Sydney: Hindu Temple construction opposed

Sydney, Feb 1: A Hindu temple is third in line of fire of local communities opposing religious developments after construction of an Islamic school and a Hillsong stadium was not allowed by residents here.

The delay of the place of worship in Nelson followed the incident of racist vandalism at Camden where the phrase ''Aussie Pride 4 Life - Sand Niggas'' was scribbled next to an Australian flag on the roof of a house on the planned Muslim school site. Local residents said there was no place for the temple in a small, rural suburb that didn't even have town water, sewage or roadside guttering.

Objections to size, capacity and car parking and not religion have been the main arguments raised by the organisation opposing the construction.

''I don't have a problem with the Hindu people or their faith, there is definitely no racial problem out here,'' Box Hill-Nelson Progress Association president John Higman said yesterday.

''The building, however, appears to be about three storeys tall with domes and flag poles on top of that. Then there are all the things associated with that, such as up to 200 people but only 50 car parking spaces,'' he added.

The application by the Shree Swaminarayan Temple trust was to build the temple and a car park for 1 million dollars.

''I think the neighbours are very good but they don't have the actual picture of what's going to happen and are worried about what it's going to look like,'' The Telegraph quoted temple trustee Karsan Kerai as saying.

UNI