More than a 130 objections have been received by Melton council against the renewal of a planning permit for a mosque in Melton West.
Plans for a mosque at 171-197 Harkness Road have been at the centre of controversy for a number of years, sparking violent clashes between police and protesters in 2015.
A planning permit for the mosque, which was never acted on, expired last year and a new application submitted – but it has yet to go before the council.
Objectors are holding an information meeting on April 3 at the Harkness Road site to discuss their concerns which include hours of operation, traffic, noise and visual impacts.
Council’s planning services manager Bob Baggio said the notice period for the most recent permit application finished last month.
“To date, 137 objections have been received, and council will consider the application – and social impacts – at a future meeting,” Mr Baggio said.
“Notice of the application has recently been completed, with council taking care to notify surrounding landowners and occupiers, as well as displaying a planning notice at the site, and on council’s website.
“The landowners have lodged a new planning application for a Place of Worship, with the specification that no more than 60 people will be present at the site, at any one time.”
Objector Ralf Schumann of the Australian Liberty Alliance is calling for more consultation about the application and an extended notice period.
“For this 100,000 square metre Islamic project, council merely put up a small sign at the property fence and supposedly gave notification to the most immediate neighbours,” he said.
