I WOULD like to comment on Ann Sudmalis’s letter to the editor, as well as her 2ST radio interview.
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People of Shoalhaven opposed to the Shaolin development are not against Buddhism or Chinese people as you have suggested. They could be Africans, or Danish or Americans for that matter – we do not care. But we care about ratepayers’ money being used under inaccurate job creation promises.
At the beginning there were talks about creating over 3000 jobs – then over 2000 and, later, 1000 and now about 50 jobs and in some years to come maybe another 200.
Council has sold the land with a quarry and the quarry licence for peanuts. Of course, we are still waiting for the full payment. Did Shoalhaven residents benefit from that? The answer is no.
As we all know the Shaolin temple will be built first on the land in a traditional Chinese method (without nails, etc.) by Chinese tradesman familiar with this technique. Will Shoalhaven people get those jobs? No. Will Shoalhaven people work at the temple? No, monks only. Would they work at proposed school? No. Chinese students are required to help. Would they work as a herbalists etc.? No. Would they work in local shops and cafes? Yes, but they have to speak Mandarin. How many locals can do that? Please note that none of the Shoalhaven schools teach Mandarin.
Local golf courses are rather struggling financially. Would the buses coming from Sydney with Chinese tourists be visiting our golf courses? No. They will have their own. If any run-off from this golf course affects the quality of Currumbene and Jervis Bay waters there will be no tourists swimming in the bay, no business for diving, dolphin and whale watching.
So where are the economic benefits for the region? Oh, there is one more thing – they will not be paying any taxes since Shaolin is a religious organisation.
K. Nilsson,
Old Erowal Bay.