An Islamic school’s plans to create a master planned hub in Brisbane’s south west has sparked fiery debate, including accusations of ‘racial undertones’, between the city’s leaders.
The Australian International Islamic College (AIIC) at Durack has submitted a development application to Brisbane City Council and proposed a child care centre, mosque, multi-storey residential building, shops, medical centre and aged care facility be built on the school’s site at 724 Blunder Road.
During question time at Tuesday’s council meeting Councillor Steve Griffiths (Moorooka) asked Lord Mayor Graham Quirk if he supported the proposed development.
The development received more than 15 submissions from residents during the community consultation stage of this application with a majority opposing the development.
Concerns raised included the general proposed use of the site as well as associated noise, building height and traffic congestion.
“Other colleges do not build places of worship on their grounds and this one must not be allowed to do so,” Blunder Road resident Kevin Franklin said in his submission to the council.
“Our lives must not be allowed to be ruined for the sake of a commercial enterprise of a small minority group,” Mr Franklin wrote.
Cr Quirk said to the chamber that in order to give a proper response to Cr Griffith’s question he needed to look at the history of the site.
“A lot of what is being applied for today was already cast by way of an approval to material change of use on that site by David Hinchliffe as Labor leader and planning chairman in 2006,” Cr Quirk said.
“Most recent times council received an impact assessable application on behalf of the Islamic college.”
Cr Quirk said the application that proposed the facilities including the mosque and residential building would be assessed by council officers.
Later in question time Cr Griffiths again asked Cr Quirk about the proposed development.
“Will you commit to bringing this application to full council for debate and be transparent with the community of Brisbane about your support for this application,” he said.
Cr Quirk said he didn’t know what Cr Griffiths was pursuing with his multiple questions on the same topic and said he hoped there were no racial tones to his questions.
“I certainly hope it doesn’t have racist overtones, I would hope not,” Cr Quirk said.
“We make assessments in relation to applications in the proper way and I’m not going to be drawn today by Councillor Griffiths smartly and politically motivated attempts at racism in this chamber.”
Cr Griffiths and independent councillor Nicole Johnston (Tennyson) were quick to raise to their feet and call a point of order in the chamber and requested that Cr Quirk withdraw his comments as they believed they were racist.
Cr Quirk said if there was any offence taken he was quite happy to withdraw whatever offence might be taken.
“But I can’t help but think what is driving this questioning today from Councillor Griffiths I wonder if there was any sort of other application what sort of questioning we would be getting today,” he said.
Cr Quirk said all resident submissions and a petition subsequently received surrounding this development would be taken into account by council’s planning officers.
Australian International Islamic College was contacted for comment.