Sikh community lodges new plans for temple in Taigum

THE Brisbane Sikh community has lodged a second development application to build a two-storey temple, complete with five domes, that would be open from dawn to dusk in a suburb in the city’s north. SEE THE PLANS

An artist’s impression of the Sikh Gurudwara proposed for Lemke Rd, Taigum. Source: pdonline

THE Sikh community has lodged a second development application to build a new temple on land it owns in Taigum.

The new proposal before council is for a two-storey place of worship, known as a Gurudwara, to be built over two stages on the Lemke Rd site.

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There is a current application before council, extended to October 5, 2018, but it was not for a staged approval. An application for a further extension is also being made.

An artist’s impression showing Stage 1 (the ground floor) of a Sikh Gurudwara proposed for Lemke Rd, Taigum. Source: pdonline

The applications have been lodged by Singh Sabha Brisbane, which has had a temple on the site since 2011.

Singh Sabha founding committee member Gary Singh said the new temple was proposed to cater for the growing Sikh community and for the wider community.

Mr Singh said the Sikh population in Brisbane North, according to the 2016 Census, was 2653 but the Gurudwara in Taigum also catered for the Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast areas, for a combined population of about 3000.

“The temple is open from dawn to dusk and people can come and leave at any time.

“Sikhism is an inclusive religion and everyone is welcome irrespective of their religion, race or colour.

HINDU TEMPLE PLANNED FOR BRACKEN RIDGE

“The only conditions are to cover the head and take shoes off while entering the main building.”

The new application, lodged with council earlier this month, indicates the temple’s ground floor will be built in stage 1 and the upper floor in stage 2.

The roof will be topped with one main fibreglass dome and four smaller corner fibreglass domes.

There is an existing house on the property which will become the priest’s accommodation, and there are plans for 66 carparking spaces.

Mr Singh said they hoped to build the new temple “as soon as possible”.

“We are negotiating with the bank to get funding. The adjoining blocks of 16.5 acres were brought for $3.15 million in 2016 to cater for future growth.”

The existing house on the Lemke Rd, Taigum property, which is proposed to become the priest’s accommodation. Image: pdonline

As part of that planning for future growth, in October last year Singh Sabha lodged plans with council for a Sikh school on the site, planning for an initial enrolment of 50 students, increasing to 260 by 2025.

“This educational establishment will cater mainly to Sikh, Punjabi and Indian students, who often face issues­ when trying to enrol into Christian schools due to their religious beliefs (such as not cutting their hair or wearing a turban),” the application read.

Four submissions were received, three in support of the application and one against.

The objector raised issues with existing sheds, a potential large volume of traffic in Brushbox St (at the rear of the site), lack of provision for fencing around the school facility, and insufficient allocation for trees and vegetation.

Mr Singh said council had requested further information on the school application.

“We are expecting the approval for the educational establishment to come through early next year and we estimate it might take a year to set it up and get it running, most likely by 2020.”

The development application for the temple is impact accessible and will be publicly notified to take into account the community’s views.

For more information visit pdonline (A005011510).