By Brendan Rees
Plans for a church to be built in a semi-rural court in Narre Warren South have been approved despite residents saying they’ve been “hung out to dry.”
At their Planning Committee Meeting on Tuesday 14 August, Casey Councillors voted to issue a planning permit for an orthodox church to be developed at Bartok Court.
The plans from St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Community Centre Inc propose to operate the church seven days a week.
It’s also proposed if Bartok Court becomes connected to the road network vehicle access to the site would be from Bartok Court with vehicle access from Pound Road ceasing.
Proponent Cr Sam Aziz said the proposed church development would “See many people consider moving to the City of Casey; it will see people now thinking about moving businesses or starting new business operations in the City of Casey.”
He said said the church community had been “very responsible in working cooperatively with council” in producing amended plans. This included removing a caretaker building and a hall at the rear of the site.
“This reduces the site coverage and footprint and provides more opportunity for landscaping in line with the amenity of the area in which the development is proposed,” he said.
In regards to road access, Cr Aziz said: “We don’t believe VicRoads will act on this for at least a decade.”
Des Yapp and his wife Marie who have lived at Bartok Court for over 20 years fear they will lose their privacy with more cars right driving “next to our bedroom window.”
Mr Yapp said he was disappointed by the outcome by councillors playing “political games” and were only “bargaining to procure votes.”
“Councillors are meant to represent the rate payers who elected them and plan for the future not chase votes at the cost of causing future turmoil,” he said.
“Sam Aziz is playing his cards on the fact that he’s dismissed all of the residents objections by completing hiding the main point which is the future traffic problem and ignoring his planning department.”
Mr Yapp added there was no consideration of what was going to happen in 10 years’ time: “Sam Aziz will be long gone. He’ll be out of politics and it’ll be someone else’s problem.”
“It’s just ludicrous that he’s allowed to get away with this – he obviously doesn’t care about the residents.”
Objectors believe amplified music from private functions held at the church will “disrupt” the quiet residential area.
Dissenting councillor Rex Flannery said it was a “no-win situation” for the Yapps as cars would be “running up along their bedroom” as well as having to cop noise from functions.
Mr Yapp said he was looking at appealing the decision but “The cost factor is going to be pretty horrific for us.”
