The opponents to the Gungahlin Mosque have won more time to build their case against the development, but have lost a bid to include a Christian fundamentalist activist in the proceedings.

And the Concerned Citizens of Canberra – who had just six members and $2159 in assets in October last year – have been told they must fork out $25,000 in security before the case can go ahead, after fears were raised about their ability to pay court costs if ordered to do so.

The application to build the 500-capacity mosque on The Valley Avenue was approved by the city’s planning authority in August last year.

That decision was made in the face of vocal opposition from a group named the Concerned Citizens of Canberra, who attempted to drum up opposition to the mosque, delivering thousands of flyers to nearby homes.

The group then launched legal action against the ACT Planning and Land Authority over the decision to approve the mosque.

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A Casey councillor is calling for a poll of residents to determine their attitude to a mosque planned for an industrial area of Doveton.

Cr Rosalie Crestani was the only councillor to oppose the mosque when the application came before the planning committee last week.

There were 33 objections to the mosque and and 14 petitions containing more than 2000 signatures.

Cr Crestani has moved a notice of motion for tonight’s planning meeting for the council to poll residents living near the planned mosque to determine the extent of support or opposition.

‘‘We’ve been told time and time again that when it comes to planning matters it doesn’t matter what the residents think. But it’s the residents who have to live with this.’’

She says eventually she would like a Casey-wide poll on mosques in general.

Casey Weekly, 19 March 2013

Supporters of a mosque in Doveton’s industrial area have urged anti-Islamic cleric Pastor Danny Nalliah and his followers in the Catch the Fire Ministries to learn to live with it.

Outside Casey Council chambers on Tuesday night, supporters were quietly jubilant after Casey councillors ticked off the mosque in accordance with a recommendation from their planners. But Mr Nalliah, who has led the campaign against the mosque, described the decision as “a sad day for Australia” and said his group would appeal to the Supreme or Victorian Court to overturn it.

A spokeswoman for the applicants, Sherene Hassan, urged Mr Nalliah and his followers to follow Jesus’ precept and “love thy neighbour”. “That’s what we plan to do,” she said. “But we haven’t felt much love from this group.” The mosque is being built next to Catch the Fire’s new headquarters and church, and Ms Hassan said they would welcome visitors from the neighbouring church.

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