By CASEY NEILL
A SPRINGVALE temple’s request to welcome 50 people through its doors every second Sunday was rejected at Monday night’s council meeting.
Five councillors voted to reject the proposal, saying car parking was inadequate and would create havoc for residential premises neighbouring the Chin Lien Chinese Association of Vic Australia centre at 56 Queens Avenue. Four voted to allow the request.
There are currently 15 people allowed at the former residential dwelling at any one time.
But council compliance officers have witnessed more than 100 people at the site on several occasions, significant traffic and parking congestion, blocking Queens Avenue to Albert Street, and guests parking in neighbours’ driveways.
“Noise and smell issues reported by the objecting neighbours have also been witnessed by Planning Compliance officers,” the council report read.
There are 11 on-street car parking spaces on Queens Avenue and the applicant’s traffic report said there were more spaces available in front of the Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau.
The applicant said traffic was expected to be low because many worshippers attending were seniors who did not drive, and the Springvale railway station was close by.
But the report said an increase in people would exacerbate the existing car parking deficiency.
Association spokesman Sammy Lam said he was very upset and didn’t know why the council made the decision.
“The council did not come here to inspect before making the decision,” he said.
“It was a big shock for our community.
“It’s hard to understand.”
He said a traffic report said there was enough parking and the extra people would only be there two Sundays a month.
“Not on weekdays. Sundays there are not many people around this area,” he said.
But Cr Sean O’Reilly said allowing more people to attend the temple would damage residential amenity.
“This is where a group has brought a home in amongst residents and converted it into a temple,” he said.
“I don’t think council should support a group buying a house then deciding by stealth to increase the number of people allowed in there.”
John Kelly said the block and home were very small.
“The highlight in this report to me was the amount of parking required for that many people,” he said.
“This is obviously inconsistent with the planning scheme for this city and most inappropriate for this location.”
Cr Youhorn Chea said the council should give the organisation a chance.
“The noise of the trains is more noisy than the people attending,” he said.
Cr Loi Truong and Cr Heang Tak also supported the request, saying there was only one objector, extra car parking was not far away, and most visitors would use public transport.
