Bendigo mosque ‘to attract more Muslim worshippers’ as population grows

A MOSQUE in Bendigo was being built solely to attract more Muslims to the city as there were currently only 35 Islamic worshippers in the area, a tribunal has been told. Lawyer Robert Balzola, representing opponents of the plan, made the claim as he grilled Colleen Peterson, a planning consultant, during the controversial case before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Under cross examination, Ms Peterson confirmed that Bendigo currently had a relatively small number of practising Muslim worshippers, namely about 35. The new mosque would cater for up to 375.

Mr Barzola said a double domed, two hectare facility with mooted expansion was not meeting demand but creating demand, an accusation Ms Peterson denied. “What it is doing is looking forward to future demand in Bendigo and I think it is entirely appropriate that facilities be constructed looking forward to future population growth,” Ms Peterson said. With the state’s population tipped to touch 10 million by 2051, Ms Peterson said it was important that the needs of multicultural communities were met in regional hubs such as Bendigo.

The “Stop the Mosque in Bendigo” campaigners have a FB page and I read their newsfeeds. Excerpt from a report there by them on the stellar performance of their lawyer in a court where they are challenging the Council rubberstamping of said mosque [I suspect they are taking a leaf out of Gavin Boby’s book  – all hail the ‘mosque busters’]

“My report from VCAT today:?What a day we had today…you shoulda been there, it was so uplifting.?

“Thankyou to all the QSociety guys that turned up to support us,

“Thankyou to Ernie, Peter, Melinda, Kaylene, Nick, Dale, and a few others (can’t remember your names sorry) But my biggest thanks go to Julie Hoskin, my God what a mammoth investigative job you’ve done.

“Without you, we would’ve had nothing to go on.

“If you hadn’t of [sic: have] spent the untold hours in the initial searching for the astounding anomalies & corruption found by you, none of us would’ve been any the wiser. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have achieved. I also thank the others that have contributed to the refining and collating of this evidence. Glen, Shannon, Andrew..Well done for your hours of input, very much appreciated.

“But the STAR of the day goes to ROBERT BALZOLA, our barrister extraordinaire. You are a legend mate, you wiped the opposition off the floor

So damn good to witness, it was a sight to behold and you made us proud, so thankyou xx?

“You left the best till last, which was pointing out that the original applicants were from Jemaah Islamiah (a banned terrorist organisation in Australia and beyond,

“The Bali Bombers in fact) have the same ABN number as the Applicants for the Bendigo Mosque…  

“AIM.. Australian Islamic Mission.? 

“This same mob are connected to the Maidstone Mosque (Vic), plus the Punchbowl/Lakemba Mosque (NSW)? 

“We now have a 2-3 month wait for a decision whether this Application gets passed or not.?

“Either way we are buoyed like no other time. Maximum effect will be taking place regardless.

“A great big group hug was had by all. xxxx”.  (It’s nice to hear this!)