Drumming up complaints

By Melissa Meehan
A CARDINIA church group and its neighbour are at loggerheads after accusations the group is running congregations from its residential property.
Victory Worship Centre’s Paul Aloalii says the church’s Ballarto Road premises is only used as an office, but neighbour Joyce Cabrin thinks differently.
“They have many cars going in and out of the property at night,” she said.
“And the drumming – it makes my windows vibrate.”
Mr Aloalii refuted Ms Cabrin’s claims, saying there was no permit for a place of assembly at Ballarto Road, and their application was turned down by both the council and VCAT in 2008.
“At the moment our Ballarto Road property is the primary residence of our church minister and family,” he said.
“Our pastor operates a home office from Cardinia so people from the congregation may visit them sometimes but church gatherings are held at Narre Warren P-12 College every week.”
He said the drumming noise his neighbours had complained about was from the shed on the church’s property. The shed was sometimes used for band practice, which he said was always finished before 9pm.
“We are aware of our neighbours’ concern about the sound,” he said.
“But this happens only once a week – it’s not a church service, it’s just a jamming session like other bands across Melbourne partake in.”
He said claims of the church being a cult were false, and could colour his neighbour’s views on the situation.
Cardinia Shire spokesman Paul Dunlop said the council was aware of Ms Cabrin’s concerns regarding 2315 Ballarto Road.
“The council has followed up complaints and visited the property on numerous occasions, but due to insufficient evidence we have been unable to proceed further with our investigation at this stage,” Mr Dunlop said.
“The property does not have a permit for a Place of Assembly, and in 2008 council resolved to refuse the application for such a permit on the grounds it was out of character with the surrounding area.”