Hare Krishna community lodge plans for temple expansion at Govardhana Farm, Eungella

The Hare Krishna community are looking to expand their presence in northern NSW after lodging a four million dollar development application for a massive redesign of their temple.

Artist impression of new front entrance of temple at Govardhana Farm

Northern NSW is known for attracting people drawn to an alternative lifestyle, and one of the most prominent groups in the area has just lodged a $4 million development application to expand their community.

The Hare Krishna Govardhana Farm — known as New Govardhana, a place where members of the general public can stay and take part in yoga retreats — has been a presence for more than 40 years in the Tweed Shire, with their community settled in the green fields located at 525 Tyalgum Road, Eungella.

“We welcome a broad variety of guests, from young, spiritually interested volunteers to retreat guests, from families on a yoga inspired camping holiday to devotees who enjoy interacting and connecting with people from all walks of life,” its website states.

The site already has existing buildings, a school, cabins, camping grounds for tourists and farm sheds; however plans are in place for a four-stage expansion of the existing Hare Krishna temple.

The location of the Hare Krishna temple at Govardhana Farm

“The Krishna Community has become a well-established part of the Tweed community,” planning documents state.

“This location provides for a lifestyle location dedicated to community and the worship of Krishna.”

Artist impression of the temple at Govardhana Farm.

The Krishna community in Tweed could soon see a massive boost to their presence on this plot of rural land.

According to town planner Robyn Lemaire, this hamlet in the Tweed “has grown over the years to become self-sufficient and diverse”.

Planning documents state the Krishna religion is “regarded as ‘food’ specialists”.

“It is required that they cook for the deities, and their food is separate from that of the worshippers. This accounts for the requirements of extensive, and separate cooking facilities.”

Artist impression of a new front entrance to the temple at Govardhana Farm.

Planning documents state the new kitchen will be hygienic — “secured against pests, dust, fumes, smoke and other contaminants” — and will include an “open design”.

The proposed expansion of the temple will take place in four stages, with the first stage involving the construction of a new communal kitchen.

When stage two is completed, the deities will be relocated to temple service rooms with an altar.

“The construction will create rooms for the deities and an altar, with rooms labelled as: mothers reading, accounts, accessible WC, festival room, sewing room, a Prabhupada shop, as well as a kitchen area with a cool room and store room connected through corridors,” the developer states.

Stage three involves constructing a newly designed temple and stage four proposes an upgrade to the current dining hall, with an expansion including a new green rooftop area.

The development application is on public exhibition until August 30.