Glenhaven Mosque: Hills District Muslim Society, Hills Council to fight over plans in court
A Muslim society will battle a Sydney council which has vowed to fight against plans to build a mosque in a residential street in Sydney’s northwest.
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Controversial plans for the Glenhaven Mosque will be battled in the Land and Environment Court as the Hills District Muslim Society fights to keep its vision for the place of worship intact.
The $7.5 million development application, which forecasts the creation of a 250-person mosque in the semirural town of Glenhaven, was lodged for appeal in the Land and Environment Court last month, and is expected to go to a directions hearing on March 25.
On August 28 last year, the Sydney Central City Planning Panel – supported by The Hills Council – issued a refusal against the development for the massive prayer hall on the corner or Larapinta Pl and Glenhaven Rd following a series of mammoth public meetings attended by over 800 people held in Castle Hill over a 16-month period.
A Hills Council spokeswoman said council will defend the appeal when the case appears in court.
“Council understands the Hills District Muslim Society needs a place of worship in The Hills, but the proposed site is unsuitable for a development of the scale and intensity proposed,” a council spokeswoman said.
“Council would like to see this type of development located in the urbanised areas of The Hills Shire – where there is adequate pedestrian access, public transport, roads and a sewer network.
“Council would also like to see the proposal in a location where it does not have adverse effects on the neighbouring properties.”
The development application, which included two expansive prayer halls and a series of classrooms over the two story development, was met with a long list of concerns by council, surrounding neighbours and the Joint Regional Planning Panel.
Panel chair Mary-Lynne Taylor told the applicant she and other panellist were concerned by the impact proposed building heights, intensity and adverse impact noise, traffic and parking would have on the community as well as the “inconsistent nature the development had for the rural transitional zoning”.
“The subject site is not suitable for the proposed development,” she said at the time. “It is located in a cul-de-sac in a quiet rural residential area.”
The panel also revealed it was convinced that community concerns, including traffic and parking, noise complaints, lighting and the visual impact of the development, were not “adequately addressed” by the developer.
Friends of Glenhaven spokesman, Mitch Blue, said the community has been fighting the proposal for more than two years.
“It is clear,” he said. “The site is not fit for purpose. The refusal by the panel further highlights this.
“The applicant waited till the deadline, a full six months, to lodge an appeal with the Land and Environment Court with the same information and detail. There are no changes. What makes them think that this will now be acceptable?
“The applicant has never communicated with the Glenhaven community – not once – we are tired of their games,” he said.
The Hills District Muslim Society was contacted for comment.