Objectors to Sydney Suburb Mosque Cite Traffic
The development application is for 420 Blacktown Rd, where a makeshift mosque is already used.
A petition, which was on public exhibition for the past four weeks, collected 218 signatures rejecting the project. Submissions have now closed.
The construction will include a prayer hall, basement storage, library, office, kitchen, a back patio, parking and landscaping.
A resident, who has lived near the site for 43 years, said there was strong opposition to the mosque, which is described in the application as a prayer hall.
"It wasn’t hard to get signatures (against the project) … the signatures are only from people it directly impacted,” he said.
He declined to be named for fear of the "repercussion of standing up against the project”.
The application on behalf of developers Ingham Planning, said the "community hall” would open from Monday to Sunday between 10am and 9pm with the main prayer period being Fridays between 12.30pm and 2pm.
The mosque will accommodate up to 70 worshippers and the proposal includes 16 car spaces "which is in excess of the 15 required for the ‘seating’ area of the hall”.
The resident said: "We’re affected already from the traffic congestion … at the moment there’s about 70 cars that turn up (for prayer time) … they park across people’s driveways.
"There has already been an accident when one lady was reversing from her driveway and hit the car.”
A woman who also opposed the development said the construction of the prayer hall was in the "most ridiculous spot”.
"It’s also right opposite the school (Ebenezer College) and I’ve spoken to the principal who said the safety of the children is a concern.
"Once people find out about the prayer hall, it will increase in numbers, it’s in the most ludicrous position imaginable and that’s what we’re all objecting to,” she said.
Issues were also raised with the proposal being sold to the community as a "community hall”.
"I don’t feel like they’re being truthful, they’re not saying what it’s really for,” a woman said.
"We don’t have any racist problem at all, it’s got nothing to do with religion at all ... it’s the traffic that’s the issue, it’s the location.”
A Blacktown Council meeting held last week also saw about 20 residents appearing at the public forum to ensure their voices against the proposal were heard.
The applicants for the project could not be reached for comment.
Source: dailytelegraph.com.au
