A RELIGIOUS group established in India could build its Australian base in Carrum Downs after councillors backed a plan to build a place of worship on green wedge land.
The Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) proposal to construct a place of worship, guest dwelling and caretaker’s house on 26.3 hectares of green wedge land was approved seven to one by councillors at last week’s Frankston Council public meeting.
The RSSB buildings will be erected near an existing Hindu temple.
An attempt by the group to build the place of worship and dwellings to house devotees in Chirnside Park was rejected by Yarra Ranges Council in late 2014.
The mayor, Cr James Dooley, voted against the latest plan to make Carrum Downs the group’s home. Cr Michael O’Reilly was absent from the meeting.
Councillors who backed the planning application, that council officers recommended be passed since it conformed with Planning Scheme provisions, welcomed RSSB’s arrival in the Frankston area.
“It’s in a green wedge zone but the block of land is right on the edge of the Green Wedge and is wedged right between EastLink and Frankston-Dandenong Rd and Boundary Rd,” Cr Darrel Taylor said.
“It has all the elements of a mixed-use development and I think this sort of development is suitable for an area such as the Green Wedge.
“This is going to be the RSSB Australian headquarters. This is going to add to the diversity of our city and we should be very proud that this association wants to headquarter itself in the city of Frankston.”
Cr Colin Hampton noted the land around the new place of worship is “basically going to be used for agricultural and the growing of food and trees”.
“Along with the temple next door I think it’s a hand in glove development – both will feed off each other – and I think it would be an asset for the city of Frankston.”
Defenders of the South East Green Wedge secretary Barry Ross said the group is “disappointed” in Frankston Council’s decision to approve the planning application and will likely appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
“We consider this whole development is over the top and would be a most unwelcome intrusion into the Green Wedge that would spoil the openness and the views of the rural countryside,” Mr Ross said.
“Also, as it is right on the Urban Growth Boundary it would blur the boundary between the urban area and the Green Wedge.”
Radha Soami Satsang Beas describes itself as “a philosophical organisation based on the spiritual teachings of all religions and dedicated to a process of inner development under the guidance of a spiritual teacher”.
Devotees follow “a vegetarian diet, abstinence from intoxicants, a moral way of life and the practice of daily meditation” and “members need not give up their cultural identity or religious preference to follow this path” according to the group.
The “spiritual head” of RSSB is Gurinder Singh, who is regarded as the “living master” by followers.
Up to 600 people will attend regular services at the place of worship and “a maximum of 200” volunteers will work on building maintenance and agricultural duties.
A “maximum of 3500 people” will attend a biannual ‘National Discourse’ day on a Sunday on dates yet to be determined.
