Meditation centre knocked back

LIA BICHEL
RESIDENTS in Narre Warren North have applauded a move by the Casey Council to knock back a planning application for a meditation centre run by Buddhist monasteries.
The Casey Council chambers were packed last week with people who had opposing views on the planning application for the meditation centre on Hallam North Road.
While there were hundreds of people who signed a petition in support of it, the move also had strong opposition from residents living on and around Hallam North Road.
The application was made by the Mahamevnawa, an organization of Buddhist monasteries, but the Meditation Executive Committee said the centre would not be a religious centre but one the entire community could use.
In a letter to the Strategic Planning Officer of the City of Casey, the President of the committee Shiroman Wickramasuriya stated they were a not for profit-community organization that did humanitarian service, completely free of charge, with “altruistic yet pragmatic motives and have nothing to do with so-called religious fervor or motives.”
“We are totally driven by donations without solicitations which we believe are offered to us due to our pure motives and proven results from our service” Mr Wickramasuriya stated.
“The local community has a golden opportunity to attend daily evening meditation sessions as and when they require, simply for their general well-being or for even therapeutic reasons of stress reduction or curing or improving conditions for many types of illnesses.
“The nature of this property, its serene character and environment is paramount importance to what the centre does and stands for. Therefore it seems baseless to expect anything intrusive to this character from us or from the type of people visiting us who are wholeheartedly yearning for such an atmosphere.”
Cr Shar Balmes moved that the planning application be denied following council officers recommendation which stated the meditation centre did not comply with council’s local planning policies, that it would unduly affect the amenity of the surrounding residential properties and that the proposed use and development would be uncharacteristic in its low density context.
There were 23 objections to the proposal and Cr Balmes said she had received several emails from residents with opposing views on the matter.
“While I support a concept of a meditation centre, I am elected to make the best planning decision,” she said.
Cr Beverley Hastie said she also opposed the planning application due to surrounding resident’s concerns.
“I lived in the ward for many years and I support the residents who live there,” Cr Hastie said.
Resident Kathryn Caldwell said she and many of her neighbours were thrilled with the council’s decision.
“This (meditation centre) would have been a huge complex and this is not the area for it,” she said.
“There would be too much traffic and no privacy. It would have been horrible for the residents in the area, so we are very, very happy with the council’s decision.”
Councillors agreed to a move by Cr Kevin Bradford which suggested council officers liase with the applicant of the meditation centre to identify a more appropriate site for it.
The News was unable to contact Mr Wickramasuriya for comment.