Councillors took less than ten minutes to reject the application which planners had recommended for refusal.

It was standing room only in the council gallery on Tuesday night as Louth Park residents gathered to hear the outcome. The applicant Fazal Moughal, was not present at the meeting and declined to comment when contacted by Fairfax Media.

Mayor Cr Peter Blackmore declared an interest in the matter telling the meeting the applicant had donated to his 2012 local government election campaign.

He left the chambers and the meeting was chaired by Deputy Mayor Bob Geoghegan.

Cr Brian Burke moved the recommendation to refuse the development. He said a 50-page report on the matter clearly outlined why the prayer room should not be allowed in that location.

Cr Philip Penfold congratulated members of the Louth Park Residents’ Group.

He said they presented their case in a professional manner. He said the hours of operation for the prayer room were too early for adjoining residents.

“They have no issues with places of worship but if the requirement for starting times is prior to sunrise then that is clearly inappropriate,” he said.

After the decision spokesman for the residents’ group Scott Curline said residents were against the development “purely on planning grounds.”

“That was reflected in the planning report. We have always maintained that every denomination is entitled to a place of public worship but this was just in the wrong place,” he said.

The council report said a place of worship is permissible within the area with the consent of council, however it also states that the development is contrary to the R5 (large lot residential) zone objectives and will adversely impact on the surrounding residential area given the excessive hours of operation from 5am to 7pm seven days a week.