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More than 2000 people have protested against the building of a private Islamic school in Sydney's south-west as the backlash against the project - including a text message campaign - builds.
The proposed Islamic school for Camden has outraged thousands of residents, some of whom say it would bring violence to the suburb and turn it into a "dirty looking town like Lakemba".
On October 17, Camden Council made public an application from the Quranic Society to build Camden College, a primary school and high school for 600 students each on Burragorang and Cawdor Roads.
The site is now farm land and the one house on the land might be turned into a caretaker's residence.
Last night's meeting was not advertised as a protest, but a call for a show of hands from those behind the plan for the school attracted only a few responses from the crowd. "This will put Camden on the map," one speaker said.
Some residents have also been circulating a text message urging people to voice their opposition to the council.
"The council requires 600 written dated n signed letters objecting2the proposal of the muslim school in camden. DONT MISS the oppoutunity2have your say before its2late," the message says.
It gives a postal address for the mayor and tells recipients to forward the message to everyone they know.
Camden Mayor Chris Patterson said most of the 270 responses received so far opposed the plan on "perceived problems with traffic, rural lifestyle and amenities" but concerns aired in posts on the local newspaper's website were more blunt.
A Camden Advertiser reader, who identified herself only as Hayley, said she felt sick. "The thought of our beautiful Camden accommodating to this religion is a disgrace ... This Islamic school will change the town forever," she said.
A resident of 14 years, Gary Wright, said if Camden Council wished to bring crime and corruption to Camden and make it a "dirty looking town like Lakemba I supose [sic] they will go ahead anyhow".
In the 2006 census, Camden had 3166 residents of which 69 per cent identified themselves as Christian and 13 per cent as having no religion.
The spokesman for the Quranic Society, Jeremy Bingham, said he had anticipated the religious backlash.
"People fear what they don't yet understand," he said. "There's nothing at all for people to be afraid of any more than they need to be afraid of Catholics or Jews or Protestants."
Kindergarten to year 3 pupils would be enrolled first to the school, which could open for the 2009 school year. New grades would be added each year and children would not have to be Muslim to enrol, Mr Bingham said.
Students would be taught subjects in line with the government syllabus in a structure that allowed for prayer and time dedicated to religious instruction - just like in other church schools, he said.
"It's just a school for little kiddies who want to learn to be good Australians and they will be taught to be good Australians. Their religious faith happens to be the Muslim faith, that's all," Mr Bingham said.
Mr Patterson said no decision would be made on the proposal until early next year. Development plans are on display at Camden and Narellan libraries and Camden Council until November 14.
The proposed Islamic school for Camden has outraged thousands of residents, some of whom say it would bring violence to the suburb and turn it into a "dirty looking town like Lakemba".
On October 17, Camden Council made public an application from the Quranic Society to build Camden College, a primary school and high school for 600 students each on Burragorang and Cawdor Roads.
The site is now farm land and the one house on the land might be turned into a caretaker's residence.
Last night's meeting was not advertised as a protest, but a call for a show of hands from those behind the plan for the school attracted only a few responses from the crowd. "This will put Camden on the map," one speaker said.
Some residents have also been circulating a text message urging people to voice their opposition to the council.
"The council requires 600 written dated n signed letters objecting2the proposal of the muslim school in camden. DONT MISS the oppoutunity2have your say before its2late," the message says.
It gives a postal address for the mayor and tells recipients to forward the message to everyone they know.
Camden Mayor Chris Patterson said most of the 270 responses received so far opposed the plan on "perceived problems with traffic, rural lifestyle and amenities" but concerns aired in posts on the local newspaper's website were more blunt.
A Camden Advertiser reader, who identified herself only as Hayley, said she felt sick. "The thought of our beautiful Camden accommodating to this religion is a disgrace ... This Islamic school will change the town forever," she said.
A resident of 14 years, Gary Wright, said if Camden Council wished to bring crime and corruption to Camden and make it a "dirty looking town like Lakemba I supose [sic] they will go ahead anyhow".
In the 2006 census, Camden had 3166 residents of which 69 per cent identified themselves as Christian and 13 per cent as having no religion.
The spokesman for the Quranic Society, Jeremy Bingham, said he had anticipated the religious backlash.
"People fear what they don't yet understand," he said. "There's nothing at all for people to be afraid of any more than they need to be afraid of Catholics or Jews or Protestants."
Kindergarten to year 3 pupils would be enrolled first to the school, which could open for the 2009 school year. New grades would be added each year and children would not have to be Muslim to enrol, Mr Bingham said.
Students would be taught subjects in line with the government syllabus in a structure that allowed for prayer and time dedicated to religious instruction - just like in other church schools, he said.
"It's just a school for little kiddies who want to learn to be good Australians and they will be taught to be good Australians. Their religious faith happens to be the Muslim faith, that's all," Mr Bingham said.
Mr Patterson said no decision would be made on the proposal until early next year. Development plans are on display at Camden and Narellan libraries and Camden Council until November 14.
