Mosque feedback positive, says Cessnock MP

Last week, the Newcastle Muslim Association announced plans to build a mosque and small funeral home on a property at Buchanan Road, but the plans were met with mixed reactions.

Within hours, an online protest group was launched on social media and heated debate raged on the Mercury’s Facebook page.

But Mr Barr believed the negativity and sometimes prejudicial views of a few keyboard warriors was not reflective of the views of the people of Cessnock.

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Mixed reaction to mosque proposed for Buchanan

“I have only had a single email against it,” Mr Barr said.

“In a conversation with a dozen people at an event in Cessnock, they were unanimously very pro the development.

“This is a mainstream, very public, open and accessible mosque.”

Mr Barr said the location of the proposed mosque was logical considering the Muslim population of the Hunter was dispersed throughout the region.

The proximity to the Hunter Expressway meant easy and quick access to the site.

He said the development was a sign of the times and admitted it would test some people’s way of thinking.

“I would prefer people to offer an informed opinion,” he said.

“I think people need to ask themselves, what if it was a church?

“People need to ask themselves, are they genuinely concerned about the presence of a church or are they concerned about it being a Muslim church - a mosque.”

Mr Barr said Australia was in a transition, just as it was in the 1950s with the Greek population and in the 1980s and ‘90s with the Asian populations.

“Australia is still struggling to come to terms with the needs of our Aboriginal population,” he said.

“Australia is in transition.

“The only thing I can ask of the local Muslim population is for some patience.”

A development application for the Buchanan mosque is yet to be lodged with Cessnock City Council.