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