By Ewen McRae
Melton council has knocked back an application for a Sikh temple in Melton South following concerns about the location.
The proposed temple was to be built on a five-hectare site on Holden Road, Melton South, and was planned as an off-shoot of a larger temple in Craigieburn.
The temple would have had a capacity of 50 people, as well as a small home on the site.
The proposed site of the temple is an area considered a Green Wedge Zone. An officers’ report noted that any development of the land had to be consistent with the planning scheme.
“A place of worship is an urban use,” the report stated.
“The Melton Planning Scheme places a strong emphasis on protecting and avoiding the permanent loss of agricultural land, protecting the green wedge areas from inappropriate development, preserving the integrity of the non-urban character of the green wedge land and discouraging urban-based uses in non-urban areas.”
Cr Ken Hardy said that while he was supportive of freedom of religion in the municipality, the location was not appropriate and went against established council policies.
“I think all councillors are sympathetic to all religious groups having freedom of speech and freedom of religion,” he said.
“We go to great lengths in this community because we are multicutural and we are inclusive.
“The issue here is we do have a policy in front of us called Green Wedge. We have a policy on farmland that is well-established here. This is not going to change.
“Everybody should, when they do set up a religious building, please come to the council and we will assist in any way we can to ensure you can establish your culture or your religious group in Melton, but we do not have the right to alter those policy settings.”
While some councillors wished to defer a decision on the planning application in order to consult further with the applicant, the application was eventually denied by four votes to three.
