Prayer room knockback

Council rejects Islamic group’s expansion plans

THE Gold Coast City Council has rejected plans from a mosque to more than double the size of an Islamic prayer room.

The refusal does not mean the end of the controversial bid to expand the Worongary site from 40 worshippers to 200, as the final decision rests with the Planning and Environment Court.

Almost 700 submissions were made against the Alkira Way proposal. The major concerns revolved around traffic issues, parking and noise.

The refusal has been welcomed by Worongary Residents Group spokesman Sean Mann, who said the opposition to the proposal had nothing to do with religion.

“We would have the same objections if it was a 24-hour McDonald’s going there,” said Mr Mann, who lives across the road from the prayer room.

“We are happy with the outcome but it’s only a step. It’s going to end up in court anyway.”

The group’s concerns included the proposal to not seal the carpark, wanting to reduce their $90,000 contribution to road upgrades and the expansion. Aside from the planning battle, Mr Mann said both residents and the mosque had a friendly relationship.

The decision by the council’s Planning Committee to refuse the project comes after a show-cause notice was issued to Islamic Multicultural Society for starting works without building approval.

“Council will be fully following through on our showcause notice,” Planning Committee chairman Cameron Caldwell said.

Failure to comply with the show-cause notice could entail a fine or require the building to be demolished in order to comply with the development approval.

The proposal to expand the prayer room has been controversial, with a heated public meeting in June against the larger room.

The matter may be out of the council’s hands with the courts to have the final say because the approval in 2012 was given by the courts.

Documents to have the expansion assessed by the courts are expected to be filed within the next few weeks.

The council's notice of refusal will be considered when the court makes its decision.