Temple A 'winner' For Aust And China: Abbot

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday July 3, 2008

By ALEX ARNOLD

THE planned Shaolin Buddhist Temple at Comberton Grange is a big win for China and Australia, says Abbot Shi Yong Xin.

Last week the Department of Planning announced the proposed $370 million tourist and residential development would be considered as a major project, with Minister for Planning Frank Sartor authorising lodgement of a concept plan for the Shoalhaven site.

The development will include a Buddhist temple sanctuary complex (including residential accommodation for the abbot and monks), kung fu academy, 500-bed hotel and 27-hole golf course.

It will have a permanent residential component comprising 300 self-contained villas for adaptive housing.

This week the abbot returned to Australia to meet Department of Planning officials and he will be a guest at the official opening of the $23.5 million Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre on Saturday.

On a tour of the region with potential investors yesterday, Abbot Shi, 45, said the Shaolin complex would create long-term cultural ties that would help bring China and Australia closer.

Speaking through Shaolin Temple Foundation director Patrick Pang, the abbot said his commitment to the project was as strong as ever, despite three years passing since the project was first announced.

The abbot also took time to ease the concerns of Shoalhaven Mayor Greg Watson, who feared the delay would mean the loss of the project to interests in Victoria or California.

He said Australia's natural beauty and the isolation of the Comberton Grange location were key components of a tourist facility.

Abbott Shi also played down the apparent halving of the project's value. Original estimates put the value of the project at $750 million, but more recent valuations have been around $370 million.

Mr Pang said the abbot and the foundation had tried not to put too much importance on a financial figure, but said the latest plans were better and more refined than the initial concept.

Recently, the abbot has been criticised for running the Shaolin Temple as a business, but he argued this protected the Shaolin tradition, spreading kung fu culture and its many benefits, to a wider audience.

The project's acceptance would mean Abbott Shi would spend more time in Australia, something he was "very happy" about.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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