$200m temple to lure global tourists

CAPEL Shire Council could soon consider a proposal for a $200 million dollar development south of Dalyellup with the potential to attract more than 250,000 tourists and pilgrims a year from around the world.

The Shaolin Temple Foundation of Australia has assessed land owned by Southwide Proprietary Limited in Capel that would be suitable for the construction of a Shaolin temple and complex.

If built, it will be only the second Shaolin temple outside China, modelled on the original building in Dengfeng City in the Henan Province.

Plans for a bigger temple in New South Wales are before the Planning Assessment Commission and have been backed by the Shoalhaven Council for eight years.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash said the council had supported the project through a series of setbacks and environmental and community concerns because of the financial and cultural benefits it would bring to the community.

“We’ve had this on the cards for quite some time now, ” she said.

“For us it would be a huge boon — you are going to have lots of visitors and you need to let the Australian people see how important it is to have relationships with other countries.”

Shaolin monks are famous for spreading Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu throughout the world.

Shaolin Temple Foundation director Patrick Pang said millions of tourists and martial artists visited the Dengfeng temple each year.

He said temples in Australia would generate tourism and share Shaolin philosophy.

“We’re not doing anything until we get our project in New South Wales confirmed, ” he said.

“We believe in dialogue and we believe the way to happiness among nations is to try to promote cultural exchange.”

Managing director of project planning company TPG, David Caddy, said the project had huge tourism and business potential.

“It is estimated that the NSW temple being built at a cost of $380 million will attract 350,000 visitors per year, create 1000 jobs during construction and 1300 permanent jobs upon completion, ” he said.

“The Dalyellup development will be very similar in scale.”

The proposal is yet to be submitted to the WA Planning Commission.

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.

“What we are thinking about is a small village for staff, but in the first instance staff would be living in surrounding areas as the temple is constructed, ” Mr Caddy said.

“So in feeding and housing those people, that’s where the local economy actually wins out.

Mr Caddy said the College of Information and Business at the North University of China had expressed interest in building a campus at the temple complex where students could study English.

Capel shire president Murray Scott said there was a lot that needed to happen before the proposal would come to the council.

“Our little rural area would be brightened up a bit, ” he said.

“I really think there is a lot to happen — being where it is there is a wetland and I guess they have sounded that out.”

Cr Scott said the council would expect the foundation to contribute to the Capel community.

“It will go out for public comment. Roads would need to be upgraded and that sort of thing for people to get in there, ” he said.

“If they are going to come and do things they should spread the money around the districts — you don’t want 10,000 odd people being confined there and not going and spending money everywhere else.

“They would do the road upgrades and it wouldn’t cost us anything — I would hope.”