Bad karma over Buddhist centre

NARRE Warren North residents say they are angry that that a Buddhist meditation centre is operating and carrying out upgrades despite council knocking back a planning application last year.
Kathryn Caldwell said the meditation centre, run by Buddhist monasteries on Hallam North Road, had cars entering the premises at all times of the day, seven days a week.
She said the driveway to the premises had been widened to resemble a road and there were portable toilets on the grounds. Ms Caldwell said the increased traffic was dangerous to other drivers.
Ms Caldwell said she was not against Buddhism, but was against the centre being operated in a residential area. She said she was angry that people were assembling at the centre and project works were being carried out without council approval.
“What they want to do and the size of the operation is too much for the site they are in. They are in a residential home,” she said.
“They need to find a more suitable area.”
In June, Ms Caldwell and neighboring residents applauded a move by the Casey Council who refused a planning application to use the site as a Place of Assembly.
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 organisation of Buddhist monasteries, but the Meditation Executive Committee said the centre would not be a religious centre but one the entire community could use.
There were 23 objections to the proposal and council refused the permit 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.
Councillors agreed to a move by then Cr Kevin Bradford which suggested council officers liaise with the applicant of the meditation centre to identify a more appropriate site.
The City of Casey did not comment on whether a more appropriate site had since been discussed with the Mahamevnawa.
City of Casey Manager Planning Duncan Turner said the alleged use of the site was currently under investigation by Council’s Planning Department.
Attempts by the News to contact the President of the committee for Mahamevnawa, Shiroman Wickramasuriya, for comment were unsuccessful.