Council puts off decision to ban new places of worship in Swan Valley

The City of Swan has bowed to community pressure and delayed a recommendation that, if adopted, would see all future places of worship banned from the valley’s wine region.

Tonight the council voted nine to three in favour of deferring its decision to amend the Swan Valley Planning Act 1995.

It followed a storm of questions, accusations and uproar from members of the public opposing the local law change which, if passed, would block applications for places of worship and roadhouses to be built in a special zoned rural area of the Swan Valley.

The zone, which covers parts of Henley Brook, Millendon, West Swan, Baskerville, Caversham, Middle Swan, Herne Hill and Belhus, already has two churches, a mosque, two Buddhist temples, a handful of distilleries and about 20 wineries.

Mayor David Lucas said in the past 20 years, the Swan Valley had seen a 75 per cent loss of horticulture and could not wait for the State Government’s planning reform for the region any longer.

“(The region) is being eroded piece by piece,” he said at Wednesday’s council meeting. “The Swan Valley cannot support every place of worship. If the City doesn’t make a stand, there will be no Swan Valley left to protect.”

Councillors were met by a barrage of commentary from members of the public opposing the local law change throughout the meeting.

One resident begged councillors to “Place the interests of the entire district above your own”, arguing that places of worship should not be singled out or discriminated against.

Another urged the council to make the right decision by everyone and not just a select few.

“If councillors vote tonight to exclude non-rural activities in places of worship from the Swan Valley specialised zone, are you not displaying double standards...?” another said. “The honourable course for councillors is to scrap this sale, reject the master plan and conduct a new survey.”

Applause rung out from gallery, cutting Mr Lucas off several times after members of the public retook their seats following passionate words against the law change.

“You cannot discriminate against and put everybody in one little pidgeon hole,” an emotional woman said.

Several councillors spoke up when asked whether an applicant’s faith made a difference in the process.

“Council will deal with all applications as they come in,” Mr Lucas said.

Cr Claire Scanlan said: “It’s not the religious faith that matters ... we certainly do not discriminate”.

Cr Ian Johnson said he agreed with Cr Scanlan.

Councillors will vote on whether to pursue the amendment on April 10.