Journal News - 24th October 2016

Page 1

24 October 2016

5

A Star News Group Publication

Brazen burglars target Hallam security firm

SPORT

Covering Endeavour Hills, Doveton & Hallam

Star quality - Gun recruits hit the DDCA

■ Rejected worshipers pitch scaled-down plan…

Mosque revived The proponent of a once-rejected Narre Warren North mosque is planning to re-apply with a smaller-scale proposal after this month’s Casey council elections. Zain Shah from the Saarban Islamic Trust said the proposed building for 365-367 BelgraveHallam Road was likely to be dropped to a single storey and be similar in scale to a nearby animal hospital. It was not yet known how many worshippers and visitors could be held at the mosque, Mr Shah said. The original proposal was rejected unanimously at a fiery Casey council meeting in April. The gallery overflowed with residents and proand anti-mosque protesters – including members of Casey Against Racism and Stop the Mosque groups. Mr Shah was confident that the revised application would be “good as gold” when it’s submitted to Casey planners, but “we’re in no hurry”. “We’ve got a new architect which will change the whole thing. It will be more modern looking,” Mr Shah said. He believed the council would have no power to enact its proposed ban on places of worship from green wedge areas such as Narre Warren North. “I believe that’s only in the power of the state planning minister to change.” He welcomed recent comments from VicRoads which claimed it was unfairly linked to the original proposal’s rejection by Casey on 26 April. “I think it will help our application, but I think it was more political reasons behind (the council’s rejection). “The traffic issues weren’t a big drama.” VicRoads south east metro regional manager Aidan McGann said Casey council had deflected responsibility for the mosque’s rejection by stating that it was bound by the road authority’s objection. “We’re concerned that VicRoads has been seen as fundamental to the council choosing to reject

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the application in a pretty heated political environment. “VicRoads has been put out as the main reason for the objection. “We have made those concerns. The council knows our view.” Mr McGann said VicRoads didn’t accept the original proposal to create access via an uncontrolled four-way intersection on Belgrave-Hallam Road but believed there was a safe alternative access point. “We’d need some sort of traffic control. We asked if the proponents sat down with the council and us to discuss modifications and they did express an interest in doing that. “We haven’t heard anything since and the offer still stands.” In its planning report on 26 April, Casey council stated that it must refuse to grant a permit due to VicRoads’ objection. The report stated that VicRoads regarded the proposal as “premature” and “does not represent sufficient orderly planning in the area”. “Council officers are not supportive of the application on traffic grounds as the applicant has not demonstrated that the site can accommodate the expected traffic demand and safety of vehicle movements to/from the site.” The council also based its decision on other grounds including the height and bulk of the buildings, and its location in the green wedge and Casey foothills. Rosalie Counsell, of the Green Wedges Coalition, said the coalition would continue fighting to stop places of worship – as well as schools without a small-scale agricultural element – being built in green wedge zones. “I want to reiterate that this is nothing to do with any particular religion. “It’s the whole concept of drawing a large number of people from the urban areas for an urban use in the green wedge.” Casey council declined to comment but referred Star News to the 26 April report.

BERWICK Dr Mike Inskip Dr Ankur Bansal Dr Nisha James DR SAHAR SHIRKHANLOO

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By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Shooting for the stars... and stripes UP-AND-COMING basketballer Meher Bains is shooting for a US college scholarship and hopefully NBA fame. But already he is breaking boundaries. Ignoring taunts from other kids, he stands proud as the first player of Sikh background to tread the boards as a Casey Basketball Association regional squad member.  Read his story on page 11

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