A man in a koala suit waving an Australian flag was among a group of about 70 protesters who have once again voiced their opposition to a proposed mosque in Bendigo.
The protesters are opposed to the construction of a mosque in nearby East Bendigo, which was approved by the council in June 2014 and has sparked large protests in the central Victorian city.
Last month a council meeting was abandoned and the mayor forced to leave under police guard when about 80 protesters shouted abuse at the seven of nine councillors who approved the mosque.
The public gallery in the meeting room was closed for Wednesday's meeting, with the proceedings televised into the main hall and broadcast via Youtube.
One of the councillors opposed to the mosque, Helen Leach, drew loud cheers when she spoke against a council recommendation to support the federal government's Safe Haven Enterprise Visa, for asylum seekers on bridging visas.
The motion offered central Bendigo and southern parts of the city as possible locations for asylum seekers.
Private security guards and a contingent of about 20 police kept close watch.
A small group of about 10 protesters supporting the mosque development gathered in the park outside, playing drums and singing.
Apart from one minor scuffle between a protester and a TV sound recordist, the crowd was well behaved.
The man in the koala suit, who carried an Australian flag, said he was at the protest to fight "the islamisation of Australia".
Four people were arrested as pro-diversity and anti-mosque supporters clashed in Bendigo on Saturday, the second rally organised by the right-wing United Patriots Front.
The day before, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said many of the protesters were not from Bendigo.
Many protesters on Wednesday wore signs indicating their postcodes to demonstrate that they live locally.
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