What a pity Camden’s reputation had to be besmirched by a shady organisation using the blunt instrument of ‘reverse-racism.’ Camden Councillors are to be congratulated for ignoring the provocation and standing firm in upholding the planning laws put in place to protect our community environment. Their decision, upheld in the Land and Environment Court, protects the rural integrity of the area.
Silvertail North Shore lawyer acting for the shadowy Quaranic Society, Jeremy Bingham, boasted from his London pad that he had never lost a case in the Land and Environment Court. Chk Chk Boom, Jeremy!
Any type of Development Application on the proposed site was bound to create community opposition because our planning laws do not allow for it. The strategy of the ‘reverse-racists’ to have Camden portrayed as ignorant bigots was beneath contempt.
Attempts were made to diffuse the issue below the radar but it was clear the apologists for the Quaranic Society wanted conflict because the salivating media machine had to be fed. An approach was made by a developer who owned land at Sefton which is zoned for educational purposes, is closer to the catchment area for Islamic students, and could easily accommodate their plans.
The response from the chief apologist of the Quaranic Society was ‘we will take it if you give it to us for nothing!’ This arrogant bastardry was an indication of their confidence of winning their appeal in the Land and Environment Court. It was a gamble they were willing to take because Jeremy ‘had never lost a case’ and success in the court represented a financial windfall for the developer. Land zoned for ‘educational purposes’ is far more expensive than land for primary production!
There is no place in our society for unethical organisations who play the race card for profit or personal advantage. There are no winners when this happens.
We now have a case where the reputation of Camden as a peaceful rural city has been smeared. The other victims are the greater majority of peaceful Muslims who live in our society.
I have now led two groups of young Muslims across the Kokoda Trail and I can report that they are as proudly Australian as any of the others I have led. It is unfair that they have also been so unfairly stigmatised by such a grubby attempt to circumnavigate our planning laws.
We now have the task of rebuilding our image and our relationship with the Muslim community. We have to learn more about each other through engaging each other in education, arts, sport and recreational activities.
And we have to isolate religious extremists and bigots from both sides of the debate.
Tags: Camden, Islamic School
