Councillor opposes temple on rural land, but slams religious bigotry

Indra Sirigiri is planning to build a two-level temple on a 4.5-hectare site at 378 Ararimu Rd, plus three smaller temples on the property, a water fountain and 121 car parking spaces. Resource consent is required under the Auckland Unitary Plan as the site is within the Rural Production Zone.

Andy Baker, councillor for the Franklin ward, has spoken against a plan to build a temple in Drury. Mr Baker said he didn’t like putting an urban activity in a rural area because the land is cheaper.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a temple or a church of any other denomination, I don’t like it because we’ve tried hard, through the unitary plan, to protect the integrity of our rural land,” he said.

“For applicants to buy up bigger chunks of rural land and then try and put on an urban activity that’s going to put pressure on the roads and a heap of things, is just wrong to me. But I do detest people saying racist stuff, or any sort of bigotry towards any type of religious body, that’s just unacceptable.”

There were 203 submissions received on the temple proposal, with 155 in favour of the temple, 47 against and one neutral. Most submissions against the application came from addresses close to where the temple would be. Those in favour were spread across Auckland.

Some submissions expressed racist sentiments, and these were countered by others expressing support for cultural diversity.

Mr Baker accepts that there will be more growth in southern Auckland, but believes this should be around the towns already existing, rather than in currently rural areas.

A hearing on the temple proposal will be held from June 4 and will last for three days. In an executive summary, council officers recommended that resource consent be refused, as the proposal has more than minor adverse effects on rural character, landscape and amenity values, which can’t be adequately mitigated.

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Controversy over Hindu temple proposal in South Auckland highlights planning and cultural tensions | Stuff (By David Long/Stuff)