CCBR Business Review

5 Drawing on her experience as an owner builder and property developer, Cherie, with the help of her builder, took on the role of project manager, engaged a land- scape gardener and her son Danny to restore the grounds, and made the deci- sion to kick off the project by building the chapel towards the front of the 4.5-acre property for its prime main road exposure. However she had not anticipated the seven-month battle with Gosford Council that would have brought the project to a halt was it not for her own sheer persis- tence and the help of her local support team, including town planner and architect, John Hancock. Once approval was finally granted, construction of the chapel com- menced in March 2016 and was completed in September of the same year. Designed in the Antebellum style charac- teristic of the 19th century architecture of America’s deep south, the construction of the Charlotte Chapel was a labour of love and attention to detail from the beginning. Specialist Prestige & Luxury vehicle repairer Accredited BMW Body shop Factory trained technicians Specialist Aluminium Repair facility Prestige Loan Vehicles Phone 02 4324 6683 24 Hours 02 4306 4656 3 Marstan Close West Gosford www.harrisadamsprestige.com.au CO V E R S T O R Y Cherie made the strategic decision to use Kantara House’s main building as a work- shop, which enabled everything from the pews and the altar for the chapel to the bar for the main building to be manufactured onsite. Cherie sketched her vision for the chapel and John Hancock brought the vision to life on paper. Many parts had to be craned in, including the recycled Australian blackbutt timber beams, the beveled glass windows and the oldest ringing bell in Australia (cast in Somerset England in 1550). Cherie also drew upon many of the tech- niques she witnessed in the motor industry when managing the construction of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 She had not anticipated the seven-month battle with Gosford Council that would have brought the project to a halt was it not for her own sheer persistence and the help of her local support team. Cherrie Reid with daughter Karina outside Charlotte Chapel on the grounds of Kantara House CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW FEBRUARY 2018