Canterbury-Bankstown City Council says an illegal prayer hall frequented by controversial Islamic cleric, Wissam Haddad, is continuing to operate despite a Council shut down order.
While the centre (pictured) publicly announced its closure via social media last week, Council says an investigation by its compliance team has revealed the operators of the Al Madina Dawah Centre at 54 Kitchener Parade, Bankstown have “blatantly ignored the ‘cease use’ directive”.
“Council has been conducting surveillance of the premises, and it is quite clear there is still unauthorised use,” a Council spokesperson said.
“Despite the front gates being closed, we observed several people using the back door, and a stream of people were coming and going.”
Council notified the operators that they were in breach of the order and they were given seven days to explain why they should not be issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN).
That period has now lapsed, and on Friday Council issued a PIN for $3,000 for operating a development without consent under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Further, Council issued a ‘cease use’ letter to the operators of the Centre on 22 December last year, notifying them they only had approval to
operate as a medical centre.
The Council says it will continue to monitor the centre and may seek further legal action to ensure they cease the unauthorised use.
