COUNCILLOR Yourhorn Chea has been accused of being “blinkered in his sights for Springvale’s future” after pushing for a Cambodian Buddhist temple to have its permit renewed despite failing to meet planning requirements.
Dandenong North Ward councillor John Kelly made the comment after a majority of councillors voted to renew a permit for the Dhamaram Buddhist Temple in Balmoral Avenue, Springvale, at Monday’s council meeting.
A council officer’s report recommended the permit be disallowed after finding the site did not meet state and local government planning guidelines, nor did it meet the Springvale Activity Centre guidelines.
To satisfy a majority of councillors, Cr Chea put forward an alternate recommendation asking the temple be granted a permit and the number of people allowed on site at one time be dropped from 80 to 28 to address car parking problems.
But the application has just eight on-site car parks, and Cr Kelly said it would cost council more dollars to police the area for parking and permit breaches.
Cr Kelly objected to the application and told the chamber that Cr Chea was contradicting complaints about parking in Springvale by trying to push the application through.
“He doesn’t seem to take much interest in the rest of Springvale,” Cr Kelly said.
“Cr Chea is always crowing about parking but then does nothing about it.”
Cr Chea said the temple had been operating for 10 years and the Cambodian community depended on it to practise its faith.
“Outside we have plenty of car parks,” he said.
“Balmoral Avenue is a quiet area that is not very similar or close to the busy shopping area.”
Cr Chea said many of the temple’s worshippers did not drive to the building.
“A majority of the people live in the area and can walk or catch a bus to the temple,” he said.
Dandenong mayor Peter Brown said he visited the site to chat with Buddhist monks and was convinced by the circumstances – not the monks – that parking would be sufficient.
The council voted in favour of Cr Chea’s alternative recommendation by nine votes to two.
Springvale South Ward councillor Yvonne Herring and Cr Kelly were the councillors opposed.
– Shaun Inguanzo
