Plans have been lodged to establish a temple within an existing building on a rural property near Beerwah to serve the growing local Sikh community.
A development application has been submitted to Sunshine Coast Council on behalf of the Sikh Association of Sunshine Coast Inc seeking approval for a place of worship at 183 Burys Road.
The proposed temple, known as a ‘gurdwara’, would occupy an existing house on the 26.6-hectare property, which is about 3km south-east of Beerwah.
A development application report by McPeake Town Planning states the local Sikh congregation is relatively small but expanding.
“The local active congregation of the Sunshine Coast Sikh community is very small, consisting of 40-50 people, which has grown from 10-15 families in 2019. Average attendance is usually around 20-30 people,” the report says.
“The congregation have utilised the Buderim community hall (Buderim War Memorial Hall) for numerous years. After an extensive search, our clients have purchased this site as their chosen site, as it will cater for the current and expected demand of their congregation into the future.
“The site is also appropriately located in a central location for its worshippers and Sikh community more broadly on the Sunshine Coast.”
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“The site contains existing buildings of an appropriate size to be repurposed, and the site has ample space to facilitate onsite parking. The location of the buildings are also suitably separated from neighbouring sensitive land uses.”
The site already contains a house, storage structure, large shed and partially constructed building. Under the proposal, only a small extension and change in building classification would be required to operate the gurdwara from the existing dwelling.
The place of worship would have a gross floor area of about 294sqm.
Religious services are expected to take place primarily between 4pm and 6pm on Sundays.
Planning documents state that worship activities would occur inside the main congregation hall with doors and windows closed. Activities typically include scripture reading, prayer, religious music and instruction. A children’s religious program covering language, music and prayer would also be held on Sundays.
Small internal amplification devices would be used for scripture readings and musical instruments such as the harmonium and tabla, but there would be no external broadcasts.
A communal dining area is also proposed for one of the outbuildings, with free meals to be offered to worshippers and guests following services.
The development includes plans for 21 car parking spaces.
Existing landscaping on the property would largely be retained, although nine trees would need to be removed to allow for widening of the driveway.
The surrounding area is primarily zoned rural but contains a mix of land uses including agriculture, industrial activities, residential properties, tourist accommodation and another place of worship. Agricultural cropping, particularly strawberries, remains the dominant land use nearby.
The report says the development would provide an appropriate facility for the region’s faith community.
“The current facilities for the Hindu community on the Sunshine Coast aren’t considered appropriate and don’t provide a permanent location to maintain and foster their cultural, religious and social needs on the Sunshine Coast,” it states.
“The proposed development will result in an appropriate level of service and facilities at an appropriately small scale, which will support the cultural and social needs of the Hindu community.”
The application is subject to impact assessment, meaning it will undergo public notification at a later date.
