Locals fight Islamic college
By Bruce McDougall
HUNDREDS of angry residents are threatening legal action to stop an Islamic college being built next to a public high school.
They have threatened class action if Bankstown Council approves the controversial school for 1200 students on former Bass Hill High School land in Sydney's southwest.
Up to 1000 residents have rallied against the proposed college which teaches from pre-kindergarten to Year 12 and locals claim thousands more are ready to join the fight.
Al Amanah College Incorporated is battling accusations that it acquired the land by "stealth" because the Government believed it was to be developed for housing.
Inquiries by The Daily Telegraph reveal the giant project includes primary and secondary schools, a 30-place childcare centre, a sports hall, pool and playing fields on 18,000sq m of land which is currently zoned 2(a) Residential.
Al Amanah, which already runs two school campuses at Bankstown and Liverpool, receives more than $5 million a year from the Howard and Iemma Governments.
Bankstown Mayor Tania Mihailluk sought a meeting with Education Minister John Della Bosca to find out why the public school land was sold to the Islamic college. The price paid was $4.45 million but residents say the site is worth more.
Long-term Bass Hill resident Vern Falconer said yesterday locals were prepared to "do whatever it takes" to stop the Islamic school.
"We will take a class action if necessary because this is inappropriate next to an existing public school - it is not in the public interest."
Opposition education spokesman Andrew Stoner said the Government admitted the sale of public school land to Al Amanah went against its own guidelines but it "walked away from the concerns of the residents".
"The onus is on the Iemma Government and the Al Amanah College to explain why this is a good decision for the local community," Mr Stoner claimed.
"(Premier) Morris Iemma should order Planning Minister Frank Sartor to explore his wide-ranging planning powers in an effort to revisit the decision," he said.
Plans for the school complex which is to be known as Salamah College have already gone on public exhibition at Bankstown Council and will remain until August 14.
The council's staff acknowledged residents were "passionately opposed" to the college but said it could take at least six months for the development to come before councillors for a decision.
Al Amanah College did not return The Daily Telegraph's calls but principal Mohamad El Dana has assured residents the school will have no impact on the neighbourhood.
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By hook or by crook moslems are intent on jihad, in all its various shapes & forms...
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