More than 300 people attended a Penrith Council meeting on Monday night that voted to uphold its decision to allow an Islamic community centre to be built in Kemps Creek.
Residents and observers filled Penrith Civic Centre, while people stood outside protesting and chanting messages for and against the development.
The extraordinary meeting was called by outspoken independent Liberal councillor Marcus Cornish, who has campaigned against Muslim developments in the area. In late November, council voted eight to five on a recommendation to approve an application for the two-storey, 600 square metre community centre. Cr Cornish hoped to overturn that decision on Monday night, but his motion was defeated with only three other councillors supporting him.
He opposed the community centre which he claims would operate as a mosque and would threaten the region. "[Losing] the Penrith way of life is our main concern - we don’t want that to change,” Cr Cornish said. “Penrith is probably the last bastion of the Australian way of life.”
Abbas Raza Alvi, secretary of the Muhammadi Welfare Association which is building the centre, said the proposal was clear. “We are not building any mosque there,” Mr Alvi said. “This project is only a community centre.”
Mr Alvi said the centre does not meet the strict requirements for a mosque, which do not allow food to be served and must hold prayer sessions five times a day.
Penrith mayor Ross Fowler said the application had broad support within the council. “The development application meets all criteria, all necessary rules and regulations,” Cr Fowler said.
The proposal underwent significant community consultation and the decision was now final, he said. “I am personally in support of the rule of law … There’s no reason why the council could legitimately refuse the application.”
Last night’s protest attracted a number of different groups, including the Australian Defence League and Antifa, an anti-fascist group.
Greens councillor Michelle Tormey, who voted to support the centre, said she was physically intimidated by some anti-Islam protesters when she tried to talk to them before the meeting, with one threatening to stab her in the stomach. “Last night the anger and hate was just really, really strong, confronting and intimidating,” Cr Tormey said. “They were really quite nasty.”
Cr Cornish said Penrith’s residents were from all over the world and “everyone lives harmoniously”. “We do not want radicals - and that goes for any culture,” he said.
Mr Alvi said the centre will be open to anyone who wants to visit, regardless of religious persuasion, as long as they observe certain guidelines such as not wearing shoes and not smoking. “We really want to communicate to them a message of love,” he said. “We serve food inside our community centre for [all] community members.”
However Cr Cornish said he would decline the invitation because he refused to support any Islamic organisation.
A separate application for Penrith’s first mosque was approved by the council in late October, while there are more than 40 Christian churches in the area, Cr Cornish said.
The hashtag #PenrithCouncil was trending on Twitter in Sydney on Monday night as people weighed into the debate.