Melton council has stood by its decision not to grant an Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church (EOTC) a permit to convert a Strathulloh property into a place of worship.
In 2021, the Melton EOTC, whose members currently travel to Tottenham to congregate, purchased a property on Ferris Road for $2.65 million with the intention of using it as a place of worship.
The land sits in a Green Wedge Zone which allows for places of worship to be built on a discretionary basis, decided by the council.
EOTC committee member Endalkachew Aragaw said church leaders were assured in 2021 that securing a permit would pose no significant challenges, which was crucial to their decision to purchase the land.
Mr Aragaw said the decision to knock back the permit had left the congregation deeply disheartened.
The application sought to convert a shed on the property, adding three domes reaching 6.6 metres, adding a 30-space parking area, and a toilet block.
“The strong sense of disappointment is accompanied by a feeling of exclusion from being an integral part of the Melton City Council community,” Mr Aragaw said.
“We believe in the importance of being included and contributing positively to the community. The rejection has created a sense of disconnect and frustration and even feeling discriminated against, as we seek not just to build a place of worship but also to actively participate and contribute to the broader community.”
At a council meeting in October, the council rejected the permit application after then-mayor Lara Carli used her casting vote to reject the permit. Councillors Sophie Ramsey, Goran Kesic and Bob Turner were absent from the meeting.
The council received 194 submissions in support and 79 objections, with the objectors main concerns involving increased noise, traffic and safety concerns, building appearance, residential amenity, inadequate streets and property values
The application was refused due to being in a Green Wedge Zone and not being consistent with the orderly planning of rural residential areas and it would have a ‘detrimental impact on residential amenity’.
Now-mayor Kathy Majdlik said allowing a church in a Green Wedge Zone would set a dangerous precedent, while councillor Goran Kesic said that many of the congregation’s members arrived in Australia as refugees fleeing conflict, and establishing a church in Melton would reflect the resilient and devout nature of the community.
Councillor Steve Abboushi raised a motion to rescind the decision at the November 27 council meeting which was supported by councillors Sophie Ramsey and Goran Kesic.
He said at the October meeting that the council had already set a precedent by approving other places of worship in Green Wedge Zones, and he has a fundamental issue with communities objecting to places of worship in residential zones.
Councillors Abboushi and Ramsay weren’t at the meeting to vote on the motion and neither was councillor Ashleigh Vandenberg, who supported granting a permit at the October meeting.
The recission motion, which was raised before a large crowd of supporters and objectors, was defeated 4-2.
Cr Carli backed council’s original decision saying it has caused so much angst in the community and the recession motion was a “waste of time”.
Mr Aragaw said they intend to take the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
A council spokesperson said that all planning applications are considered on their merits and the officers recommended the application be refused as the proposal in general did not comply with the relevant requirements of the planning scheme.
