8.47pm
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The development application has been approved 6-4 with Cr Smith’s amended recommendation that the proponents shall maintain attendance numbers of each occasion and an annual return to council.
Councillors Gibson, Doherty, Olsen and Hawkins voted against it. Councillors Ryan, Stapleford, Smith, Campbell, Parsons and Pynsent voted in favour.
Independent councillor Cordelia Troy was absent for the meeting.
8.45pm
Cr Smith said certainly there were some issues in the zoning, but that there were “other developments within the zone that were much more detrimental to the rural character.”
He said it was one of the most professional reports he had seen within his 12 and a bit years on council.
8.44pm
Cr Ryan spoke in favour of the amendment.
“When you talk about maintaining the rural character, this is a modest development,” Cr Ryan said.
8.42pm
Cr Gibson reaffirmed his stance that it is “an inappropriate development for the area.”
He said the place of worship will ruin the rural area.
Cr Gibson said it was a great shame for the residents of Buchanan.
8.40pm
The amendment was voted down 6-4.
8.39pm
Cr Gibson is speaking for the amendment.
He said what made his mind up was when he visited the site he saw five children trying to cross the road in heavy traffic.
Cr Gibson asked if it was fair to the children and the worshipers that they be “subjected to poor traffic issues.”
He said it does not maintain the objectives of an RU2 zone.
Cr Gibson said his decision to not stand for re-election has not affected his decision.
He accused the other councillors of making their decision on “what’s trendy.”
He said he would be happy to support a mosque in a more suitable location.
8.35pm
Councillor Ian Olsen is speaking for the amendment.
He said it was not about race.
He said the majority of people who live in this area live there for a reason, and that they were worried about the rural nature of the area.
“What we have to look at here is, is this development in the right location,” Cr Olsen said.
Cr Olsen said they needed to find a location that was suitable for the mosque, not a rural zone.
8.30pm
Cr Ryan moved against Cr Doherty’s amendment.
He said he respected that the local residents wanted to protect the rural landscape and were “caught between a rock and a hard place.”
Cr Ryan said it was a great shame that the “development application has been hijacked by other forces.”
“We have just been dragged into a racist, Islamophobic debate,” Cr Ryan said.
He said they have approved projects with far worse traffic problems than this development.
Cr Ryan said he thought being just off the expressway, the site was a good place for development.
8.27pm
Councillor Morgan Campbell moved against the amendment. He said the applicants have gone above the planning requirements and the RMS and council staff have given the okay. He said there were social issues which had been addressed by both sides.
“We can choose to be open and diverse and equal or we can choose to be closed off, suspicious and apart,” Cr Campbell said.
8.25pm
Councillor Rod Doherty said he is moving for refusal of the application as it doesn’t address the objectives of the RU2 zone and the prohibitions contained within the zone.
He said there is many inconsistencies with the zoning objectives and there were prohibited items in their local environment plan including car parks and funeral homes.
He also raised concern about traffic issues including the bus stop on Buchanan Road and flooding issues.
He said he does not believe it is in the public interest due to the number of submissions against the proposal.
8.15pm
Councillor Graham Smith moved for an amended recommendation that the proponents shall maintain attendance numbers of each occasion and an annual return to council.
Cr Smith said his decision to retire as a councillor was not affected by this application.
Cr Smith said there won’t be an issue of noise and the issue of waste disposal will be dealt with professionally.
He said the size of the development was also not an issue as the floor plan is “the size of a large house.”
8.13pm
Mr Jonathan Berry spoke for the application on behalf of Kleinfelder Australia Pty Ltd, the applicant. He said initial estimates of the cost of an intersection in front of the mosque was $550,000 to $570,000.
8.11pm
Erin Killion is speaking for the application. She said she commended the planners for recommending approval and that is was “a good plan.” She said some people in support of the mosque “had been threatened.” She said she understands the concerns of the nearby residents, but “it is life.”
“Any development will have an impact on roads,” Ms Killion said.
She said by approving this project council has an opportunity to promote harmony and inclusion.
She said the application had dotted every i and crossed every t.
8.02pm
Diana Rah representing Newcastle Muslim Association is speaking for the development. She thanked the mayor, councillors and directors for the way in which the application has been assessed in a “fair and just manner.” She said they have put their “best efforts into the application.”
7.58pm
Rev. Dr. Brian Tucker representing NSW Leader Rise Up Australia Party chose not to recite his speech as the social impact statement he was going to speak to had already been referred to earlier in the night. Cr Ryan accused him of basing his submission on religion.
7.56pm
Wendy White is speaking for the application. She said she believes the rural character “will survive” the development and that she doesn’t think the development will increase the traffic terribly. As for crime, she said “I will not even dignify that with a reply.”
7.52pm
D Walters spoke against the application. He said with the area being so huge, “future developments are almost inevitable,” and that traffic problems “are only going to become worse.”
He raised the issue of the address being 911 Buchanan Road and said while “I don’t think that’s going to happen here [September 11]” it’s always going to be in the back of his mind.
7.47pm
Phillipa Parsons is speaking for the development on behalf of Newcastle: Unity in Diversity. She said they formed the group “to counter the fear and hate” of the anti-mosque rally in Newcastle on Easter Saturday.
Mayor Pynsent has interjected as Ms Parsons speech was not speaking to the planning matters of the proposal, but Cr Ryan said to Cr Pynsent that he had not interrupted any other speeches that were referring to religion.
Ms Parsons was allowed to continue.
She disputed whether people who were speaking against the development had ever met a muslim, which was met with a loud raucous from the gallery.
7.39pm
Mr David Gratton is speaking against the development. He is from Buchanan and works on planning projects. He said the issue of religion “devalues the argument.”
He said he had no “grave concern whether it’s a mosque or a church” but said the planning report has a “sympathetic” approach towards traffic, and that he took issue with the acoustics.
Mr Gratton said council have a responsibility to view the matter holistically.
7.35pm
Mark Stevenage is speaking for the development. He said he is a local muslim, and that any groups are welcome to visit the mosque.
“We muslims only want the good old Aussie fair go,” he said.
He said he rejected the noise and traffic complaints and that the planning reports “speak for themselves.”
7.33pm
Local school teacher Tim Plater is speaking for the development. He said he is not a religious person but “if the community needs a mosque it should have a mosque.” He asked the council if they would make the same decision if it was an Anglican or Catholic church.
7.31pm
Mr Paul Ramzan, whose family has lived in Buchanan for 40 years, is speaking against the mosque. He said he believes it is unsuitable for the area. Mr Ramzan said he comes from a muslim family, and supports their right to have a place of worship, but the mosque will have a negative effect on the people of Buchanan.
7.28pm
Rev Warwick Cadenhead speaks for the development on behalf of Uniting Church Minister, Maitland Eastside. He said there “does not need to be a conflict between ruralness and a place of worship.”
7.25pm
Dr Meg Sherval is speaking against the development on behalf of Buchanan Rural Residents Group and said the building and carpark “are not rural.” She said the development will result in change of character of the area, and “a change to our level of safety.” She said she would like the development “relocated somewhere more suitable.” She said as a resident she is also concerned about increased crime.
7.21pm
Councillor Bryce Gibson has asked speakers not to speak on speculation and religion, but rather the planning matters the councillors can take in to consideration when voting.
7.17pm
Sister Diana Santleben is speaking for the development on behalf of Hunter Refugees & Partners Inc & Catholic Religious Hunter. She said “Australia is a secular country” where all religions have the right to practice their religion. Ms Santleben said feels sorry for the people who bought property at Buchanan, but in terms of development, she said “it’s life.”
“The Hunter Valley is changing daily,” Ms Santleben said.
7.08pm
Kerry Vernon is speaking for the development on behalf of Support the Mosque for Buchanan. She said there are many churches in the area, and that a development application for a mosque should be decided on its merits according to planning law.
7.05pm
Sarah Lonegran from Buchanan is speaking against the application. She said she has no quarrels with the character of the applicants, but the rural nature of the site is unsuitable for the development.
7pm
David Witson is speaking for the development on behalf of the Olive Ribbon Campaign. He said he supports the development from a socially inclusive perspective.
“Diversity makes us stronger and richer,” Mr Witson said.
Mr Witson said the Newcastle Muslim Association made a positive contribution to the community. He said the council should give the muslims of this region “a fair go” by approving the development.
6.57pm
Natalie Squires speaks on behalf of the Buchanan Rural Residents Group against the application. Ms Squires said her home is located next to the development. She raised traffic concerns and said she expects growth in the amount of people who will use the mosque.
6.51pm
Dr Niko Leka is speaking for the development. Dr Leka said if council wants to have a vibrant community, this development ticks all of the boxes.
6.47pm
Buchanan resident Nick Swanson, who is speaking against the development, said he has received no correspondence from the Newcastle Muslim Association, despite contacting them about the development. He said the proposed footpath included in the application would mean the applicants would need to acquire some of his land, which he would not be selling. He also raised concerns about the safety of his children travelling to school.
“The safety of my family is in your hands,” Mr Swanson said to the councillors in his speech.
6.40pm
Buchanan resident Michele Davis has opened the public speaking in opposition to the development. Ms Davis said she is concerned about her family’s safety, particularly due to her children catching the bus near increased traffic. She is also concerned about increased noise as she and her husband work shift work.
6.35pm
Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent reminds the gallery of the rules regarding speaking at the meeting. Security is present and will escort people from the chamber if it is necessary.
6.15pm
About 50 people gathered outside of the Cessnock Council chambers for the July 20 meeting which will discuss the Buchanan mosque development application.
Council is only letting in speakers and their guest at this stage due to fire regulations.
A total of 28 people have applied to speak on the matter – 16 for and 12 against.
Related content
