Australia: Canberra Muslim group frustrated by further mosque-site delay

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"We have now leased a bigger premises to conduct our activities and it will cost us in excess of $50,000 a year, and it is money wasted,"

PHOTO: ABC News / Alexandra Beech

Times of Ahmad | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Canberra Times
By Matthew Raggatt | March 12 2016

A Muslim organisation that has waited six years to find a Canberra site to build a mosque has been disappointed by a further government delay and said it was wasting rent money.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Association president Mohammad Hasan​ said the organisation lodged an updated application with the government in December, but a promise the decision on a block would be made on February 23 had not been fulfilled.

Mohammad Hasan, pictured at a prayer session in the Griffin Centre, Civic, said the government process for approving a site had taken too long.  Photo: Matt Bedford
"We are extremely disappointed and frustrated, because so many times we were told the matter would be closed," he said.

"The waiting is so stressful."

An officer from the Economic Development Directorate told Mr Hasan on March 4 the government had deferred all decisions on the direct sale of land at the most recent meeting, with no reasons given and no fixed date provided to the association.

"The wheels of the government do turn slowly," an email from the officer to Mr Hasan said.

"We have now leased a bigger premises to conduct our activities and it will cost us in excess of $50,000 a year, and it is money wasted," Mr Hasan said.

The association lodged its first application for a block of land six years ago. It bought a block at Rivett in March 2014, but abandoned the site due to parking, construction and vandalism concerns. The government advised against the suitability of a separate site in Hume last June, he said.

A two-year lease for a centre at Fyshwick began two weeks ago and now provided space for up to 150 people, including a reception and offices. There were 120 people at the site last Sunday, he said.

"We are looking for a venue to cater for up to 500 people [for the permanent site]," he said.

The association had used the Griffin Centre in Civic for many years, but for larger events many people had to go outside.

Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate deputy director-general Ben Ponton said the government needed to consider the best use of community land, but had now identified an alternative site following the association's "rejection of the previously offered Rivett site".

"The proponent will be advised of the government's decision once the new site has been considered."

Mr Hasan said Ahmadiyya wanted to have its own functioning site within two years.



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