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.

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.