Cessnock council votes for mosque at Buchanan

Despite a long campaign of racist vilification and threats encouraging fear and hate against a planned mosque at Buchanan, New South Wales, Cessnock Council voted 6 to 4 to support the development.

Despite a long campaign of racist vilification and threats encouraging fear and hate against a planned mosque at Buchanan, New South Wales, Cessnock Council voted 6 to 4 to support the development.

A small number of residents live on Buchanan Road, on which the mosque will be built, and some of their objections were about planning issues, for example rural zoning, traffic, school bus stop and “safety”.

The council debate showed that the safety issue was really concern about backlash against the mosque and mosque opponents being drawn to the area.

After the council win, the Mosque’s supporters at Buchanan received congratulations from some Buchanan residents. The Newcastle Muslim Association said it was looking forward being part of the Buchanan community.