Stockland has kicked another goal, entering into a partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay to redevelop its Our Lady Help of Christians Church and School at Epping, 22km from the CBD.

The development will feature around 200 retirement living apartments, 132 aged care beds and a new primary school for 220 students and community and parish facilities while preserving the original heritage-listed church.

Stockland will now submit its development proposal later this year – we have to ask though, why didn’t the Church partner with a Catholic-affiliated provider like Catholic Healthcare or Southern Cross Care?

Elsewhere private village developer Greengate has been chosen by four separate Catholic groups to partner in developing villages, as has Mbark.