Not enough space: $4m plans to expand Al-Madinah Mosque in Leppington

A southwest Sydney mosque has called for an expansion to their “humble” place of worship as attendees are forced to pray outside due to limited facilities.

The proposal for the Al-Madinah mosque includes the demolition of the existing dwelling and construction of a two-storey mosque and associated facilities.

The leader of a southwest Sydney mosque has called for an expansion to their “humble” place of worship as attendees have been forced to pray outside due to limited facilities.

Plans have been lodged with Liverpool Council for a $4m expansion of the Al Madinah Mosque at 1492 Camden Valley Way, Leppington to increase patronage from 50 to 400 people – making it one of the largest in the region.

Prayer rooms at the mosque – which has been serving the community since the 1970s – are currently housed in a small cottage on the site, which would be demolished and replaced with a two-storey building, including praying areas for men and women and a library.

General secretary of Al-Madinah Mosque, Shahzad Raja, has taken his family to the mosque for more than 12 years and said the expansion would serve the growing population.

“We want to cater to the demand of our growing Muslim community and to say our prayers but we need a proper space,” he said.

Inside the cottage of the Al-Madinah Mosque.

The cottage of the Al-Madinah Mosque in Leppington.

“We’ve been facing this challenge for years … the current cottage doesn’t even have a kitchen or storage, there is nothing there.”

Mr Raja said the site couldn't keep up with the growing attendees – especially during wet weather seasons.

The mosque will take about five years to build.

“Friday is a significant day of prayer for us and we have between 200 to 300 people coming so we do two sessions of prayers,” he said.

“When we get more than 50 people, we have to put plastic sheets out on the pergola and try to squeeze in because we don’t have enough space … it’s very stressful.”

Mr Raja said the mosque would be funded by the community and cater for current and future generations.

“All we are trying to do is get an established facility where everyone including our children, elderly and women can go and pray,” he said.

The proposal includes the demolition of the existing dwelling and construction of a three-storey mosque and associated facilities, basement and at-grade carparking and landscaping.

Pending approval, construction would take about five years and the ground floor will include a men’s praying area for 300 people, a wash area, kitchen, office and caretakers accommodation.

The second floor will have a dedicated women’s prayer area for 100 people, a women’s counselling room, teaching rooms and a library to “read and research books on Islamic teachings”.

The mosque will operate seven days a week from 5am to 11pm and host five 30 minute prayer times per day – with times varying throughout the year, based on the hours the sun rises and sets.

The main prayer time is the midday prayer held every Friday, which is for a duration of two hours from 12:30pm to 2:30pm.

A total of 83 carparking spaces and 29 overflow parking spaces for special events will be provided.