By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A HARD-EARNED peace deal between disputing neighbours has led to the removal of a symbol of religious insult.
The peace deal was made just in the nick of time according to the peeved owner of the cross who said it would soon be replaced with an even larger symbol of his anger.
In November last year, Officer resident Ian Soer erected a two-metre high cross with an inflammatory religious message on his property looking into Islamic school Minaret College.
The cross with the inscribed message “Jesus Forgives Your Sins. I Don’t” was pulled down in recent months after Officer resident Ian Soer and the school ended their ongoing land dispute.
Mr Soer claimed the school, which is still under development, disrupted the roots of a number of trees that line his property, causing them to slowly die.
Mr Soer has been after compensation from the school for almost two years but, until recently, was unable to reach an agreement.
Last month, the school handed over $5000 to compensate for the damage – an amount far less than what Mr Soer had originally asked.
Mr Soer pulled down the provocative cross, along with a larger cross which also glared into the Islamic school, later that day.
The agreement came just in time, according to Mr Soer who claims to have made arrangements to erect an eight-metre steel cross fitted with lights.
“If they didn’t pay on that day, all agreements would have been off,” he said.
“It would have been permanent.”
Mr Soer said he planned to buy 12 new trees with the compensation money.
The Pakenham Gazette contacted Minaret College about the terms of the settlement but did not receive a response.
Pakenham police’s Senior Sergeant Graeme Stanley said the result was positive.
“Where possible and safe to do so, neighbours should try negotiating disputes amicably between each other rather than using police counsel and the courts,” he said.
