Racism 'not behind Islamic school knock-back'

A south-west Sydney council has denied suggestions religious intolerance was
behind its rejection of a controversial plan to build an Islamic school.

About 200 residents cheered and applauded last night, when the Camden Council voted unanimously against the Quranic Society's development application for a 1,200-student Islamic school on farmland in the town's outskirts.

The proposal had divided the community and sparked fierce opposition from locals. Some protesters left pigs heads draped in the Australian flag at the site last year.

There were fiery meetings opposing the school. Many people lined up again for the council meeting last night and residents packed the chambers.

The council agreed with a report by council planners that suggested the proposal be rejected because of its effect on the environment and traffic flows.

Outside the meeting, some residents expressed relief there would not be an influx of Muslims in the area, including a woman wearing an akubra hat decorated with Australian flags.

"We just don't want Muslim people in Camden," she said.

"We don't want them not only here, we don't want them in Australia. They're an oppressive society, they're a dictatorship."

Another resident said: "It's not for racist [reasons], just all the crime and stuff that other foreign people bring into the town."

The arguments do not wash with the president of the New South Wales Islamic Council, Ali Roude.

"We have seen a history of reaction from local residents against the establishment of places of worship and schools, so it was not a surprise," he said

"It does not help the image of Australia because we take pride as Australians, as a country that has succeeded and we've set an example to the whole world that we can all live together...

"But that section of the community - I think they have to come to terms with the reality that sooner or later there will be a change."

'No choice but rejection'

But Mayor Chris Patterson says cultural issues were not a consideration.

"Camden Council has not made this issue on religion or multiculturalism. It's made it in relation to planning," he said.

"There were a number of issues from traffic through to contamination through to the Department of Primary Industries through to RTA [Roads and Traffic Association] through to the police - a number of issues that meant that clearly this site would not accommodate a school of any denomination for 1,200 students and 120 staff."

A spokesman for the Camden McArthur Residents' Group, Emil Tremshevich, says the council had no choice but to reject the plan.

"We read the report," he said. "It was a comprehensive report which knocked it back on all the nine relevant points as outlined by the application. It's fantastic."

The head of the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Board, Stepan Kerkyasharian, says the decision should not be misinterpreted as a victory for prejudice.

"Regrettably, there are people in our society who will exploit opportunities like this to promote their agenda of distrust and of hatred," he said.

"I'm pretty sure the rest of Australia will reject those feelings."

The Quranic Society can resubmit an adjusted application or take matter to the Land and Environment Court.

No supporters of the school addressed yesterday's meeting.