With the decision on the proposed Islamic school only six days away, the Advertiser spoke to all nine councillors about whether they were feeling any extra pressure.
Chris Patterson: ``It's not a religious issue and it's not a national issue. It's a local issue that will be decided by the council on its planning parameters. As an elected representative, you must uphold the law. There seemed to be some people in the community who don't subscribe to that, but at the end of the day that can't influence our decision.''
Cindy Cagney: ``I've been bringing it up in conversation to see what people's opinions are. I sincerely believe that 80per cent of people don't have a problem with the school development. I don't feel under pressure by people opposing it, even though I take very seriously their views. Ten per cent are really against it and 10per cent aren't quite sure.''
Fred Whiteman: ``I don't believe there's any pressure. We certainly have very strict guidelines that we have to base our assessment on. I will stick to the planning grounds. Whilst saying that, councillors are human and therefore we listen to people. I can only stress that of the hundreds that have spoken to me I would say it's 50/50 in terms of divided opinion.''
David Funnell: ``There's no pressure whatsoever because they have put a [development application] in to build a school. We don't go to the [Land and] Environment Court fighting battles we can't win. If we get a report that accepts it, I'm sorry I'll probably have to accept it. Alternatively, if it's for rejection, fair enough. There's probably good reason such as pollution or traffic.''
Debby Dewbery: ``At the end of the day we're elected and when we went to school we were told government is for the people by the people. At the same time we're bound by legislation but that doesn't mean we don't have the right to say `no we don't want it' or `we do want it'. We're between a rock and a hard place.''
Peter Johnson: ``We're in a no-win [situation] as councillors. We are going to assess this application absolutely on planning grounds. If it fully complies and the social impact is not so great, we'll approve it. However, if we get a report that says they have failed on sewer or failed on traffic or failed on whatever, we'll probably knock it back.''
Rob Elliott: ``Personally I look at every DA and every plan that comes up on council with equal importance. I normally look at the impact the development, that is the physical building form, has on the environment and traffic and the effect it has on the community first and foremost. The brand above it doesn't matter.''
Fred Anderson: ``There have been numerous people who have, in an endeavour to achieve what they want to, sought to tell me I have to do as they say. On this issue there have been more of those people than on other issues. It would seem that the community at large wants to focus on the emotive issues when we as councillors are required to consider the planning laws.''
Eva Campbell: ``I'm elected to make a decision in the interests of the community. But I'm also bound by the Local Government Act and all of the planning instruments. All the people you elect to represent the community, if they genuinely listen and understand the community, they are the people who set the parameters for the planning.''
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