The Mayor of Cessnock City Council in NSW’s Hunter Valley, Bob Pynsent, says it will be up to police to decide whether they should lay charges against people who posted menacing messages to Facebook after the decision to approve the mosque in rural Buchanan last night.
"Sounds like the council chambers might need a bomb," one Facebook user wrote on the "STOP the Buchanan Mosque – kurri kurri" page.
"If it is approved I hope it is burnt to the ground," another wrote.
Reaction to the mosque approval on social media. Source: Facebook
And another: "I bet a packet of matches and a litre or two of petrol it won't last long."
Councillor Pynsent told SBS: "I am shocked, and we’ve contacted the police in regards to some of the threats that have been made."
In NSW, using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offence carries a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment.
"That’s up to police, and after last night I’ve got every confidence in the way the police conduct themselves,” Councillor Pynsent said.
He said 28 people registered to exercise their democratic right to address the council meeting - 16 of them were for the mosque and 12 were against.
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Asked why the council approved the mosque, Councillor Pynsent said it met all the requirements of the planning system.
One Facebook post said the decision should "bring out the fighter in all of us and make them think twice about where they want to lay their hijabs".
Councillor Pynsent said no councillors or staff had told him they were concerned for their safety.
A NSW Police spokesperson told SBS: "Officers attached to Central Hunter Local Area Command have been notified of the [Facebook] posts. As an investigation is under way, it would be inappropriate to comment further. No charges have been laid."
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