By Bonny Burrows
Officer residents have vowed to fight against a proposal for a Buddhist temple within a green wedge zone.
The application, currently before Cardinia Shire Council, details plans to develop a place of worship at 33 Officer Road, Officer, and will include the removal of native vegetation.
Plans for the site include a 123-capacity prayer room attached to the existing single storey brickhouse, separate amenities building, and car parking.
The proposal has raised concerns with locals who feel the site is unsuited to the development.
Andrew McNabb said while not opposed to a temple, he felt a better the location could be chosen.
Officer Road was not suited to the large amount of traffic the place of worship would bring, he said, arguing that a green wedge zone was no place for such a large-scale development.
“I’m not opposed to the development, they just need to rethink the location,” Mr McNabb said.
While not an Officer local, Gloria O’Connor from the Cardinia Ratepayers and Residents Association has been a long-time campaigner for environment protection during the shire’s growth.
She said in addition to “obvious” local environmental impact by clearing of native vegetation, “it would appear to be not an appropriate site for a place of assembly which it clearly is, looking at the planned amenity block and carpark”.
“There is increasing council and community agreement that all places of worship and community activity need to be located close to the CBD or town centre where they can be accessed conveniently by interested people,” Ms O’Connor said.
Her environmental concerns have been shared by an Officer resident, who asked not to be named in fear of retribution.
The long-time local said the area was in a conservation zone, and was worried that the development would “greatly affect” the local, native wildlife.
They argued the temple would also disrupt the rural lifestyle that residents paid higher rates for.
“We ensure what we do with our properties cause minimal effect to fauna and flora and this development goes directly against the principals of living in this area,” the resident said.
“Having this many people gathering in one place will greatly affect our peace and quiet. It might satisfy their needs but it will greatly affect the lifestyle of everyone in this area who have been here for many, many years.”
The development would also pose safety concerns, they said.
“The location of the driveway for this development will cause a high accident risk area is it is on the crest of a hill as well as a bend,” the resident said.
“When you have 60 cars trying to enter or exit a small driveway to attend the start or end of their prayer time, it will cause major congestion.”
Cardinia Shire Council’s manager of development and compliance services Debbie Tyson said the application was received on 16 June.
She confirmed the land was located in a green wedge zone and was subject to the Environmental Significance Overlay Schedule 1.
“To date, the council has also received nine submissions raising objections and/or concerns with the proposal,” Ms Tyson said.
She did not comment on what the concerns were, but said the application would be heard at a town planning committee meeting which is likely to be in September or October.
