Our problems began about a year ago when the City of Stirling, without consultation, began to reduce the amount kerbside parking along Nanson Way where our temple is located.

Our centre is licensed by the Council for more than 500 people hence it is the duty of the Council to ensure adequate parking for 500 people. All residents of Nanson Way (which include ourselves on 18-20 Nanson Way) depend on the Council for allotment of parking space. Did you know that Council has only allocated us space for only 38 cars?

Every Friday night our free talks and meditation sessions are well attended by people living in and around the City of Stirling and this reduction of available parking areas was the first sign of problem for us.

We have had a good reputation with our Nanson Way neighbours and have been considerate in our parking. We go out of our way to put-up "no parking" signs every Friday on the lawns of our neighbours and take them down again. We also have paid security guards to ensure security and orderliness.

Every year in May for the past three decades, we have been celebrating our most holy day of Vesak peacefully and without incident.

But this year when we asked for permission to park in the reserve park on Nanson Way, we were surprised that our application was rejected for the following reason: "The application for use of the reserve for parking cannot be supported and hence has been declined on the basis that it is deemed an incompatible use of the reserve."

Read the newspaper story here.