SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, June 9, 2011 (parramattasun): Holroyd council approved a request last week from the directors of the Sydney Murugan Temple on the Great Western Highway to rezone the residential religious property for commercial purposes.
Disaffected members believe this will turn the temple precinct into a ghetto. They are concerned that temple managers may have forgotten the sacred purpose of the temple and are focused on making money from the site. “This rezoned triangular piece of land will become a hive of commercial activity with a health clinic, restaurant and preschool,” said protesting member Santhi Santhiran.
But temple president Sabanathan Sabaratnam said the protesters’ concerns were not warranted. “This is a non-profit organisation — all profits will go back to the community, not into pockets,” he said. “This is nothing to do with money. We have got to build up the place to service older people and for childcare. It will be good for the community.”