Shaolin Temple OZ

[GeneChing]

Shaolin never ceases to amuse me.

A Shaolin vision for the Shoalhaven
BY GLENN ELLARD
15/04/2009 8:20:00 AM
THE Shaolin tourism and residential complex at Falls Creek may be at least four years from completion, but it still promised a wide range of benefits to the Shoalhaven, according to the Shaolin Foundation’s Australian representative Patrick Pang.

“Shaolin has so many facets that can develop into a huge industry for Nowra,” Mr Pang said last week while visiting the Shoalhaven.

He predicted Nowra would become internationally synonymous with the Shaolin order in the years to come.

“The whole world will come here.”

Mr Pang said the Shaolin held many international seminars on topics ranging from meditation to traditional Chinese medicine, and these would attract large numbers of visitors to Nowra from around the world.

In addition, television shows may be filmed at the Shaolin complex once it is completed, according to Mr Pang, while the site will also be home to a traditional Chinese medicine industry.

“Shaolin has a lot to offer, and will bring a spotlight to Shoalhaven,” Mr Pang said.

With so much on offer to a host community, there was plenty of competition for the first Shaolin temple to be built outside China.

Mr Pang said once other countries found out about the Shaolin’s plans to build a tourism and residential complex just south of Nowra there were many offers of free land and financial assistance.

In the United Kingdom the government even offered to pay half the costs of building a new temple, he said.

“When we did this thing here, then a lot of countries came to us.”

With so much international interest in the development, Mr Pang questioned why there was so much debate over the way in which the Shaolin was choosing to pay the $5 million purchase price for the Comberton Grange property.

The order has taken advantage of one of the conditions available in the sales contract, in which Shoalhaven City Council will act as mortgagee with the Shaolin paying off the land plus interest over a number of years.

While the payment choice raised questions about the Shaolin’s ability to raise closer to $400 million needed for the project, “I’m not worried at all about the financing of this project,” Mr Pang said.

But until the State Government approved the development application, it was difficult to move funds out of China, he explained.

Mr Pang expected it to be another 12 to 18 months before the State Government passed the DA, and after that it would take about three years to complete the temple and 500-room international hotel, which would be the first components of the overall project. The temple may also require changes to building codes, as it would be built without nails just like the original temple in China’s Henan province.

While part of the temple’s woodwork would be crafted in China, much of the construction work would be carried out by local tradespeople, Mr Pang said, as the Shaolin wanted to benefit the local area by creating jobs.

He also wanted to see Shaolin monks active in the Shoalhaven, teaching their skills, medicines and philosophies, and acting as good role models.

After the temple and hotel are built, the Shaolin complex will be expanded to include an indoor exhibition hall, outdoor amphitheatre, shops and restaurants, gallery, a kung fu academy, herbal medicine gardens and facilities, and about 300 homes that would combine Chinese and Australian design principles.

Mr Pang said the home interiors would be designed along the principles of feng shui to help with positive energy flow.

He said creating a unique design, and maintaining it through the residential area, was important.

“People will come from all over the world to Shaolin, we must have something for people to see,” he said.

Initial plans also include a 27-hole golf course, which Mr Pang said was included as a firebreak, but could be replaced by vegetable gardens.

Shaolin borrow $4.75m from council
BY KATRINA DAL MOLIN
8/04/2009 8:52:00 AM
THE sale of Comberton Grange to the Shaolin Temple Foundation will proceed, with Shoalhaven City Council and the foundation signing a three-year mortgage.

The move was not the ideal arrangement for the current council, as previously reported by the South Coast Register, however it might enable the proposed Shaolin Temple to proceed after lengthy delays.

A mortgage option was included in the terms of the June 2006 contract and recently foundation representative Patrick Pang requested council consider the option as an alternative to the up-front payment of the agreed sale price.

Under the terms of the mortgage the foundation will be required to pay the final amount of $4.75 million over the term of three years.

The loan can be repaid at any time over the period with interest payable and payments to be made every six months.

Mayor Paul Green said it was pleasing to see the negotiations over the sale of the property progress and council had added protection with the buy-back clause.

“The negotiations have been long, but this is a special development in the city and has the propensity to bring further rewards in terms of job growth and tourist visitors to the city,” Cr Green said.

“I look forward to a long and healthy relationship with the Shaolin Temple Foundation. The temple will add a new dimension culturally to our wonderful city.”

However not all councillors welcomed the progression of the contract without trepidation. Councillor Andrew Guile, a member of the property Steering Committee, said the foundation “has ended up with the deal of the century” in signing the three-year mortgage.

“In dealing with the leadership of the previous council, it can certainly be said that the Shaolins found themselves in the right place at the right time,” Cr Guile said.

“I was stunned to learn that this mortgage formed a part of the contract of sale for such an important community asset.

“There was little joy in seconding the motion to accept the variation to the contract as many of us feel backed into a corner over this matter.

“Everyone wants to see the benefits that this sort of project could potentially bring to the region, although I am left with real questions about the capacity of the proponent to deliver on some very big promises.

“Why has it taken so long for the proponent to take up the mortgage to settle the property sale and what stopped them buying the property outright when $5 million is such a small proportion of what is necessary to fulfil their vision?” he asked.

Time to brush up on my golf fu.

[GeneChing]

Follow the link for a map of the proposed site.

Temple plans go on show
By GLENN ELLARD
Oct. 31, 2012, 7:16 a.m.

PLANS to build a Shaolin temple, four-star hotel and kung-fu academy south of Nowra are finally moving forward after years of delays.
See your ad here

The proposal to build the Shaolin temple and tourist complex on the Comberton Grange property has been around for just on seven years, but plans are finally starting to take shape, with the project’s environment assessment report going on public exhibition on Monday.

It will be on exhibition for a month at Shoalhaven City Council’s offices and on the Planning Department’s website.

The $360 million proposal includes plans for a temple along with accommodation for between 30 and 50 monks in a walled precinct, a kung-fu academy with educational facilities and student housing, and a village centre offering commercial, retail and dining facilities to serve the needs of tourists and local residents.

Those residents will be living in 300 housing lots included in the development, or in four-storey buildings offering serviced apartments designed to accommodate visiting individuals and families.

A four-star hotel included in the plan is expected to offer accommodation for 500 guests.

There is also an 18-hole golf course, a health and wellness precinct offering a traditional Chinese medicine centre and a fitness centre, while a Chinese herbal garden is planned for near the quarry pond.

Agricultural and herbal farms and an information precinct near the entrance to the site are also included in the plan.

While the environment assessment report is going on display next week, the development application still has some way to go before it is approved.

Shoalhaven City Council’s co-ordinator of major development applications called in by the state government under Part 3A of planning regulations, John Britton, said several steps were still required.

He said the Planning Department was writing to many individual landholders asking for their views, and all public submissions would be assessed along with responses from a range of government departments and agencies.
See your ad here

Planning officials often found gaps in the information provided to them, Mr Britton said, and regularly called for additional reports along with responses from the applicant to issues raised during the exhibition process.

While the Shaolin application covered all the planned development, “Quite likely at some point the applicant might ask for the approval to be in stages,” Mr Britton said.

The public exhibition comes just days after council agreed to defer interest payments due earlier this month on the Comberton Grange property purchase, for six months or until the environment assessment plan was approved.

[GeneChing]

Because that's what Buddhist temples are all about - more jobs!

Thursday November 8, 2012
Temple proponents pledge job bonanza
By GLENN ELLARD
Nov. 7, 2012, 7:25 a.m.

THOUSANDS of jobs have been promised to the Shoalhaven as a result of the Shaolin temple project.

Plans that went on public exhibition this week included suggestions about 1000 people would be employed to build the project’s many facilities including a temple, replicating the original temple in China’s Henan province.

Even more jobs are expected to be created once construction has finished, with about 1300 positions catering for a predicted 150,000 visitors a year.

In addition, the socio-economic report has predicted major changes to the Shoalhaven’s community demographics and socio-economic profile as a result of the development.

“The development will economically benefit the region by providing jobs and attracting tourism, industry and business,” said consultants Conybeare Morrison.

“The development has the potential to host a number of significant cultural events and festivals that will help define the Shoalhaven region as a tourist destination as well as acknowledge the cultural diversity within the region.

“In addition to the growth in permanent residents that the development will foster due to its housing options, the development will also generate considerable tourist population,” the report said.

It also suggested the development would help attract younger people to the region, balancing the Shoalhaven’s ageing population, and also attract people who were better educated and had higher incomes.

The plan promised, “The Shaolin culture will extend to all parts of the [tourist and residential] development.”

However it said there would also be a focus on the local indigenous population.

“Facilities and activities within the development will promote indigenous and event tourism, with the ability to offer a dedicated venue to develop, present and integrate indigenous culture into its tourism attractions and events,” the report said.

“Its festivals and cultural events will draw tourists into the Shoalhaven and contribute to developing signature events for the Shoalhaven.”

The assessment of impacts on the Shoalhaven predicted the first Shaolin temple built outside China, “will be the spiritual destination of pilgrimage of the Shaolin temple followers to visit the place, as well as attract martial arts lovers from around the world”.

While the application paints an overwhelmingly positive picture for the temple’s impact on the Shoalhaven, the plans have faced slow progress through the state government’s approvals process since being put forward seven years ago.

Even the month-long public exhibition of the environment assessment report is expected to be just another step in a long path towards the project being finalised.

[Kellen Bassette]

First Shaolin Temple outside of China? What about Shi Yan Ming's temple in the Catskills...or the tons of other schools that monks teach at which refer to themselves as such and such Shaolin Temple?

[GeneChing]

Officially speaking, the Shaolin Temple hasn't yet authorized temples outside of China. They have authorized Cultural Centers (see Official Shaolin Temple Cultural Centers) but anyone can call their school a 'temple' and a few even manage to secure religious taxation. The Cultural Centers have to be inspected and get the official blessing of the Abbot. Yan Ming's temple, as well as most all of the others, have not received this.

The interesting thing about this developing Oz project is that so far, the Abbot has not been mentioned, so this too, might not be 'official'.

[GeneChing]

There's a protected image of the temple with this article. It's worth a click through the link below to view.

$360m Shaolin temple project in jeopardy
By JODIE DUFFY
Sept. 29, 2013, 10:30 p.m.

Construction of a Shaolin temple, four-star hotel and kung fu academy north of Jervis Bay is under threat again after seven years in the pipeline.

The $360-million proposal, which faced criticism in the past because of the size of its adjoining housing development, had hit another snag this time from the Road and Maritime Services (RMS).
See your ad here

The RMS insisted on road improvements at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Forest Road and said a grade separation in that area was needed for safety reasons.

But Craig Milburn, group director of Corporate and Community Services at Shoalhaven City Council, disagreed.

Mr Milburn told the Inquiry into Tourism in Local Communities earlier this month that a ‘‘seagull-type intersection’’ would be sufficient and much less costly than an expensive grade separation.

‘‘Basically this is the show stopper to the project,’’ Mr Milburn said.

‘‘It’s not even a big deal. We are getting to a point where if it is not sorted out by the end of November, the whole deal could go somewhere else in the world.

‘‘I think the Chinese are somewhat mystified by how something so small could hold up really what is a game-changer for the Shoalhaven region.’’

Mr Milburn said the Jervis Bay Road intersection, further south of the development, had a seagull intersection with more projected traffic through that area than the Shaolin temple development.

But a RMS spokesperson said the Shaolin temple development would create a big increase in traffic and that a seagull intersection would be likely to cause delays for motorists trying to turn right on to the highway and, as such, increase the risk of accidents.

‘‘A grade separated option would allow vehicles to more safely join the highway, reducing the need to take risks to merge with traffic travelling at 100km/h,’’ the spokesperson said.

‘‘The Road and Maritime Services will continue to work with all stakeholders to explore all options to facilitate the development.’’

The inquiry heard that the Shaolin religion had a huge number of followers around the world, including actor Richard Gere.

It is expected the project would inject $300 million into the NSW economy, with 300,000 domestic visitors and 150,000 international visitors, many of them Asian tourists, to flock to the Comberton Grange site each year.

It was hoped the temple would generate $171 million a year for Shoalhaven.

The project is being considered by the Department of Planning.
See your ad here

It includes accommodation for between 30 and 50 monks in a walled precinct, a kung fu academy with educational facilities and student housing, a golf course and a village centre offering commercial, retail and dining facilities.

The project also has 300 housing lots.

[breeze]

Well that's what the world urgently needs: "Shaolin religion" and a golf course !

[GeneChing]

The project is still going apparently.

Mayor says temple has backing of NSW Premier
March 24, 2014, 6 a.m.

STATE SUPPORT: NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell is backing The Shaolin Temple.

PREMIER Barry O’Farrell has thrown his support behind the Shaolin Temple proposal at Falls Creek.

Mr O’Farrell, along with Planning Minister Brad Hazzard, met with representatives of Shoalhaven City Council and the temple proposal to discuss the development earlier this week.
See your ad here

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash said she believed the development would go ahead, with the Premier making a commitment to the project after hearing the group’s presentation.

Deputy mayor John Wells, general manager Russ Pigg and director of planning and development Tim Fletcher and Shaolin representatives Patrick Pang and Phil Balding joined the mayor in the meeting.

“We were able to meet with the Premier and point out the delays and in the end he made a commitment to the project, as far as he is concerned, unless something really comes up that we really don’t expect. The chief planner was in the meeting and he said all the issues had been resolved,” Cr Gash told radio station 2ST.

“The minister Mr Hazzard will be meeting on a weekly basis with the planning department to make sure the development application can be approved so it can go to the Joint Regional Planning Panel for final resolution.

“Personally, I think we will see this project proceed. Of course you can never guarantee anything, but the Premier is very committed to the project, he understands the importance to the Shoalhaven as we do.”

She said Mr Hazzard was not across all the issues with the development but certainly was by the end of the meeting.

“This is wonderful for the region, not just the Shoalhaven,” Cr Gash said.

“The traffic issues have been addressed with the Shaolin Temple agreeing to do what the RMS has requested and as far as we are concerned it’s full steam ahead.”

The proposal comprises a Buddhist temple sanctuary complex, kung-fu academy, 500-bed four-star hotel, commercial shopping precinct and community centre and permanent housing residential development.

[GeneChing]

The more I think about Shaolin golf, the more it inspires me.

South Coast residents call for answers about Temple development
Ainslie Drewitt-Smith
Updated Tue 10 Jun 2014, 2:15pm AEST

Photo: The Shoalhaven Council owned Comberton Grange site where a proposed Shaolin Temple and golf course will be built if approved by the NSW government. (Judy Gjedsted)
Map: Nowra 2541

Hundreds of South Coast residents have signed a petition urging the state government to consider the environmental impact of a proposed Buddhist Temple south of Nowra.

The multi-million dollar Shaolin Temple and golf course, to be built at the council owned Comberton Grange site, has been under negotiation for eight years.

Vincentia resident Judy Gjedsted, who started the petition, says the chosen location borders seven kilometres of Jervis Bay's main estuary.

She says the site is wrong for the magnitude of the development and could cause a significant risk to the water quality in the bay.

"It's got the potential to do a huge amount of damage to the Bay's water and it interferes with an existing wildlife corridor."

"You've got a 27 hole golf course with all of the pesticides and herbicides and fertilisers that that entails, all draining into the major water course."

Nearly 700 people have signed the petition, which also calls on the NSW government to seek financial bona fides from the Shaolin Foundation in relation to how the multi-million dollar project will be funded.

"I think they've extended the payment period to 2015, which will make it nine years on the basis of a $250, 000 deposit, which was paid in 2006," Ms Gjedsted said.

"Now basically that's all of the money that council's seen and that's all that the community know about."

"Who's going to pay for it, is just a kind of a mystery."

Shoalhaven councillor Greg Watson, who is a fierce supporter of the development, says he expects the Temple will generate around 2000 jobs.

Ms Gjedsted says there's no research to prove the figure is accurate.

"It's been sold to people on the basis of jobs and it's very doubtful if there are the jobs that have been claimed and there have certainly been no studies."

"There's no cost benefit analysis to say whether this is really a good thing or would destroy the existing tourist industry."

The ABC has sought comment from the NSW Department of Planning who is currently dealing with the development under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

The Shaolin Foundation's development proposal was one of the last to be accepted under Part 3A, which was repealed by the NSW Government in 2011.

The Shaolin Foundation has also been contacted by the ABC.

[GeneChing]

There are accompanying images with each news item below, but they weren't available for easy cut&pasting here, so you'll have to follow the links to see them.

Shaolin concept plans to be lodged
By ROBERT CRAWFORD
July 2, 2014, 4:31 p.m.
An artist’s impression of the $360 million Shaolin temple proposal planned for Falls Creek.

Shaolin complex will be a gated community

SHOALHAVEN Mayor Joanna Gash is hopeful concept plans for the $360 million Shaolin complex proposal will be lodged with the Planning Assessment Commission by Friday.

“We have been pushing the State Department of Planning to get the concept plan through and we are hopeful that it will be finally lodged on Friday,” Cr Gash said.

“I spoke to Chris Wilson from the department on Tuesday and was assured it would be in by Friday for PAC to decide.

“I’m still very positive about the whole thing.

“Once it is lodged with PAC it could take between four and six weeks for a decision.”

She said PAC would come to the area and hold community consultations to hear any concerns.

Cr Gash defended council’s decision to defer interest payments on the property for the Shaolin organisation.

“Cr Guile well knows council decided many months ago we would hold the interest payments until the development application was approved or otherwise. Whichever one came first,” she said.

“It’s a huge investment in our city and I don’t want to see it pass.

“Should it not happen, council still owns the land. We can always take back the land.

“We have a $250,000 deposit and $640,000 in interest payments, we can’t lose either way and we still have the land. We could always resell it and Cr Guile knows that.

“I hope for the sake of the community, the sake of the city, for jobs, investment, tourism, you name it, the DA will be approved.”

Cr Gash said she understood the organisation’s reluctance to pay more money.

“They are not prepared to start investing in something should the concept plan not be approved and I understand that,” she said.

“They have Chinese investors who want to come and spend money in this city but why would they if they don’t know if it is going to be approved or not?

“I have spoken to Patrick Pang from the Shaolin Group, they have waited over eight years and I asked them to hang on another month or so to see what the outcome is.

“It has taken a long time; I’m very frustrated by that. It is a long process and in some cases they have been a little bit unfairly treated but there has also be fault on both sides.

“Council is supportive and we have let the Office of Environment and Heritage know, as far as council is concerned all conditions have been met.

“After approval by PAC any future DA approvals will be made by council.”

The multi-million dollar proposal comprises a Buddhist temple sanctuary complex, kung-fu academy, 500-bed four-star hotel, commercial shopping precinct, community centre and permanent housing residential development for the Falls Creek area.

Shaolin complex will be a gated community
By ROBERT CRAWFORD
July 3, 2014, 3:13 p.m.

A look at what the proposed $360 million Shaolin temple development at Comberton Grange will look like.

THE long-talked about $360 million Shaolin complex development, south of Nowra, has been described as a “gated community” which will attract predominantly Chinese nationals, whose lives will be determined by the Shaolin Foundation.

A report in response to Environmental Assessment Submissions by consultants Conybeare Morrison for the proposed tourist and residential development at Comberton Grange has cast doubts the project will have the major spin-off for the Shoalhaven, as is often touted.

In the report the consultants said the residential component would attract predominantly Chinese nationals wishing to live or retire in a precinct with an Asian culture, or Australian Chinese-Australian retirees seeking a retirement opportunity in a “gated” community that provided specific attractions and care.

“Residents are not likely to have work commitments in Nowra or the surrounding area,” the report said.

“As the development is under one ownership (the Shaolin Foundation), the foundation has the right to determine the overall mix of residential occupancy in the development.”

The report said the “predominant marketing aim of the development” was to cater to specific senior and ethnic groups, with accompanying services and lifestyle provision.

The precise nature of the development was an integrated Buddhist tourist and residential development, with residential a minor component.

The report assumed that 50 per cent of shop owners within the complex would probably be Chinese and would live within the development, raising questions about how the proposal might benefit the local community if the Shaolin Foundation decided who lives in the complex.

The number of retail staff is estimated to be 100 in stage one and 400 in the ultimate development.

The $360 million proposal comprises a Buddhist temple sanctuary complex, kung-fu academy, 500-bed four-star hotel, commercial shopping precinct and community centre and permanent housing residential development for the Falls Creek area.

Over the years there have been promises of thousands of jobs for the area as a result of the project.

In 2012 when the plans went on public exhibition it included suggestions about 1000 people would be employed to build the project’s many facilities and even more jobs were expected to be created once construction was finished, with about 1300 positions catering for a predicted 150,000 visitors a year.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash confirmed the proposal would pay rates to Shoalhaven City Council.