“They are privatising the benefits of assets that have been subsidised by the public for decades through favourable tax arrangements,” he said. “The public expects that church properties should be used for good works, not inappropriate overdevelopments.” The Anglican Church plans to build a 46-storey commercial tower and eight-storey residential building next to St John’s Anglican Cathedral in Parramatta at an estimated cost of $400 million. An artist's impression of the Anglican Church's development plans for St John's Anglican Cathedral in Parramatta. Bruce Morrison, the Cathedral’s senior minister, said the project also includes a civic square that will create a new setting for the historic cathedral. “We will have new parish facilities in the podium of the new northern building and the tower will be set back from the edge of the building,” he said.

Mr Morrison said existing facilities were inadequate for the growing and diverse church congregation. However, the plan also includes demolishing a heritage-listed church hall, which has triggered concerns from the National Trust. An artist's impression of the Uniting Church's $108 million property development in Burwood. The Uniting Church has unveiled a $108 million development proposal for three buildings, including a 27-storey tower, in Burwood. A church spokesman said the development would also include a seven-storey residential building for student and affordable housing, with shops on the ground floor and a new church hall.

“The Spire redevelopment will help the Uniting Church to continue to be a beacon of hope,” he said. The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney submitted plans last year for a 70-storey residential tower in Sydney's CBD, but a spokesman said there were no plans for the building in "the short or medium term". The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s plan to build apartment towers around the Wahroonga Adventist School has also proven contentious, with church members, Ku-ring-gai council and parents raising concerns about the residential development. The Independent Planning Commission, which will decide the fate of the proposal, was told the apartment buildings would have a “destructive” impact on the school at a public meeting last month. One resident, Avona Butterfield, raised concerns about the bushfire risks posed by the proposal.

“We do not need bulky blocks of units which are visually toxic and incompatible with our zoned low rise, low density area,” she said. Loading A church spokeswoman said the plans had been amended in response to community concerns, with "deep consideration" given to privacy, security and access to sunlight for students and future apartment residents. "It is also important to note that land in the Wahroonga Estate is not tax exempt," she said. "We are paying rates and taxes on the land as per the relevant zonings." The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment said in September the project was acceptable.

A DPIE spokesman said planning authorities considered the impacts of a development when assessing projects, not the identity of the developer. Loading Yet churches may be exempt from local infrastructure contributions levied by councils for projects such as affordable housing, childcare facilities and libraries - commercial developments are generally not exempt. Some charitable and religious institutions are also eligible to receive a land tax exemption. Tom Forrest, the chief executive of developer’s lobby group the Urban Taskforce, said all developers involved in commercial projects should be subject to the same tax arrangements.