Shaolin Temple OZ

[GeneChing]

Shaolin never ceases to amuse me. ;)

A Shaolin vision for the Shoalhaven (http://nowra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-shaolin-vision-for-the-shoalhaven/1486766.aspx)
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 (http://nowra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/shaolin-borrow-475m-from-council/1481627.aspx)
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 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47565).

[GeneChing]

Follow the link for a map of the proposed site.

Temple plans go on show (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/478244/temple-plans-go-on-show/?cs=203)
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.
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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.
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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! :rolleyes:

Thursday November 8, 2012
Temple proponents pledge job bonanza (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/720437/temple-proponents-pledge-job-bonanza/?cs=203)
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 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53147)) 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 (http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1809075/360m-shaolin-temple-project-in-jeopardy/?cs=298)
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).
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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.
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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 (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2169023/mayor-says-temple-has-backing-of-nsw-premier/?cs=203)
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.
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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. :p


South Coast residents call for answers about Temple development (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-10/temple-petition/5512502)
Ainslie Drewitt-Smith
Updated Tue 10 Jun 2014, 2:15pm AEST

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/5512900-3x2-340x227.jpgPhoto: 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 (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2391466/shaolin-concept-plans-to-be-lodged/?cs=203)
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 (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2393714/shaolin-complex-will-be-a-gated-community/?cs=203)
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.

[GeneChing]

The images are copy protected and I didn't feel up to slogging through the code to dig them out to paste here, so just go there to see.

Shaolin temple concept plans finally lodged (http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2410030/shaolin-temple-concept-plans-finally-lodged/?cs=300#slide=1)
By By ROBERT CRAWFORD
July 8, 2014, 2:48 p.m.

Concept plans for the long talked about Shaolin Temple proposal have been lodged with the Planning Assessment Commission.

The $360 million proposal includes a Shaolin Temple complex, a four star 500-bed hotel, Kung Fu academy, educational facility, retail shopping and community centre, golf course and 300 residential lots for the Falls Creek area.

Shoalhaven Mayor, Joanna Gash welcomed the lodgement of plans and said she was “pleased to see the project finally moving forward”.

The concept plans will be determined by the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) allowing the Shaolin Foundation to proceed with its subsequent project applications.

These would be lodged with Shoalhaven City Council for assessment and determination at a later date.

The Department of Planning has completed an assessment report and made recommendations to the PAC.

“As I have said on numerous occasions, the Shaolin complex will provide the Shoalhaven with an extremely unique facility and tourist attraction,” Cr Gash said.

“Initial forecasts show that the complex will attract upwards of 300,000 overseas visitors and many more domestic visitors per year.”

She said construction of the facility would create about 750 jobs with a further 900 in regional supply industries.

“The operational benefits would also include $132 million in regional turnover, 670 ongoing jobs and an additional $31 million in local wages each year,” she said.

But questions over how much money the proposed development would bring to the region were raised by one of the Shaolin’s own reports.

A report in response to Environmental Assessment Submissions by consultants for the proposed development described it as a gated community.

In the report the consultants said the residential component would attract predominantly Chinese nationals wishing to live in a precinct with an Asian culture, or Australian Chinese-Australian retirees seeking

a retirement opportunity in a gated community.

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

The report assumed that 50 per cent of shop owners in the complex would probably be Chinese and would live in the development.

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

[GeneChing]

Here's some images that were easily C&Ped. :)

Traditionally designed $370 million Shaolin Buddhist Temple for South Coast, NSW (http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/traditionally-designed-$370-million-shaolin-buddhi)
11 July, 2014 Nathan Johnson

http://media.cirrusmedia.com.au/AnD_Media_Library/ServiceLoad/Article/140711_temple_tn.jpg
Artist impression of the Shaolin Temple precinct. Source: South Coast Register

Revised concepts have been submitted for an integrated Buddhist tourist and residential project complete with Shaolin Kung Fu Academy on the NSW South Coast.

Plans for the Shaolin Village in the Shoalhaven, have progressed to the State’s Independent Planning Assessment Commission.

Designed by Sydney-based Conybeare Morrison architects, the development has been on the table since 2008 and has already been assessed by the Department of Planning & Environment.

The site is on the former Comberton Grange homestead in Falls Creek, accessed from the Princes Highway. It comprises approximately 1,248ha of land which includes a former quarry and a creek.

The masterplan (see attached) accommodates a Buddhist Temple Sanctuary, A Kung-Fu Academy, Agricultural and herbal farm, a 500 bed 4 star hotel, residential developments, small retail, commercial, professional and community services centre a 27 hole golf course and clubhouse.

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/getmedia/0e8fbc61-7716-45af-b9b8-7fc66f4a3d0f/Capture3.aspx
http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/getmedia/99881e4d-1758-444b-a25a-3e097921f405/Capture_4.aspx

It is anticipated that the construction of the development will be over a 5-10 year period and, according to the project application, will be delivered in two stages.

The Buddhist Temple Sanctuary will be constructed in the first stage, and will consist of a traditionally designed religious walled complex comprising temples, pagodas, meditation and multicultural halls, a Kung-Fu Academy for up to 500 students, library, dining hall and residential accommodation for the Abbot and monks arranged around a series of courtyards.

Associated non-sectarian public facilities are to be located within the sanctuary comprising a 1500 seat convention centre, a 1000 seat amphitheatre, cultural centre and public amenities.

The sanctuary is to be set within a landscaped setting of natural and indigenous forest. Several of the main temple buildings exceed 13m in height.

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/getmedia/dc68d323-1a40-41a8-ab90-8e3ae45e0716/Capture4.aspx
http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/getmedia/908de939-550d-4218-98d4-d2497dd3593e/Capture2.aspx

Following the Temple development, stage two will consist of the residential components of the development. These include a 500 bed 4 star hotel with ancillary rooms for staff accommodation (up to 30 rooms); up to 300 dwellings comprising: - self-contained independent living villas/ adaptable housing for the aged; and detached and medium density residential developments.

Should the project be approved by the PAC, construction will still require Development Approval from Shoalhaven Council.

Shoalhaven City Council Planning Department says they are expecting a response to the assessment on 18 August.

Images: Artist Impressions: South Coast Register. Masterplan and Site Section: NSW Planning and Environment website

[GeneChing]

The South Coast Register seems behind this at least...

Planning Dept backs Shaolin concept (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2460796/planning-dept-backs-shaolin-concept/?cs=12)
Aug. 3, 2014, 5:51 p.m.
THE Department of Planning and Environment has recommended the concept plan for the Shaolin residential and tourist complex at Comberton Grange be approved.

The plan was lodged with the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) in July.

The department recommended PAC approve the concept plan subject to a number of conditions.

The project’s social and economic benefits for the South Coast were considered in the public interest.

In the report to PAC the assessment recognised the need for the temple proposal in terms of promoting development in the Shoalhaven.

The department found some issues with traffic, biodiversity and water quality impacts but was satisfied the recommended modifications to the plan would resolve the issues.

Shoalhaven City Council’s Development and Environ-mental Services director Tim Fletcher said the recommendation was a major step for the proposal.

“It’s a huge step in a sense that after six years of going back and forth, the report has been done and it recommends approval,” he said.

Mr Fletcher likened the concept approval to the Vincentia shopping centre in that once the overall idea was approved there would be more detailed approvals later.

“Those downstream approvals would be assessed by the Joint Regional Planning Panel or council depending on the scale.

“But the overall concept approval is essential,” he said.

The proposal would be staged in three parts.

Stage one includes site clearing, infrastructure works and bulk earthworks.

Construction of the temple would take place in stage and involves limited tourist and residential developments. Stage three expands on the tourist and residential development.

The $360 million proposal includes a Shaolin Temple complex, a four-star 500-bed hotel, kung fu academy, educational facility, retail shopping and community centre, golf course and 300 residential lots for the Falls Creek area.

[GeneChing]

Shaolin hearing: not one voice in favour (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2485093/shaolin-hearing-not-one-voice-in-favour/?cs=12)
By ROBERT CRAWFORD
Aug. 13, 2014, 2:48 p.m.

NOT one speaker at Wednesday’s Planning Assessment Commission public meeting into the $360 million Shaolin complex at Comberton Grange spoke in favour of the proposal.

Twelve individuals or community group representatives made presentations at the meeting at the Archer Resort.

Concerns over the environment, the lack of public consultation and the actual number of jobs the proposal would create were among the major issues raised.

It was the last chance for members of the public to make representations on the Department of Planning and Environment’s report and recommendations before the fate of the project is determined.

The meeting was called due to the level of public interest in the proposal, including 20 objections.

Speakers were given between five and 15 minutes to address the panel, with one, Daniel Joseph McConnell, simply standing in silence for his five minutes, as a protest.

Up to 80 people attended the meeting staged by chairperson and environmental lawyer Donna Campbell, environmental scientist David Johnson, retired architect Richard Thorp and planner Nicky Gibson.

Speakers included Alan Stephenson of the Australian Orchid Council, Judith Gjedsted, former councillor David Phelps, Lake Woolumboola Protection Association representative Frances Bray, Graeme Gibson, Jervis Bay Regional Alliance representative Leslie Lockwood, Roger Hart, Angus Bishop, Maureen Webb, Peter Cumes and Nathan Deaves

The panel heard environmental concerns, ranging from effects on flora and fauna and water quality and possible impacts on nearby Jervis Bay.
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The lack of “proper community consultation” and “the avoidance of transparency” were raised and whether the proposal would be the “significant tourism boost” promised by the developers.

Questions were also raised over the amount of traffic generated by the proposal and impacts on Forest Road and the newly upgraded intersection with the Princes Highway.

The PAC committee toured the Comberton Grange site on Tuesday and will now consider the information gathered at the meeting, look at the department’s assessments and reports and make a final decision on the project.

PAC could not provide a time frame for the final decision. Simply standing in silence for his five minutes. How very zen. :rolleyes:

[breeze]

How neatly this whole project fits into Chinas politics of worldwide acquisition of land, not necessarily for supporting the local societies but for Chinese interests. There is a lot of interest in buying land in special places of this world for certain projects which generate secure and highly profitable investment possibilities for wealthy Chinese, many of them politicians. Political “Soft skill” often looks really nice, cosy and harmless, like “Let’s make a Buddhist Temple! With some additional …." . You might ask “What is here the decoration for what?" If the aim is to spread Buddhism, then why does Shaolin-Temple not simply want to built a temple in Australia, maybe even there where - at least some - local people would like to have one.

[GeneChing]

...they will build Fu Manchu's evil lair. :rolleyes:


Foundation secretary fears Shaolin is losing patience (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2499279/foundation-secretary-fears-shaolin-is-losing-patience/?cs=12)
By ROBERT CRAWFORD
Aug. 19, 2014, 7:28 p.m.

THE secretary of the Shaolin Foundation Phil Balding said if any more obstacles were put in front of the organisation for its planned $360 million tourism and residential complex at Comberton Grange it might be forced to walk away from the project.
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Commenting after Wednes-day’s Planning Assessment Commission public hearing into the proposal, Mr Balding said it was getting to the stage that unless the project got the green light without further obstacles the foundation might have to reassess its position.

“It is hard to explain to our Chinese friends why this has taken so long,” he said.

“They can’t understand it. Things don’t happen like this in China.”

Twelve individuals or community group representatives made presentations at the PAC hearing at the Archer Resort.

Mr Balding criticised the South Coast Register’s reporting of the meeting, saying it was not a true representation.

“The article claims no one spoke in favour of the development and that was because only people who put in submissions with objections to the temple were allowed to speak,” he said.

“The whole purpose of the meeting was to allow those people to voice objections. They weren’t here to listen to people in favour of it.

“We or anyone in favour of the temple was not invited to speak against, defend or contradict some of the claims being made.

“Eleven speakers out of a population of 30,000 people is not a lot, is it?”

He said the group had taken on board some of the concerns raised at the meeting – the main issue was water quality, including run-off, erosion and possible silt going into Currambene Creek which is in the Jervis Bay catchment area.

“The engineers have looked at these things and factored in appropriate measures to stop erosion and run-off of silt into the area’s waterways. They are all part and parcel of any development,” he said.

Mr Balding said the Shaolin group met privately with PAC representatives, who undertook a tour of the area, on Tuesday, as did Shoalhaven City Council, to express concerns and put in written submissions about what they thought was more appropriate for the development of the site.

“We were happy with the meeting, they took on board and listened to what we had to say,” he said.

He said the commission indicated it would make a ruling within four to six weeks.

Meanwhile, Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis has weighed into the debate with an open letter urging opponents of the complex to consider the economic and cultural benefits of the projects.

He letter is published in full on page 10.

[GeneChing]

How neatly this whole project fits into Chinas politics of worldwide acquisition of land, not necessarily for supporting the local societies but for Chinese interests. There is a lot of interest in buying land in special places of this world for certain projects which generate secure and highly profitable investment possibilities for wealthy Chinese, many of them politicians. Looks like you share the opinion of Clive Palmer, breeze....

JK. ;)


Watch: Australian tycoon says 'Chinese mongrels' want to 'take over' the country during televised tirade (http://shanghaiist.com/2014/08/19/clive-palmer-televised-tirade.php)

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/katienelson/palmer.jpg

Australian mining mogul and politician Clive Palmer attacked Chinese business interests in his country during an ABC network current affairs show in which he called the Chinese government "*******s" who "shoot their own people".

Palmer, leader of the Palmer United Party Clive Palmer, claims that the Chinese government owes him over A$500 million (HK$3.6 billion) in royalties from a Sino Iron magnetite project that saw partnership between Hong Kong-based Citic Pacific and China's Metallurgical Group Corporation, SCMP reports.

Citic is mining for magnetite iron ore on Palmer’s sprawling Australian Mardie Station cattle farm under a 25-year lease.

But the two sides have clashed over what share of the proceeds are owed to the Australian businessman and whether his company, Mineralogy, is the legal operator of the project’s export terminal at Port Preston.

Citic has also accused Mineralogy of siphoning off millions of dollars from a business bank account to fund Palmer’s election campaign.

Palmer denied any such allegations against him, claiming that he's now planning to sue the Chinese government.

“We’ll be suing them and they’ll be answering the questions,” he said.

“We’ve had three judgments in the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Western Australia and an arbitration against these Chinese mongrels - I’m saying that because they’re Communist, they shoot their own people, they haven’t got a justice system and they want to take over this country...And we’re not going to let them,” he said.

“The Chinese government wants to bring workers here to destroy our wage system … they want to take over our ports and get our resources for free."

“So far they’ve shifted A$200 million worth of iron ore out of this country without paying for it...I don’t mind standing up against the Chinese *******s and stopping them from doing it."

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy said that Palmer's words "were full of ignorance and prejudice". Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop assured the public in an interview with Fairfax Radio that the country did not share views held by Palmer.

"It really isn't appropriate for him to use a national television program to vent his bitterness about a legal dispute he is having with a Chinese company," she said.

Palmer was further bashed by netizens online.

“Clive Palmer hit a new low tonight with his racist, anti-Chinese rant - while sitting next to Penny Wong! This man is a disgrace,” said one web user identified as Toni McLee.

"Clive's comments were out of order but I thought Tony's continual badgering was too. He seemed to think he was on Lateline," a Twitter user said.

"First one to do a dance remix of Clive Palmer's anti-Chinese rant wins YouTube," joked another.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUdeFXmtMIs

[GeneChing]

If Nowra says 'no'...


Kiama eyes Nowra's $360m Shaolin Temple By ALEX ARNOLD Aug. 20, 2014, 10 p.m. (http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2502565/kiama-eyes-nowras-360m-shaolin-temple/?cs=12)

http://transform.fairfaxregional.com.au/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-fCYJja9iKCnEpjnTRSxRRL/b30084fb-9102-4828-996c-93ba664e63e9.jpg/r7_243_2945_1903_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
An artist’s impression of the $360 million Shaolin temple proposal.

If a proposal for a Shaolin Temple at Comberton Grange, south of Nowra, fails to find support, then a decommissioned Jerrara Dam site could be an option, according to Kiama councillor Mark Way.

On Tuesday night, Cr Way attempted to have Kiama council officers approach the Shaolin Temple proponents to gauge their interest in the Jerrara site should the Shoalhaven proposal fall through.

The $360 million Shaolin complex at Comberton Grange is now being assessed by the Planning Assessment Commission, eight years after it was first proposed.

"I've been monitoring the situation and they seem to be having a lot of trouble getting the proposal through," Cr Way said.

"As most people are aware, I wanted to have a fishing and eco-resort at Jerrara Dam, but I'd also like to know if the proponents of the Shaolin Temple would be interested in that area. A development like that would be great for tourism and something positive for that area."

In October 2013, Kiama councillors voted 8-1 to decommission Jerrara Dam, arguing other options for the 53-hectare earth-fill embankment dam were too expensive.

Cr Way voted against the move.

In recent years, the dam has regularly been the subject of emergency warnings or "amber" alerts during heavy rain.

While the integrity of the dam wall was never in question, the NSW Dam Safety Committee had concerns - based on updated climate forecasts - that the dam could overtop in extreme weather circumstances.

Kiama council has factored $1.3 million into future budgets for the decommissioning to take place, while cost estimates to raise the embankment or widen the spillway ranged between $3.1 million and $3.6 million.

Kiama Mayor Brian Petschler said design works for the decommissioning were complete and the council would soon go to tender for the work, which the council hoped to have complete by the end of 2015.

Cr Petschler said that once decommissioned it would be up to the council to decide what happens next at the Jerrara Dam site, whether it was left as a reserve, turned it into a caravan park - or a Shaolin Temple.

[Seadragon]

I'm sure that beneath this temple...

You won't find Fu Manchu under this 'temple', but more likely the graves of Australian Aboriginal people.

One grave has already been identified with the likelihood of more. It is also identified as a woman's site, having significance to Aboriginal women. There is also a range of other archeological significant sites (scatters, scar trees, cave habitation) that will be destroyed if this development goes ahead.

Archeological evidence estimate they have used that site for over 3,000 years. Aboriginal people have been on this continent for at least 52,000 years. Some see this development as one culture being introduced at the expense of another.

Not only is the site culturally important but ecologically important too. The site will impact on the headwaters of Currambene Creek, the main tributary into the pristine waters of Jervis Bay. Some of your readers may have been whale or dolphin watching on the Bay or maybe to one of the sailing, art or triathlon events.

There are 5 Endangered Ecological Communities and 6 endangered species that will become more endangered if this is approved.

Also the community is massively against this development as our Shire Council is using ratepayers money to prop up it by the way of interest free loans and selling land worth $39million for a paltry $5million. As this is one of those developments that have wrangled ‘charity’ status they will pay no tax or interest. With the environmental and cultural heritage damage this resort will do there seems little benefit to the community.

And by the way, this is not about race or religion. I have lots of Chinese friends, some of my family are Buddhist and we have been to 100 or more temples throughout Asia. I've never been to one that has a golf course!

[GeneChing]

...and welcome to our forum. ;) I was joking about Fu Manchu's lair, of course.

Here's some more environmental issues:

Shaolin complex will harm creek (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2521334/shaolin-complex-will-harm-creek/)
Aug. 28, 2014, 5:48 p.m.

THE Shaolin tourist and residential development at Comberton Grange will be an ecological disaster.

A water management report commissioned by the developer states their removal and retention standards to trap litter bigger than 5mm is 90 per cent.

This means 10 per cent of litter bigger than 5mm will go into Currambene Creek. For fine sediment, it’s 50 per cent. This means 50 per cent of soil – which is identified as having high erosion potential – can go into Currambene Creek.

For hydrocarbons, it’s 70 per cent, so 30 per cent into the creek. Phosphorus and nitrogen is 45 per cent, so a staggering 55 per cent will go into the creek. And this is with a 27-hole golf course and how many tonnes of fertiliser?

The report also states the development will require a sewage pumping station, which is not identified on the plan. Nor is the placement of the stormwater outlets that will pump all this crap into our pristine waterway.

In the same report the maximum rain event is 12 hours and there is no data on quantity of rain (mm per hour). The east coast low that hit the area in 2012 delivered 275mm over seven days and flooded parts of Nowra and Woollamia.

This is not good enough for our environment, the residents or the hundreds of thousands of people that flock to Jervis Bay every year. Algal blooms and silt will smother the fish nurseries that make Jervis Bay a recreational fisher’s dream. So all the fisherfolk will have to find somewhere else to go. This development must not be allowed to proceed.

M. Curtis,

Woollamia.

[breeze]

Looks like you share the opinion of Clive Palmer, breeze....

JK. ;)

My Chinese “mongrel”-friends would torture me with chopsticks if I called them *******s … , and i forgot, how many Buddhist temple's in China i visited. I don't share the opinion of Clive Palmer, but am against some aspects of Chinese (and American and German and ...) politix, that came to my mind when reading this thread.

Sorry, but i cannot separate Shi Yongxin’s temple-building plans from political and financial interests. To me it seems that he mostly wants to create some high-society Shaolin-wellness-oasis, if possible close to some Chinese “diaspora”-community. Shaolin “light” for a well paying elite outside of China.

Besides, also in Berlin, Germany there are plans to build a Shaolin temple, not as big as the Australian temple and without afive-star-hotel and a golf course, so Shi Yongxin’s interest always was very limited, that means he had nothing against it, but also didn't actively support it.


9098

9099

http://www.shaolin-tempel.eu/shaolin/images/Shaolin-Tempelanlage.pdf (http://www.shaolin-tempel.eu/shaolin/images/Shaolin-Tempelanlage.pdf)


The temple was planned to be built on former Tempelhof (= “temple’s court”) airport, which is now a public park, owned by the senat of Berlin, that means by the people. - There was a referendum earlier this year asking people, if they want the land to remain as it is now or if they want the land to be partially sold and with buildings on it (there were also housings etc. planned). People prefered nature to buildings …, so building plans are stopped for a while -> http://nprberlin.de/post/100-tempelhofer-feld-celebrates-win-over-park-referendum

It would have been nice to have a Shaolin temple just around the corner, but now I am forced to practice gongfu and qigong on an open field and watch a big sky with larks rising to it.


9102

[GeneChing]

What we really need to start here on this forum is a "Shaolin Temple Germany/Austria" thread. ;)

Meanwhile, returning to OZ:

Shaolin Temple plans receive conditional approval (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-09/shaolin-approval/5729686)
Ainslie Drewitt-Smith
Posted 26 minutes ago Tue 9 Sep 2014, 9:41am

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/5729702-3x2-340x227.jpg
Photo: An artists impression of what the Shaolin Temple development would look like if it gained full concept approval. The Planning Assessment Commission has recommended the project be scaled back.
Map: Nowra 2541

A controversial temple development planned for the South Coast has been given concept approval.

The Planning Assessment Commission has given the green light to the Shaolin Temple project, but not without significant conditions.

In their report the PAC denied approval for the construction of a golf course and 300 residential lots at the Comberton Grange sight.

The document said the golf course was deleted due to the potential risk it poses to water quality in the longer term.

They said the residential precincts could result in the creation of an urban settlement, contrary to the South Coast Regional Strategy and the South Coast Sensitive Urban Lands Review.

In their report, the commission's chair Donna Campbell and members Richard Thorp and David Johnson shut down the developers plans to remove vegetation from the Jervis Bay Habitat corridor.

They said with the deletion of the golf course and relocation of the hotel precinct there's no need to remove vegetation from the area.

In one ****ing paragraph, the Commission questions council's handling of the project and suggests future DAs associated with the development be assessed independently by the Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel.

Vincentia resident Judy Gedsted has been lobbying against the project since its inception eight years ago.

She said she's surprised by the Commission's final determination and is pleased with the outcome.

"They've actually seen the point that regional planning was for no new towns and villages and they've seen the potential for this to be a township."

"They've also seen that council were perhaps over enthusiastic with their support," she said.

Ms Gedsted slammed council's handling of the project and said the community's concerns have been justified by the Commission's findings.

"I think council have behaved abominably."

"Council I think have been quite deceptive in the way they've spoken about this, it's been appalling."

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash said she's disappointed by the PAC's decision and is concerned it will turn the developers away.

"I am terribly disappointed about the whole thing."

"I was also disappointed at the attitude of the Planning Assessment Commission panel, who throughout the whole approval process, there was not one stage in which they fully grasped what the whole project was about," she said.

"We actually had to explain to them what the project was."

"Taking the golf course and the residential housing out of the project, I don't know what that will do with the proposal," she said.

"It may be a game stopper, I don't know."

Cr Gash said claims council has had a conflict of interest over the project are absurd.

"The state planning department signed off on this proposal."

"Now if there was any further concerns, surely the minister would have told us that there were concerns."

"To say that we handled it badly, this is just not on. I won't accept that, at all," she said.

The ABC has sought a response from the Shaolin Foundation's spokesman, Patrick Pang.

It's unclear at this stage whether the developers will proceed with their application.


It is now up to the Shaolin Foundation to prove it was genuine from the start (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2547934/it-is-now-up-to-the-shaolin-foundation-to-prove-it-was-genuine-from-the-start/?cs=202)
Sept. 9, 2014, 6:34 p.m.

THE decision by the Planning Assessment Commission to severely limit the scope of the Shaolin tourist and residential proposal for Comberton Grange was never going to please everyone.

For Shoalhaven City Council, it has come as a blow because it was banking on the economic benefits the project would bring.

For the Shaolin Foundation, which not long after floating the concept of a temple and associated tourist infrastructure including a hotel added a golf course and housing subdivision, the commercial equation will doubtless look much less attractive. It’s probable it will walk away from the project.

For Cr Greg Watson, who was a passionate advocate of the project, from its more humble vision to its expanded residential scale, the decision will cut deeply.

However, for the residents who fought tooth and nail against the project, fearing the environmental consequences, it is a sweet victory, one that suggests their objections have been taken seriously by the independent Planning Assessment Commission.

What happens next will be mightily interesting. South Coast MP Shelley Han**** has thrown down the challenge to the Shaolin to get on and build what they originally proposed to demonstrate their sincerity in wanting to promote a Buddhist way of life.

If they do walk away, it will vindicate what the naysayers have maintained all along, including former Planning Minister Frank Minister Frank Sartor; that the project was a Trojan horse for an urban development on sensitive land that was unsuited for the proposed purpose.

[GeneChing]

...it is quite fascinating to watch how this is playing out.


Shaolin group in rough over golf course (http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2551122/shaolin-group-in-rough-over-golf-course/?cs=12)By ROBERT CRAWFORD Sept. 10, 2014, 9:30 p.m.

South Coast MP Shelley Han**** has backed the Planning Assessment Commission's decision to delete the golf course and 300 residential blocks from the proposed Shaolin Temple development at Falls Creek.

"Honestly, I think PAC has got it right," Mrs Han**** said this week.

"If the Shaolin group walks away from this, they were never really committed to it. They have got everything else they wanted.

"And if they do walk, it will confirm it was a pseudo urban development."

Ms Han**** said a substantial development had been approved.

"It remains well-positioned to allow a substantial tourist development to occur at the location.

"It has still got a temple with residential accommodation, the Shaolin Martial Arts Training Centre, including the health and wellness centre, the four-star hotel and village centre.

"There are a number of substantial attractions and I don't think PAC is being unfair at all."

She said PAC had determined the golf course could pose a risk to water quality.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash expressed her disappointment at the PAC's decision and said it had created serious doubts as to whether the $360 million project would proceed.

Cr Gash said she was extremely concerned the PAC and state government "would think a degraded wildlife corridor was of more importance than local jobs and a unique and innovative tourism complex".

"I was disappointed by the attitude of the Planning and Assessment Commission throughout the approval process; there was not one stage in which they fully grasped what the project was all about.

"However, the state government had no issues in approving the Packer development at Barangaroo, which is of no benefit to regional NSW, in six months," she said.


Shaolin temple decision supported by Han**** and Gjedsted (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2547901/shaolin-temple-opponent-judy-gjedsted-says-shes-vindicated/?cs=203) By Robert Crawford Sept. 9, 2014, 6:23 p.m.

EARLY VISION: One of the artist’s impressions produced when the Shaolin Foundation first proposed a temple at Comberton Grange.

Vincentia resident and vocal opponent to the $360 million Shaolin tourism complex at Comberton Grange Judy Gjedsted said the Planning Assessment Commission’s decision was a win for those opposed to the development.

“We have not won the war but we have won a battle,” she said.

“I’m pretty pleased with PAC’s decision and recommendations, it vindicates the concerns the community has had for a long time.

“I think PAC got it [the development]. To a large extent they understood a lot. Maybe not everything but enough.”

She said she was happy about the removal of the golf course and the 300-lot housing development.

“I think [PAC] has given more consideration to the wildlife corridor but it is still a huge development,” she said.

“It will still have to be very carefully monitored.

“It was more commercial than people realised, whether these recommendations will lead to a stop we’ll have to wait and see.

“It will be interesting to see if the finance is still available and where we go to from here.”

She said the commission had added some technical things to protect the quality of the water and other aspects of the development.

“There are some great improvements which will make it less destructive than it might have been,” she said.

“It is odd the mayor says she is disappointed, but she has constantly referred to it as a temple rather than a housing development.

“The temple is coming so what is the problem?”

She said it was interesting council would no longer be able to deal with any of the development applications regarding the proposal.

Ms Gjedsted said she would continue to keep a close eye on the proposal.

“I’m in my 80s, I’ll probably be dead or go gaga,” she said.

MP defends temple decision, urges Shaolin to stick to original plan

South Coast MP Shelley Han**** says she agrees with the Planning Assessment Commission’s decision to delete the golf course and 300 residential blocks from the proposed Shaolin Temple Development at Falls Creek.

“Honestly, I think PAC has got it right,” Mrs Han**** said.

“If the Shaolin group walks away from this, they were never really committed to it.

“They have got everything else they wanted.

“And if they do walk, it will confirm it was a pseudo urban development.

“Quite a substantial development has been approved. I’m happy.

“It remains well-positioned to allow a substantial tourist development to occur at the location.

“It has still got a temple with residential accommodation, the Shaolin Martial Arts Training Centre, including the health and wellness centre, the four-star hotel and village centre.

“There are a number of substantial attractions and I don’t think PAC is being unfair at all.”

She said PAC determined the golf course could pose a risk to water quality in the long term.

“That was an issue residents raised,” she said.

“I also agree about the 300 homes deletion, which probably differs from [Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash]. I don’t think the 300 homes were integral to a tourism development.

“It is either an urban development or a tourist development and to me 300 homes looked like a residential development.

“PAC made this decision, not the government. The government is at arm’s length with the process, that’s why they appoint PAC.”

[GeneChing]

the suspense is killing me.

okay, not really, but it's still amusing.


Shaolin temple: Joanna Gash feels confident (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2553903/mayor-upbeat-about-shaolin-meeting-planned-for-monday/?cs=203)
By ROBERT CRAWFORD
Sept. 11, 2014, 6:28 p.m.

SHOALHAVEN Mayor Joanna Gash remains confident the $360 million Shaolin tourism complex at Comberton Grange will go ahead.

Cr Gash said she had spoken to Shaolin Foundation representative Patrick Pang a number of times since the Planning Assessment Commission approved the temple, Kung Fu training academy and tourist accommodation on Monday but rejected the proposal for the 300-home residential package and golf course.

“I have spoken to Patrick on numerous occasions in China and he wants to come here and talk to us about the project. I’m taking that as a positive,” Cr Gash said.

“He will be in the Shoalhaven on Monday to talk to us about the project.

“To me, the glass is more half full than half empty.”

Cr Gash said one point of discussion in Monday’s meeting would definitely be about payment to council.

“Of course we will discuss whether the project will go ahead or not and if it goes ahead, [the Shaolin Foundation] know the first account that needs to be paid is council,” Cr Gash said.

“We will discuss some of the points on how we could work with the existing plans and I’m looking forward to that.”

The Shaolin Foundation has only paid a $250,000 deposit and made $640,000 in interest payments on the $5 million land deal.

Cr Gash has previously said the project was a win-win for council, saying if the proposal went ahead council would receive the $5 million price tag for the land and if it didn’t go ahead, council would retain the deposit and interest payments, and still own the land.

“We could always take back the land and still go ahead and re-sell it,” she said.

[GeneChing]

Theres's an image of Patrick Pang if you follow the link. I starting digging through the source code to cut&paste it, but got tired and gave up. It's Monday morning...:o

Shaolin temple: Patrick Pang says project will go ahead (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2559859/shaolin-says-it-will-go-ahead-with-temple/?cs=203)
By JOHN HANSCOMBE
Sept. 15, 2014, 1:41 p.m.

Shaolin representatives Patrick Pang and Phil Balding are all smiles after their meeting with Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash on Monday morning.

THE $360 million Shaolin temple and tourism development will go ahead, despite major restrictions imposed by the Planning Assessment Commission.

The outstanding balance of the $5 million sale price of the land at Comberton Grange will be paid to Shoalhaven City Council within three months.

Shaolin Foundation representatives Patrick Pang and Phil Balding met Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash on Monday to offer their assurances the project would get under way as soon as possible.

An upbeat Cr Gash said she was “delighted with the positivity of the meeting”.

“Myself and deputy mayor John Wells hope to visit China – at our own expense – to meet the Abbot in coming weeks,” Cr Gash said.

She said it became evident during the meeting that the Chinese people had been hurt by recent disparaging comments by Palmer United Party boss Clive Palmer and that she and Cr Wells wanted to make it clear Mr Palmer’s views were not representative of those in the Shoalhaven.

Mr Pang said it was pleasing to have definite approval after 10 years of effort to get the temple and tourism development under way.

“I think we have enough to work on at this point with our architects and urban planners. We will then probably make some modifications to make it economically more viable and sustainable,” Mr Pang said.

He said the decision to strike out the 300 residential homes would have an impact on the complex’s ability to host large events but it would not jeopardise the project.

“Obviously that isn’t the case because we have a reputation to protect and Shaolin temple is not a property developer,” he said.

Mr Pang said he would like to settle the purchase of the land as soon as possible

“I told [Shoalhaven City Council] within three months…and if possible ASAP because it is ridiculous that we are concerned about this $5 million because if we can’t afford it we wouldn’t have even started it. For us to worry about the $5 million, I think it is a joke.”

Mr Pang said he would like work to begin as soon as possible.

“If we have the approval and the cooperation of all various government agencies, it will start straight away. We have no time to wait. I’m already 62 years old,” he said.

[GeneChing]

The story continues.

Shaolin Temple will go ahead (http://www.ulladullatimes.com.au/story/2564447/shaolin-temple-will-go-ahead/?cs=12) Sept. 17, 2014, 8:02 a.m.
THE $360 million Shaolin temple and tourism development will go ahead, despite major restrictions imposed by the Planning Assessment Commission.

The outstanding balance of the $5 million sale price of the land at Comberton Grange will be paid to Shoalhaven City Council within three months.

Shaolin Foundation representatives Patrick Pang and Phil Balding met Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash on Monday to offer their assurances the project would get under way as soon as possible.

An upbeat Cr Gash said she was “delighted with the positivity of the meeting”.

“Myself and deputy mayor John Wells hope to visit China – at our own expense – to meet the Abbot in coming weeks,” Cr Gash said.

She said it became evident during the meeting that the Chinese people had been hurt by recent disparaging comments by Palmer United Party boss Clive Palmer and she and Cr Wells wanted to make it clear Mr Palmer’s views were not representative of those in the Shoalhaven.

Mr Pang said it was pleasing to have definite approval after 10 years of effort to get the temple and tourism development under way.

“I think we have enough to work on at this point with our architects and urban planners. We will then probably make some modifications to make it economically more viable and sustainable,” Mr Pang said.

He said the decision to strike out the 300 residential homes would have an impact on the complex’s ability to host large events but it would not jeopardise the project.

“Obviously that isn’t the case because we have a reputation to protect and Shaolin temple is not a property developer,” he said.

Mr Pang said he would like to settle the purchase of the land as soon as possible

“I told [Shoalhaven City Council] within three months … and if possible ASAP because it is ridiculous that we are concerned about this $5 million because if we can’t afford it we wouldn’t have even started it. For us to worry about the $5 million, I think it is a joke.”

Mr Pang said he would like work to begin as soon as possible.

“If we have the approval and the cooperation of all various government agencies, it will start straight away. We have no time to wait,” he said.

[GeneChing]

Council upbeat on Shaolin after China trip (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2650987/council-upbeat-on-shaolin-after-china-trip/?cs=203)
By ROBERT CRAWFORD
Oct. 26, 2014, 3:28 p.m.

THE Shaolin Foundation is still committed to the $360 million Shaolin temple and tourism development project, according to Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash, with the Abbot to visit the Shoalhaven early in the new year.

Cr Gash, deputy mayor John Wells and council’s economic development manager Greg Pullen discussed the development with the Shaolin Abbot during their trip to China, joined by Shaolin Foundation representative Patrick Pang.

Cr Gash said the visit was successful with the Abbot and his architects set to come to the area.

The troubled development, planned for Comberton Grange at Falls Creek, has been on the books for eight years.

The Planning Assessment Commission recently approved concept plans with strict conditions that excluded the golf course and residential precincts of the proposal and advised that the hotel precinct should be moved.

“We’re pretty happy with the outcome of the visit and were given every indication that the project would go ahead,” Cr Wells said

“We met a lot of people interested in the Shoalhaven both at a city level and the temple development.

“We met with the East China Architecture Design Industry, which will be doing the architecture and engineering design.

“There are a lot of businesses that want to be associated with the project. Even our Sister City, Fuzhou, indicated it wanted to be involved, expressing an interest in having some of the gardens around the temple developed by the province.

“Everyone wants a piece of the action.”

Cr Wells said the matter of the outstanding money $4.5 million for the site had been addressed prior to the local delegation going to China.

“Mr Pang indicated the outstanding money would be paid by year’s end and was confident the loan for the project would be acquired by the Shaolin by the new year and it would all then be all systems go,” Cr Wells said.

A new municipal friendship was struck with Fuyang, the Abbot’s birthplace, a city of 10 million, which has a major ageing population problem and is looking to Australia to provide technical advice and guidance on aged care facilities and education exchange opportunities.

“The three cities we looked at have a combined population of 25 million, more than the population of Australia. If we could tap into just 0.2 per cent of that 25 million it would make a significant impression on the Shoalhaven. The key for us is to ensure our industry is ready for it.”

Crs Gash and Wells paid their own ways to China to meet with the Abbot, while Mr Greg Pullen’s travel was paid for by ratepayers.

Cr Gash and Wells paid for their accommodation in Fuzhou but in other cities where they were hosted the accommodation tabs were picked up by ministers or host cities or supporters of the Shaolin Foundation.

Shoalhaven not alone when it comes to temple plans

IT has long been mooted the Shoalhaven Shaolin development would be the only such temple built outside of China but plans could soon be looked at by Capel Shire Council, south of Perth.

On July 7 this year, the West Australian reported the Shaolin Temple Foundation of Australia had assessed land owned by Southwide Proprietary Limited in Capel that would be suitable for the construction of a Shaolin temple and complex.

It said plans for a $200 million development south of Dalyellup, midway between Bunbury and Busselton, had the potential to attract more than 250,000 tourists and pilgrims a year.

The WA development would be on the same scale as the Shoalhaven proposal, with Shaolin Temple Foundation director Patrick Pang saying it would not be doing anything until the NSW project was confirmed.

Early plans for the 12ha development include short-stay accommodation for tourists and pilgrims, accommodation for monks, serviced apartments and an aged care facility for Capel residents.

The proposal is yet to be submitted to the WA Planning Commission. What is it with Shaolin & OZ exactly? :confused:

[GeneChing]

Here we go again indeed....

Here we go again: Shaolin asks for more time (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2769094/here-we-go-again-shaolin-asks-for-more-time/)
By ROBERT CRAWFORD
Dec. 16, 2014, 7:05 p.m.

THE Shaolin Foundation has asked for yet more time to pay the balance on the purchase of land at Comberton Grange.

The payment of the outstanding balance of the $5 million sale price of the land at Falls Creek for the proposed temple complex was due on Wednesday, December 17.

Shaolin representatives addressed the Shoalhaven City Council meeting at Ulladulla last night stating they would not be making the promised payment until January next year.

Foundation representatives Patrick Pang and Mr Liu said it would not be able to make the payment until January 23.

It is understood even then the foundation would only be making an instalment.

In front of a packed gallery at the Ulladulla Civic Centre, Mr Pang and Mr Liu blamed a bureaucratic board of the Chinese government for holding up their payment.

Cr Andrew Guile said council can’t believe the foundation’s promises any longer.

“If we were to trust the Shaolin in meeting their obligations then we should have expected them to deliver tomorrow, as they and the mayor promised,” he said.

“They applied to make a repayment on January 23 and we don’t know how much.

“We should be demanding payment in full.

“I think people were a bit surprised. There was great expectation we would be receiving payment sooner rather than later.

“We can’t believe their promises any longer.

“We were promised three months ago the payment would be made on December 17 and now we find out we have to wait at least another month.

“And we don’t know how much they want to pay.

“If we are generous enough to extend the time once more, Shoalhaven ratepayers should expect every cent under the contract plus interest to be paid by that date.

“They criticise our bureaucracy with the speed of processing the application and approving it, one would have thought the Chinese could have been a little more efficient.”

The $360 million Shaolin temple and tourism development proposal comprises a Buddhist temple sanctuary complex, kung-fu academy, 500-bed four-star hotel, commercial shopping precinct and community centre.

[GeneChing]

Foreclosure call on sale (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2819427/foreclosure-call-on-sale/)
Jan. 15, 2015, 4:58 p.m.

SHOALHAVEN City Council should repossess Comberton Grange if payment is not forthcoming from Shaolin Temple Foundation on January 23, according to Cr Andrew Guile

“Money on the site has been owed to council for five years. With interest it now comes to $5.2 million.”

Cr Guile said the deadline of January 23 was looming, a deadline imposed by the Shaolin Temple Foundation itself.

“If payment isn’t forthcoming I’ll put forward a notice of motion to foreclose on the mortgage for the land given the Shaolin Temple Foundation.”

Cr Guile said while the project had the backing of Mayor Joanna Gash and her supporters on council he did not think the motion would pass.

“But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do the right thing for the community,” he said.

“The site is of great commercial interest and comes with all the appropriate DPI approvals.

“Comberton Grange is a valuable asset for the Shoalhaven, and I want it put back on the market.”

Shaolin Temple Foundation representative Patrick Pang said he was disappointed by Cr Guile’s negative attitude.

“This is a very, very important community project,” Mr Pang said.
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“Everybody should get on board and make this happen. The Shaolin Temple is a very important icon in China, and building a complex here will generate a lot of goodwill between Australia and China.

“I think it would be good for the media to get onside with this project.”
We'll revisit this next week, I imagine.

[GeneChing]

$5.2 million down. $380.8 million to go.


Comberton Grange mortgage paid, Shaolin Temple to go ahead (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-23/temple-pay-day/6043326)
Ainslie Drewitt-Smith
Updated about 11 hours ago
Thu 22 Jan 2015, 10:03pm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/5729702-3x2-940x627.jpg
Shaolin Temple Photo: An artists impression of what the Shaolin Temple development would look like if it gained full concept approval. The Planning Assessment Commission has recommended the project be scaled back.Paid

A controversial temple development proposed for the South Coast is set to go ahead after nine years of negotiation.

On Friday, the Chinese developers of the Shaolin Temple paid Shoalhaven Council the full $5.2 million mortgage owed on the land at Comberton Grange, south of Nowra.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash said the council is pleased with the outcome and is looking forward to moving to the next stage.

"The money from china has been transferred to the Shaolin Temple Foundation. We have today received cheques to the full amount."

"That will now allow the project to finally move forward."

The $386 million proposal includes plans for a Shaolin Temple, a four star hotel, a Kung Fu Academy and educational facilities.

The project is expected to provide a boost to the region's tourism industry and create hundreds of local jobs.

The development has divided the community since plans for the Temple were first mooted in 2006.

The Planning Assessment Commission gave conditional approval to the project following a public meeting in August, 2014.

Mayor Gash said it's unclear when work will commence on the development.

"I think to get the money for us was the first step, we'll now look at where they're going to go."

"I understand Patrick Pang is getting people out of China, he's getting his local contractors together, a local team to bring the plan forward to council. So all of those things are being considered right now."

[curenado]

Wow....it takes 360 million dollars to be a Shaolin temple.
Wonder how the poor bleeders of the last thousand years managed?
But beyond (haha) a bit of cynicism - is this the same fellow the ABBA woman sued to get her 10 million that was supposed to build a disney temple back?
I am personally about astonished. 6 honest men can get sued for a name on a school but we just must spread the word that if you add floating bar and biscotti, problem solved...
I think the humble and earnest must receive the temples blessing even if they must wait in line behind gloriously wealthy "wonderful nonsense".
But we are glad people are having whatever benefit they get. It is a great "product".
We have a chinese culture center here and one of those mcTemple "authentic only ones pure" circuses for the wombats too.
Guess which one seems authentic...
(I mean albuquerque)

[GeneChing]

Shaolin pay up for Comberton Grange land (http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2838781/shaolin-pay-52m-for-comberton-grange-land/)
By SIMON BROWN
Jan. 25, 2015, 3:30 p.m.

Righton deadline, Shoalhaven City Council has received a cheque for $5.2 million from the Shaolin Temple Foundation.

The money is to purchase the land at Comberton Grange for the eventual construction of a Shaolin Temple Complex.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash said she was excited and relieved.

“It took this council less than two years to bring this to fruition, even though the project has been eight years in the making.

“I want to pay special attention to Cr Greg Watson, who initiated the project. I know he will be very excited by this news.”

Cr Gash also wanted to thank council staff.

“This process has not been easy for them. And great thanks to those councillors who have been so proactive with this project, often against great negativity.

“It’s time now to unite and make sure the project is completed.”

Cr Andrew Guile said the news was exciting.

“Now’s the time for the foundation to lodge a development application and see the project through,” he said.
Indeed, we'll see.


Wow....it takes 360 million dollars to be a Shaolin temple.
Wonder how the poor bleeders of the last thousand years managed?
Shaolin had imperial support which may well have been worth a comparable amount. The stele from Emperor Li Shinmin was how Shaolin managed to survive the great Buddhist purge in the Tang.



But beyond (haha) a bit of cynicism - is this the same fellow the ABBA woman sued to get her 10 million that was supposed to build a disney temple back?
You mean the Anni-Frid Reuss case (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?56283-Busted-Qigong-Masters&p=1047007#post1047007)? Wait, who's the connection exactly?

[curenado]

<<You mean the Anni-Frid Reuss case?>>
Probably. I only caught a blurb of it and never knew the disposition.

>> Wait, who's the connection exactly?>>
I wondered if it might be the same developer, because that guy had loads of determination too and the same pattern of "crests and crashes" in progress - I was thinking "still goin'" and waiting to see what was next. Since the total monies for stuff like that typically come from heavy investors, often like the group that pays for all the beam iron and group that owns food rights etc, more people than it might seem from articles have to stay on board and sometimes back out. ? There is no doubt it would get visitation if they get it going.

[GeneChing]

The promoter/qigong master for Frida's case was Marcus Bongart (this according to those news items (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?56283-Busted-Qigong-Masters&p=1049491#post1049491)). I can't find a connection between him and this project at all.

[GeneChing]

Oh man...srsly? :rolleyes:


Tempers flare at Shoalhaven City Council over 'irregular' cheques (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2845894/questions-raised-over-shaolin-payment/)By SIMON BROWN Jan. 28, 2015, 12:05 p.m.

http://transform.fairfaxregional.com.au/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-9LNXnqhsphxCdCNr29GUmN/a7865081-034c-45d2-bd56-2608e5191a7e.jpg/r0_0_976_1315_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
The Shaolin cheques Cr Guile says are highly irregular. Account numbers have been digitally removed.

Questions have been raised over the legitimacy of three Shaolin Temple Foundation cheques given to Shoalhaven Council for the land at Comberton Grange

Cr Andrew Guile raised his concerns during Tuesday night's council meeting, during which he was threatened with expulsion for "insulting" Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash.

Cr Guile told the Register on Wednesday the cheques were highly irregular.

“First, a mortgage is usually paid for with a single bank cheque. What Patrick Pang delivered to Mayor Jo Gash last Friday were three personal cheques, two for $1 million dollars and one for over $3 million.

“Second, it is standard practice that cheques for a large sum of money need to be counter-signed.

“And third, all three cheques were post-dated.”

An angry argument arose in council when Cr Guile raised the issue and was accused of insulting the mayor.

“I tried to apologise when asked, but was repeatedly rebuffed.”

Cr Guile said Cr Gash was wrong when she said payment had been received for Comberton Grange.

“In fact, last Friday no money was received for the mortgage.

“The first and second cheques, both for $1 million, can only be banked on January 28 and January 29.”

Shaolin Temple Foundation representative Patrick Pang insisted he was allowed to sign the cheques by himself.

“The money is good. It came in by dribs and drabs from China, but now it is all there.

“There will be no problem with the cheques,” Mr Pang said.

Shoalhaven City Council director of Corporate and Community, Craig Milburn, said the first cheque had been deposited into the Council’s NAB account on Wednesday morning.

“I stood in the deposit line with all the other people holding cheques, although mine probably had a few more zeros than theirs.”

Mr Milburn said he expected the cheque would be cleared by early next week.

Greens Councillor Amanda Findley said proper process had "gone of the rails in respect to the sale of Comberton Grange".

"I'm absolutely astounded that Shoalhaven Council accepted post dated cheques from the Shaolin," Cr Findley said.

"I am distressed that council put out a message that was factually incorrect - the money has not been paid and the majority of it won't be received until the end of February.

"I don't believe that the Shaolin would have had the audacity to present the future dated cheques if they had received different signals from council.

"I think there is a real difference in doing straightforward business and fawning over a developer.

"The current political majority Team Gash have a develop at any cost reputation, but in this case the fundamentals have been lost."

Cr Gash declined to comment.

[curenado]

Well, I suppose we should wait until march 1st and see...

[GeneChing]

The story continues... ;)



Shaolin representative Patrick Pang says he will lobby for blocked housing
By SIMON BROWN
Jan. 29, 2015, 1:42 p.m.

http://transform.fairfaxregional.com.au/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-9LNXnqhsphxCdCNr29GUmN/62b104d9-08bd-4df6-8fdd-db1ad4fe7f41.jpg/r0_0_735_482_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Part of a Shaolin temple in China. Local representative Patrick Pang maintains attached housing is necessary for the Shoalhaven temple's long-term viability.

FOLLOWING the handover of three cheques to Shoalhaven City Council from the Shaolin Temple Foundation for the mortgage on Comberton Grange, foundation representative Patrick Pang says lobbying will continue for a residential precinct of 300 houses despite its rejection by the Planning Assessment Commission in September last year.

Mr Pang said the residences were necessary for the long-term viability of the proposed Shaolin temple complex.

“Shaolin is not a business. It is a spiritual centre and carries out many charitable projects. Charity is close to the heart of Zen Buddhism. But this requires a cash flow.”

Mr Pang expressed disappointment with the negativity of some in the community about the project.

“Dirty politics in Nowra has created a toxic environment,” Mr Pang said. “We are here to promote honesty, transparency and goodwill.

“If you can have a prison in the Shoalhaven, why are people upset about a Shaolin Temple? If James Packer can get his Barangaroo Central casino complex approved in less than a year, why should it take us 10 years to get a temple approved?”

He insisted the foundation was doing everything in good faith.

“We will go ahead with DAs for the project even without the houses,” he said.

“I want people to understand that this will be the first Shaolin temple outside of China. The temple is the essence of Chinese culture. It belongs to the Chinese people in a very spiritual way.
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“Building a temple here in Australia is a wonderful sign of the link between Australia and China, of the friendship China feels towards this country.”

Mr Pang said the foundation was paying to remove the mortgage on Comberton Grange as a show of good faith and so council can breathe more easily.

South Coast MP Shelley Han**** said she would not support the foundation’s push for a residential precinct.

“The Planning Assessment Commission made the decision to exclude the proposed precinct and golf course for the complex because it was inconsistent with the South Coast Regional Strategy. There are significant environmental issues with this parcel of land.

“It will be almost impossible for Patrick Pang to get support from local government for this. I will not support this.”

Mrs Han**** stressed she fully supported the temple complex as approved by the PAC, and fully supported closer links with China.

“The foundation has to get on with it and show it is committed to the construction of the complex without housing.”

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash said she was open to Mr Pang working towards getting approval for the residential precinct.

“I understand why Mr Pang would like to see this happen. I’ve been to China and know how important it is for the Chinese to have a place of their own when they visit,” Cr Gash said.

[curenado]

I meant about the numberless, post dated cheques and his promise that the money will be there.
I'm not sure I fully get the housing issue? The rep made it sound like poor housing or some charity but the council woman made it seem like it was part of the golf course and precinct housing for visiting chinese?
Either way I was thinking if anything, it would be about housing temple workers.
In any case, in my mind the Shao lin side with the environment. If the golf course and housing erode that, it should be dropped from the grand scheme.

[GeneChing]

Fortunately, this is newsworthy enough to get a decent amount of coverage in English. :)


Shoalhaven Council welcomes scrutiny as Shaolin cheque clears (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-30/shaolin-cheque-clears/6057434)
Ainslie Drewitt-Smith
Posted yesterday at 5:19pmThu 29 Jan 2015, 5:19pm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/6057526-3x2-340x227.jpg
Photo: State Labor candidate for Kiama, Glenn Kolomeitz says he'll look at reviewing Shoalhaven Council's handling of developments if he's elected in March. (nswlabor.org.au)
Map: Nowra 2541

The Shoalhaven Council may come under review if a state Labor Government is elected in March.

The council has been questioned this week over its handling of developments, in the wake of payment for land at Comberton Grange.

Shoalhaven Councillor Andrew Guile raised concerns about the legitimacy of cheques handed to the council by the Shoalin Foundation.

The three post-dated cheques totalling $5.2 million, were received by council last week.

On Thursday, the first of the cheques cleared but the Labor candidate for the seat of Kiama Glenn Kolomeitz said he's concerned by how council's dealt with the project.

"Council is a function of the state government. The state member has a responsibility to the seat and the state. So I can tell you, if there is dodgy dealings going on in council I'll be wanting to look at it, as my responsibility as a state member," he said.

"I'm not going to sit on my hands and watch it going on and just ignore it like it's a non issue. It's clearly an issue, the people are telling us that."

Shoalhaven Council's General Manager Russ Pigg said he'd welcome any review of council's processes.

"There's been legal processes put in place in terms of the land sale transaction and the mortgage agreement. If any candidate wanted to press the Office of Local Government to ask questions or come and review our processes, I don't have any concerns with that."

Mr Pigg said he stands by the transaction and how it was handled by councillors and staff.

"I don't have any concerns about councils businesses in terms of the Shaolin Temple development or indeed the land sale."

"The council decisions have been quite appropriate for the circumstances and I think would clearly pass any scrutiny from the Office of Local Government," Mr Pigg said.

Mr. Pigg is a rather unfortunate name for a politician.

[curenado]

Yes, I have known "Hoggs" but that was my first "Pigg".

"I'm not going to sit on my hands and watch it going on and just ignore it like it's a non issue. It's clearly an issue, the people are telling us that."

It seems there are things we don't see having significant influence for whatever reason.
I do not think anyone should budge an inch until all cheques have cleared. That seemed dodgy to begin with.
Don't really know anything about their politics as to this new fellows party, but I guess we will find out more since he's threatening to rattle cages for some reason?

[GeneChing]

Not quite as funny as a bounced check tho...:rolleyes:


Further questions raised over Shaolin Temple after cheque bounces (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-03/shaolin-farce/6065476)
By Nick McLaren

Posted yesterday at 3:57pm Mon 2 Feb 2015, 3:57pm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/5729702-3x2-940x627.jpg
Shaolin Temple Photo: An artists impression of what the Shaolin Temple development would look like if it gained full concept approval. The Planning Assessment Commission has recommended the project be scaled back.
Map: Nowra 2541

A cheque for a million dollars as part payment for the proposed Shaolin Temple land south of Nowra has bounced, ramping up concerns the project could fail.

Shoalhaven Council has received three cheques, totalling more than five million dollars, to pay for land at Comberton Grange.

One cheque, for one million dollars, was successfully cashed but a second bounced, and a third for $3.1 million dollars cannot be banked until Monday, February 23.

Council's general manager, Russ Pigg, says if the full amount is not received by February 25 he will call an extraordinary council meeting to consider all options.

He says late payment will also incur an additional interest charge.

Shoalhaven's mayor, Joanna Gash, is also maintaining support for the Shaolin Foundation, though has expressed her disappointment at the delay.

She says its difficult to move such a large amount of money from China to Australia.

"It's very easy for us to say you should do this and you should do that, but things work differently in China, it's very difficult to get that huge amount out here, it had to go into separate banks," she said.

But Councillor Andrew Guile doesn't agree.

He says an extraordinary council meeting should called this week.

"Look the general manager's direct course of action is not good enough, the time to act is now, we should be having the extraordinary meeting this week, on Thursday or Friday," he said.

"We should be moving to call in this morgage and they then get 30 days grace, so why extend it by another few weeks, why not act now in the best interest of Shaolhaven ratepayers."

He is being backed by Councillor Amanda Findley who says the whole payment process has been irregular.

"Council at our meeting last week were presented with a slip of paper which said that $5.2 million dollars had been transferred to Australia," she said.

"And I just continue to try to get my head around the fact that if that money is in Australia why didn't we get the full amount in one bank cheque?"



Shaolin Temple Foundation mortgage to be called in by Shoalhaven council (http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2859039/shoalhaven-council-calls-in-shaolin-mortgage/)
By ROBERT CRAWFORD
Feb. 3, 2015, 5 p.m.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash says she has done her best to see the Shaolin project succeed.

Mayor Joanna Gash said she would move the recommendation.

“As a result of recent developments [the foundation’s second $1 million cheque for the land not being honoured] we will move formally to give the foundation 30 days to make all payments and to meet the terms of the agreement,” she said.

“That still allows the foundation a month to do it all if it wants to. It will take in the date for the third cheque [February 23].

“It’s been a really hard decision. I had to weigh up the advantages for the city and weigh up somebody’s word of honour. I have put myself on the line with this.
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“I’m never too proud to say if it doesn’t come off at least we gave it every opportunity for the city.

“We brought it to head in two years. It has been sitting with past councils and under previous mayors for years.

“As I have said before if the foundation didn’t come good with its payments I would be the first to make sure we reclaim the land.

“We have a quarter of a million dollars deposit, $1 million in the bank and $600,000 in the bank in interest payments and we still own the land.”

Cr Gash took exception to a statement by fellow councillor Andrew Guile that she and some other councillors were “too close” to the developers and should exclude themselves from future decisions on the project

“I find it offensive, he [Cr Guile] has known Patrick Pang from previous council terms a lot longer than I have,” Cr Gash said.

“Cr Wells and myself went to meet the Abbott to assure him that comments made by certain politicians didn’t reflect how we felt here.

“He [Cr Guile] has also been to China at the expense of council.”

This was emphatically denied by Cr Guile.

“I was billed by council for the entire trip as per the agreement I made with [then mayor] Paul Green. I went at the invitation of Paul Green.”

“I have the receipts and cheques to prove everything was paid for by ourselves, including meals and there weren’t that many,” Cr Gash said of her own trip.

“I did it at my own expense because I believed in the project.

“There has been so much negativity on this issue caused by two councillors who have never supported this project and done everything in their power to see it fail.

“Previous mayors have also been there. The role of the mayor is to try to bring the best to our city I have done the best I possibly can. It’s time he got over the sour grapes.”

General manager Russ Pigg said he had not spoken to Mr Pang in the past couple of business days but had been dealing with foundation secretary Phil Balding.

“The latest advice I had, they were making every endeavour via Patrick to make good the funds today [Tuesday],” he said.

“Council took the three cheques on face value and good faith and things looked good when the first cheque was honoured but it doesn’t look as good the foundation’s second cheque was not honoured. I don’t know what to make of the whole thing now.

“The current circumstances are why I have recommended to go to a more formalised path and bring closure to the whole matter.

“The benefit to the area could be enormous through tourism and economic development. We have bent over backwards to try and help – we have strung out enough rope. Now is the time to start hauling it back in.”


It seems there are things we don't see having significant influence for whatever reason.

Isn't it always so? It's not the light. It's the absence of darkness. ;)

Someone who claimed to be from the area contacted me privately and said there was some issue about sacred Aboriginal burial grounds involved, but I have yet to see any confirmation of that. I get a lot of unsubstantiated private contacts. :rolleyes:

[GeneChing]

Shoalhaven mayor gives Shaolin temple developers deadline to pay up (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-04/shaolin-temple-wed/6068924)
Posted yesterday at 3:53pmTue 3 Feb 2015, 3:53pm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/5729702-3x2-940x627.jpg
PHOTO: An artists impression of what the Shaolin Temple development would look like if it gained full concept approval. The Planning Assessment Commission has recommended the project be scaled back.
MAP: Nowra 2541

Shaolhaven Council will give the Shaolin Temple Foundation one month to provide outstanding morgage payments for land at Comberton Grange to build a temple and associated development.

Shoalhaven mayor Joanna Gash says the foundation will be given 30 days to make all payments and meet all terms of agreement should the morgage default when the last of three payments is due on February the 23rd.

Critic of the council's handling of the development, Councillor Andrew Guile, says the move represents a further extension of payment terms.


Temple shenanigans need to be put under the microscope to restore faith (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2859244/temple-shenanigans-need-to-be-put-under-the-microscope-to-restore-faith/)
Feb. 3, 2015, 6:17 p.m.

PATIENCE has finally run out over the Shaolin’s payment for land at Comberton Grange.

After the second cheque bounced on Friday, a fact revealed only on Monday afternoon, Shoalhaven City Council was on Tuesday afternoon moving to call in the mortgage. Ironically, that will actually give the Shaolin Temple Foundation even more time to pay up.

The latest promise, in the form of a post-dated cheque, was that the final payment would be made by February 23. The decision to call in the mortgage will give the foundation 30 days, effectively extending the deadline into early March.

The question on the lips of everyone watching this saga is if the Shaolin can’t organise prompt payment and simple money transfers for a mere $5 million, how will it manage to build a complex $380 million temple which will involve specialist labour, presumably on 457 visas?

Scepticism over the future of the deal is rife throughout the community and entirely understandable. So too are calls for an investigation into the way the transaction has been handled by Shoalhaven City Council. While it probably doesn’t warrant a probe by ICAC, it should certainly attract the attention of the Department of Local Government and to that end, the local state MPs Shelley Han**** and Gareth Ward should get the ball rolling.

For ratepayers’ faith in the way successive Shoalhaven councils have negotiated on their behalf to be restored, the scrutiny of an outside body is necessary.

Ratepayers deserve to be confident that their interests are being served properly and with due process and diligence.

If I ever write another Shaolin book (http://www.amazon.com/Shaolin-Trips-Gene-Ching/dp/1424308976), it might be titled Shaolin Shenanigans.


Shelley’s Shaolin election problem (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2859251/shelleys-shaolin-election-problem/)
Feb. 3, 2015, 6:19 p.m.

TO Shelley Han**** MP, you don’t need reminding that your election is due in less than two months.

The Queensland result has shown that you are already handicapped due to the federal government, through no fault of your own.

You have now become the meat in the sandwich as your local Shoalhaven City Council has shown a complete disregard for its ratepayers in its fawning capitulation to Patrick Pang and the Shaolin Foundation.

It appears that Tony Abbott and Joanna Gash have been drinking from the same well, and you are the one who will wear the backlash from their bizarre decisions and strange lack of judgment.

Even you can see that Team Gash’s support for this project is beyond any explanation. They misled the public by telling us the cheque had been paid to council. Only later did we find that not only were there three post-dated personal cheques, the second has now bounced.

And the council’s reaction? Give them more time to present a bank cheque, and not even for the full amount outstanding. Anyone who has ever purchased property knows full well that only bank cheques for the total amount is acceptable, despite whatever spin the council’s general manager puts on it. We are not stupid.

Labor’s candidate for Kiama, Glenn Kolomeitz, has stated that he will launch an investigation into Shoalhaven City Council and the Machiavellian dealings with the Shaolin Temple, should he win the upcoming election.

You now have the opportunity, and indeed responsibility, to cross the political line and immediately tear up this contract and launch an investigation into this council.

If not, all of the alliances and support groups who successfully lobbied the Planning Assessment Commission will be forced to realign and come out in support of your opposition. You rightly distanced yourself from the extremely questionable goings on at Shoalhaven City Council and Team Gash.

You also have publicly rebuked Patrick Pang and Joanna Gash in their recent calls for pursuing the re-introduction of the 300 houses on the site.

All of this is about to explode in your face on the eve of what already will be a difficult election. You have done a wonderful job so far. Don’t let Shoalhaven City Council drag you into political obscurity. Be proactive now and put a hold on this questionable deal while you launch an investigation into the Shaolin development. Don’t become the target of the Shoalhaven’s anger over this issue by reigniting the opponents of Comberton Grange.

Enough is enough. This debacle has to stop now, and you must show the leadership we need by taking immediate action, before it is too late for both of us.

G. Bathurst,

Woollamia.

[curenado]

Well, another shao lin hustler - making China look pitiful too. They are going to screw around long enough until someone wants to know how the temple got involved in hot check games and breaking every sound principal messing with these developers.

[GeneChing]

Here's some more. Very busy in Oz over this.


State MP refers concerns about Shoalhaven Council Shaolin deal to Local Govt Minister (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-05/shaolin-han****/6071744)
By Nick McLaren

Updated yesterday at 2:20pm Wed 4 Feb 2015, 2:20pm

South Coast MP Shelly Han**** has forwarded correspondence about financial transactions between Shoalhaven Council and the Shaolin Temple Foundation to the Local Government Minister.

Ms Han**** says Paul Toole will be assessing all the information about the presentation of cheques for payment of land at Comberton Grange, and checking with the Dept of Local Government to see if it warrants an investigation.

She says while the matter is not serious enough to warrant a referral to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, it still raises serious matters that need to be looked into.

"People have expressed concern and are continuing to express concern in other media outlets about post-dated cheques being presented from the Shaolin Foundation to council and council accepting those cheques, one of those cheques then subsequently not being honoured and further extensions of time," she said.

Ms Han**** says she is also concerned about reports the Shaolin Temple Foundation is still pushing for approval for a 360 lot housing sub-division for the site, despite its clear rejection by the Planning Assessment Commission.

"I will stand opposed to that," she said.

"I think for very good reason the Planning Assessment Commission refused the subdivision component and the allotments and also a golf course development, because that would have meant actually wiping out of a whole wildlife corridor on that property.

"So I think the PAC made the right decision," she said.


Who are these Shaolin people? (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2864557/who-are-these-shaolin-people/)
Feb. 5, 2015, 5:34 p.m.

IN my younger days I met two interesting people. One was a Vietnamese boat person called Tan who was a fifth Dan black belt Shaolin Kung Fu expert. The second was a Chinese Kung Fu master Lin, who fled China during the Cultural Revolution. He said the Shaolin shifted out of China for very good reasons and he lived in Taiwan before coming to Australia. Tan received his Shaolin Kung Fu training in Saigon, where many of the Shaolin monks shifted to. The Shaolin movement was further dispersed when Saigon fell in that military conflict.
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In recent history the Chinese have continued to persecute all religious groups, which include the Buddhists. In Tibet, the Chinese installed a fake Dalai Lama in an attempt to try to con the Tibetans into thinking their religious concerns were all OK.

In China, a state-sponsored church denounced the Christian churches and still considers Christians as subversives.

So the big question in my mind concerning the Shaolin setting up shop in the Shoalhaven is: Who are they? My guess is that they are about as religious as Scientology. All other religious groups in China are being persecuted so how is it this mob of so-called Buddhists are state-sponsored? Let’s face it, China is the world leader in the production of fakes.

The answer to my question can be found in the Shaolin application for a housing division, golf course and the potential to fly in guided tours that have no real contact with Australia outside the Shaolin precinct or away from Chinese tour guides. These tightly controlled tours are simply money-laundering scams. The so-called Shaolin Buddhists are a veneer of legitimacy. In Sydney, busloads of Chinese tourists can be seen being herded into shops owned by companies in China.

My next question is: Has Shoalhaven City Council been seduced by the possibility the Shaolin proposal will generate wealth and jobs in the Shoalhaven? Yes.

Shoalhaven City Council should cut its losses on the Shaolin proposal and pull the pin. It is obvious the Shaolin mob is murky, their methods of doing business are dubious and their intention is to hang tough until they get what they want.

C. Evans,

Nowra.

[curenado]

Whoa he wasn't pulling punches.
I would like to raise 1 million for a place monks might want to be - but I realize the idea of a non-public and commerce centered sanctuary is outlandish. Outrageous.

[GeneChing]

nine-month vow of silence in protest...impressive...very Bodhidharma.


Fresh call for probe into Shaolin sale (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2889597/fresh-call-for-probe-into-shaolin-sale/)
By ROBERT CRAWFORD
Feb. 17, 2015, 6:17 p.m.

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SILENCE BROKEN: Daniel McConnell has called for an inquiry into Shoalhaven City Council’s handling of the Comberton Grange property dealings with the Shaolin Foundation.
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A JERVIS BAY man has called for an inquiry into the handling of the Comberton Grange property at Falls Creek, where the proposed multi-million dollar Shaolin temple is to be built.

Daniel McConnell, who stood in silence for five minutes during the Planning Assessment Commission’s public meeting to discuss the Shaolin tourist and residential complex, has broken his silence.

The former Shoalhaven mayoral candidate has been a staunch opponent of the development for 10 years.

At one stage he observed a nine-month vow of silence in protest. He now says he wants to be the voice for Jervis Bay.

“I hope the state government, be it either Liberal or Labor after the election, initiates some sort of commission to investigate the dealings over the Comberton Grange property,” he said.

“I believe it needs to happen.

“If everyone involved has done everything right there is nothing to hide and there should be no reason such an investigation could not take place.

“But if people have broken the law they should face the consequences.

“My vow of silence at the PAC meeting was to raise the community’s awareness of the Aboriginal peoples’ voice. My silence allowed the Aboriginal voice to be heard loud and clear.”
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He asked why the foundation had been given numerous deadlines by council, which they had time and again failed to meet.

“Many of those decisions to grant extensions were made in confidential sessions and there was no opportunity for the community to object,” he said.

“Residents and ratepayers had no recourse. In the end it is public land.

“I think the impact on the natural environment and the culture of the site has been lost on council, who are just the custodians of the land.

“Why have successive councils been so eager to attract culture and heritage from China when they have the culture of the bushmen people of Jervis Bay right there?”

Mr McConnell asked why a petition tabled in state parliament questioning the impact the proposal could have on the health of the watercourses of Jervis Bay and the financial bona fides of the Shaolin Temple Foundation, wasn’t investigated.

“We only got a response from the Planning Department, which said it was being referred to PAC, which we knew, nothing was ever done about the financial side.

“Perhaps if it had been, the city would not find itself in the trouble it is now.

“I had previously raised this with Member for Bega Andrew Constance before he became Treasurer. I even drove to Bega to meet with him about it, so he was well aware of the issues.

“There should be a public inquiry into the whole issue.”

[curenado]

Ok, I can see protecting the environment and people from exploitation and destruction but
Aboriginal heritage tourism park? Oh yeah. Millions will come for "the aussies must be crazy". They will stop there on their way to Africa's congo heritage theme park....

[Seadragon]

Australian Aboriginal People are the oldest and longest surviving culture in the world and have been using the Comberton Grange site for over 15,000 years.

A report commissioned by the developers Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) states:


"In 2000 Navin Officer Heritage consultants undertook a cultural heritage assessment of an approximately 219 ha area of land within the current study area. Four Aboriginal artefact scatters , and three isolated finds were identified in the course of the field survey of the study area. An Aboriginal burial ground was also reported as occurring in the study area .

Three landform categories with Aboriginal archaeological potential were identified in the study area, these consist of: the Currambene Creek levee bank deposit; basal slopes adjacent to wetlands or estuaries; and relatively undisturbed sections of ridgeline crest."

Shaolin Temple and Academy, Comberton Grange – Aboriginal Heritage Assessment 16 Navin Officer Heritage Consultants July 2012
A Report to Conybeare Morrison International Pty Ltd for the Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia)

This report also discusses a rock shelter, scar trees and stone tools found on the site.

[Seadragon]

The site Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia Ltd want to develop is a Aboriginal Woman's site.

Bid Bid Creek ( not Bipbip as the developers call it) is part of the development and is more importantly, part of local dreamtime stories.

"Aboriginal Stories and Story Places

The Aborigines of the Jervis Bay area have knowledge of many myths and stories relating to their tribal area. Three literature references have been found which relate to the mythology of the general Currambene Creek area.

The Bipbip Women

There is only a remnant knowledge amongst the Jervis Bay Koori communities of a story about the 'Bipbip women' (Cane 1987:47-8). These women looked normal except for their pointed toes. The
women used to come down from the mountains and lure Aboriginal men from their families onto Beecroft Peninsula. Unfortunately the activities of the Bipbip women and their associated sites are largely forgotten, although a Bipbip women's site has been recorded at Orient Point (Cane 1987:47).
Bid Bid Creek is a major tributary of Callala Creek, and drains part of the immediate hinterland behind
are no recorded sacred stories which relate to Bid Bid creek, but it is probable that its name preserves some record of the original Bipbip women story. The possibility exists that the creek was part of the original `dreaming path' or track, travelled by the women (Cane 1987:48).


The Wild Women

A story told to Roland Robinson by Percy Mumbulla concerns the 'Wild Women'. These women lived in the bush and beguiled men.
'...Old Jimmy chased her away into the bush. But the wild woman was too clever. She could turn into mist or a wallaby doe. Old Jimmy chased her and chased her but she got away from him into some caves.
Old Jimmy was clever too. He could feel when they were near. Those wild women want you for a husband. They take you away into the bush and the mountains for six months. They make you stupid. You can't hear anything. There is always six of them. They come down to Currambene Creek near Huskisson. ...Those wild women are very good to look at. They are a white colour. They have long hair' (Robinson 1958:133).
It is possible that these 'wild women' and the 'Bipbip women' are one and the same.

Shaolin Temple and Academy, Comberton Grange – Aboriginal Heritage Assessment 14 Navin Officer Heritage Consultants July 2012 "
A Report to Conybeare Morrison International Pty Ltd for the Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia)

How is it good to build a big phallic pagoda in the middle of a woman's site?

Where is the respect for Aboriginal culture?

[Seadragon]

Ok, I can see protecting the environment and people from exploitation and destruction but
Aboriginal heritage tourism park? Oh yeah. Millions will come for "the aussies must be crazy". They will stop there on their way to Africa's congo heritage theme park....

Aboriginals have been on this continent for over 50,000 years and it is the longest surviving culture in the world.

Their culture was incredibly sophisticated and in tune with the natural environment. For instance they could tell if it was going to rain when a certain bird flew over head or even a cyclone was on its way because all the birds disappeared. Or time to catch a certain fish because a particular moth has come down from the hills. Or a time to collect certain eggs ( so as not to impact the birds population) when a particular constellation appeared in the sky.

Their art work is spiritual, symbolic and has a narrative that interprets daily life and records historical events. Their stories explain the creation of things and consequences of actions.

Millions of international tourists visit Uluru and Kakadu every year. This is not set up as a 'theme park' like those on the Gold Coast or Disneyland but as a place to have a true cultural experience. This could be achieved in the Shoalhaven too but unfortunately those in government don't have the foresight to realize what they have.

I have great respect for Aboriginal Culture and would welcome a Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Center on the Comberton Grange site. Certainly makes more sense than importing Shaolin culture at the expense of the First Australians.

[curenado]

I was just comparing the projected visitation. I doubt a visitors center is going to have a big environment impact.

[Seadragon]

Yes a Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Center would at least be in tune with the local environment and show greater respect to the Elders. And possibly the greatest impact would be to educate folks about Aboriginal Culture.

[Seadragon]

An Article from the South Coast Register Aug. 14, 2014,

Defend our culture, urges Nathan

South Coast Register Aug. 14, 2014,

DISPOSSESSED: Nathan Deaves has called on Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities to unite in opposition to the Shaolin Temple development.


LOCAL Aboriginal man Nathan Deaves believes the cultural assessment report on the Shaolin development undermines the historical, traditional and cultural significance of the area.

The 26-year-old spoke against the development at Wednesday’s PAC meeting, representing a number of Aboriginal families who called the Falls Creek area, or

Too-too-ah (pronounced Dudawa), home.

Mr Deaves spoke passionately about the connections local families have with the area, including land at Comberton Grange.

“Many families lived and worked around the area – they used the land to hunt and gather,” he said.

“The area doesn’t just have physical, heritage and cultural significance, it has spiritual significance as well.

“Through my eyes the proposed development embraces another culture at the expense of our own Aboriginal culture.

“We need more jobs in the area, but this is not the way to do it. It is another dispossession of land for Aboriginal people and with that we are spiritually weakened.”

[GeneChing]

I would love to visit an Aboriginal Culture Center. Keep in mind that I dabbled in playing digeridoo for a spell, so I was fascinated by Aboriginal Culture and researched into it back then. At the same time, I am a Shaolin disciple, and as a Zennist, I love to see the spread of dharma too.

Meanwhile:

Cr Amanda Findley wants Shaolin development curbs affirmed (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2891434/greens-councillor-and-south-coast-mp-lash-team-gash-over-shaolin-stance/?cs=202)
By ADAM WRIGHT
Feb. 18, 2015, 1:54 p.m.

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Former mayor Greg Watson and representative of the Shaolin Foundation Patrick Pang. Cr Watson joined Team Gash councillors in voting down a motion to affirm development restrictions on the temple site.

SHOALHAVEN councillor and Greens candidate for South Coast Amanda Findley slammed the majority of councillors over their vote against a Shaolin Temple motion on Tuesday.

Cr Andrew Guile tabled a notice of motion: “That Shoalhaven City Council supports the determination of the independent Planning Assessment Commission determination that removed from the Shaolin Temple master plan approval for a housing subdivision and golf course development.”

The motion was defeated.

Cr Findley, who voted in favour of the motion, said under normal circumstances she would be 100 per cent supportive of council making all decisions in respect to development in Shoalhaven.

However she said she was concerned that most councillors voted down this motion.

“Those people concerned with the downstream value of Currambene Creek and Jervis Bay welcomed the [PAC] decision and believe that it is the best outcome that we could possibly hope for under the circumstances,” Cr Findley said.

“Team Gash councillors Wells, Robertson, Kearney and Gash openly declared that they thought the decision was wrong, with other team members following suit via the vote.

“I believe that many Shoalhaven residents would be dismayed by this development-at-any-cost mentality.

“The creation of a new village at Comberton Grange under the guise of a temple development will put further financial demands on council in the future with infrastructure and services,” she said.
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Cr Findley said recommendations to council required it to not build any more new towns or villages, but consolidate existing development through higher density.

“The Shaolin housing development is a complete contradiction to that position.

“In some instances like this Shoalhaven residents have been better served by the PAC than the elected council,” she said.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash stuck to her position on the issue. She considered the PAC decision something that should not be raised at council because she said there was no need.

“This is not for us to decide, it’s a red herring to tie us into a position that we have no right to be in,” Cr Gash said.

“This issue has not even come before council. It’s an issue that if it does come before council we will decide then.

“It is a hypothetical and I don’t believe we should be spending the time voting on hypotheticals.

“It was a motion that should never have been put forward,” she said.

South Coast MP Shelley Han**** said she was disappointed personality politics had resulted in councillors turning their backs on a good motion.

"It's obvious they voted against the motion because it was tabled by Andrew Guile, who is not in their camp," Mrs Han**** said.

By voting against the motion council was sending a clear message it was against the decision made in the interests of the community by the Planning Assessment Commission, she said.

"It was good decision, a fair decision and a good compromise.

"It hasn't changed my resolve to oppose housing development on the Shaolin site," she said.

[curenado]

If it is a protected or indigenous site and a 360+ million peoject, seems like a more agreeable site would not be hard to find.

[Seadragon]

If it is a protected or indigenous site and a 360+ million peoject, seems like a more agreeable site would not be hard to find.

Hmm, you'd think so but no. The Council owns the land and has sold it to Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia Ltd for a fraction of the value. After 8 years Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia Ltd have not payed the balance (see previous posts about bounced Shaolin cheques, extended payment deadlines and misinformation) and where else would the Shaolin Developers get such a sweetheart deal?

Despite the fact there is not 1 but 5 Endangered Ecological Community's on the site, our local Council does not consider this important. There are other state departments that are trying to minimize any damage that will result from this development but no, it's not a protected site.

There was also a colonial heritage listed farmhouse on the property but it burnt down in mysterious circumstances ( the old convict made bricks from the homestead then turned up at a Council auction!)

It is a indigenous site rich in history and heritage, but not a protected one and once again our local Council does not consider this important.

I wonder how the Chinese (Shaolin's target market and intended residents of the housing development) would feel knowing their resort is built on graves?

[Seadragon]

.
I'm not sure I fully get the housing issue? The rep made it sound like poor housing or some charity but the council woman made it seem like it was part of the golf course and precinct housing for visiting chinese?
Either way I was thinking if anything, it would be about housing temple workers.
In any case, in my mind the Shao lin side with the environment. If the golf course and housing erode that, it should be dropped from the grand scheme.

3 July 2014 - Shaolin complex will be a gated community
By ROBERT CRAWFORD, South Coast Register:

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.


It has now come out that the numbers quoted re employment are way off the mark, in reality it's 50-100. And given the target market is elderly Chinese Nationals you would imagine speaking Mandarin would be a requirement to get a job there, yet none of the Shires schools teach that language!

[curenado]

Hmm, you'd think so but no.

I wonder how the Chinese (Shaolin's target market and intended residents of the housing development) would feel knowing their resort is built on graves?

Not a problem. No big deal.

Well, good luck down there. The only reason the place is left at all is because there's no money to build the Shaolin place or it would be there now.

But it is clear hunan is into much more than restoring old temples and spreading buddhism.
I'm not against that, it just looks weird.

[GeneChing]

Paid personally by the abbot himself.
:cool:

Shaolin pays mortgage, will fight for bigger development (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-23/shaolin-temple-abbot-pays-cheque/6227950)
Ainslie Drewitt-Smith
Posted about 9 hours ago

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/6228072-3x2-940x627.jpg
Abbot Shi Yongxin Photo: Abbot Shi Yongxin made a special visit from China to hand Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash a cheque for payment of land at Comberton Grange. A Shaolin Temple development is proposed to be built on the land. (Ainslie Drewitt-Smith)

The Abbot in charge of a Shaolin Temple project proposed for the South Coast has paid the final cheque for land at Comberton Grange.

The $4.162 million cheque was presented personally by Chinese Abbot Shi Yongxin to Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash on Monday afternoon.

Through his interpreter Sam Li, the Abbot said he was pleased and relieved the project can progress to the next stage.

"To the Abbot this is a start of a new era and this cheque signifies a new start."

The Abbot admitted that in the nine years the temple's been under negotiation, there have been many times the foundation has wanted to withdraw the development.

"Yes there has been times where the Abbot has thought about withdrawing from the project. But the continued support of the former Mayor, the Mayor, the former council and current council and the people of the Shoalhaven, has kept us going."

Patrick Pang has been working on behalf of the Shaolin Foundation since the development was first mooted in 2006.

He said he's been frustrated by the state's planning laws and the length of time it's taken to get the project approved.

"We play by the rules, but it has to be fair dinkum," Mr Pang said.

"Unfortunately when you look back with this hindsight, many things could have been better. Not so much from our side, we've done all we can."

"I think the state planning department realise that there are a lot of things that ought to be reformed."

Mr Pang said the foundation would continue lobbying the planning department to allow residential units and a golf course to be built on the land south of Nowra.

"Yes we will, definitely, because that is the financial model to everything."

The additions to the project were rejected by the Planning Assessment Commission after a public meeting in August, 2014.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash told the Abbot Shoalhaven councillors and staff were humbled by his special visit from China.

"We are humbled and honoured by your presence here today," said to the Abbot.

"We never, never doubted you. We always knew this project would happen."

It's unclear how long it will take for the project to be built or when construction will start. According to the Shaolin Foundation, there are still several more studies to be completed.

[curenado]

So at this point, it is back to 5 million paid, 360 million to go. Now is when people who weren't serious or were going to ditch will and people who want to be serious are going to appear.
Every real step towards real shakes the tree.
Hope it doesn't take 10 more years to light a incense and throw a star. Seems like waiting for a sub division and golf course approval to start the project is self defeating - unless the subdivision is the reason for the project.
Money money that will show, whence it came and where it go....

[Seadragon]

Seems like waiting for a sub division and golf course approval to start the project is self defeating - unless the subdivision is the reason for the project.

This project has been called a 'Trojan Horse' and Mr Pang's insistence to build the subdivision and golf course seems to confirm this.

How often do you go to a temple to have a round of golf?

[GeneChing]

News of the closure is now making the rounds in the Chinese news.


Shaolin pays $4.2m to close land deal in Australia (http://business.asiaone.com/property/news/shaolin-pays-42m-close-land-deal-australia)
Liu ZhengChina Daily/Asia News NetworkThursday, Feb 26, 2015

http://business.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/styles/article-image/public/2015/02/26/20150226_shaolin_cdann.jpg
Shi Yongxin, the abbot of China's Shaolin Temple, attends the third Shaolin Cultural Festival with a team of 70 disciples in London, Oct 12, 2014

China's Shaolin Temple has paid A$4.162 million (S$4.5 million) to a southeastern coastal city in Australia's New South Wales state, closing an outstanding land purchase deal, abc.net.au reported.

Shi Yongxin, abbot in charge of the Shaolin Temple, personally presented the final payment to Joanna Gash, mayor of Shoalhaven city, for the Comberton Grange property at Falls Creek.

A complex project that includes a temple, hotels and a golf course is expected to be built, according to an application sent to the planning department of the NSW government, local Chinese media wesydney.com.au said.

"Shaolin is not a business, it is not a developer. It carries out many charitable projects," said Patrick Pang, a representative of the Shaolin Foundation during the dealing process.

Pang has been working since the development was first mooted in 2006.

The deal is not the first time the 1,500-year-old birthplace of kung fu has been involved in commercial activities.

Since 2010, the temple has had an online social media presence on Twitter-like Sina Weibo, and now boasts more than 77,000 followers. There is also a gaming app being developed to teach users kung fu on their mobile phones.

Shaolin-brand medical books are sold on Taobao.com, backed by China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd, and Buddhist disciples can now avoid the trek up Songshan mountain by paying to study at Shaolin via an Internet correspondence course.

Abbot Shi, one of the first Chinese monks to gain an MBA, once said Shaolin's business interests have been set up to support and preserve its ancient culture.

"We have entered a commercialized society ... so people tend to evaluate things from the angle of commercialization," said Shi.

"But you need to look at what is behind the business practice. Some people do business so they can survive, and some do it to seek fortune. Shaolin Temple just wants to survive, to practice Buddhism".

[curenado]

"Shaolin is not a business, it is not a developer. It carries out many charitable projects," said Patrick Pang, a representative of the Shaolin Foundation during the dealing process."

But there's a profitable sub division no one is giving up involved and the abbot just said commercialization is their survival.
Sure, no business or development there. I guess I also missed what charitable parts were going to be in this park? I had not seen anything about charitable in it thus far.
But it does appear that when push came to shove, that toe-hold was going to be kept, whatever tomorrow holds.

[GeneChing]

China's famed Shaolin Temple plans massive hotel, kung fu and school project in Australia (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/02/28/china-famed-shaolin-temple-plans-massive-hotel-kung-fu-and-school-project-in/)
Published February 28, 2015
Associated Press

http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/fn2/feeds/Associated%20Press/2015/02/28/876/493/China%20Australia%20Shaolin%20Temple-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1
In this Oct. 22, 2012 photo, visitors walk past as young monks offer prayers outside the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng city in central China's Henan province. The temple which is historically known for its martial arts traditions but recently has gained a controversial reputation for aggressive commercialization is planning to build a $297-million complex that includes a temple, a hotel, a kung fu academy and a golf course in Australia. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT (The Associated Press)

BEIJING – A Chinese temple famous for its martial arts is planning to build a $297-million complex that includes a temple, a hotel, a kung fu academy and a golf course in Australia.

Shoalhaven City Coucil in New South Wales said earlier this month that Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia, the developer, had finalized land purchase at Comberton Grange for what will be known as Shaolin Village.

Mayor Joanna Gash said Saturday that the city council and the state government have both approved the concept plan for the project, which proposes to build a temple sanctuary with resident monks, a live-in kung fu academy, a 500-bed four-star hotel, a 27-hole golf course and a residential development.

Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the temple in central China, has a reputation for business acumen. There's over 75 stories on the newsfeed this morning. I just cut&pasted this one because it's FOX and came out on my birthday (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?68473-The-Happy-Birthday-Gene-Thread). ;)

[curenado]

Bwahaha!
Poo tang clan can put a secret video there in a pagoda that is the only place in the world you can see it too.

Buddha, Confucius or Lao Tzu - whichever would say "Blessed! You drew them nannies off of us and off to bother you!"

But at this point, there is still many millions to go. I think this was fund raising assurances that building it will be profitable.
The whole new phase of "what big chunk investors want" comes on now. The fun has just begun ~

[Seadragon]

What sort of 'charity' spends $360,000,000 on themselves before doing any charity work? Couldn't they build a more modest place for say $10,000,000 and use the rest to do actual charitable work?

Or is Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia Ltd the ' charity' most likely to benefit from entrance and performance fees generated by Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia Ltd?

[Seadragon]

'Mayor Joanna Gash said Saturday that the city council and the state government have both approved the concept plan for the project, which proposes to build a temple sanctuary with resident monks, a live-in kung fu academy, a 500-bed four-star hotel, a 27-hole golf course and a residential development.'

The Planning and Assessment Committee (PAC) received so many complaints about this development they held a public Forum. Once again the overwhelming sentiment was against this development ( 11 of 12 who spoke were against it) and after deliberation decided to remove the residential component and the golf course.

PAC also said to maintain transparency, Shoalhaven City Council had to remain at arms length from any future decisions relating to this development. In effect PAC took away the Councils rubber stamp of approval.

So if Shi Yongxin thinks he will get his golf course and 300 lot subdivision he better think again.

Apart from the aboriginal graves and cultural and spiritual heritage of the site, do they know the subject land is also under a military training flight path complete with jets and window rattling helicopters?

[GeneChing]

I was looking forward to a round of Shaolin golf. And I don't even play golf. Honestly, if Shaolin could improve your golf game, we could blow Shaolin wide open globally.


China Exclusive: Shaolin abbot responds to commercialization criticism (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=270613)
Mar 03,2015

ZHENGZHOU, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The head of China's Shaolin Temple has distanced the Buddhist institution from media criticism claiming a planned Australian outpost of the temple will be over-commercialized.

Abbot Shi Yongxin told Xinhua that Shaolin will develop facilities for meditation, farming and the martial arts for which it is renowned at its "Australian culture center" in southeastern Shoalhaven City.

Australian media has reported that the center, to be built on 1,200 hectares of land bought by Shaolin, will include not only a temple and kungfu academy, but a hotel and a golf course, commercial activity apparently deviating from the spiritual essence of Buddhism.

"Many friends from the media were curious about how the Shaolin Temple could get so much money to build a golf course and a resort hotel. But the investment and planning [for the golf course and hotel] have nothing to do with Shaolin," said Shi, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, whose annual session opened on Tuesday.

The land has been opened up for lease to investors wishing to build their own developments in addition to those for which Shaolin is responsible, according to the abbot.

"If entrepreneurs see business opportunities and want to build a new community of Sino-Australia cultural cooperation, as long as the Australian government, the public and the investors are willing to do it, I just say it is destiny," he said.

Shaolin has established more than 40 culture centers around the world. Shi claimed his motivation for this expansion is "respecting religion, culture and lifestyle... promoting dialogue about culture and strengthening international understanding and cooperation".

Shi said he expects the center to open next year.

He presented a check for 4.16 million Australian dollars (3.26 million U.S. dollars) to Shoalhaven's mayor on Feb. 23, the first concrete step to establishing Shaolin's first center in Australia.

The Shaolin Temple, built in the late fifth century and located in central China's Henan Province, is the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and the cradle of Chinese kungfu.

Shi became the temple's abbot in 1999. As one of the first Chinese monks to gain an MBA, he has courted controversy for developing business operations including lucrative kungfu shows and merchandise. He is known as the "CEO monk".

[curenado]

"...I just say it is destiny"

Well, I'm thinking people held off saying that as long as they could....

[Seadragon]

' The land has been opened up for lease to investors wishing to build their own developments in addition to those for which Shaolin is responsible, according to the abbot.'

So now Shi Yongxin has added 'landlord' to the Abbot's job requirement?

[Kellen Bassette]

' The land has been opened up for lease to investors wishing to build their own developments in addition to those for which Shaolin is responsible, according to the abbot.'

So now Shi Yongxin has added 'landlord' to the Abbot's job requirement?

At least landlord is a traditional temple function.

[curenado]

I was not aware of a lot of history where temples are upper middle class and wealthy people's landlord?
I know plenty of times beggars were allowed shelter.

[GeneChing]

At least landlord is a traditional temple function. Well, only at Shaolin. Keep in mind that technically speaking, Buddhists are not supposed to be homeowners. It's part of the renunciation. However, Shaolin Temple has a very unique history. This is one reason why the story of the rescue of the Tang Emperor is so significant. He gifts land to the monks of Shaolin, and in China at that time, Imperial decree trumped Buddhist regulations. So it became part of the Buddhist tradition.


I was not aware of a lot of history where temples are upper middle class and wealthy people's landlord?
I know plenty of times beggars were allowed shelter. There is a long history of 'upper middle class' and 'wealthy' support of Buddhist temples that goes back to Buddha. All of the major Buddhist endeavors, the temples, the massive statues, the pagodas, that all came from the patronage of those with money. It is always so for any major religious institution. Sure, churches and temples take care of the poor, but they do so with the money donated by the rich.


5:25 am HKT
Mar 4, 2015 CULTURE
Shaolin Monks Put Payment Down on First Foreign Temple (http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/03/04/shaolin-monks-put-payment-down-on-first-foreign-temple/)


‘CEO Monk’ Shi Yongxin poses with other Shaolin monks in Chinatown on February 23, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images
China’s Shaolin Temple, known for its legendary martial arts, wants to replicate its ancient ways Down Under – and it is prepared to pay up to support its vision.

Abbot Shi Yongxin handed over a check of more than 4 million Australian dollars ($3.13 million) to Joanna Gash, mayor of Shoalhaven, in southeast Australia, clearing the outstanding payment on the sale of a slot of land, according to a statement posted on the coastal city government’s website late last month. The payment is part of an expected US$300 million investment in Australia to open a temple there, the Shaolin Temple’s first outside China.

The deal marks the latest move by Mr. Shi – sometimes called the CEO Monk in China – to extend and commercialize the legend of the ancient Chinese temple. The Shaolin brand, which is managed by the Shaolin Intangible Assets Management Co. Ltd., has set up more than 40 cultural institutions around the globe, Xinhua said.

Mr. Shi himself is a member of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a national political advisory group that is currently holding its once-a-year meeting in Beijing.

Mr. Shi told the official Xinhua News Agency that the construction of a Shaolin culture center has been kicked off in New South Wales of Australia and will likely be completed next year, Xinhua reported on Tuesday. A preliminary blueprint includes a Buddhist temple, a Kung Fu school, a medical center, a golf course as well as a resort hotel.

Mr. Shi told Xinhua that the temple is separate from the other facilities, though he didn’t go into detail. “A lot of media friends are interested in where’s the money is coming from for Shaolin Temple to build a golf course and resort hotel. Actually, these investment and plans have nothing to do with Shaolin,” Xinhua cited Mr. Shi as saying.

He added, “if entrepreneurs see opportunities…all are welcome to participant. As long as the Australian government and people are happy, as long as our investors are happy, the only thing I can say is let it be,” he added.

The company, established in 2008, had a registration capital of 1 million yuan ($160,000), according to the Henan Administration for Industry and Commerce. The abbot is one of the two shareholders.

The temple hasn’t disclosed financial results. In October, the Chinese government required all private companies to publicize annual reports with key financial information by June 30.

“Our wish is to get real Zen culture rooted in Australia and blossom in the world,” Mr. Shi told Xinhua.

The plan has raised eyebrows in China. “Shaolin has totally become a global chain,” wrote one user on the Weibo social-media platform.

“Monks are busy earning money. How do you expect us, people without any religious beliefs, to worship the Buddha?” another wrote.

– Liyan Qi

[curenado]

Well with an apologist like you, who needs a lawyer? :)
Ahaha!
They have basically invited people with money to dive in so we will see whose money buys the golf and cabanas at holy tradition inn.
What I see is the "truth", "normal", nothing strange about it. Just funny to see the begging bowl turn into a frenzy and about the same as Jim baker and other televangelists here.

[GeneChing]

...But I'm sticking with Drunk (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?68489-Drunken-Style-Championship) Monk, at least for this year. Not the Shaolin apologist. Not the Abbot's bro. ;)

Since Shaolin OZ has gone viral, there are a lot of opinions chiming in now:

Shaolin Temple's 'commercialism' is pragmatic (http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/2015-03/10/content_35010701.htm)
By Li Xiangping
China Daily, March 10, 2015

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20150310/001ec949c22b1668d17513.jpg
NBA Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal (L) presents a basketball shoe with his signature to Shi Yongxin, abbot of Shaolin Temple, during his promotional tour in Shaolin Temple, central China's Henan province, July 13, 2009. [Xinhua photo]

Shaolin Temple has kicked up a storm with its plans to build a modern Buddhism practice center and a four-star hotel in Shoalhaven city, Australia at the cost of 360 million Australian dollars ($281.2 million). Thanks to TV dramas and films, many residents are so accustomed to linking monks with simple lifestyles, that news of such a huge commercial deal provoked many critical comments.

That's also why, even after Shi Yongxin, principal abbot of Shaolin Temple, said the investment is being paid with donations by Shaolin followers and all the temple will do is to manage the practice center, several domestic media outlets rushed into the furor accusing the martial arts superstar temple of trying to cash in on its fame, with some of them even calling for intervention from the State.

In fact, such claims reflect a severe misunderstanding of Buddhism, even religion as a whole. Like all other civil organizations, religious institutions also need to cover their running costs.

Religions have never been divorced from economic needs - the institutions that spread them need money to support themselves and expand. Those that failed to gain material support have perished.

It is impossible for religious institutions to survive without some commercial operations, especially if they want to develop and prosper.

Anybody who has ever visited a famous temple in China must be familiar with ticket offices at the gates; most of them are run by the local governments to generate revenue, from which the monks in the temples will get a certain percentage for the temples' upkeep.

Of course, the practice of religious institutions running a business is not without problems and risks. A big problem is that temples are registered as non-profit organizations in China, so they don't need to pay tax on their revenue. Although, according to the law, the money they make and any donations they receive must be used for public benefit, not for personal gain.

Another potential risk is belief being kidnapped by commercial interests. There have been instances of religious institutions forcing believers to donate or consume at certain shops.

The relevant government agencies must strictly supervise and audit the commercial activities of religious institutions. And this applies not only to Buddhist temples, but also to other religious institutions such as Christian churches and Taoist temples.

Having lived in a planned economy for a long time, many Chinese residents might not know that it is quite common for religious institutions in developed countries to participate in commerce. For example in Japan, being a monk is considered a job; in many countries temples register as corporate organizations that enjoy favorable tax rates.

Thus there is yet no need to worry about "commercialization" of religious institutions, what is needed is strict law enforcement to prevent illegal activities.

Li Xiangping is researcher at and director of Center on Religion and Society, East China Normal University. The article is an excerpt of his interview with China Daily's Zhang Zhouxiang.

[GeneChing]

Shoalhaven council: Shaolin Temple buy back option voted out (http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2952691/shaolin-temple-buy-back-option-voted-out/)
March 18, 2015, 9:52 a.m.

Shoalhaven City Council has voted to cancel its option to buy back the Shaolin Temple site should the development not go ahead.

At the council meeting on Tuesday night the majority of councillors voted not to enforce the deed.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash told the ABC on Wednesday the buyback right was not something she believed council would have been likely to call in anyway.

“Why should council be able to purchase it back,” she asked.

“We don’t do that with any other developer.

“We sold that land. We got a pretty fair price for it.

“Why would we want to purchase it back anyway?

“Councillors are entitled to change their mind on certain things and that’s obviously what happened,” she said.

Councillor Andrew Guile made no bones about the fact he thought it was an option the city should have kept.

“The Shaolin deal was dodgy from day one yet in the last Council we worked to build in some protections for Shoalhaven ratepayers with the introduction of a buy back option should the Chinese developers not fulfill the terms of their application and not build the temple.

“There were a number of options to protect ratepayers’ interests and Council has enthusiastically gone for one that doesn’t. We now have no way of ensuring that the Planning Assessment Commission approval for the temple, village and hotel complex will go ahead.

“The Shaolin can sell it off to the highest bidder with the now massive master plan approval for the site.

“Or they can sit on their asset and just wait now that we have given away all leverage over the site,” he said.

On social media councillor Amanda Findley made her frustration at the decision clear.

"I am shaking in white rage. Tonight Shoalhaven City Council decided to not pursue a deed over the Comberton Grange Land should Shaolin not be able or willing to build on the land," she wrote.

"This would have meant that council had the first right to purchase at the sale price . My rage is because one week ago they unanimously thought it was a great way forward and this week are unable to explain their change of mind.

"I don't normally feel this amount of rage but this has me boiling.

"Apparently they think this sale was a great deal that will never be repeated and that Comberton Grange is essentially a burden to the ratepayer.

southcoastregister.com.au
My Buddhist side is amused, given the whole landowner austerity of Buddhist monks.

[curenado]

So in the end we do not even need to put the circus in, we can drop that and just do the sub division.
Money money we will see

[GeneChing]

200 mill is a staggering number for OZ. The entire population of OZ is only 23,787,600 as of 25 March 2015.


200 million to see Shaolin story (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2966852/200-million-to-see-shaolin-story/)
By ADAM WRIGHT
March 24, 2015, 5:57 p.m.

http://transform.fairfaxregional.com.au/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-y4iaQ6VpwMr27JiU5LATtm/bcb698b8-7919-4364-9e58-22a729100ca4.jpg/r0_206_4608_2810_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
HELLO CHINA: Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash, chairperson of the Shoalhaven Tourism Board Catherine Shields and council’s tourism manager Steve Lawson take part in a Chinese television interview about the Shaolin Temple.
See your ad here

THE official news agency of China was in Nowra on Tuesday filming a story about the Shaolin’s move into Australia, specifically the Shoalhaven.

China’s Xinhua News Agency believes its audience of 200 million viewers has a strong interest in the Shaolin’s first temple to be built outside China.

The news agency’s Sydney Correspondent Marcus Casey said his Beijing headquarters was very interested in the story of Shaolin coming to Australia.

“They asked us to prepare a report on the first Shaolin temple outside China and to explain where the Shoalhaven is,” Mr Casey said.

“Shoalhaven is a great destination, and Chinese tourists are now the major market for NSW.

“This country aims to please those visitors, and we want to tell our audience that is what it will do,” he said.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash was joined by council’s tourism manager Steve Lawson and chairperson of the Shoalhaven Tourism Board Catherine Shields to explain where the temple project was up to and how the local tourism industry was gearing up to support it.

“We have had a fair bit of international media asking us about the temple,” Cr Gash said.

“Our aim is to encourage people to come to the Shoalhaven and have a look,” she said.

[curenado]

Well I didn't count, but they specified "tourism" so many times it's clear we are specifically not talking about "residential" aspects atm :)

[GeneChing]

‘Low-key’ temple work to begin early next year (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/3140605/low-key-temple-work-to-begin-early-next-year/)
June 11, 2015, 4:17 p.m.

http://transform.fairfaxregional.com.au/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-sHzGkCYHnrbaKVpL8J88e6/7c5ac8e4-2383-49d5-beea-f4ea884fdaa3.jpg/r4_55_1023_631_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
SITE INSPECTION: Abbot Shi Yongxin and his entourage tour the site of the Shaolin complex at Comberton Grange.
See your ad here

The timeframe was mentioned during a visit by Abbot Shi Yongxin who toured the proposed Shaolin Temple site at Comberton Grange on Wednesday.

The Abbot brought world-renowned architect and Professor at RMIT Boston University, Yung Ho Chang to view the site and discuss plans for the temple with Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash and senior staff.

Cr Gash said the visit provided the perfect opportunity to learn more about the latest plans for the only Shaolin Temple complex to be built in Australia.

She said the Abbot used his time in the Shoalhaven to confirm his commitment for the use of local materials and tradespeople during construction.

The Abbot also confirmed that the temple complex would be constructed in a staged process with the meditation centre, spiritual and wellbeing complex and Kung Fu centre making up the first stage.

“Today’s visit by Abbot Shi Yongxin provided a fantastic opportunity to get an update on the Shaolin Temple Complex project and to allow the Abbot to reacquaint himself with the Comberton Grange site,” Cr Gash said.

“Of particular note was the Abbot’s insistence that local tradespeople, skills and materials would be used throughout the development.

“This included the use of a local architect who will be used to assist the world renowned Professor Chang in developing the plans for stage one of the project.

“The commitment to using local tradespeople and materials is obviously fantastic news for the local area and will assist in providing a massive shot in the arm for the local economy.

“The Abbot said stage one of the project would represent a low key start to the development and again stated that he wanted the complex to have a very strong focus on spirituality and the mind.”

Cr Gash said she was pleased to learn that the Abbot was committed to delivering a sustainable and environmentally friendly development.

“The Abbot said one of his major focuses for the first stage of the development would be ensuring that the complex produced only a very small carbon footprint.”

Hopefully I can get more info on this project at the The-4th-Shaolin-Cultural-Festival-San-Francisco-CA-Oct-8-11-2015 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?68641-The-4th-Shaolin-Cultural-Festival-San-Francisco-CA-Oct-8-11-2015)

[GeneChing]

..there was backlash...:rolleyes:


Questions aplenty over why the local media was excluded from the Shaolin Abbot’s visit (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/3145283/questions-aplenty-over-why-the-local-media-was-excluded-from-the-shaolin-abbots-visit/)
June 14, 2015, 4:05 p.m.

THE timing was mysterious. A press release from Shoalhaven City Council revealing Shaolin Abbot Shi Yongxin and renowned architect Yung Ho Chang had paid a visit to the Comberton Grange site on which they plan to build a temple and tourist complex was dispatched at 7.30 on Wednesday night. But that’s not the point.

The local media consternation related to the fact the release was issued after the event. With such a high-profile visitor in charge of such a significant and contentious local project, most media outlets would have jumped at the opportunity to be present and to put to the abbot questions the community want answered.

Instead, what we got was a sanitised version of events.

We are told the reason it was not issued until 7.30pm was that the site visit went for some time; the mayor then had to go to Ulladulla for the community ice forum and was unable to sign off on the release until that late hour in the news cycle.

Given we were not invited to attend – because, we were told, the abbot wanted the visit to remain private – we will pose the questions we would have liked to put to him and to Mayor Gash – here.

To the abbot, have you abandoned your desire to proceed with the housing subdivision and golf course, knocked on the head by the Planning Assessment Commission? Will you attempt to have PAC’s ruling overturned at a later date?

To Mayor Gash, why won’t Shoalhaven City Council adopt a motion in support of the PAC decision on the scale of the Shaolin project? Would this not calm the troubled waters between yourself and your local counterparts in the NSW government?

And finally, to all, if the abbot so desperately wanted this visit to be kept private why was it detailed in a council press with accompanying, uncaptioned photographs? If this was an attempt at tight media management, it was clumsy and ill-considered.

[curenado]

Yeah
what made them think it matters what they say? :)

[Seadragon]

Temple ‘dead in the water,’ says Watson


By ROBERT CRAWFORD South Coast Register
Aug. 9, 2015, 2:37 p.m.

THE Shaolin Temple at Falls Creek is “dead in the water”, according to Shoalhaven councillor and one of the orchestrators of the project, Greg Watson.

Cr Watson, although not wanting to comment on revelations Abbot Shi Yongxin is under investigation by China’s religious administration following allegations of multiple sexual relations and embezzlement, said as soon as the consent was given by the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) the project became unviable.

The PAC granted approval for the $380 million Shaolin tourism complex at Comberton Grange but with strict conditions.

PAC approved the concept plan but excluded the golf course and residential precincts of the proposal and has advised that the hotel precinct should also be moved.

Cr Watson prefaced his comments, saying he had had “no involvement with Shaolin since 2007”.

“My own personal view was the project was dead in the water ever since the PAC consent was issued,” he said.

“The consent wasn’t viable even without the current scandals.

“Unless it [the project] could introduce some income stream, which was with a limited number of residential dwellings, there was no way you can fund it.

“That is the bottom line and has always been the case.

“How could you put in a 500 room hotel, primarily aiming at the Asian market, without a golf course?

“They all want to play golf.”

Cr Watson said PAC’s decision was an “absolute disgrace”.

“The decision PAC made, they might as well just refused it outright,” he said.

“The approval they gave made the project unviable.

“It’s an absolute disgrace the state government allowed it to happen.”

His views differ from those of Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash, who despite all the controversy facing the abbot earlier this week, said she was confident the project would still go ahead.

“People need to understand the abbot is the abbot and the Shaolin Temple Foundation is the Shaolin Temple Foundation, they are separate entities,” she said.

“As far as I’m concerned it changes nothing. It is not a Shaolin Foundation issue. It is a private issue for the abbot and those who are investigating it.”

[GeneChing]

Patrick Pang leaves Shaolin Foundation (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/3497824/pang-leaves-shaolin-team/)
By Robert Crawford Nov. 18, 2015, 3:30 p.m.


Patrick Pang

THE passionate local advocate for the proposed Shaolin Temple at Falls Creek has left the organisation.

Patrick Pang has been the Shaolin’s Australian spokesperson, a director of the Shaolin Foundation and the driver of the $380 million Shaolin Temple Complex at Comberton Grange for 11 years.

Mr Pang confirmed on Tuesday he was no longer part of development team.

“I’m not really involved in the project now,” he said.

“I have been away from the project for quite some time.

“I gave the project 11 years of my life.

“I’ve gone through all the government planning processes and been kicked around a lot.

“I’m happy to be out.”

He said he did his best to get the project up and running.

“I’m happy with my contribution. Eleven years is a long time,” he said.

“I wanted to do other things.

“While I was part of the Shaolin project, I couldn’t really do that.

“I’m back doing what I love best.

“I have new energy.”

Along with a business partner he is trying to establish a factory in China to develop lithium batteries for solar panels.

“We are also looking at a car that can get 500 kilometres per charge,” Mr Pang said.

Despite being away from the Shaolin project, Mr Pang still believes Abbot Shi Yongxin was committed to the temple development.

“I don’t think he is wavering,” he said.

“As I understand it, the Abbot is taking care of the project himself.”

In a visit to the Shoalhaven in June this year the Abbot said work on the Shaolin Temple at Comberton Grange was expected to start in early 2016.

The Abbot also confirmed that the Temple complex would be constructed in a staged process.

The meditation centre, spiritual and wellbeing complex and Kung Fu centre will make up the first stage.

Interesting. No mention of the Abbot scandal (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?42909-Abbot-scandals&p=1285447#post1285447). I'm surprised this wasn't reported by the South Coast Register as that would seem to be a major factor here.

[GeneChing]

Been a while since we've updated this here thread.


Former Shaolin Foundation director Patrick Pang launches Chinese Cultural Centre in Bomaderry (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/4021617/chinese-cultural-centre-launched-in-shoalhaven/)
Robert Crawford
@RobSCRegister
11 Jul 2016, 8:44 a.m.

NEW VENTURE: Former Shaolin Foundation director, Patrick Pang has opened a Chinese Cultural Centre in Bomaderry.

A Chinese Cultural Centre has opened in the Shoalhaven.

And a familiar face is at the helm.

The man behind the centre is Patrick Pang, a former director of the Shaolin Foundation, who spent more than a decade trying to get the Shaolin Temple built in the Shoalhaven.

Mr Pang said the centre on the upper level of the Bomaderry Bowling Club would target non Chinese Australians interested in learning Chinese culture.

“In my time here, people have grown aware of China and the importance of building cultural connections,” he said.

“The growing influence of China in the world economy and international politics makes it necessary to understand China.

“Through my contacts I want to make this happen.”

Lessons in Chinese, meditation and and chess were available when the centre opened on Monday.

Mr Pang said more people speak Chinese than any other language in the world.

“The centre is offering an easy to learn 12 lessons (one and a half hours per session) targeted at anyone who has an interest in Chinese culture,” he said.

“It would be particularly helpful for those working in banking, travel, restaurants, real estate, health and hospitality industries who will have exposure to Chinese visitors and tourists.

“It would also be suitable for those contemplating visiting China for business and cultural exchange.

“Having lived here for seven years, I can see a lot of potential in establishing closer ties for the area with China.

“There are lots of business opportunities but we need to be able to build those bridges to create those opportunities.

“Chinese people also want to invest in Australia.”

He said Chinese doctors, therapeutic massage, moxibustion and acupuncture would be available by appointment.

“We will be able to provide alternative treatments,” he said.

Mr Pang hopes to have Tai Chi, Shaolin Kung Fu, Mahjong and calligraphy added to the program as the centre progresses.

Despite walking away from the Shaolin temple project last November, Mr Pang said he still believes in the proposal.

“I still believe the temple will be built in some form in the Shoalhaven,” he said.

“I just don’t know when.

“The Abbot has a few problems in China at the moment and I think he is sorting all that out before progressing any further over here.

“It is a very unique proposal and I still believe it can provide great opportunities for the Shoalhaven.”

[Seadragon]

Patrick Pang Sues Shaolin Abbot for $600k



Robert Crawford

South Coast Register
18 Jul 2016, 2:30 p.m.

IN another twist to the ongoing Shaolin Temple saga, it has been revealed former director Patrick Pang is suing Shaolin Abbot Shi Yongxin in the NSW Supreme Court for expenses.

Mr Pang was a director of the Shaolin Foundation and the Australian face of the Shaolin Temple development planned for Comberton Grange at Falls Creek.

After more than a decade of trying to get the $380 million Shaolin Temple Complex proposal approved and built, he walked away from the project last November.

Mr Pang started proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court in February to recoup more than $600,000 in costs incurred during the process.

“I gave 11 years service to the Abbot and this project and this claim is for outstanding expenses, consultant fees and things like that, which I didn’t claim during that time,” he said.

“My lawyers are trying to get it organised as fast as possible.”

Despite walking away from the project last November, Mr Pang still believes in the proposal and said it would be built in the Shoalhaven one day.

“I still believe the temple will be built in some form in the Shoalhaven,” he said.

“I just don’t know when.

“The Abbot has a few problems in China at the moment and I think he is sorting all that out before progressing any further over here.

“It is a very unique proposal and I still believe it can provide great opportunities for the Shoalhaven.”

In September 2014, the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) granted approval for the $360 million Shaolin complex at Comberton Grange but with strict conditions.

PAC approved the concept plan but excluded the golf course and residential precincts of the proposal and advised the hotel precinct should also be moved.

In February 2015, Abbot Shi Yongxin presented a bank cheque to Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash for $4,162,723.99 to finalise the mortgage payments on the property. At the time the foundation said it intended to continue to push for the residential precinct of 300 houses despite PAC’s rejection.


The matter is listed for a one-day hearing in the NSW Supreme Court on August 4.[/I]

[Seadragon]

The next episode of this saga is due to happen in the NSW Supreme Court tomorrow.

Will Patrick Pang provide details of the claimed $600,000? (Can Patrick Pang even do that- sue the Abbot, not the entity?)

Will Shi Yongxin appear in court himself? If not, who will represent him?

Will Phillip Balding have any thing to say?

Will the NSW Supreme Court cancel the charity registration of Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) Ltd? Since both of the directors have resigned (over 6 months ago) and now one of them is suing the big boss? So who is running the show? And with their reporting 6 months overdue! Opps!

Or will the Supreme Court find it a bit too hard to deal with and adjourn for another day?

Only one more sleep!

[Seadragon]

And the decision is.....there is no decision!

Nothing was reported in the local paper and I have been eagerly watching and waiting for the Supreme Court results online.

Finally it's been published.

Follow this link and you can read the whole case story yourself

www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au ( go to 'advanced search' and type in Shaolin Temple. Two items come up. The August 4 case is the 2nd one)

On the Australian Non For Profit Charity web page (www.acnc.gov.au -- again search for Shaolin in advanced search-- 2 options pop up and the other one is worth a read too ) Shaolin Temple Foundation Aust (Ltd) Is now 7 months over due with their reporting and with no directors ( though Pang and Balding are still down as directors despite them having resigned months ago!!) Very generous of the ACNC to give them the benefit of the doubt!

And who is Phillip Balding? This may give you a bit of background: www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/1019542/nowra-at-centre-of-60bn-fraud-case

After several months we are still left wondering 'what happens next?'

[GeneChing]

Are religious organizations taxed in Oz?



Shaolin Temple and Camp Gallipoli lose charity status (https://third-sector.com.au/77919-2/)
GALI BLACHER
DECEMBER 20, 2016

https://third-sector.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/revocation.png

More organisations lose their charitable status.

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has revoked the charity status of two organisations following compliance investigations into their activities and operations.

The organisations are:

Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) LTD – revoked on 8 December 2016, with the effective date of revocation 2 December 2015

Camp Gallipoli Foundation Incorporated – revoked on 15 December 2016, with the effective date of revocation 10 February 2014

Both organisations have 60 days (from the date of revocation) to object to the ACNC’s revocation decisions, in which case they will be independently reviewed internally.

According to the Australian Business Register (ABR), Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) has been operating since 2006 and is based in New South Wales.

The Shaolin Temple Foundation was endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to access the following Commonwealth charity tax concessions – GST Concession, Income Tax Exemption, and FBT Rebate.

According to the ABR, Camp Gallipoli Foundation Incorporated has been operating since 2014 and is based in South Australia. It was endorsed by the ATO to access the following Commonwealth charity tax concessions – GST concession and income tax exemption.

The organisations will now lose access to these Commonwealth charity tax concessions.

Commissioner Susan Pascoe said that while the ACNC could not provide further details, due to the secrecy provisions in the ACNC Act, the ACNC’s approach to compliance activity was proportionate.

“The ACNC’s approach to regulating Australia’s 54,000 registered charities is to be firm, yet fair,” Pascoe said.

“Members of the public can be assured that compliance revocations are reserved for the most serious of cases.

“Where possible, we work with charities to help them get back on track by providing guidance and education. In fact, the majority of concerns raised with the ACNC are resolved by our Advice Services team.”

Commissioner Pascoe encouraged donors to always check the Charity Register to ensure they are giving to a registered charity.

“Organisations that have their charity status revoked by the ACNC are easy to identify,” Pascoe said.

“A registered charity will appear with a green tick on the Charity Register, however when a charity is revoked, a red cross will appear. If an organisation isn’t registered with the ACNC, it will not appear at all.

“It is important that people check the Charity Register to ensure that they are getting accurate and up-to-date information about a charity.”

Pascoe also encouraged members of the public to raise any concerns with the ACNC.

“Each month we receive around 60 concerns about charities, two-thirds of which come from members of the public,” she said.

“In the last financial year we received 930 concerns, a significant increase compared to the 810 we received the year prior. The influx of concerns resulted in around 50 per cent more investigations than the year prior.

“The public often provide valuable information that helps the ACNC investigate, and ultimately, revoke a non-compliant charity’s status.”

[boxerbilly]

I could ask my sister. She lives there and is working to become a international tax lawyer. But Im sure someone else from OZ will have the answer long before I do so.....

[B.Tunks]

Are religious organizations taxed in Oz?

They are exempt. Currently approx. total of $30 billion a year un-taxed in Australia.

BT

[GeneChing]

Falls Creek Shaolin Temple still in the planning (http://www.naroomanewsonline.com.au/story/4922252/abbot-still-committed-to-temple-project-but-on-a-smaller-scale/)
Robert Crawford
@RobSCRegister
13 Sep 2017, 2:32 p.m.

http://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/59be447f-be53-4c78-9185-f470030b2819.JPG/r0_163_1751_1152_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley (centre) meets with Shaolin Abbot, Shi Yongxin and his representatives.

THE Shaolin Abbot, Shi Yongxin made a flying visit to the Shoalhaven on Wednesday and reaffirmed his commitment to a Shaolin Temple at Falls Creek, albeit on a much smaller scale.

It is planned to submit a development application for the proposal with Shoalhaven City Council within six months.

The Abbot and a number of Chinese supporters and backers travelling with him, met with Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley and council staff to discuss the new proposal for the Comberton Grange property on the banks of Currambene Creek at Falls Creek.


Former councillor John Willmott facilitated the meeting which has seen a scaling back of the previously mooted $360 million project.

The golf course and residential precincts, featuring 300 dwellings, rejected by the Planning Assessment Commission, are gone with the Abbot focusing more on the heart of the Shaolin movement, meditation, well-being and Kung Fu.

The meeting was told the plans were now much more “humble” and “far removed” from the previous “Hollywood style” proposal.

Instead, it is planned to start with stage one of the project, a nursery on the scale of the Eurobodalla Botanical Gardens in Batemans Bay.

The nursery will allow monks and volunteers to harvest seeds from the site and propagate them.

It is envisaged the nursery would also be able to sell local native plants to the public.

http://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/be8298ba-a614-4246-b413-56c25e855f10.JPG/r384_118_1951_1536_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Shaolin Abbot, Shi Yongxin during Wednesday's meeting at council.

It is planned to revegetate creek lines and clear the disused pine forest, removing the pine needles which are degrading the soils.

Accommodation for up to 10 monks with a kitchen and dining hall will be built.

The plan is for the buildings to nestle into the landscape, much different to the previous proposal with its scale and size which would have certainly stood out.

It is proposed to build 18 tourist cabins, again designed to be part of the environment.

The Kung Fu Academy continues to play a major role in the proposal, as will a Shaolin Zen meditation temple, a Shaolin zen theme park, meditation spaces, a Zen tea valley, Shaolin house, a bonesetting house, Zen sleeping house and outdoor demonstration places.

​Plans are much more “humble” and “far removed” from the previous “Hollywood style” proposal.

The proposal plans to use earthly materials and “touch the earth lightly” and buildings designed to be within nature, not competing.

Inspiration will be taken from work designed by Philip Cox and Glenn Murcutt.

The site would be pedestrian, not vehicle reliant, with removed car parking facilities.

It is planned some of the buildings could be of a rammed earth construction, using sandstone and dolerite from the quarry on the property, while some of the harvested timber from the pine forest could also be utilised during construction.

http://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/7a9847ba-7077-46b4-a488-12d4612242be.JPG/r0_118_2304_1418_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Shaolin Abbot, Shi Yongxin formally invites Shoalhaven Mayor, Amanda Findley to visit China.

The meeting heard the proposals would be on the same footprint as the previous proposal as approved by the planning commission.

Through translator Vinh Trang, the Abbott said he wanted to move forward with the project.

“The land is ours and after a few years of delay, which we are sorry for, we are now ready to move forward,” he said.

“We place a high value on the environment and trying to keep the synergy of the environment to move forward.


The original project was very ambitious and caused lots of stir in the Shoalhaven. The mindset now is different and I believe the community will be willing to get behind the new thinking brought to table.
- Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley.

“This is a very beautiful city as we know and we want to try and make it better.”

He said the plan was to start small but grow in time, if and when, required.

“It could be a good tourist attraction for the area,” he said.

Although there was still a lot of work to get the project off the ground, including issues such as sensitive environmental areas and problems over access, it is hope a development application would be lodged with council within the next six months.

http://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/5e41f4a7-0db2-465c-8a97-d0f4173bc49e.JPG/r0_118_1782_1418_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Shaolin Abbot, Shi Yongxin's visit to the Shoalhaven has attracted lots of Chinese attention.

The Abbott also issued an invitation for Mayor Findley to visit the Shaolin Temple in China.

Mayor Findley said she was honoured to meet the Abbot and his guests from around China who came together to show a seriousness to progress the project.

“The original project was very ambitious and caused lots of stir in the Shoalhaven,” Cr Findley said.

“The mindset now is different and I believe the community will be willing to get behind the new thinking brought to table.

“I spoke to the Abbot about the local Aboriginal people and their connection to the land and how important it is to them, making strong beginnings and then progress those issues in a sensitive way.

“It is a pleasing place to be in and it is nice to meet and express all points of view on issues.”

She said the project has the potential to bring tourists and growth to the city.

“The Shoalhaven is experiencing a great connection already with China through tourism,” she said.

“Many inbound tourists to Jervis Bay come from China.

“Many come for a day and leave. Many locals are not aware that we have quite a large contingent of Chinese nationals visiting already.

“The accommodation side, as the project grows, will allow for people connected to the Shaolin movement to stay and enjoy the city and connect with the wellness opportunities the Abbot has identified in the Shoalhaven - the healthy lifestyle of clean air, good bushlands, beautiful seas and not wanting to disrupt that too much but to connect spiritually as well as in a healthy way.

“It is heartening to see the cabins were part of the project ongoing and they will sit better within the landscape. The Abbot has assured us should the project need to grow, it will grow over time as the need arises.

“Let’s start the project and wait and see what the pressures are.”

While in the Shoalhaven the Abbot was also shown the award winning Philip Cox designed Willinga Park equestrian centre at Bawley Point. There was also a visit to the proposed site at Comberton Grange.

Any more inside scoop from you members down under?

[GeneChing]

Letters to the editor 18 Sep 2017, 11:47 a.m.

Zen with a grain of salt (http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/4930252/letters-to-the-editor/)

Abbot Shi Yongxin’s flying visit to Nowra last week (13 Sep 17) to meet with Shoalhaven City Council has brought the Comberton Grange development back to life with a proposal for a more “humble” Mark 2 Shaolin proposal with “Zen” as its theme. i.e. “self contemplation as the key to an understanding of the universe”.

Previously, Shaolin’s insistence on financing the development itself resulted in financial embarrassment for both council and developer.

This time the Abbot was accompanied by financial backers As it now stands, a condition of the 2014 Planning and Assessment Commission’s approval for development insists “that the site shall not be subdivided in any form and must be retained in single ownership”.

It’s been a lengthy and justly contentious journey so far. Shaolin have now held the site for 11 years and it is to be hoped that those councillors, who remain on council, and who were so uncritically enthusiastic about Shaolin Mark 1, will be more judicious in their appraisal this time round.

The Abbot has proposed a six-month interval to prepare a development application.

Meanwhile, if experience is a teacher, until the revelations of another development application and a good look at what “Zen” and humility translate to on site, the lesson is – “to be taken with a grain of salt”.

J. Gjedsted, Vincentia

Reminds me of a koan on salt. Or perhaps it was a zen parable.

[GeneChing]

MAY 21 2018 - 4:00PM
​Further works being carried out to lodge Shaolin Temple development application (https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/5419742/work-hoped-to-start-on-shaolin-temple-by-end-of-year/)
Robert Crawford

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/ce37de75-58f2-4a8a-8ad5-6984543b3c0c.JPG/r384_118_1874_1536_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Shaolin Abbot Shi Yongxin.

Work on the long mooted Shaolin Temple in the Shoalhaven is hoped to start by the end of the year.

But it won’t be the grand temple vision at Comberton Grange Falls Creek, the city has been previously sold.

Instead the project is taking a different course, a more sustainable fashion, with a view to stage the proposal.

Sydney town planning consultants and project coordinators, Urbis, have taken over as project managers for the Shaolin Foundation Australia, with director of planning Clare Brown saying moves had been made to modify the proposal.

The application seeks to modify the approved concept plan regarding the staging of the proposal and relocating the monks' accommodation and the Zen Hall.

The concept plan approved by the Planning Assessment Review also stated additional investigation work on site was required before a development application could be lodged with Shoalhaven City Council.

Ms Brown said that work was being carried out.

“Further survey work has been undertaken along Comberton Grange Road, while various technical experts have also been undertaking site reviews at the moment with a view to start the project,” she said.

“We know there has been lots of false starts on the temple previously but we are doing the investigation work to lodge the DA with council.

“We are looking at minor changes to the approval as it stands - stage one was for the bulk of the earthworks across the site.

“We want to move away from that and do the development in a more sustainable fashion.”

She said in the initial phase it was planned to establish accommodation for the number of monks who would be living at the site, as well as the meditation and martial arts hall.

“Rather than come in and do the whole development in one go, including all the earthworks, Shaolin is seeking to stage the development in a sustainable fashion,” she said.

Ms Brown, who has a Shoalhaven connection having grown up in Nowra and attended Nowra High School, understands the local feelings about the temple proposal.

“The Shaolin Foundation remains committed to the the project but it will not include the residential subdivisions or golf course,” she said.

“And the modifications do not seek to re-introduce that.

“There will be accommodation for people to come to the site - learn meditation or martial arts – the accommodation for that is part of the approval.

“There could be further stages of work at a later date.”

Ms Brown said work on the project must start before the concept plan approval lapses in September 2019.

“We must start before then and we are working with council. We are determined to get required approvals to physically start work soon,” she said.

This thread topic started in 04-21-2009. :eek:

[GeneChing]

This is really a fascinating project on so many levels.


NOVEMBER 2 2018 - 12:55PM
Latest Shaolin Temple Project plans to go on show (https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/5737149/community-open-day-to-reveal-latest-shaolin-plans/)
Robert Crawford

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/ce74339c-133b-408c-aeeb-36c353c7ff5c.jpg/r0_0_2828_1913_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
A preliminary concept plan of the layout of the Shaolin Temple Project at Falls Creek. Inset: Top - Kung Fu demonstrations will be undertaken at the temple - below - Shaolin Abbot, Shi Yongxin.

A community open day to bring residents up to date with the latest proposal for the Shaolin Temple Project south of Nowra will be held at Huskisson on Saturday, November 10.

The long-talked about Shaolin project has been on the drawing boards since 2008, and has undergone a couple of major redesigns in that time.

The project is planned for a 1200 hectare parcel of land off Comberton Grange Road at Falls Creek.

The open day will be held at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum and as well as being updated on the project visitors will be able to meet monks and watch Kung Fu demonstrations.

In 2014, the Shaolin Foundation sought and gained conditional approval for a concept plan at the site.

The foundation recently applied to the NSW Government to modify the approved concept plan and will share the updated proposal with the community at the open day.

The conditional approval allows for a Zen Meditation Hall, Kung Fu Hall, various religious buildings, accommodation for monks, students and guests, a convention centre, retail and hospitality facilities.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/2f7f2761-7cda-4241-b6cf-228f226b495e.JPG/r415_118_1854_1536_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

Teaching and education facilities and a cultural museum, along with parking and road upgrades are also approved.

There are also moves to make it a staged development.

A modification has also being requested so that buildings can be relocated to parts of the site that manage any potential environmental impacts.

The updated proposal incorporates protection of riparian zones, habitat corridors, Aboriginal and European heritage, water and soil quality.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/50e694b8-8b31-4bda-8ebb-6e5920c9e2d1.jpg/r0_157_4678_3026_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
A preliminary concept plan of the layout of the Shaolin Temple Project at Falls Creek.

The South Coast Register understands there has been activity in the area with a number of different technical experts undertaking site reviews, such as survey work.

The original approval allowed for use of Comberton Grange Road for emergency access only while all other vehicular traffic was to be from the north via Forest Road.

The modification proposal is seeking access to the meditation sanctuary precinct and Kung Fu sanctuary precinct via Comberton Grange Road, however access would only be available to the resident monk population and servicing/ emergency vehicles only.

The monks will not drive private vehicles but will travel (if they travel at all) via mini bus.

They might be visited by supporters/patrons with some event days anticipated, however, traffic volumes are anticipated to generally be very low.

Access to the balance of the site is still via Forest Road/Charcoal Road.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/f6394c17-36e3-4c52-900c-b87d358f1bad.JPG/r0_2_1086_613_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Kung Fu demonstrations will be undertaken at the temple.

It is understood the amount of use for Comberton Grange Road will vary throughout the stages as the building of precincts is not all at once but over a period of time.

Public access to the meditation sanctuary precinct and Kung Fu sanctuary precinct will also be via Forest Road / Charcoal Road.

A statement released by Sydney town planning consultants and project coordinators, Urbis, said the focus of the Shaolin Temple Foundation was to blend life with nature in accordance with Buddhist religion and Kung Fu principles.

“The Shaolin has more than 1500 years of cultural heritage and hope to share this with the Shoalhaven community,” said Shaolin Master Yanchong.

“It will give visitors the opportunity to stay at the facility and connect spiritually, as well as physically, with the local environment.”

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/ed822465-f8ca-487a-987f-0a754caa168f.jpg/r0_42_865_582_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley with Shaolin Abbot, Shi Yongxin during their 2017 meeting.

A Shaolin information sheet say the temple would contribute to both employment and the local economy, providing a significant boost to sectors such as tourism and hospitality.

If approved, the updated proposal would take around 10-15 years to complete.

“This staged construction will allow for a more environmentally sustainable approach,” he said.

A meeting between Shaolin Abbot, Shi Yongxin and Shoalhaven City Council in September 2017, showed a considerable scaling back of the previously mooted $360 million project.

The golf course and residential precincts, featuring 300 dwellings, rejected by the Planning Assessment Commission, were gone with the Abbot focusing more on the heart of the Shaolin movement, meditation, well-being and Kung Fu.

Community members are invited to attend the open day between 10am and 1pm at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, Woollamia Road, Huskisson, to view information and ask questions.

The Shaolin Foundation has commissioned Urbis, an independent community engagement company, to collect feedback on their proposed modification plans and answer any questions from the community regarding the project.

You can contact the team on 1800 244 863 or email shaolintemple@urbis.com.au for further information or to share your ideas.

[GeneChing]

There are more pix. I just grabbed the last one.


NOVEMBER 15 2018 - 9:30AM
Shaolin open day attracts good numbers as new plans go on show (https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/5759133/shaolin-shows-off-new-plans-for-falls-creek/)
Robert Crawford

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/3a24bd38-b231-44d8-9433-2207b1ff5434.jpg/r0_209_3920_2413_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
MARK OF RESPECT: Surrounded by his fellow monks Shi Yan Zhuang (seated) greets people at the Shaolin open day at Huskisson. Shi Yan Zhuang was described as the “main warrior”. Photo: Damian McGill

Chinese Buddhist culture was showcased in a unique Australian setting at the Shaolin Temple Project Open Day last weekend.

The open day, providing a community update about the Shaolin Temple Project at Comberton Grange, was attended by more than 125 people at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum.

In 2014, the Shaolin Foundation sought and gained conditional approval for a concept plan at the site at Falls Creek, south of Nowra.

The foundation recently applied to the NSW Government to modify the approved concept plan.

Last week’s open day was designed to share the updated proposal with the community.

The modifications relocate parts of the proposal within the site to better manage environmental impacts, such as water and soil quality, incorporate the protection of riparian zones and habitat corridors.

The relocations will also help to preserve Aboriginal and European heritage items located on the site.

“I’m very happy to be back here in such a beautiful setting,” said Shaolin Master Yanchong.

“The focus of the Shaolin Temple Foundation is to blend life with nature in accordance with Buddhist religion and Kung Fu principles and there is no better place than here in the Shoalhaven.”

Shaolin traditions of meditation, Kung Fu and medicine were also on show at the open day, with community members watching Kung Fu demonstrations and participating in Chinese medicine tutorials and wellness meditation sessions.

Master Yanchong said the temple project would provide a boost in local jobs for the Shoalhaven area, particularly in the sectors of hospitality and tourism.

The conditional approval allows for a Zen Meditation Hall, Kung Fu Hall, various religious buildings, accommodation for monks, students and guests, a convention centre, retail and hospitality facilities.

Teaching and education facilities and a cultural museum, along with plenty of parking and road upgrades are also approved.

“The Shaolin Temple Foundation is very excited for the opportunities this project will bring the Shoalhaven area,” Master Yanchong said.

“It will give visitors the opportunity to stay at the facility and connect spiritually, as well as physically, with the local environment.”

There will be more information about the Shaolin Temple Project available in the coming months, with another open day planned for early 2019.

The Shaolin Temple Foundation has commissioned community engagement company Urbis to collect feedback on the proposed modification plans and answer any questions from the community.

[GeneChing]

Shaolin temple-inspired Lancefield home kicking up plenty of interest (https://www.realestate.com.au/news/shaolin-templeinspired-lancefield-home-kicking-up-plenty-of-interest/?rsf=syn:news:nca:hs:article)
Nathan Mawby
29 OCT 2018

https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/images/800x800-fit,progressive/2018/10/29102654/capi_27593a63fb18b13c1cc21161652a1931_1c31450f4d40 20cc588106e713659384.jpeg
47 Sherwood Court, Lancefield, could be Victoria’s only Shaolin temple inspired home.

EVER wanted to live in your own Shaolin temple?

With a karate dojo, guardian statues at the front gate and even a door from a 400-year-old Chinese monastery, the Wu Lin Retreat has kicked up plenty of interest since hitting the market.

Lancefield’s infamous Commercial Bank with ties to Ned Kell snapped up by historic building collectors

https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/images/800x800-fit,progressive/2018/10/29102622/capi_27593a63fb18b13c1cc21161652a1931_615f02b49e73 b45a83faa5a856d2811f.jpeg
Shaolin Temple inspired Lancefield property for sale

James Sumarac and wife Shou Mei have devoted their lives to the martial and healing arts of the orient. And it shows. They’ve been living at an utterly unique Shaolin Temple inspired home where they’ve trained people from around the world in karate, tai chi and meditation. Picture: Jay Town

James Sumarac — a Goju Ryu karate expert with 49 years under his 8th dan black belt — and his Tai Chi and meditation teacher wife, Shou Mei, have run the home at 47 Sherwood Court, Lancefield as a training centre and accommodation space for guests from around the world.

It’s even appeared on Getaway and Coxy’s Big Break.

“The first time people see it they are shocked,” said Mr Sumarac, who is also trained in martial arts healing.

“As far as a purpose-built martial arts and healing centre, I don’t think there’s anything like this in Australia or New Zealand.”

https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/images/800x800-fit,progressive/2018/10/29102628/capi_27593a63fb18b13c1cc21161652a1931_237b7a62e227 434079530a08f47064d2.jpeg
Go on. Admit it. You’ve always wanted a dojo. Picture: Jay Town

https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/images/800x800-fit,progressive/2018/10/29102631/capi_27593a63fb18b13c1cc21161652a1931_0b3d9f6e0375 3b6b359541c7cf18590d.jpeg
And there are less physical ways to relax at the property. Picture: Jay Town

The property was hand built and modelled on a Shaolin temple and a Taiwanese village.

It follows Feng Shui principles — and has a few other traditional aspects, including a pair of Chinese guardian statues at the front gate.

“They are guardians of the property,” Mr Sumarac said.

The first is a subtle warning to think before doing anything bad at the property. The second, with a hand on a sword, is a much less subtle warning.

https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/images/800x800-fit,progressive/2018/10/29102634/capi_27593a63fb18b13c1cc21161652a1931_08658dd72296 3918bdfbafb406156a0b.jpeg
The property’s tranquil location also helps to keep the peace.

https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/images/800x800-fit,progressive/2018/10/29102637/capi_27593a63fb18b13c1cc21161652a1931_a9f986f57451 95034077b0b859450e6b.jpeg
The guardian statues are hidden by a more welcoming garden.

Antique furniture from China, windows and doors, have all been imported.

Their bed was shipped in from Hong Kong and based on those once reserved for Chinese royalty and the exceptionally wealthy — though quite a bit bigger.

Four semi-detached guestrooms accommodate guests, often from overseas and interstate, who want to practice aspects of their martial arts disciplines.

https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/images/800x800-fit,progressive/2018/10/29102640/capi_27593a63fb18b13c1cc21161652a1931_d2d504c7eac3 c021580e1e855de0df26.jpeg
Shou Mei in one of the property’s out buildings. Picture: Jay Town

https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/images/800x800-fit,progressive/2018/10/29102644/capi_27593a63fb18b13c1cc21161652a1931_b8f199bdb7e3 67c1aed6c453440bbbf7.jpeg
Ancient monastery doors add to the character and the appeal. Picture: Jay Town

Andrew Winter: To sell or to renovate?Play Video
0:55
“We initially set the place up to operate like a bed and breakfast, and it has that potential, but we don’t really run it that way,” Mr Sumarac said.

Instead they’ve turned it into a popular wellness and martial arts retreat.

“It’s a holistic approach to martial arts with health management and fortifying yourself against disease,” he said.

“It went out of fashion for a while and now people are a lot more informed about traditional and authentic practices.”

https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/images/800x800-fit,progressive/2018/10/29102650/capi_27593a63fb18b13c1cc21161652a1931_696eec261650 c9023c35290385a8c677.jpeg
The property also follows traditional design.

While the pair are sad to be moving on, they’re ready to downsize.

“You have to come to that realisation that there are different stages of existence and at a point you have to move on,” Mr Sumarac said.

Kennedy and Hunt real estate director Jason Kennedy said the 8ha allotment and the unique home was too difficult to price but had already attracted four prospective buyers.

“Parties looking for something unique as a retreat, meditation (centre) or weekend chill out,” Mr Kennedy said.

Nice crib. :cool:

[GeneChing]

I guess we'll revisit this next week.


FEBRUARY 26 2019 - 12:21PM
Shaolin to reveal latest Shoalhaven temple plans (https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/5925046/shaolin-temple-project-update-and-open-day-saturday/)
Robert Crawford

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/67444d5e-356d-4e4e-9f0e-e74ae793341d.jpg/r0_0_4678_2974_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
PLANS: A preliminary concept plan of the layout of the Shaolin Temple Project at Falls Creek.

The community will get another chance to get the latest update on the proposed Shaolin Temple Project at Falls Creek, with a community open day this Saturday, March 2.

The open day will be held at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum at Huskisson and as well as being able to view proposed modifications for the project and get an update on its progress there will also be the chance to meet monks, watch Kung Fu demonstrations and chat to a Buddhist doctor.

Last November’s open day provided information regarding the project and further information will be available on queries raised by the community and stakeholders from that event at Saturday's open day.

“The Shaolin is excited to host this open day and provide follow up information to all those that requested it,” Shaolin Master Yanchong said.

“The Shaolin Temple Project is about providing benefits to the local area and we are here to answer your questions and provide up to date, factual information.”

Since the last open day better definition around placement of buildings and footprints have been made to the proposed modification and provided to the Department of Planning and Environment for review.

“Formal lodgement of the proposed modification is likely in the next two weeks and then a public exhibition period will be undertaken, providing the community and interested stakeholders with another opportunity to have their say.”

In 2014, the Shaolin Foundation sought and gained conditional approval for a concept plan at the Comberton Grange Road site at Falls Creek. The foundation applied to the NSW Government to modify the approved concept plan and since June 2018 has been sharing the updated proposal to gather feedback, answer questions and document community concerns.

The conditional approval allows for a Zen Meditation Hall, Kung Fu Hall, various religious buildings, accommodation for monks, students and guests, a convention centre, retail and hospitality facilities.

Teaching and education facilities and a cultural museum, along with plenty of parking and road upgrades, have also been approved.

A modification is being requested so that buildings can be relocated to parts of the site to better manage potential environmental impacts.

The updated proposal incorporates the protection of riparian zones, habitat corridors, Aboriginal and European heritage, water and soil quality.


Community members are invited to attend the open day between 9am and 3pm at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, Woollamia Road Huskisson.

The Shaolin Temple Foundation has commissioned community engagement company Urbis to collect feedback and respond to questions from the community regarding the project. You can contact the team on 1800 244 863 or email shaolintemple@urbis.com.au for further information or to share your ideas.

[GeneChing]

MARCH 22 2019 - 12:30PM
Shaolin lodges updated Falls Creek temple plans (https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/5968985/shaolin-temple-foundation-lodges-formal-modification-application-with-government/)
Robert Crawford

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/87a5cff8-f075-4ceb-948f-3e97b6f6bb80.jpg/r0_0_1512_2016_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
ON SHOW: Shaolin monks with children at the recent second community information day at Huskisson.

The Shaolin Temple Foundation has lodged a formal modification application for its proposed temple development at Comberton Grange, Falls Creek, south of Nowra, including a move to deliver the project across a 10 to 15-year period.

The updated plans were lodged in February this year with the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) and will go on public exhibition soon.

The modifications have been proposed to better manage potential environmental impacts and incorporate the protection of riparian zones, habitat corridors, Aboriginal and European heritage, water and soil quality.

The Shaolin Temple Project, which it is estimated will inject $6.2 million annually in tourist visitation spend and approximately 600 direct local jobs, includes a Zen Meditation Hall, Kung Fu Hall, various religious buildings, accommodation for monks, students and guests, a convention centre, retail and hospitality facilities, teaching and education facilities and a cultural museum.

Located approximately 12 kilometres south of Nowra, off Comberton Grange Road, the Shaolin Temple Project is being designed by Australia's leading architect, Glenn Murcutt, who is renowned for his sensitivity to landscape.

The modification application lodged seeks to separate ​public and private spaces to improve harmony with the natural features of the site.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/2ee3c38f-7131-4377-9f45-ec01507b5a0a.JPG/r0_0_489_611_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
A break-down of the proposed precincts at the Shaolin Temple, Comberton Grange Falls Creek, according to the modified application.

Feng Shui principles and site conditions have been considered, which has resulted in the proposed relocation of buildings, while the project staging has been modified to improve sustainability and deliver the project across a 10 to 15-year period.

The Shaolin Temple Project will be located on the lower slopes of landforms and within the footprint of the pine plantation to ensure buildings will be viewed against topography and landscape and not against the sky, where they could dominate the setting.


We are excited to be a part of the Shoalhaven community and share our promotion of health, wellbeing and connection with nature.
Head of the Shaolin Temple Foundation, Master Yanchon

Various environmental management aspects will be implemented as part of the project including - measures to treat surface runoff and prevent pollutants running into the natural streams and their eco systems; minimal native tree removal during the construction process; and protected areas of native vegetation and wetlands will not be open to monks or visitors. specified walkways will be provided, and clear signage will outline where people can and cannot walk.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/6078f21a-2d97-44f6-922a-795bb9ed4bc7.jpg/r0_237_2016_1120_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
COMMUNITY INFORMATION: The Shaolin Temple Project’s recent second community information day at Huskisson.

By relocating the approved buildings, the Foundation says it is better able to protect the environment as the majority of building will be in the footprints of previously disturbed areas.

New roads that are required to be built within the site are intended to blend in with the natural landscape.

During the initial stages of construction, Comberton Grange Road will be used for access to and services of stage one of building.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/abd04725-6d20-455d-91dd-1472a6f83bfb.JPG/r0_6_1364_267_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
The proposed time line.

For subsequent construction stages, and occupation, Charcoal Road (off Forest Road) will become the primary access point to the site. This road will lead to ample car parking in the north eastern corner of the site for visitors.

​It has been identified that the intersection of Princes Highway and Forest Road will require an upgrade as part of this project, and this will be completed prior to stage one of the project.

At a glance this is what is coming

Village Centre and Hotel precincts

21.4 hectares in total.
20,000 square metres retail/commercial/dining spaces.
10,000 square metres serviced apartments.
Convention halls to accommodate 600 people.
Outdoor amphitheatre.
218 room hotel and 16 cabins.
200 seat restaurant.
100 seat cafe.
Meeting rooms.
Village precinct is a mix of three and five story buildings.
Hotel precinct is a mix of four story buildings and single story cabins.
Accommodation is not for permanent residential use.

Information precinct

2 hectares in total.
1000 square metre information centre and museum facilities

Wellness precinct

2.3 hectares in total
10,000 square metre clinics and treatment areas for traditional Chinese medicines.
Three and four story elements.

Education precinct

5.3 hectares in total.
12,000 square metres of educational facilities in student accommodation.
Sports fields.
Three story buildings.

Sanctuary precinct - A, B and C.

44 hectares in total.
Residence for monks, initially 10 and later of 50 monks.
A Prayer hall.
Meditation hall.
Kung-Fu hall.
Temple buildings.
Amenities.
1-2 story elements and Pagoda up to 50m.

Agriculture

Existing location up to 1000 square metre storage huts.
Agricultural and farming

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/76a37afb-7bc9-4079-8b7a-6a48d4b2c6d4.JPG/r0_0_244_608_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
The benefits the Shaolin Temple Foundation says will come to the Shoajhaven.

It is expected by mid 2019 the DPE will do a preliminary assessment and review the submissions made in the exhibition period. Shaolin Temple Foundation will review issues and prepare a response.

By late 2019 DPE will assess the modification application and make a recommendation for determination.

More than 130 interested community members attended a recent second community information day on the Shaolin Temple Project at Huskisson.

Local community members met monks for a tea ceremony, Kung-Fu and acupuncture workshops at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum.

An initial community open day in November informed the community about proposed modifications to parts of the Shaolin Temple Project, which was approved in 2014.

Head of the Shaolin Temple Foundation, Master Yanchong, attended the event to hear first hand the community's questions.


The Shaolin Temple Project will provide another reason for people to come and visit this tranquil place.

Head of the Shaolin Temple Foundation, Master Yanchon
"It was a pleasure to host a second open day to meet with the community, answer questions and provide more information on the proposed design of the temple project," Master Yanchong said.

"We are excited to be a part of the Shoalhaven community and share our promotion of health, wellbeing and connection with nature".

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/e01c79c3-cafa-41fd-a8b4-e7b658c13aa6.JPG/r0_36_316_226_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Architect, Glenn Murcutt visiting the Shaolin Temple in China in 2018.

On its website the Shoalhaven Temple Foundation says the project will provide a boost in local jobs for the local area, particularly in hospitality and tourism, with an anticipated $6.2 million annually in tourist visitation spend and approximately 600 direct jobs for the Shoalhaven LGA.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/a23c774c-1567-40dd-80eb-9291ff1da093.JPG/r0_0_435_614_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
A concept of the plan for the Shaolin layout at Comberton Grange, Falls Creek.

"The Shaolin Temple Project will provide another reason for people to come and visit this tranquil place," Master Yanchong said.

It says the project will allow for people connected to the movement to introduce the Shaolin principles to others and integrate with Australian communities, with the aim to allow those who visit and stay within the Shaolin Temple Project to connect spiritually as well as physically with the local environment.

In 2014, the golf course and residential subdivision were not approved and so do not form part of the modification application.

For more information on the project go to www.shaolintemplenowra.com.au

Community engagement company Urbis is collecting feedback on the proposed modification plans and is available to answer any questions from the community.

You can contact the team on 1800 244 863 or email shaolintemple@urbis.com.au for further information or to share your ideas.


I guess we'll revisit this next week.
And by next week, I meant next month.

[GeneChing]

And so it goes...


MAY 3 2019 - 4:00PM
Shoalhaven community urged to look at new Shaolin proposal (https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/6105115/shaolin-opponent-calls-for-community-to-comment-on-new-proposal/)
Robert Crawford

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/d7cd825f-ef17-4cba-ae8e-056bfd88d9b4.JPG/r0_0_651_427_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
The proposed Shaolin property at Comberton Grange Road, Falls Creek.

Vincentia resident and vocal opponent to the Shaolin tourism complex at Comberton Grange, Falls Creek, Judy Gjedsted has called for an extension to public submissions on the controversial project.

Updated plans for the proposed Shaolin Temple and Tourist Development went on public exhibition on the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) website on April 15.

Public submissions close on May 13, which Ms Gjedsted believes is too short a period.

"There needs to be an extension," she said.

"There is just so much information to wade through. A huge amount. There is something like 87 documents in the submission.

"I've asked the department for an extension, as I did last time in 2014.

"We seem to be having to make submissions on this every 10 years or so - we need longer than 30 days.

"And there are some major changes proposed.

"The original proposal has been turned on its head really.

"They haven't just modified a few things, I'm probably more familiar with the project than most, having followed it for so long but these are profound changes.

"I believe these changes will have more impact on people who live along Currambene Creek.

"And it is a proposal that could take anywhere up to 20 years to complete."

She has urged local residents, either for or against the project, to avail themselves of the proposal so they know what is being planned for the property and to make a comment.

"I still believe it will be very bad for Jervis Bay," she said.

"I'm also very suspicious of the financial arrangements. I can't see how a multi-million dollar project is being paid for by donations which is what Shaolin says is the source of the funding.

"And having the project to be developed over the next 20 years is far too long. How can we make decisions on what they are going to do over the next 20 years.

"I know I certainly won't be living to see it. I'm suspicious of what it might turn out to be."

The Department's South Coast Regional Strategy stated no new towns or villages would be supported unless compelling reasons are presented and they can satisfy the sustainability criteria.

"It will certainly be the biggest new town or village on that side of the bay," Ms Gjedsted said.


For further details or to make submissions on the Shaolin Temple modification which close on May 13, go to the DPE Major Projects website - http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=9024

[GeneChing]

MAY 7 2019 - 10:29AM
Oversight lead to confusion over golf course in new Shaolin plans (https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/6110192/shaolin-has-no-plans-for-golf-course-at-falls-creek/)
Robert Crawford

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/e5d95f84-370d-43ec-8d8f-9adabdd9f84f.jpg/r0_243_2953_1982_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
A 2013 artist's impressions of what the original Shaolin Temple and Tourist Development at Falls Creek might have looked like.

AN administration oversight has been blamed for the golf course reappearing on amended plans for the Shaolin Temple and Tourist Development at Falls Creek.

The Shaolin Temple Foundation lodged a formal modification application for its proposed development at Comberton Grange, south of Nowra, in February this year, which are currently on public exhibition on the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) website.

Vincentia resident and vocal opponent to the Shaolin tourism complex Judy Gjedsted, who has scoured the amended plans, raised concerns when the golf course, which along with the residential component of the original proposal, was rejected by the department, have reappeared on documents.

Mention of the golf course appeared on a number of occasions in the Statement of Commitment document lodged with the amended plans.

A spokesperson for Urbis Pty Ltd, who has prepared the application on behalf of Shaolin Temple Foundation, said the inclusion of the golf course in the documentation was an "oversight".

"I can confirm that there is no golf course or residential component in the modification request submitted to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment," the spokesperson said.


There is no golf course or residential component in the modification request submitted to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

Urbis spokesperson

"This was an oversight in the paperwork in Appendix Q.

"No golf course or residential component was approved in 2014 so they are unable to be included in any modification requests."

"The commission's view on the original proposal was the water quality of Jervis Bay should not be adversely affected by the development," Ms Gjedsted said.

"The commissions reports stated 'the main impact on water quality will be from construction works in the shorter term and from urban development and management of the golf course in the longer term'.

"The commission confirmed golf course uses represented a significant risk to water quality and the considered a precautionary approach must be taken and therefore the golf course should be deleted from the original project."

Shaolin's amended layout includes co-locating the village centre and hotel precincts in the northern section of the site; relocating the Chinese garden, information, wellness and education precincts;the temple precinct itself will be reconfiguration into three sub precincts.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/a90554b4-a57b-48b5-b532-2d6fe0102175.JPG/r0_0_489_611_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
A break-down of the proposed precincts at the Shaolin Temple, Comberton Grange Falls Creek.

The plan also includes various amendments to traffic, stormwater, biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage conditions to reflect the amended concept plan.

The application states the proposed modifications would achieve superior outcomes in terms of climatic design and sustainability; separating public and private spaces through co-location of compatible uses in harmony with the natural features of the site.

To ensure the feasibility of the project, it is proposed that the elements of the concept plan be delivered in two overarching stages, comprising multiple incremental 'milestone' stages to be completed over a 10 to 15- year period.

At this stage there are no new artist's impressions as to what the new temple project might look like.

The Urbis spokesperson said it was expected updated information and images would be available once the modification request is approved.

The application is on public exhibition for comment until May 13.

For further details or to make submissions on the Shaolin Temple modification go to the DPE Major Projects website - http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=9024

I don't play golf but I kinda want a Shaolin golf towel. ;)

[GeneChing]

MAY 13 2019 - 10:54AM
Letters: 'Revised Shaolin temple plans raise even more questions' (https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/6120320/letters-revised-shaolin-temple-plans-raise-even-more-questions/)

...

Temple plans mystifying

Oops! So, two separate references to the return of a golf course to the Shaolin development on Comberton Grange are to be ignored as 'typos' (SCR, May 8).

How about a couple of others in the same document? Are 34.5 hectares of the habitat corridor up for grabs again?

And, can we expect a return to the prospect of camping or eco-tourist facilities within the Eastern Conservation Area and Habitat Corridor? Mistakes or not, that's three too many. The Statement of Commitments is meant to be taken seriously.

The tourism component "will remain predominant with associated residential development for every stage of the development".

The statement does not commit to the verbal advice I was given by consultants, Urbis, that, other than for staff, the apartments, cabins, hotel and whatever is available in the Village Precincts mix of three and five storey buildings will not be for permanent residential occupation.

The Temple Foundation's announcement that noted architect, Glen Murcutt, would be involved in the project's design was well received by an anxious public. But the proponents are asking for another 15 years, at least, to both begin and see an end in sight for the development.

The details of design will be ongoing. The Modification Request notes that they (the proponents) "consider that the work by an architect of such standing can be considered a cultural and landscape feature".

They also go on to say; "in the event that (if) Glenn Murcutt ceases to be the architect for the Sanctuary Precinct mitigation measures should be reviewed".

Roll on 2034 when (maybe) all will be revealed.

J.A. Gjedsted, Vincentia

Maybe I'll get my Shaolin golf towel after all. I'm an editor. Typos are my livelihood. ;)

[GeneChing]

MAY 22 2019 - 2:55PM
Independent Planning Commission to decide on Shaolin development (https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/6158382/department-of-planning-collating-shaolin-submissions/)
Robert Crawford

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/TimAB2MTHanvQWPwhBc6mp/568d567b-e597-483f-816b-1c9744e9f251.jpg/r0_243_2953_2041_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
A 2013 artist's impressions of what the original Shaolin Temple and Tourist Development at Falls Creek might have looked like.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) is collating submissions from the community as well as government agencies into the proposed Shaolin Temple and Tourist Development at Falls Creek.

But it already appears there will public hearing into the proposal, with a department spokesperson confirming there had been 25 objections, which meant the department would refer its recommendation to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) to make the final determination.

The Shaolin Temple Foundation lodged a formal modification application for its proposed development at Comberton Grange, south of Nowra, in February this year.

The application went on public exhibition for comment in April, with submissions closing on May 13.

Shaolin gained approved concept plans in September 2014 for nine precincts including the temple, education, village centre, health and wellness, hotel, information, heritage, Chinese garden and agricultural precincts where Shaolin can practice as well as share Shaolin teachings and culture with the Australian people.

The original concept plan was a joint venture that included a golf course and residential accommodation but those elements were not approved.

The modification request, prepared by Urbis Pty Ltd, on behalf of Shaolin Temple Foundation sought to amend the layout and built form of all development precincts, including co-locating the village centre and hotel precincts in the northern section of the site and relocating the Chinese garden, information, wellness and education precincts.

It is proposed the temple precinct itself will be reconfiguration into three sub precincts.

The plan also includes various amendments to traffic, stormwater, biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage conditions to reflect the amended concept plan.

The proposal said the development would be constructed in stages, to be completed over a 10 to 15- year period.

As the responses were still being collated the DPE spokesperson could not confirm how many submissions had been received.

"Once all responses are collated, the applicant will provide a submissions' report responding to all the issues raised," the spokesperson said.

"The department will then rigorously assess the modification based on the report as well all community feedback." I hope I live to see some closure on this story.