ALBURY Council will avoid the dramas experienced by Bendigo councillors if a development application for a replacement mosque in Lavington remains in the hands of planning staff.
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The development application to redevelop the existing Wagga Road site was lodged almost two months ago and is still being assessed by council staff.
The larger mosque development in Bendigo was brought before councillors and became the target of an anti-Islamic hate group known as the United Patriots Front.
Its leader Shermon Burgess has put Albury on notice about similar action.
Last week Bendigo's mayor Peter Cox had to be escorted from a meeting under police guard when the matter returned to council.
Albury councillor David Thurley said he hoped the development application from the Islamic Society of Albury-Wodonga would remain with staff and be approved shortly.
"All they are doing is essentially a renovation and it is not like they are establishing a new mosque," he said.
"They have no grounds to protest because it is not against any planning or zoning laws we have."
The council's town planning team leader David Christy confirmed two submissions were received when the development application was placed on public display.
"Those concerns related to car parking, traffic and noise," he said.
"This application is still being assessed through our normal planning processes.
"At this stage, the application is still being assessed therefore it has not been decided if that will continue to be the case or if it will be sent to council."
The Islamic Society of Albury-Wodonga operates from a converted weatherboard house and plans to replace it with a 299-square metre mosque.
The redevelopment will cost about $318,000.
The site is zoned general residential, but a "place of worship" is permitted with council consent.
In comparison, the Bendigo Council approved construction of a $3 million mosque despite opposition from local residents.
Cr Thurley said the United Patriots Front's views didn't accurately reflect the local views of the Muslim community.
"I have met many of our Muslim community and are people like you and me," he said.
"I have been invited to their mosque as have most of their neighbours.
"Are we going to allow these thugs and bullies from out of town scare us or will we stand up and support the Muslim members of our community?"
Former Wodonga Council candidate and self-described anarchist Kieran Bennett was also targeted by Mr Burgess in his Facebook video.
"They are after five or 10 people in Albury-Wodonga who can be brought into their campaign," he said.
"Their assumption is people in Albury-Wodonga are racist.
"But I hope they are sorely disappointed."
