Campbelltown Council, Australian Muslim Welfare Centre Minto in dispute over crowd numbers after resident complaints

A group of Sydney Muslims have been banned from praying in large numbers after an investigation from a local council uncovered the use of a community centre as a place of worship.

The council has issued a development control order on the site.

A group of Sydney Muslims have been banned from praying in large numbers after an investigation from a local council uncovered the use of a community centre as a place of worship.

Members of the Australian Muslim Welfare Centre in Minto are speaking out over a Campbelltown Council decision to impose an official order prohibiting the cultural centre from allegedly being used as a place of public worship.

The order was in response to resident complaints and a council investigation which alleges the site’s permitted use as community facility is “continually” being breached.

The centre was approved for use as a ‘community centre’ with a capacity of 150 people however the council claims the site is being used as ‘place of public worship’ due to large numbers of people congregating above permitted capacity limits.

The gatherings are understood to typically occur during congregational worships on Fridays.

The Australian Muslim Welfare Centre is based in Minto. Picture: Facebook.

The council’s order claims inspectors had observed instances of up to 300 people gathering at the site for the purpose of prayers with about 200 vehicles parked onsite and in adjacent residential streets.

Anisul Afsar, the president of the welfare centre, refuted claims the centre had become a place of public worship and claims the council was “targeting” the centre.

“We have more than 1500 members who are all Muslims and they come to the centre for classes, sport activities, counselling services and other events,” he said.

“If you’re a practising Muslim it’s your obligation to pray five times a day, so at prayer time people pray wherever they may be but that doesn’t mean we’re operating as a place of public worship. We’re not a mosque, we don’t have preaching, we’re a community centre.

“If you go to any other community centre in Sydney, at prayer time there’s a mat or cloth and we stand or pray. This should not be misconstrued as an indication that the property is a place of public worship.”

Campbelltown Council’s director of city planning and environment Jim Baldwin said the development control order was issued after complaints were raised residents.

Mr Baldwin said the conditions of consent stipulate the centre must adhere to a capacity of 50 people for regular activities, which can be extended to 150 people for “special occasions” up to 12 times per year.

A copy of the council order.

“(The council investigation) found that the site’s development consent for use as a community facility had continuously been breached and the site was not being used in accordance with its development consent,” Mr Baldwin said in a statement.

The council’s order – which enables inspectors to issue fines for breaches of consent – was originally due to come into force in August but has been extended to December this year.

Mr Baldwin said the extension would “allow the centre additional time to rectify” alleged breaches of how the centre is being used.

Mr Afsar insists the centre already abides by the planning controls – including by “shutting the centre’s gates” during Friday prayer periods once the centre’s capacity limits have been reached.

He said the order – if enforced – would have major implications for the growing numbers of Muslim community members who attend the centre.

Latest Census data shows the Muslim population in Minto more than doubled over the last decade from 1451 people to 3106.

“If you look at the demographics, our Muslim population is increasing and we only have one mosque in the entire area,” Mr Afsar said. “If we have classes and community events and are not allowed to pray, what do we do? People will have to leave or go home to pray.

“We’re saying it’s unjust and in our view the council is targeting us.”

The welfare centre has started a petition opposing the order which has already been signed by more than 4400 people.

The centre has also filed a Land and Environment challenge against the council order. It is understood the court has granted a ‘stay’ on the proceedings, allowing further court hearings to be deferred until the council’s enforcement deadline of December.

The centre – which has operated for the last five years – also runs programs including social gatherings, commemoration programs, youth-focused events and charity fundraisers.