A retrospective application for a place of worship on Tarneit Road in Hoppers Crossing has been rejected by Wyndham council, with mayor Mia Shaw using her casting vote to knock back the proposal.
Non-profit organisation, JET Australia Foundation, lodged a retrospective planning application for a place of worship at the site on the direction of council’s planning investigations team.
The foundation had been using the site as a place of worship since about April 2022 without a permit, a report to the June 11 Wyndham planning committee meeting stated.
The report stated that the site would accommodate up to 145 patrons and five staff or volunteers at any one time, with operating hours from 8am to 2pm and 4pm to 9pm daily. Up to six special events were also proposed each year, which will allow up to 200 patrons and staff and extended operating hours from 8am to 9pm.
The report also stated that council had received five objections to the permit.
Residents opposing the application addressed the committee meeting, citing concerns about noise from live music, traffic and overflow parking.
Council officers recommended councillors grant a permit because the application was compliant with the Wyndham Planning Scheme and met car parking guidelines.
However, Cr Shannon McGuire put forward a motion to refuse a permit.
Cr McGuire questioned whether the application was “in the right place, on the right scale”.
He said big developments on Tarneit Road were “problematic”.
“If the cap [on attendees] is not followed, we are looking at a consistent pattern of traffic and parking chaos,” he said.
“There is a real risk here to public safety if there are not enough car parks on site.”
Cr Robert Szatkowski supported the application, stating that it wasn’t “too out of the ordinary”.
“It is very obvious in this city that we are struggling in many ways … to find solutions around places of worship,” he said.
“The truth is there are limited appropriate places for this type of place of worship.”
A vote on the application was tied, with Cr Shaw using her casting vote to refuse the permit.
