Phillips,
"Many ignorant, reneck protestors wanted it rejected for all the wrong reasons. They hate Muslims, they fear muslims....they also know very little about Muslims except what they read in the press and what they hear from their friends."

Talk about basing ones opinions on what one reads in the press. You have swallowed the media hype hook, line and sinker. Your mind is now closed. The Camden people protesting, are 'renecks' pure and simple. They hate and fear Muslims and have no legitimate or reasonable concerns on which to oppose the development.

What makes you believe that the people of Camden are different to any other community, or are all Australians basicly 'renecks'? Funny how we have accepted people from all races and creeds here isn't it? Camden is no different. Sure there was anti-Muslim sentiment and that is because Muslims have a poor reputation. The bad reputation of Muslims should be acknowledged. People do not want to see their homes, etc. devalued because of disreputable moving in or and increase in anti-social behavior. This has happened in other areas and is fact.

As an example of "the Camden renecks" you quote the matter of a display of 2 spiked pigs heads with an Australian flag. What is offensive to muslims about the display and what is the message from the display. Was there a written message as well indicating hate for Muslims? If not what was the message? Why do you quickly come to the conclusion that so called Aussies erected the display.

Could not the display be erected by 'Muslim radicals' with the intended message of "Aussie pigs keep out, opposition will result in decapitation". Afterall Muslims have been known to refer to infidels as pigs and cutting heads off seems a favorite pastime of radical Muslims.

Or maybe the display was erected by some in the media to flame the situation. To my knowledge no one has claimed to erect it so it is entirely spectulative. Agreed that who ever erected the display are brain dead morons.

I was present when the council decision was announced. I spoke to the residents there and was also witness to their private conversations. The "mood" was NOT against a possible unfavourable decision based on planning perspectives.......the general mood was "ANTI-MUSLIM". Only a handful of people mentioned the planning issues, of which there are many, and these planning issues are all relevant.

My posts are based on "WHAT THE CAMDEN PEOPLE AT THE MEETING ACTUALLY SAID". They are concerned that their present lives will be disturbed by "MUSLIMS". They are VERY scared and fearful. They "BELIEVE" every bad thing they read about Muslims, and apply it to ALL Muslims. Some of them mentioned to me that they don't want terrorism to become entrenched in Camden. They are suspicious and paranoid about ordinary, everyday Muslims and think all Muslims journeying to Camden are potential enemies and terrorists.

I spoke to about 15 individuals, several groups and witnessed the conversations of well over a dozen groups. I was there because I didn't want the development to go ahead, because in it's current form, it's unsuitable for the area. I spoke to only 2 members of the public who, like me, objected to the proposal on planning grounds. The council got it right, and for the "RIGHT" reasons.

There's plenty of people in Camden who stayed away from that council meeting. Who in their right mind, would want to mix with uneducated bogans: I forced myself, in order to more fully understand what the people were thinking. Almost the ENTIRE population of Camden was NOT at that meeting. A "minority" was there to cause trouble and to try and inflict redneck influence. Camden is a great place for me to live, and it's NOT dominated by redneck attitudes. There's a "minority" of noisy, forceful rednecks here that give the area a bad reputation: That, more than anything else, affects property values.The "majority" are not like that, and are happy to let planning decisions be made based on "the relevant planning issues".

Common sense has prevailed. I congratulate the council on a good decision.

Banjo: << Talk about basing ones opinions on what one reads in the press. You have swallowed the media hype hook, line and sinker. >>

It transpires that philips was actually at the meeting. Where does Banjo get his information about the Camden community?

<< Could not the display be erected by 'Muslim radicals' with the intended message of "Aussie pigs keep out, opposition will result in decapitation". >>

Yeah right, Banjo. Duh.

Ooo look! There's some of those Aussie pigs flying past my window...