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A controversial mosque planned for Currumbin has been rejected by Gold Coast City councillors in a 9 to 6 vote

A PROPOSED Currumbin mosque has been rejected amidst councillor back flips and rowdy protest scenes at council chambers this morning.

Andrew Potts and amp; PAUL WESTON
5 min read
September 16, 2014 - 11:59AM
Gold Coast Bulletin

12.35PM: GOLD Coast City Councillors have rejected a controversial mosque proposed for Currumbin Waters.

Councillors voted nine to six to scrap the application that had received a record number of objections in the lead up to today’s vote.

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Currumbin-based city councillor Chris Robbins asked colleagues to refuse the mosque at today’s full council meeting.

After a division was called, the vote was nine councillors in support of Cr Robbins and six councillors against.

Those against her motion (and in support of the mosque) were Dawn Crichlow, Glenn Tozer, William Owen-Jones, Margaret Grummitt and Lex Bell.

Those supporting her included Mayor Tom Tate and Deputy Mayor Donna Gates.

Residents have wildly celebrated the “win” outside the chamber, their cheers heard inside as councillors considered other planning matters.

Cr Gates and Burleigh-based councillor Greg Betts spoke early to support the motion to refuse the application.

They were cheered by residents in a packed gallery.

Many councillors who had publicly supported the mosque back-flipped and voted against it.

Both councillors Glenn Tozer and William Owen-Jones were unable to support Cr Robbins, given legal advice which suggested council would face an appeal from the mosque applicants.

11.45AM: THE fate of a controversial Currumbin mosque will be debated in open session after councillors spent about an hour behind closed doors.

Protesters outside the council chambers with placards against the proposed mosque
Protesters outside the council chambers with placards against the proposed mosque

Councillors voted to move into closed session minutes into the full council meeting to discuss legal ramifications of the mosque decision.

They have now moved into open session and it is expected that the remaining debate and vote will happen in front of media and dozens of locals in the public gallery.

Protesters have began to gather outside the council chambers with placards against the proposed mosque.

10.30AM: GOLD Coast councillors are going into closed session before they start a debate which will determine if the Currumbin mosque is approved.

Mayor Tom Tate brought the controversial planning matter forward on this morning’s full council agenda so police and extra security could leave the precinct.

Currumbin-based councillor Chris Robbins, who opposes the mosque, was about to put forward a motion on the development when senior city councillor Lex Bell asked colleagues to consider a legal matter.

Protesters gather at the Gold Coast Council Chambers last week. Photo: Kit Wise
Protesters gather at the Gold Coast Council Chambers last week. Photo: Kit Wise

Cr Bell said “certain information has come to my attention” just prior to the meeting, and he apologised but asked that council go into closed session to discuss it.

Helensvale-based councillor William Owen-Jones abstained from the vote to go into closed, and it was opposed by Mudgeeraba-based councillor Glenn Tozer.

The rest of the councillors supported the motion forcing residents to leave the gallery along with a packed media contingent.

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Cr Bell said “certain information has come to my attention” just prior to the meeting, and he apologised but asked that council go into closed session to discuss it.

Helensvale-based councillor William Owen-Jones abstained from the vote to go into closed, and it was opposed by Mudgeeraba-based councillor Glenn Tozer.

The rest of the councillors supported the motion forcing residents to leave the gallery along with a packed media contingent.

Several police officers are standing guard inside and around the council chambers in response to a large crowd of protesters.

Some residents have been unable to obtain seats and are standing inside the chamber listening to the debate through the open doors.

The development application has sparked unprecedented public interest with the car park full at Evandale today.

Despite the large numbers of residents arriving to watch the debate, police and security remain confident today’s meeting will proceed without incident.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said he does not want current military issues to spark prejudice in Australia.

9.30AM: EXTRA security will be on hand at the Gold Coast City Council chambers this morning as councillors debate the fate of a controversial Currumbin mosque.

As the development application saga comes to its final chapter it has been revealed that the area councillor was forced to evacuate her office in the lead up to this vote.

A sign announcing the public to have a say about the proposed Mosque along the corner of Villers Drive and Coghill Drive in Currumbin Waters, Gold Coast.
A sign announcing the public to have a say about the proposed Mosque along the corner of Villers Drive and Coghill Drive in Currumbin Waters, Gold Coast.

Currumbin-based councillor Chris Robbins said a removed Facebook page “Stop the Mosque at Currumbin” had included comments like “Cr Chris Robbins hates Australians, she loves Muslims, she takes their money, because she takes their money she is a traitor”.

The Bulletin became aware of the ugly comments several weeks but chose not to publish the offensive remarks from the Facebook page or publicise that Cr Robbins was forced to post a security officer outside her office.

“There were just horrific statements. It was really nasty,” she said.

Advertising for the ‘place of worship” in Villiers Drive sparked 3867 submissions and eight petitions containing 5511 signatures, but gained the tick of approval from council planning officers who requested that certain conditions should be met by the operators.

Councillors at the recent planning committee voted 5-2 to approve the development adding the condition of a later start at 7am.

Mayor Tom Tate is expected to oppose the mosque at full council today with colleagues suggesting the vote is on a knife edge.

The shed situated along the corner of Villers Drive and Coghill Drive in Currumbin Waters which is proposed to be converted to a Mosque, Gold Coast.
The shed situated along the corner of Villers Drive and Coghill Drive in Currumbin Waters which is proposed to be converted to a Mosque, Gold Coast.

EARLIER: MAYOR Tom Tate is set to vote to reject the controversial Currumbin mosque, leaving its fate in the hands of his deputy.

City leaders will again debate the divisive development proposal today, and Cr Tate has told colleagues he is likely throw his support behind area councillor Chris Robbins.

Coomera councillor and Deputy Mayor Donna Gates voted to approve the place of worship last week but has reserved her decision until she has participated in debate and today’s full council meeting.

Cr Gates yesterday told the Bulletin she would make her decision after hearing the arguments made by her colleagues at what is expected to be a fiery meeting at the Evandale council chambers.

Imam Imraan Husain says the new mosque would help share the load of the city’s growing Muslim population. Photo by Richard Gosling
Imam Imraan Husain says the new mosque would help share the load of the city’s growing Muslim population. Photo by Richard Gosling

The application, made by Salsabil Charitable Organisation Pty Ltd, has divided the community and sparked a wave of anti-Islamic sentiment in the community, disgusting city leaders.

However, Burleigh councillor Greg Betts has warned the council could find itself on the losing end of a costly legal battle if it rejects the mosque.

“If the Council decides to refuse the application, it will probably not be on town planning grounds,” he said.

“The applicant will appeal the refusal decision through the courts and we will end up with the politics removed from the process and a result based completely on the state planning law.

“This means the applicants will probably get everything they were seeking to have.”

More than 5000 objections were made against the mosque were made to the council earlier this year.

Residents opposing it will attend today’s meeting.

A spokeswoman for the Currumbin Residents & Light Industry Safety Committee said the group remained hopeful the project would be rejected.

“Our community submitted a record amount of objections and it appears that their concerns have not been address at all,” she said.

“We have received much concern over the objection not being available online which has never happened before.

“This is now setting a precedent for all future Development Application under the Gold Coast Council.

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/a-controversial-mosque-planned-for-currumbin-has-been-rejected-by-gold-coast-city-councillors-in-a-9-to-6-vote/news-story/7b701c5e20134f7b9ba8234292330e74