We don’t think [the mosque] should be allowed under the zoning because it’s not keeping with rural capabilities.
- Buchanan Rural Residents Group spokeswoman.
A group of about 80 Buchanan residents say they want to protect the rural character of their town from the possible effects of a proposed mosque.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Cessnock City Council put plans for the Buchanan Road Muslim place of worship and cemetery on public exhibition on Wednesday.
Council will accept public submissions until April 27, after which it will make a decision about whether to let the development go ahead on the rural-zoned land.
A spokeswoman for the Buchanan Rural Residents Group, who asked not to be named, said the group was focused on planning issues.
“The group are fair-minded, generous people who remain apprehensive that their concerns will be lost in what appears to have become a debate about beliefs rather than planning,” she said.
“There is a fundamental concern by our local population that this proposed development, or any other of a similar nature, like petrol stations, fast food outlets or wedding facilities, do not keep with the rural character and environmental aspect of this region.
“We do not believe this [development application] supports the local residents of Buchanan, Black Hill, Mulbring, Kurri [Kurri] or Cessnock.”
The group has enlisted the help of a professional town planner to go through the proposal before it submits feedback to council.
“We don’t think it should be allowed under the zoning because it’s not keeping with rural capabilities,” the spokeswoman said.
“It’s not primary industry and it’s a facility that’s going to bring an inordinate amount of people compared to resident numbers.”
The group is also concerned that residents will face negative impacts from a facility designed for people who live in other communities.
They say data shows about one per cent of the Cessnock Local Government area identifies as Muslim.
“It has zero purpose for the actual [Buchanan] residents,” the spokeswoman said.
Newcastle Muslim Association lodged the proposal with council earlier this month.
Association spokeswoman Diana Rah told Fairfax Media at the time that the plans had been amended in response to community feedback and concerns from nearby residents.
About 200 people would use the facility on Fridays for weekly prayers, according to previous reports, but the association believes it would attract smaller attendances at other times.
