By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Doveton locals are warming to a proposed mosque approved for the second time by City of Casey, says proponent Rokhan Akbar.
The Afghan Islamic Centre and Omar Farooq Mosque’s re-application at 25-31 Green Street was given the green light at a council meeting on 16 July, after the original permit lapsed in 2018.
Just three objections were received by the council. Two from neighbours in the same industrial estate, and none from adjoining residents.
It was in stark contrast to the storm of opposition from residents and Catch the Fire Ministries supporters against the mosque’s original proposal in 2014.
Mr Akbar says much changed during a recent open day at its current hall at Photinia Street, held in the wake of the shocking massacres at Christchurch mosques.
“There was an outpouring of sympathy. Five hundred people turned up – we had some local MPs, Victoria Police offices and the local residents.
“We welcomed them with open arms. We showed that these were places of solidarity and friendship.
“It broke down the barriers.”
At the council meeting, Cr Wayne Smith said that the mosque was in an appropriate site and “met all of the requirements”.
Cr Smith said that none of the residents that objected in 2014 had even contacted him this time round.
“Whether or not they thought there was no point (in objecting), who knows?”
In its second version, a larger mosque with a larger 216-space onsite car park was proposed on a larger site of four lots.
The 2200-square-metre building will stand 10 metres tall with 14-metre-high minaret towers.
It will attract up to 300 for Friday prayers, about 250 for condolence services on weekends, up to 400 during the month of Ramadan and 600 for two Eid prayers a year.
On most days, it will be visited by up to 100.
The mosque had outgrown its current hall, with a capacity for up to 160 visitors.
It will utilise extra adjoining land at Green Street, sold by Pastor Daniel Nalliah’s Catch The Fire Ministries – which had been set to build a church next door.
Cr Rosalie Crestani, who hails from Mr Nalliah’s Rise Up Australia Party, was opposed the original and latest proposals.
She noted the addition of a morgue “just a very small stone’s throw” from adjoining resident’s back fenceline.
During its heavily-attended Friday prayer service, its industrial neighbours may be “locked down from conducting their business”, she said.
“I think this would be a poor development for the area.”
