COUNCIL MOVES TO SHUT DOWN ILLEGAL PRAYER HALL
ARAB NEWS (Canterbury Bankstown-SYDNEY) The City of Canterbury Bankstown has moved to shut down an illegal prayer hall run by Sydney cleric Wissam Haddad.
The “cease use” directive on Haddad was issued by Council’s Regulatory and Compliance team late yesterday following surveillance at the Al Madina Dawah Centre located at 54 Kitchener Parade, Bankstown.
Council also issued notices to the building’s owner and others to inform them of the development consent which currently exists on the premises.
A review of Council’s records dating back to 1970 reveals the centre has never had approval to operate as a prayer hall and was only recently being approved to operate as a medical centre.
A Council spokesperson said the change of use from a medical centre to a prayer hall, or place of worship, requires development consent, which in this case has not been sought and is therefore unauthorised.
“Our recent surveillance indicates there is a strong suspicion the premises is being used contrary to its intended use,” the spokesperson said.
“We have issued the cease use notices which will be effective immediately. There are no compromises, and we will be taking further action if they don’t comply.”
The Council spokesperson said it is not the first occasion Wissam has been issued with a directive to shut down premises unauthorised to conduct prayer meetings.
On 18 December 2023, Council issued a “cease use” directive for using premises in Eldon Street at Georges Hall which only had approval to operate as a gym.
Wissam continued to operate, and after further inquiries and surveillance by Council, he was issued with another notice and shut down.
In May this year, the Daily Telegraph reported that Wissam had been preaching from the Al Madina Dawah Centre.
“At the time, Council investigated the claims and carried out surveillance of the centre but had no evidence to issue any notices,” the spokesperson said.
“Despite no complaints from nearby residents, we continued to conduct ongoing surveillance of the premises, and we now have the photographic evidence to suspect the centre is being used contrary to what it has been approved for.”
Council has been working very closely with the local Bankstown Police and NSW Government, and have been offered support and assistance in shutting down these types of premises.
“Council needs to make it clear that we have no control over what is preached inside these “illegal” prayer halls and our role is to ensure the premises are used in accordance with their authorised use,” the spokesperson said.
“We will continue to monitor the centre and will be taking further action if necessary.”
Non-compliance may result in Council issuing a penalty infringement notice of $3,000 for an individual or $6,000 for a corporation for breaches of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.