Changes to mosque proposal

DEVELOPERS behind controversial plans to build a mosque at Worongary have filed changes for their project.

The Alkira Way project, approved in 2012 following a long legal battle, would be slightly larger under the amended plans, which proposed increasing its floorspace by 57 sqm to 359 sqm but not its capacity for 40 worshippers.

The Islamic Multicultural Association, the developers behind the project, have also asked council to lower or remove a $90,000 financial contribution to fund the upgrade of Alkira Way and Hinkler Drive and defer the paving of driveways for a year.

The Worongary mosque led to the council receiving a record 1600-signature petition and 539 objections when the plan was first considered by the Gold Coast City Council in December 2010.

Police were later called to remove a pig’s head posted on a fence and opponents splashed the word’s “terrorists” and “go back to Afghanistan” across signs on the rural property’s fences. A decision is expected later this month.