One of Australia’s most prominent Buddhist centres has lodged plans for a new central meditation hall – or ‘gompa’ – at its sprawling Sunshine Coast hinterland property.
The Chenrezig Institute is planning to add the gompa plus 68 short-term accommodation rooms for students and guests to its 66-hectare site near Eudlo.
A town planning report prepared by Jeff Nicholls Town Planning on behalf of Chenrezig Inc details the proposal for an extension to the institute’s existing place of worship at 33 Johnsons Road.
The proposed development is intended to “modernise and revitalise the existing use on the subject site” and accommodate growing interest in the centre’s teachings and retreats.
“The Chenrezig Institute is an existing and long-standing facility that is dedicated to Buddhist education and practice providing for Buddhist study, retreat, meditation and spiritual growth,” the planning report says.
It outlined the proposed new gompa would “reinterpret the traditional Tibetan monastic architectural style” while being sensitive to its rural surroundings.
The building will be 12.87m high and have five levels, but two levels will be underground so only 7.76m will be above the ground – less than the allowable 8.5m.
“The new gompa has been specifically planned to provide for ‘low-scale’ built form that is less than 8.5m high and has been integrated with the natural contour of the land, so it is safe, secure and designed to withstand natural hazards such as cyclones and bushfire,” it says.
The building will have a total floor area of 12,414sqm, excluding the 3749sqm basement levels, and will house a meditation hall, the 68 short-term accommodation rooms, two caretaker units, two meeting rooms, two informal dining rooms, two reception areas and modern amenities including lifts and disabled access.
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The design, by Points North Design and Drafting, includes landscaped terraces, a forecourt with prayer wheels and a feature fountain, and is intended to take in panoramic views.
The report outlined the institute’s vision for the new gompa.
“As the sun rises from the sea, it (the gompa) will be the first place the light touches as the sunlight cascades across the new golden roofs and pure white walls that crown Chenrezig Institute,” it says.
“This will be greatly enhanced by the intimate closeness to the sky and vast panoramic views that stretch across the Sunshine Coast’s hinterland all the way to the ocean. Being visible from a great distance, the intention for the new Gompa is to provide inspiration, happiness and peace to the entire region.”
Founded in 1974, the Chenrezig Institute was one of the first Tibetan Buddhist centres in the Western world, and is still among the largest in Australia. It is a registered non-profit organisation.
Its current facilities include a vegetarian cafe, art studio, memorial gardens, extensive rainforest grounds and short-term visitor accommodation. It offers a range of programs including secular and Buddhist teachings, wellbeing courses and traditional retreats.
The average capacity of the site and facilities is up to 100 people daily. It is proposed to continue operating six days a week (closed Mondays).
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The new gompa would be located at the highest northern part of the site at the end of Upper Rambert Road, on an unused and cleared portion of land.
“Whilst the Chenrezig Institute’s existing gompa has been the beating heart of their facilities for five decades, and has facilitated the teachings and practice of Buddhism to thousands of students and visitors from near and far, it is now the institute’s intention to expand their capacity with a new gompa that will enable the institute to facilitate future generations of visitors and students in search of spiritual development,” the report says.
“It is intended that the new gompa proposal will carry on the Chenrezig Institute’s legacy for centuries to come.
“The institute has now outgrown its existing gompa whereby the existing meditation hall has reached its full capacity and is unable to accommodate the wider community demand for Buddhist teachings and retreats simultaneously. The current facility is also unable to hold larger numbers of participants for special occasions or be able to facilitate major teaching events.”
The application is subject to impact assessment.
