Botany Road, Carlton: Mosque approved replacing old nursing home after council refused plans

The new mosque is set to provide a place of public worship for the Hurstville Muslim community after it was given the green light. Read why the Georges River Council refused the original plans.

A former nursing home in Carlton will be transformed into a mosque after the Land and Environment Court approved a development application.

The Hurstville Community Centre successfully took Georges River Council to court after the proposal was refused in December 2021.

The centre wants to change a closed nursing home into a place of public worship with community meeting rooms at 88-92 Botany Road, Carlton.

The proposal includes demolition works, alterations to an existing building, carparking and landscaping.

The developer said the mosque will provide a place of public worship for the Hurstville Muslim community to undertake religious practices and participate in community activities.

A former nursing home will be changed into a place of public worship with community meeting rooms at 88-92 Botany Road, Carlton. Picture: Architect Fuse

“The Muslim residents of the St George and Hurstville region have had a presence in the area since the 1950s,” the plan of management said.

“Over the years, the Muslim community has grown and now make up a significant portion of the local population.

“The place of public worship provides the community with a place to come together; where Muslims of all ages can partake in various community-based activities; from prayer to youth activities; from consulting to counselling, and education.

“It is important to note that the type of activities permitted in the place of public worship will be strictly limited.

“No functions, such as weddings and funerals, will be conducted on the premises.”

The development will combine four lots that currently house a nursing home, and dwelling and garage.

The proposed alterations include internal works to create new prayer, community and administrative rooms with a small residential apartment and facilities.

The new mosque will provide a place of public worship for the Hurstville Muslim community to undertake religious practices and participate in community activities. Picture: Google Maps

The site is located directly across the road from Sydney Technical High School and it is within walking distance from train stations.

Under the proposal there will be 27 parking spots onsite, which can be accessed from Botany Road.

“The proposal requires all worshippers to register for onsite carparking and prayer sessions; identifies specific limits on the number of worshippers for all prayer events and community events,” the plan of management said.

“It requires worshippers and visitors to the site to be electronically counted and the data be made available to the council on request.”

Twelve people or groups objected to the proposal with the court hearing they were concerned about a loss of privacy for surrounding houses, increased noise, more activity in the residential neighbourhood and that it was an “overdevelopment” of the site.

Objectors also said the development was “inconsistent” with the low-density character of the neighbourhood, the site was unsuitable for development, not enough carparking spaces are available and cars would cause congestion especially at major events and Ramadan, and prayer sessions clashed with sport afternoons and school pick up.

A protest of the development was held during a site inspection. The mosque can be open and operate between 9:30am and 9:55pm, every day of the year, with site accommodation used only by the Imam.

On Monday, the Land and Environment Court commissioner approved the development application, subject to consent conditions.

“I accept the experts’ analysis and agreement that the amended application has successfully addressed the contentions raised by the council … and the relevant concerns raised by the objectors,” the commissioner said.

“I accept the agreement of the traffic experts that 27 carparking spaces onsite, including two tandem spaces for staff, is sufficient and that further carparking spaces are available for worshippers and visitors on Botany Road.”