Islamic school's expansion proposal partly rejected by Brisbane City Council
Council restricts school to educational purposes only
Durack Campus. PHOTO: AIIC
An Islamic school’s proposal for a 2.7-hectare expansion within its premises has been rejected by the Brisbane City Council, restricting it to educational purposes only.
The Australian International Islamic College [AIIC] in February proposed a plan to build a children centre, medical centre, a mosque, residential building and an aged-care facility at its campus on Blunder Road in Brisbane, the Brisbane Times reported.
The council on Thursday issued conditional approval, allowing residential facilities for students from outside the state but rejecting requests for non-educational buildings including aged-care, shops.
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According to the city’s planning boss, Julian Simmonds, the decision was based on feedback received over the proposal. "Council has heard this feedback and this approval specifically prevents the college from expanding into an exclusive gated community,” said Simmonds.
As per the council, 15 out of the 18 valid public feedback submissions opposed Islamic school’s plan. Residents were concerned about the design, associated traffic as well as skeptical over a Islamic hub creating a segregation in the community.
The proposal was assessed against Sustainable Planning Act, added Simmonds.
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Despite expressing concerns about the development, local councilor Steve Griffiths said the decision was good for the community. "I still have concerns that it's still allowing education land be rezoned for development of retail and medical centre," he said. "They are still allowing that to occur but from a traffic point of view it's more sensible."
The Islamic school and people who made submissions were entitled to appeal the council's decision.
The Australian International Islamic College [AIIC] in February proposed a plan to build a children centre, medical centre, a mosque, residential building and an aged-care facility at its campus on Blunder Road in Brisbane, the Brisbane Times reported.
The council on Thursday issued conditional approval, allowing residential facilities for students from outside the state but rejecting requests for non-educational buildings including aged-care, shops.
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According to the city’s planning boss, Julian Simmonds, the decision was based on feedback received over the proposal. "Council has heard this feedback and this approval specifically prevents the college from expanding into an exclusive gated community,” said Simmonds.
As per the council, 15 out of the 18 valid public feedback submissions opposed Islamic school’s plan. Residents were concerned about the design, associated traffic as well as skeptical over a Islamic hub creating a segregation in the community.
The proposal was assessed against Sustainable Planning Act, added Simmonds.
Bag containing a pig’s head left outside Islamic school in Australia
Despite expressing concerns about the development, local councilor Steve Griffiths said the decision was good for the community. "I still have concerns that it's still allowing education land be rezoned for development of retail and medical centre," he said. "They are still allowing that to occur but from a traffic point of view it's more sensible."
The Islamic school and people who made submissions were entitled to appeal the council's decision.