Restrictions Slice $250 Mil Off Temple Complex Plan

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday February 23, 2008

By ALEX ARNOLD

PLANS for the Shaolin Temple complex south of Nowra remain in the pipeline, but the project's value has been reduced by a third since it was announced in 2005.

When the home of kung-fu first announced its plans to expand into Australia, an investment of $750 million was expected.

This included the construction of a temple complex, a 500-room hotel, kung-fu academy, cultural centre, convention centre and - curiously - a 27-hole golf course.

A residential subdivision of 500 dwellings available for public purchase and another 350 self-contained villas for elderly residents were also planned.

In 2006 a Department of Planning review panel found the Comberton Grange site was a suitable location for a tourist and residential development, but capable of accommodating only 200 to 300 dwellings.

Shoalhaven Mayor Greg Watson said the residential restrictions would slash the value of the project by up to $250 million.

"However, it is still a very exciting project and would have a dramatic impact on tourism in the Illawarra and South Coast," he said, adding the proposal could generate up to 3500 new jobs.

Tourism Minister and Kiama MP Matt Brown said work was progressing under the guidance of consultants Conybeare Morrison (CM), who had been recently engaged by the Shaolin.

It was Mr Brown's chance encounter with Christa Ostermann, the wife of the temple's resident artist Charles Billich, that put the plans for the temple's expansion into motion.

Mr Brown said the consultants were working through a number of issues with the department, including the exact location of the housing component.

He said the 27-hole golf course was no longer part of the plans.

Mr Brown said the original figure of 850 dwellings in the plan was only "a rough estimate" from early in the process.

CM is also working on the Nan Tien Temple's planned expansion on the western side of the F6.

Remediation work is continuing at the site, which will be home to a university-style campus.

The development application for the 11.6ha site at Unanderra was lodged in August 2005, with the temple's founder Grandmaster Venerable Hsing Yun visiting Australia for the ground-breaking ceremony last October.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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