A TOWN divided. That's already the result of an application to Camden Council for an Islamic school.
A community meeting of more than 2000 concerned residents was held at Belgenny Oval on Monday night, after promotion by leaflets and emails.
Text messages calling for opposition to the school have been circulating. And two groups on the social networking site Facebook were created during the past week - one supporting and one opposing the plan.
Some businesses have started collecting petitions under the heading: "Say no to the Muslim school". Last Thursday, police were called to Argyle Street after a screaming argument broke out between a shop assistant and a customer over one of the petitions.
Opposition to the proposal was voiced loudly at the Belgenny Oval community meeting.
Crowd members cheered and raised their hands when asked who opposed the plans while only two people in the crowd were prepared to put up their hands in support of the school's application.
One of those two supporters, Ros, wrote on the Advertiser's website after the meeting: "Two hands went up in support at the public meeting, mine and my daughter's, and a very
intimidating place it was to be."
Macarthur federal Labor candidate Nick Bleasdale was not invited but told the Advertiser on Tuesday he was opposed to the school "on planning grounds" and would write to the NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor.
Quranic Society spokesman Jeremy Bingham was not invited to the meeting.
He did not respond to the Advertiser's calls yesterday but in an interview with ABC radio described the meeting as "a degree of over-agitation and fear of something different".
"This process will die down when they examine the evidence and see there is nothing to be frightened of," he said.
Seven of Camden's nine councillors attended the meeting, including Mayor Chris Patterson. Camden-based NSW upper house state MP Charlie Lynn and Macarthur federal MP Pat Farmer were also there.
Mr Farmer spoke to national media at the meeting but was unavailable to speak to the Advertiser when contacted repeatedly on Tuesday.
Mr Farmer instead provided a written statement that said: "At the end of the day the issue is before council and we will have to see what they decide."
Cr Patterson told the crowd there had been 284 submissions made against the proposal and one for it.
He was booed when he told the crowd the council had the option of approving the school or approving it with conditions but received a loud cheer when he said the other option was to reject it.
The meeting was heavily monitored by police and drew camera crews from several Sydney TV stations.
"This will put Camden on the map," one speaker said.
Meeting organiser Emil Sremchevich told the Advertiser people in Camden had a right to an opinion.
"The issue is for people to be able to express their opinion. It is our town, our heritage are we are going to destroy everything we have?" he said.
Macarthur federal Labor candidate Nick Bleasdale said: "I don't think on planning grounds this should be approved. It is a semi-rural area and residents want it to stay that way. They are entitled to their opinion.
"I reject people who call me a racist. I think it's great that we have dialogue between the different groups."
The application is on public exhibition at the Camden and Narellan libraries until next Wednesday.
Cr Patterson expects a council staff report on the school to be presented to a council meeting in February for a decision.