China's Shaolin temple plans hotel complex in Australia

A Chinese temple historically known for its martial arts traditions but which recently has gained a reputation for aggressive commercialisation is planning to build a US$297 million complex in Australia that would include a temple, a hotel, a kung fu academy and a golf course.

The Shoalhaven City Council in New South Wales state said earlier this month that Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia, the developer, had finalised a land purchase at Comberton Grange for what will be known as Shaolin Village.

Mayor Joanna Gash said yesterday that the city council and the state government had both approved the concept plan for the project, which is to include a temple sanctuary with resident monks, a live-in kung fu academy, a 500-bed four-star hotel and a 27-hole golf course.

Planning officials have rejected a residential component, but the developer hopes to restore it, according to media reports.

"We would like to see it happen as soon as possible," Gash said yesterday. "Shaolin Temple is well regarded. It will be phenomenal for us. There's a lot of interest in it.

"It's more than a temple," she said. "It's a spiritual thing. It's also tourism. And it's employment."

The temple, which was built in the fifth century, has rapidly commercialised under Abbot Shi Yongxin in the past decade.

Shi has defended it as a means to preserve the temple and its Buddhist culture.

A common sight for years across Asia, the United States and Europe, the Shaolin monks have also turned their attention to Africa, where kung fu has been overshadowed by tribal martial arts but is growing in popularity.

Shi made a personal trip to Shoalhaven earlier this month to present a check of more than US$3 million to finalise the land acquisition, and the gesture was seen as a commitment to the project, according to a public notice by the city council.

The proposal was first filed with the state government in 2008, but the lengthy planning process has had Shaolin Temple considering walking away from the project, according to a report by Fairfax Regional Media.

Shi, however, told local media that it was "destiny" that Shaolin would come to Australia.