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.
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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.
“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 Hancock 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 Hancock 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.
