Sydney Murugan Hindu Temple, Mays Hill, has plan for dining hall

Plans to expand a western Sydney Hindu temple have been given the green light after concerns over structural safety, design and the breach of building codes.

A 100-person dining hall proposed for the Sydney Murugan Temple at the Great Western Highway in Mays Hill has been given the green light after it attracted several objections.

A recent plan to see the lower ground storage area converted into a dining hall for volunteers and worshippers at the temple drew criticism.

In September 2017, a plan to demolish part of the existing temple and construct a three-storey community facility over a three-level, 197-space basement carpark, a driveway off Belinda Place as well as an auditorium for up to 800 patrons an multi-purpose halls was approved by the Sydney West Central Planning Panel.

After Cumberland Council fielded community feedback for the dining hall over April and May, 16 submissions from neighbouring properties were received.

An aerial view of the Sydney Murugan Temple at Mays Hill.

“The application is referred to the Cumberland Local Planning Panel for determination as the matter is considered to be contentious,’’ a council report said.

The site is flanked by houses and, under zoning changes, more units are springing up.

Concerns included the storage area-turned dining hall would be non-habitable and its 2.4m height failing to comply with building codes, but a council report said would be addressed in the Construction Certificate application.

Sydney Murugan Temple wants to convert a storage area into a dining hall.

Other objections included the proposed design being out of harmony with the existing temple and the dining hall being too small.

More feedback raised concerns about safety and structural concerns following unauthorised demolition of the storage space hall wall. The report said a certificate of structural adequacy would be required and signed by a qualified engineer as part of the construction certificate application.

On July 14, the matter was deferred so the panel could find out more information such as confirming that it could comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

On July 28, the planning panel approved the dining room to be used for a maximum of 100 patrons, and no more than 275 people can be at the temple at one time.

The panel decision said: "As a result of the conditions imposed by the panel the re-allocation of internal space to the dining hall will not result in any increase in the maximum number of people approved to use the premises.

"The proposal, subject to the conditions imposed, will not result in any acceptable impacts on neighbouring properties or the surrounding area.''

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