MELBOURNE, 3 October, 2026: Casey Council has recommended the Victorian Government refuse a proposed $190 million BAPS Hindu Mahā-Mandir precinct at Cranbourne South, citing concerns over traffic, infrastructure, vegetation and the project’s scale within the Western Port Green Wedge.
The Casey Council decision comes at a crucial time when the state elections are near, and the ruling Labor is facing hard times as the Coalition is leading in recent pre-poll surveys and the One Nation surging.
This is to be the fifth BAPS Swaminarayan ‘Akshardham’ temple globally, whose ‘Bhumi Pujan’ was conducted by the Swaminarayan community’s ‘His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj’ at a grand ceremony attended by thousands of devotees at the Southside Racing in February 2025.
The council published its position on 30 September, recommending the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) refuse the planning application for the temple precinct at 1390–1450 Western Port Highway.
The Star News reported on 2 Oct, 2026: “Casey councillors recently rejected a planning permit application for a proposed place of worship at 600 Cranbourne-Frankston Road in Cranbourne South.”
The proposal includes a Mahā-Mandir of about 64 metres in height, associated buildings and more than 1,000 car parking spaces. It has been lodged through the State Government’s Development Facilitation Program, making DTP — rather than Casey Council — the responsible decision-making authority.
Council’s concerns
Casey Council’s submission raises concerns about impacts on local roads and infrastructure, environmental and native-vegetation effects, the scale and intensity of the development, and potential amenity impacts on nearby residents.
The council also argues the proposal is inconsistent with Green Wedge planning objectives. The site sits within the Western Port Green Wedge, where the scale of non-rural developments has become an increasingly contentious planning issue.
Final decision with State
Council has stressed that it is not the decision maker in this case. Its planning team has provided a formal submission to DTP, which will assess the proposal alongside public submissions and advice from other agencies.
The application, listed as PA2604511, remains on public exhibition. Residents can make submissions directly to DTP by emailing development.assessment@transport.vic.gov.au and quoting PA2604511.
Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association president Anthony Tassone welcomed the council’s recommendation, saying the proposal was “too large, too intensive and too urban” for the Green Wedge location.
The decision follows a separate planning dispute over a proposed place of worship at 600 Cranbourne-Frankston Road, which Casey councillors recently refused.
