By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A TEMPLE squeezed into a house in Springvale has been denied a second request to cram in more worshippers.
The Chin Lin Quan Yin temple at 56 Queens Avenue had recently put an end to day-long karaoke opera singing, feasts, parking over driveways and thick plumes of incense to appease exasperated neighbours and councillors who had first voted down its expansion plans last month.
However, Greater Dandenong councillors last week — for a second time — voted down a permit to increase the temple’s visitors from 15 to 50 worshippers.
Their reasons included a lack of on-site parking — some of which is covered with chairs, containers and a marquee — and a lack of space for visitors in the humble single-storey house.
The Chinese temple’s compliance will also be monitored by council staff, although Greater Dandenong city planning director Jody Bosman emphasised he wouldn’t be “posting anyone outside the site”.
Last week, temple honorary adviser Stan Chang said he was surprised councillors hadn’t taken into account objecting neighbour Corine Trimble’s satisfaction with the changes, including the use of non-smoke incense and exhaust fans to disperse incense fumes.
In a statement to councillors, Mr Chang wrote that he had given Ms Trimble his business card, to contact him if there were any further issues. She had previously had no contact person to complain to at the temple since it opened six years ago.
“We’re not asking for a special favour,” he said. “We wanted a fair chance for a fresh review [of our case]. I don’t think we can change the outcome of last [week’s] decision.”
Ms Trimble, whose house is little more than a metre from the temple, told the Journal she wanted to believe that the temple-goers would hold to their promises but “something inside me says no”.
“I don’t want to point the finger at anyone. It’s an innocent mistake but how would you like to put up with this in your own home?
“I don’t know how many of these temples are built next door to residents.”
She said non-smoke incense had improved air quality in her home. Previously, smoke penetrated her home every weekday, agitating her asthma and heart condition.
“We’d have to shut all our windows and put a ‘sausage’ up against the back door.”
