NSW Planning defer decision on $7.5m Glenhaven Mosque
Hundreds of concerned Hills residents have gathered at a NSW Planning Panel meeting overnight to learn the fate of a controversial development application for a mosque in Glenhaven.
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A fierce battle to protect the rural community of Glenhaven from a multimillion-dollar proposal for a 250-person mosque rages on after a NSW Planning Panel failed to determine the fate of the controversial proposal, despite pleas from The Hills Shire Council and resident groups.
More than 16 months after 1 Larapinta Pl, Glenhaven, became the subject of a development application by the Hills District Muslim Society for a place of worship, the Central City Planning Panel met for a second time overnight to determine whether or not the proposal should be approved — deferring the result once again.
Hundreds of concerned Hills residents gathered at the meeting, held at Castle Hill RSL, to voice their concerns against the development alongside Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne and councillors.
“We understand with the arrival of the Sydney Metro Northwest, more people and more density is coming our way. In fact, it’s already begun,” Cr Byrne said in her address to the panel.
“But it should be noted, that this density is located within the new station precincts. These are urban areas of the Shire and these areas allow our residents to enjoy easy access to the Metro and the amenities that come with it, like shops, cafes, roads, footpaths and new open spaces.
“We have a very significant rural — urban interface that requires our intervention and our protection. While a majority have taken a stand to protect our rural land from over development, there are some who just simply see this as urban land waiting to happen.”
Cr Byrne said the reduced cost of rural land in The Hills meant it was considered “ripe for the picking”; however, raised concerns around a lack of local infrastructure in place, such as roads, water, sewer, shops, schools and medical facilities.
“Whether it be churches, seniors living developments or schools, we are seeing a scale of development that is far beyond the character and capacity our rural areas can deliver and sustain,” she said.
“These large scale projects are often located on rural or local roads
that cannot deal with anymore added pressure.
“They also impact on the rural character of the region and adversely affect the enjoyment of neighbouring properties.”
While acoustic engineer and Hills Shire Councillor Peter Gangemi said he personally peer reviewed the acoustic reports, and “implore the panel to refuse the development application on acoustic grounds.
“Noise predictions were not conducted with the appropriate software, inversions and wind effects,” he said.
Cr Gangemi argued the noise criteria on the site was “artificially lifted” by no excluding weather, and the location of a meter too close to Glenhaven Rd.
Councillors concerns around the location of the proposal in a “protected rural zone” was echoed by Friends of Glenhaven and Larapinta Pl resident, Alan Barry.
“We believe that there is anything the applicant can do to dress up this application and make it work, under any circumstances,” Mr Barry said.
“Nothing adds up and there are too many environmental issues for a 7-day per week commercial operation that destroy the amenity and have enormous effect on the character of Glenhaven.”
Mr Barry said representatives of the Hills District Muslim Society failed to consult the residents of Glenhaven and failed to “recognise the obstacles, withdraw the application and find an appropriate site”.
“Instead they left it to destiny and in the hands of the (planning) process,” he said.
“If the application is unsuccessful, scapegoats will be sought, being the panel, the community and the council.
“But HDMS cannot blame anyone other than themselves for the time they have wasted not developing a suitable site for their members the donated money or the significant disruption they have caused to the residents of Glenhaven.”
Friends of Glenhaven chairman Mitchell Blue raised concerns around traffic and access to the proposed place of worship, declaring the community group had “absolutely no confidence in development application reports” suggesting no safety issues would arise from traffic and congestion on Larapinta Pl and Glenhaven Rd.
“The traffic plan, plan of management and parking arrangements on site do not and will not work,” he said.
Larapinta Pl resident, Rick Allison, said the approval of the mosque would have a “deep impact on the amenity of my street for me, my family and my neighbours”.
In support of the proposal, Hills District Muslim Society representative Hamed Baqaie said resident frustration is “inevitable in this environment and it is not the fault of this proposed development”.
“This proposed should not suffer because of sentiment based on suspicion and ignorance,” he said.
“Traffic on Glenhaven Rd is symptomatic of change, as it forms a link between other areas of development in the shire.
“Objecting to the use of the land for religious purposes, of which it is zoned, appears to be instances of discrimination.”
While a Hills resident and HDMS supporter, who wished to remain anonymous, raised concerns around The Hills Shire Council’s previous support for the development of an aged care facility “just metres from the proposed site”.
“You may understand why our community may be hurt,” he said.
“Because we have heard the mayor and councillors talk about protecting the rural fringe, but these are the same councillors approving this aged care facility two minutes down the road.”
HDMS Town Planner Stuart Harding said extensive changes had been made to the proposed place of worship to reduce the development from 400 to 250-people.
“There has been a 36 per cent reduction in the footprint of the facility,” Mr Harding said.
“The other major issue that we addressed was the issue of carparking, in a way of reducing the visual presence by moving towards a basement solution.”
Mr Harding said the proposal would not add to congestion and traffic issues on Glenhaven Rd, due to the times of use for the mosque being “out of peak hours”.
“The Development Control Plan talks about one (car) space for every five people,” he said.
“We have provided parking at more than two spaces for every five people.
“This may come back to bite us in the conversation around traffic, but given that Friday prayer takes place between 12pm and 2pm, it is a time that the road can cope with capacity.”
The town planner argued if the applicant was to request for more people to be allowed into the site, “another development application would be required”.
“We know from our work with places of worship that it is, more likely, that you will end up with more places of public worship to facilitate the community’s needs, rather than trying to contemplate the creation of the new St Mary’s Cathedral to cater for the whole of Sydney,” he said.
In her address to Mr Harding, Planning Panel chair Mary-Lynne Taylor said the applicant failed to carry out an independent traffic expert report “regarding traffic issues on Glenhaven Rd” requested in the previous panel meeting held.
“I ask, why would you be building a facility for 250 people if your congregation is 1000 people,” Ms Taylor questioned.
Hills Shire Council Planning Manager Cameron McKenzie said the development application was assessed on planning merit, while also assessing the impact of traffic and parking.
“We have carefully considered all information by the applicant and recognise the need for a facility for a place of worship, but the subject site is not a suitable location for this place of worship,” he said.
“It clearly has an intensity that would have significant amenity impact.
“The building is able to accommodate a significantly higher number than the 250-person limit proposed in the development application.
“Based on a Building Code of Australia rate for churches the prayer halls alone could accommodate 495 persons.”
Last week, The Hills Shire Times revealed a Hills Shire Council report called for the proposal to be refused.
A council planning manager said the Hills District Muslim Society’s development application failed to comply with a series of regulations including excessive site coverage, boundary setbacks, the disposal of waste water, excavation, landscape screening, acoustic and noise impacts, a lack of parking spaces and a lack of information provided as part of the development application.
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