A push for a $40 million Islamic school between Greenvale and Sunbury is likely headed the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after Hume council rejected the proposal on Tuesday night.
Traffic, proximity to Melbourne Airport’s flight path and potential overdevelopment of the farmland site were among grounds listed for the council’s unanimous decision to refuse a permit for a primary school at 200 Wildwood Road, Oaklands Junction.
Protests planned by a group called Stop the Mosque and Islamic School Sunbury/Oaklands Junction failed to materialise, with a small police presence outside the Broadmeadows council offices and no obvious signs of opposition.
A packed chamber was told the council was supportive of the need for the school but did not believe it was an appropriate site.
The application for a school, eventually catering for up to 600 pupils and 35 staff, included seven learning/community buildings, an administrative office, a library and multipurpose building, gymnasium, canteen, sporting ovals and a grey water treatment plant on 17.1 hectares of farmland about 4km from the airport.
More than 40 objections were received.
Several residents, including Reverend Peter Wicks and Joe Taddaro, spoke in favour of the school, citing applicant Ozzi Trade Pty Ltd’s commitment to promote inclusion, while others bemoaned traffic congestion already causing problems in the wider Bulla area.
Right idea, wrong location
Cr Casey Nunn said the concept of the school, which would be open to non-Muslim students, was right, but the proposed location would not work.
‘‘Planning isn’t so much a decision of the heart, it’s a decision of the head,’’ she said before listing concerns about aircraft noise, the proposed Bulla bypass and inaccessibility due to the rural site.
‘‘In that context, I don’t believe this is a suitable location.’’
Cr Drew Jessop said he was worried about the sustainability of the school over time, with increasing levels of air traffic and the eventual construction of a second north-south runway.
‘‘We would love to see such a school in Hume in a far superior location,’’ he said.
‘‘I hope we can work with the applicant and find a suitable alternative.’’
Proponents of the school indicated the decision was likely to be appealed.
Demographic data shows 1.3 per cent of Sunbury’s population identifies as Islamic, but the figure is more than 22 per cent in Hume’s urbanised east.
A social impact statement prepared for the applicant said 2300 extra primary school places would be needed in Hume by 2036.
