TWO pigs' heads have been dumped at the controversial site of a proposed Islamic school in Sydney's southwest. The pigs' heads, planted on wooden stakes on the Camden site, with the Australian flag draped between them, are believed to be in protest of the Muslim school proposal.The proposed school, for up to Muslim 1200 students on 15ha and wedged between market gardens and pastures, has been highly controversial.
A public meeting held in Camden earlier this month attracted more than 2000 people opposed to the development. The local council also received several thousand written objections during the planning approval process.
The chairman of the Community Relations Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, said today's "outrage" revealed what lay behind the opposition to the school. "This insult and display of hatred is not something any fair-minded Australian would approve of," Mr Kerkyasharian said. "The obsessive hatred of the mindless bigots who perpetrated this outrage is evidenced by their total disrespect of the ultimate symbol of our national pride, the Australian flag.
"Every Australian Muslim would be offended by such a display, especially one involving the Australian flag."
Mr Kerkyasharian said local residents with legitimate concerns about the impact of the development should condemn the action.
Camden Mayor Chris Patterson said the offensive protest was futile. "The council will only and can only assess this DA (development application) on planning grounds, nothing else," Mr Patterson said on Macquarie radio. "Anything like that which happened last night is not acceptable and will not influence council's decision."
The CRC has offered the council its assistance in resolving the community tension.