By CASEY NEILL
A FRESH push to allow more people to attend a Springvale temple has failed.
City of Greater Dandenong councillors on Tuesday night stuck with their 27 May decision to block Chin Lien Chinese Association of Vic Australia’s application to allow 50 people to attend its Queens Avenue site twice a month.
Councillor Youhorn Chea moved to replace the current permit allowing 15 people at the former residential dwelling at any one time with a permit allowing 30 people twice a month.
But councillors rejected the proposal, claiming key issues around parking and residential amenity remained.
They resolved that the council monitor compliance issues carefully for the next six months and report back to a council meeting.
Temple spokesman Stan Chang was dismayed at the decision, and said councillors had ignored new information in reaching it.
He said the temple had resolved issues with a neighbour who’d complained about parking, noise and smells from burning incense site.
“Basically it’s a non-issue,” he said.
“As a community person, I have to shake my head.
“The temple was not seeking special treatment from council. The temple was just asking them to give them a chance, to look at all the new information presented to them.”
Cr Sean O’Reilly said there had been “a litany” of compliance issues with the current planning permit.
“Do we know that the temple will continue to satisfy the residential amenity and parking requirements?” he said.
“Are we responsible to pass an alternate motion that the temple will not comply with?”
Cr Matthew Kirwan said he believe the temple had outgrown the site. Cr Maria Sampey agreed and said residents were entitled to peace and quiet in their neighbourhood.
But Cr Chea said the area was quiet on a Sunday, when the temple was proposing to be allowed the additional visitors, and parking would not be an issue. He said it had addressed issues with incense and noise.
