By Engelbert Schmidl
ALTONA North residents will soon find out the fate of a proposed mosque development in their neighbourhood.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal will decide in the next few weeks if building the mosque and Islamic community centre on vacant land in Central Avenue can go ahead.
The Australian Islamic Mission – the group behind the proposal – lodged an appeal to VCAT after Hobsons Bay City Council rejected their initial proposal.
A spokesman for the group, Fuad Abdin, said he hoped VCAT would make the decision soon.
Residents in Altona North who had objected to the building proposal cited a number of reasons as grounds for complaint.
A co-convenor of the residents’ group Hobsons Bay Community First, Tony Briffa, said residents had no problem with a mosque, it was the scale and nature of the development that worried residents most.
“I must admit I am even more concerned than ever about what this proposal will mean to residents if it’s approved,” he said.
“The developers are even suggesting we have a special parking scheme in the area complete with parking permits, and we’ve discovered the proposed mosque can accommodate up to 259 worshippers, with parking for only 24 cars.
“The developers are trying to convince VCAT that they are happy to comply with a cap of 80 worshippers for any one time – other than Ramadan and the EID celebrations – if VCAT gives them a permit, but that has little chance of being enforced.
“The Newport mosque was granted a permit for up to 80 worshippers and they regularly have about 400 attend.”
Mr Briffa said he hoped VCAT members would visit the site to appreciate the impact such a development would have on neighbourhood amenities such as parking.
He said the builders of the mosque should consult with the council’s Mosque Liaison Committee to find an alternative site.
“Hobsons Bay Community First recognises the need for a mosque in the local area but regretfully opposes this proposal as it is significantly flawed.”
AIM spokesman Mr Abdin said his group would await the VCAT outcome before making further comment.
