Members of a Western Sydney community are rallying against a development application for an Islamic school after losing a similar battle for a mosque development more than two years ago.

Penrith residents first became alerted to the Islamic school's plans for a second campus in their area after a development application was placed in a local newspaper several weeks ago.

Despite the omission of the words Muslim or Islamic, it didn't escape the attention of alarmed local residents or Penrith City councillor Marcus Cornish.




"You're going to change the demographics and it is a passive takeover, if you like, of our area," Cr Cornish told A Current Affair.

"There is no demand in the area. We do have Muslim people in this area, most of those people have moved to this area to get away from that sort of thing. They want to integrate and be part of the Australian way of life."

      

Concerned residents became alarmed when they noticed the development application for the disused Department of Education and Training site in Penrith

      

Penrith City councillor Marcus Cornish does not agree with the plan and is actively opposing it

Irfan College already have one campus in Cecil Park, approximately 30km south-east of Penrith.

Principal Ali Arabaci said the school was hoping to open a second campus at a vacant Department of Education and Training district office on Henry Street.

He is keen to point out that nothing different happens at his school than at other religious schools.

"To become an accredited school you must be implementing the Australian curriculum," he said. "Eighty percent of our curriculum is comprised of that and the other 20 percent is religious studies, such as the Koran. This is the same practice as most, if not all, faith-based schools."
Mr Arabici refutes Cr Cornish's claim that there is no demand for an Islamic school in the area, as about 30 percent of students attending the Cecil Park campus commute from the Penrith area.

Cr Cornish, who left the Liberal Party after Tony Abbott was replaced as Prime Minister by Malcolm Turnbull and is now an Independent, says local residents have a lot to fear.

"I will be proposing that all footpaths in the major thoroughfares in Penrith and sporting venues have barricades erected between them and the roads to protect people in case of an attack later," he said.

"We've seen it in other countries, why should we wait?"

      

Protest over a mosque in the area was incredibly heated two years ago

      

Residents of the predominantly Anglo-Saxon Penrith-region are concerned about what will happen to their community if more Islamic mosques or schools are approved

Mr Arabaci says he faced similar heated debate when the Irfan College's first campus opened in 2013.

"There was fears from the community and to date, it is our fifth year of operation and we take pride in saying there is not one complaint since our inception," he said.

A public meeting is planned for next month to discuss the development application.

© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2017

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/04/05/19/26/penrith-councillor-rallying-against-islamic-school-opening-second-campus-in-his-electorate#4UFHml9tiTve0UfU.99

Islamic schools are breeding grounds for cultural division and radicalism.

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Apr 7^th, 2017 at 12:55pm:
It's not a beat up. I'm a local and the people I talk to don't want it. Many aussies have moved away from places like Lidcombe out to Penrith to get away from Islam. The school will get knocked back for sure. Penrith is an aussie town.

Mr Hammer wrote on Apr 7^th, 2017 at 3:09pm:


Ah, so basically you're implying that all Aussies are Islamophobes, Hammer?   Really?  And on what basis do you make that claim?   As long as the school meets the planning guidelines, there cannot be any reason to withhold permission for it's establishment.   When I hear about a Catholic/Anglican/Luthern/Hindu school being denied permission, I'll be interested in reading the reasons why...   

Brian Ross wrote on Apr 8^th, 2017 at 5:54pm:


Well the Islamic schools are pushing puritanical Saudi style Islam.
Is that the good type of Islam?

Bwyannn to tge rescue of the CULT again

TRIES  to leap tall opposition with a single "islamaphobe" cry

TRIES  to stop terrorism discussion with a single scream of " Catholics do it too"

TRIES to stifle debate with insults and Tsk Tsk stupidity

BWYAN THE CULTS FRIEND, APOLOGIST, SYMPATHISER AND SYCOPHANT.

Lies do dot stop him,
terrorist attacks do not move him
Murder, pedophelia and dismemberment are nothing to him.

Bwyann
The muzzos friend
And a traitor to civilization and Australia.

If you like it so much
If you trust them so much
If you want the brutality, primitive behaviour and insanity

GO AND LIVE IN A MUSLIL COUNTRY FREAK

Mr Hammer wrote on Apr 8^th, 2017 at 5:59pm:


Yes, Homo, there's always my multicultural ghetto. We take in all types in Granville. Chows, Curries, Pakis, Nig nogs...

But I'm curious. On what basis do you think the Penrith Council will reject this school? Please refer to LGAs' planning and development criteria in your response. This includes car parking, fire planning, water and sewerage, any building impacts on neighbouring properties, etc, etc, etc.

Please explain.

Gordon wrote on Apr 8^th, 2017 at 8:34pm:


That's a novel approach. Asking the rate-payers their opinion.

Wherever a mosque and Islamic school are built, this draws the hijab and bearded mob from far and wide to concentrate in these areas, buying up houses and opening businesses until within a few short years it's yet another ghetto from where the Anglo-Australians move further out along the railway lines in an act of White Flight and the hope of finding somewhere to live where dinki di Australia hasn't yet been completely obliterated by design of our successive governments.