Parking sinks mosque plan

Parking sinks mosque plan
By Cameron Weston , The Williamstown, Altona, Laverton STAR
21st March 2006
http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/11748


HOBSONS Bay City Council has rejected an application to build a mosque and community centre in Altona Meadows because of insufficient car parking space.

The council approved the land use and the design of the building, but rejected the application on the grounds that the 24 car spaces proposed were insufficient and would disrupt the local community.

The mosque was to be built on vacant land in Central Ave near Lush and Tomkin courts between the Anglican and Uniting churches.Faud Abdin from the Australian Islamic Mission (AIM), the group seeking to build the mosque, said the group had 60 days to challenge the decision.

When asked if a challenge was likely, Mr Abdin said, “all options are available,” but would not comment further.

Hobsons Bay mayor Carl Marsich said the council supported the concept of the mosque but did not want to obstruct local parking.

Cr Marsich said the council “recognised the valuable role places of worship and community centres play in strengthening our community”, but said the impact on adjacent streets “would be at an unacceptable level”.

The planning application for the mosque sought a reduction in the number of car spaces required under the Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme, in addition to approval for building construction.

Under the planning scheme places of assembly, such a church or mosque, “generate(s) a car parking requirement of 0.3 car spaces to each seat or to each square metre of net floor area”.

Based on the dimensions of prayer space in the proposed mosque – about 280 square metres – and the anticipated numbers of worshippers, the report concluded there was “a significant shortfall in the provision of off-street car parking”.

The council had considered limiting numbers of worshippers and enforcing parking restrictions, but said it did not want “to be put in a situation of having to say to worshippers they cannot worship”.

A petition organised by local citizens’ group Hobsons Bay Community First (HBCF) and signed by more than 70 local people was a “significant factor” in the council’s decision, according to the planning report.

Tony Briffa from HBCF said community resistance to the proposed mosque was based purely on parking concerns.

“We supported a place of worship in our local area … particularly a mosque,” he said.

“It certainly wasn’t anything against any race or religion.

“I would like to see their (AIM’s) wishes and aspirations come to fruition.

“It’s all about the magnitude of the development. It was quite clearly an overdevelopment of the site.”

Mr Briffa criticised the council for not using its Mosque Liaison Committee in the planning stages of the development, saying the level of community consultation over the proposed mosque was inadequate.

Mary Anne Lindsay - The ALP Stooge

I am amazed Cr Mary Anne Lindsay continues to mislead residents by claiming to be an independent Councillor even though it has now been revealed she has not only been a member of the ALP for years, but the ALP is also funding her alleged legal costs.

These are the simple facts:
1. The Magistrate hearing the case against Cr Lindsay found there was insufficient evidence to determine whether or not Cr Lindsay was an ALP stooge. This is not the same as a determination that Cr Lindsay was not a stooge. In fact, the ALP fundraising event for Cr Lindsay supports the case against her.

2. Although the local ALP faction president claims Cr Lindsay is one of the most outstanding councillors we have, Cr Lindsay missed more council meetings than any other Councillor last year. She also sits on the fewest number of council committees in comparison with other councillors.

3. The Local Government Act 1989 only allows 14 days for parties to lodge appeals against the Magistrates' Court decisions in Municipal Electoral Tribunals. Hence, it is too late for both HBCF and Cr Lindsay to appeal the decision.

Cr Lindsay’s election and the use of other stooge candidates ensured the ALP regained control of the council, which led to last year’s massive rate increase (8.9%). Consequently, we’re all paying the price for Cr Lindsay’s election. If the ALP faction want to raise money for a worthy cause, they should start by helping the ratepayers of Hobsons Bay.

Tony Briffa
Convenor, Hobsons Bay Community First

ALP continue to support their STOOGE

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release - 15 March 2006


ALP's Special Fundraiser for their Stooge

"The revelation that the local Labor branch recently conducted a fundraiser for Cr. Mary Anne Lindsay supports the case against her in the Magistrates' Court last year", Tony Briffa, Convenor of Hobsons Bay Community First said. "Mary Anne Lindsay undoubtedly deceived and misled voters at the council election by claiming to be an independent candidate, although she really is an ALP stooge. Consequently, I will write to the Local Government Minister seeking an investigation into this matter on behalf of the applicant in the case; HBCF-supported independent candidate Mr Allsop."

"Cr. Lindsay was put up as a stooge candidate in the council election by the Labor branch to direct independent votes to the preferred Labor candidate. She continues to falsely claim she is an independent councillor despite the fact she is a long-standing member of the Labor Party, works as a Union official, is the domestic partner of a Labor Councillor, and is financially supported by Labor."

"The Labor Party would not provide financial and political support to Cr. Lindsay unless they were getting something back in return. The most obvious is the crucial 4th vote in the council chamber resulting in the Labor Party retaining control of the council. This is why her domestic partner and ALP colleague is the Mayor this year, and why Renee Caruana, another Labor Councillor, was Mayor last year. This is also why rates increased an incredible 8.9% last year."

Last year the Magistrates' Court heard that if only 67 voters were deceived and voted for Mary Anne Lindsay thinking she was an independent candidate, she would not have been elected. Despite the best efforts of Noel Allsop and HBCF, Her Honour Caitlin English determined that she had no doubt in the existence of the strategy in running dummy candidates, but that we did not have sufficient evidence to prove our case against Cr. Lindsay. (see notes below)

"This is significantly different from the Magistrate determining that Cr. Lindsay was innocent." Tony Briffa said. "The ALP also stood other stooges at the election which assisted in the election of Bill Baarini, Renee Caruana, and Carl Marsich."

"It's a pity HBCF wasn't aware of Labor Party fundraising efforts for Cr. Lindsay earlier. We only had 14 days to lodge an appeal so that has unfortunately expired. Nonetheless, Cr. Lindsay's position as a Councillor is completely untenable, and HBCF is calling for her immediate resignation."

"Significantly, the Magistrate also determined that as the case was genuine and not frivolous or vexatious, each party was to pay for their own legal costs. As Cr. Lindsay had two ALP solicitors representing her, I would be surprised if they sent her an invoice. Then again, her ratepayer-paid allowance of $18,000 per annum plus childcare and other expenses should be enough financial support without having to rely on funding from the Labor Party."

"Cr. Lindsay misled residents during the election, and she continues to mislead and deceive them", Noel Allsop, the HBCF-supported independent candidate for Altona North Ward said. "She has been supported by the Labor Party all along, and is not an independent. Why would the Labor Party hold fundraisers for an Independent Councillor? What do they want in return? More importantly, why would an Independent Councillor accept funds from the Labor Party?"

"Besides, Mary Anne Lindsay didn't have any election costs. She admitted in court that she was surprised to get elected as she didn't distribute any election material to residents, had no posters, no brochures and no policy launches." Noel Allsop said.




NOTES:

Her Honour, Magistrate Caitlin English, stated the following in her judgement dated 4 October 2005 in the case of Allsop V Lindsay:

"I have no doubt in the existence of the strategy of running dummy candidates, but there is insufficient evidence for Altona North ward for Mr Allsop to discharge the onus of proof, in the absence of direct evidence and Ms Lindsay's denials."