The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is welcoming the announcement of a brand new Catholic church to be built in Belmont next year.
The Saint Francis Xavier's Church in Ernest Street will be transformed into a hall to be shared by the parish and church primary school.
The current facilities, which includes various de-mountable buildings, are inadequate for larger crowds and funerals, and pose significant safety and accessibility concerns for elderly and disabled community members.
Plans for the $2.5 million project should be approved next
week, with the church expected to be completed by Easter 2015.
It's believed the transformation could pave the way for other new churches to be built.
