On December 16, Victoria's highest court threw out a protracted legal bid by a group of Bendigo residents to stop a mosque being built.
Led by local woman Julie Hoskin, the group has battled against the mosque, which the City of Bendigo approved in June 2014 and which VCAT approved last August.
The Court of Appeal rejected the residents' claims that the mosque would have a negative social impact on Bendigo. The judges said the Charter of Human Rights protects freedom of religion and people practising their religion could not be considered to be an adverse "social effect". The Court held that the objectors' concerns were "overstated and unfounded".
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