James Darby, founder of the controversial "Stop the Mosque" Facebook page. Credit:Tony Moore Councillors voted 10:5 to refuse the application from the Salsabil Charitable Organisation Pty Ltd to transform an old factory at Currumbin Waters into a place of worship. The two Gold Coast business figures behind the Salsabil Charitable Organisation are expected to appeal the council's decision. Property searches by Fairfax Media show Salsabil Charitable Organisation has two directors, Ishrat Abdool, from Bilinga, the wife of a Gold Coast medical specialist, and Broadbeach Waters businessman, Benjamin Abdul. Ms Thompson, said the council's decision was based on "common sense and town planning" issues.

"There are places for everybody to fit into a community," she told reporters outside the council chambers on Tuesday afternoon. "But unfortunately, in this instance, there is no one in our community that is going to go to that." Fairfax Media understands 97 per cent of residents in the local area opposed the application for the mosque in the Currumbin industrial estate. Members of the Currumbin Residents Group rejected any suggestions they objected to the application on religious grounds, saying the industrial estate was for industry alone. The group said there were 790 hectares of other industrial land on the Gold Coast where a mosque could be built.

Several Gold Coast councillors had changed their view of the mosque application, since last week's City Planning Committee meeting, where the mosque was given an initial green light. Last week, councillors placed amendments on the hours of early morning services at the proposed mosque, as well as parking. Five councillors believed those conditions, limiting the mosques operating hours to between 7am and 10pm, were tough enough to allow the application be approved. Ms Thompson said the residents were proud of the research provided to the council meeting by local Currumbin councillor Chris Robbins, who persuaded other councillors to vote against the application. "She has obviously worked very hard to make them see reason and vote the way they did today," she said.

Mayor Tom Tate said he believed the council's decision would eventually be challenged in the Planning and Environment Court. However, he said the decision was "about listening to the people of Currumbin". Cr Tate said Cr Robbins had researched the issue well and had presented a strong case to other councillors to listen to the local community. He accepted the council would have to wear the expense of a legal challenge. "And if it means that we need to take it further, we'll take up the good fight in court. We'll do it because it is the right thing to do and we'll do it for the people," Cr Tate said.

He urged any other group wanting to build a "similar venue" to do a pre-lodgement plan and consult with the local councillor and the local community first. "And yes, there are areas of the city where you can fit in nicely, but just not in this location," he said. Inside the council meeting it was suggested that industrial areas further away from residential areas were better suited to an Islamic place of worship, because prayers typically start from 4am, five days a week. Cr Robbins said it was a win for her local community, but said the threats against her did not sway her decision to oppose the mosque. "Absolutely not. We take an oath when we are elected to uphold the law. This was about planning law and that is what we did in there today," she said.

Cr Robbins said she believed a Planning and Environment Court would support her constituents. "It could go either way, if it goes to court, she said. Cr Thompson rebuffed suggestions her constituents were rednecks. "That's not our group. That's a totally different group, who are not even part of the Currumbin community. They don't live in Currumbin," she said. "Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but I'm not going to waste my time talking about rednecks."

James Darby, from Robina, set up the controversial "Stop the Mosque" Facebook page, which was heavily criticised for provoking racism. But he said the council's approval process showed Australia could remain "calm and free and at peace with each other". "I think it shows the beginning of a new freedom for Australia, where we can remain calm and free and at peace with each other," he said. "Any Muslim is welcome in my country. The simplest thing for a Muslim to do in my country is live as a Christian."