Residents against mosque 'have nothing to fear' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Residents against mosque 'have nothing to fear' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "People who live near mosques around the country are encouraging Worongary residents not to oppose the worship centre.

Jordan Brock used to rent a home in Northbridge, inner-city Perth, where he lived close to a mosque.

He says prior to September 11 he barely noticed it was there.

"The mosque has been there for well over 100 years and was renovated during the 1990s, which was when we moved into the area," he said.

"We didn't have a great deal to do with the mosque for the first few years, and to be honest, we barely even noticed it was there.

"There was certainly no evidence of it encouraging or increasing anti-social behaviour and it had no impact whatsoever upon neighbourhood security.

"If there was any gathering of people on the street prior to prayers, services or functions at the mosque, they were certainly friendly and in no way threatening."

Mr Brock says nowadays the mosque hosts community gatherings and provides delicious food.

"After September 2001 the people in the mosque obviously felt the need to engage in the community a bit more and start educating their neighbours," he said.

"So they started having a series of open days, where they provided free food and the tastiest lamb burgers you've ever eaten."

He says people should visit a mosque and talk to the people who worship there before attempting to ban the construction of a worship centre.

Moreover, Mr Brock says he left Northbridge in 2005 because he could not afford to buy a house in the suburb due to rising property values.

Kathryn Hegarty from Footscray in Victoria, who lives close to three mosques, says she enjoys the cultural diversity in her neighbourhood.

"My neighbours here are Muslim and life is unaffected, except the food aromas do put me to shame about 5:00pm each night," Ms Hegarty said.

She says she never has any security concerns.

"I feel safest in the African quarter of Footscray, especially at night, where people look out for each other and the men seem to me to really respect women," she said.

"I feel so blessed here because we are rich in this country and immigration has just made us richer and we eat better as well."