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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.