Mayor steers clear of mosque debate
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor Ron Yuryevich insisted he would not "add fuel to the fire" when asked to comment on a proposed mosque in central Kalgoorlie.
Mr Yuryevich said it was a matter for the City's planning department and the item would appear before Kalgoorlie-Boulder City Council in due course.
When asked if he knew about the application, he said "not a thing, actually".
"We, and I mean elected members, don't get to hear about these things until we see an agenda, and a lot of people don't believe that I see the agenda about the same time (as everyone else) - when it goes public, we get it," he said.
Christian leaders oppose Kalgoorlie mosque
"(There) are strictly planning rules - (objection) cannot be moral, it cannot be religious, it must be on strict planning guidelines and obviously we have to look at the amenity of the neighbourhood - all those sorts of things come into consideration when any application is lodged."
Mr Yuryevich said due process was the reason for his decision not to enter a discussion on the matter.
"I don't debate any issue that's not before council, in other words, I don't use my influence to try to influence elected members on what they might decide," he said.
"First of all, people may consider that (councillors) have a biased view before they've even seen (the agenda item).
"Everyone has a right to put in a planning application for whatever they wish."
As revealed in yesterday's _Kalgoorlie Miner _, the Kalgoorlie Islamic Community Centre lodged a planning application with the City on June 3.
The application seeks planning approval to build a place of public worship in Park Street.
Goldfields Alliance Church members outlined their intention to present a petition to the City.
Pastor Joel Tardo named noise from calls to prayer as a major factor in his opposition.
