A $3 million mosque has been approved in East Bendigo amid fury from a group of residents who demanded to know what “safety measures” had been taken to prevent a terrorist attack in the regional centre.
The controversial plan was brought to a head on Wednesday night, when councillors voted 6-2 to approve the building on be used for daily prayers, community lectures and weddings.
Vocal protesters, some carrying placards, packed the chamber for two hours of fierce debate over the Rowena Street proposal. One woman asked the councillors if they would be able to sleep at night if Islam “descended” on Bendigo.
One councillor also read out letters which voiced fears about Islam. Cr Elise Chapman repeated comments around Muslims having more children than Australians do.
When another councillor, Mark Weragoda, was speaking in favour of the proposal one of the protesters played Middle Eastern music.
When Cr Weragoda said the mosque would be used for funerals and marriages, a member of the gallery replied: "yeah, to young girls".
Following the ugly meeting, a spokesman for the mosque developer, Munshi Nawaz, and said it was "fine" that people had expressed such strong views, as there was a lot of misinformation surrounding the mosque.
"It was to be expected and I don't think the views heard tonight really represent how Bendigo feels about Islam as a religion," he said.
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