process are Matt, Terry and Randy, so feel free to speak to them regarding any information you might require or concerns you have.
What about development at Windsor and Dural?
This is a great question!
We absolutely have limitless opportunities to develop our other 2 sites in the Norwest region - 277 New Line Rd Dural & 290 George St Windsor. These are incredible locations, and we want to ensure that we look after and develop these sites into the future to support mission in both communities!
Because this is funded by a 2022 grant application to the NSW Government, it is completely separate from any potential building work we could undertake at Dural or Windsor, so it’s not a case of prioritising one site over any other.
Having said that, our Regional Management Team has secured additional Salvation Army funding to “top up” our building reserves for both Hawkesbury (Windsor) and Dural. This means that we can start planning to update our outstanding property needs in both locations - and our Property Dept already has a list ready to go of WH&S and maintenance updates for both properties... Creating shade out the front of Windsor, and freshening up the interior at Dural are two projects at the top of that list...
But even more exciting for us - this also means that we can start dreaming & planning for the future in both places!
So, over the next year, the Spiritual Leadership Teams in all three locations across our region (Rouse Hill, Hawkesbury & Dural, along with our Regional Management Team) will undergo two dreaming, planning and consultation processes to help us plan our mission into the future:
- Developing “Local Mission Plans”, and
- Corps Health Assessment
The outcome of both of these processes will be that we can start to dream of “what’s next” for both Windsor and Dural locations... So start dreaming, and engage with these processes when they commence - and we will see great new things coming in every location across our region!
With Youth Services moving on site, are there plans to co-locate any other Salvation Army services?
This is a great question...
We have been in discussions for some time with a number of other Salvation Army departments to see which of our other services we could co-locate to increase the services we can offer to our local community. There are lots of services that we could co-locate with, depending upon funding sources, community need, and space requirements - services such as Moneycare, Employment Plus, Doorways, Salvos Funerals, Emergency Services, and specific social mission streams (Homelessness, Alcohol & Other Drugs, Family & Domestic Violence etc).
The bottom line is, there is plenty of interest and opportunity for this, and it’s totally possible, and would bring incredible opportunities to our community... but at this stage, there are no firm plans in place.
If or when that changes, we will absolutely communicate that news and celebrate together!
Can I print this information to read later?
Yes - please use the button below to download a printable version of the Church Information Packet, containing all of the information available on this page.
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