Georges River Council is seeking community feedback on proposed guidelines for places of public worship after being approached by concerned residents.
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South Hurstville residents met with council staff last year to ask for changes to the development control plans that would see places of worship moved away from residential streets and into industrial sites.
At the moment there is no separate section in the Council’s development control plans on places of public worship – the only specific controls relate to car parking numbers.
It comes after a proposed mosque in South Hurstville was rejected by the Land and Environment Court.
The project was fiercely opposed by neighbours who raised concerns about parking, traffic and increased noise.
More than 2,000 individual and some 800 form letters opposing the development were put in against the original proposal.
In the past five years eleven applications have been lodged with council for places of worship with the majority being approved.
Two applications were refused by the Land and Environment Court including the proposed mosque at South Hurstville and a proposed Buddhist monastery in Wright Street at Hurstville.
The council will begin extensive community consultation on the proposed guidelines including meeting the community groups and representatives of places of public worship.
A report on the community consultation will then be submitted Georges River Council to outline a way forward.
