Excerpt:
Rapturous applause and angry boos of derision greeted a decision by Liverpool Council to approve the development of a controversial new Islamic school in Hoxton Park last night.
The new plan for the school, which will have up to 800 kindergarten to Year 12 students is the latest in a series of application proposals for Muslim schools in Sydney, some of which have been marred by controversy.
Hundreds of members of the Muslim community who had crowded into the Liverpool Council Chambers burst into spontaneous applause and cheering after the councillors voted in favour of the decision to allow construction of the school to go ahead.
Local residents have opposed the school on the grounds that it will increase traffic congestion in the area and that the land is flood prone.
School Principal Dr Intaj Ali said he welcomed the decision by the council to approve the development of a new campus of the Malek Fahd Islamic school which is the State's largest Islamic school.