Gold Coast’s first Taoist temple proposed for Ashmore in wave of worship applications

AN up-market street in the city’s north is set to become home to the Gold Coast’s first Taoist temple as the number of Chinese visitors to the city booms.

The Gold Coast temple will not be as traditional in style as this one in Chongqing in China.

THE city’s north is going eastern, with plans to create the Gold Coast’s first Taoist temple.

The two-level Chinese temple is one of a wave of new religious places of worship planned for the city as it takes a turn for the spiritual.

The temple, proposed by developer Kuan Tao Bao Gong De Temple is earmarked for an 843 sq m site on Ashmore’s up-market Hillview Parade and is planned as a place for “meditation and worship gatherings” twice a month.

The developer has pitched the project to city leaders as a place of worship and education.

“The temple will be used by followers of the Taoist belief but will not be traditionally eastern style,” the development’s planning report said.

“(It) will undertake more passive style activities such as meditation and reflections and will not use amplified music or conduct sermons.”

Around 40 people are expected to attend the temple’s gatherings which coincide with the fall of the new and full moons.

Religious philosophy classes are expected to be held each Saturday.

Gold Coast Chinese Club president Ted Fong said Chinese culture was growing on the Gold Coast.

“There are a lot more Chinese migrants here on the Gold Coast now so there must be a need for this temple if the application has been made,” he said.

“Tao was the original religion in China and predates Buddhism and Christian teachings.

“It terms of those who follow it among the Chinese community, it is about 50 per cent who follow Tao.”

The Gold Coast was recently named as the fourth most popular tourist destination and the top-rated Western city in a poll of 3.6 million Chinese visitors through Ctrip.

The temple is one of six new religious places of worship propose for the Gold Coast in the past year.

Most are Christian while there have also been applications for the Taoist temple and a Sikh temple at Helensvale.

City leaders are expected to vote on the Sikh project in coming weeks, following the end of public comment, during which the majority of respondents backed it.

In the past fortnight applications have been lodged for two evangelical Christian churches in Carrara and Bundall.

City planning boss Cr Cameron Caldwell said places of worship were considered carefully.

“We consider places of worship on a regular basis and are mindful of their community benefits, as well as their potential impacts,” he said.

“We are a diverse city and it is not surprising to see a range of different religions applying.”