Save the Bay - Comberton Grange / Shaolin Village

The community of Shoalhaven are concerned that inappropriate state planning decisions that have been made, in relation to a sensitive urban development on the South Coast of NSW.

We understand that a review panel investigated the site ‘Comberton Grange’ as a proposal for a Shaolin Village and temple complex. This site is a Shaolin village or town as it contains all the facilities of a town. This is at odds with the main principles of the South Coast Regional strategy.

The site is owned by the people of the Shoalhaven and at 2600 acres represents 5% of the National Heritage listing – pristine Jervis Bay catchment and Marine Park.

There is a long history of environmental threats to the Jervis Bay Catchment on this property.  These environmental threats include the proposed steel refineries (three times the size of Port Kembla) as part of the Pacific City developments of the 60’s and 70’s that was to be powered by the nuclear power plant at Murrays Beach in the Jervis Bay Territory.

It was the Whitlam Federal Labour Government stopping the nuclear power plant and the NSW State’s decision not to allow the railway to cross the Shoalhaven River that stayed the execution of the destruction of Jervis Bay back then.

The Comberton Grange property was bought by the people of the Shoalhaven, from the Armco Steel Corporation with the people’s culture centre money in the 1980’s. The land was bought as a speculation to profit, by selling the land to the Federal Government in the 1990’s to provide a site for the relocation of the Australian Navy Armaments Depot planned for Jervis Bay.

The Aboriginal families of Jervis Bay and people who were passionate about the pristine catchment, including Peter Garret MP, campaigned to save the bay then.  The people saved the bay then and the bay is now Marine National Park.

The Comberton Grange property has never been open to the people of the Shoalhaven as a public space. After the failed speculation, no vision has been shown for the community, by the Council Task force.

The majority of our people have conveniently forgotten about Comberton Grange.   This is a lost opportunity to give the people the chance to manage the property in trust.

Comberton Grange estate contains significant natural and cultural heritage of the people, these include the remains of the oldest homestead south of the Shoalhaven River. This homestead was hand built in 1843 by convict labour.

Whilst a task force was set up to manage the property, the homestead was lived in, then the lease was terminated and the homestead mysteriously burnt down.  Although the property had been burnt, it was not beyond restoration, however, the homestead was bulldozed and every piece of evidence - which included the handmade ornate bricks - was removed from the site, leaving no trace of the people’s cultural heritage.

Elsewhere on the Comberton Grange property, Aboriginal burial grounds exist. The last Queen of Jervis Bay, Queen Rosey died in the 60’s, she was rowed from Wreck Bay, the rowing launch was filled with wild flowers, waratahs and boronias. The Queen was rowed around the cliffs at the heads of the bay, through the bay and into the mouth of Currumbene Creek to be buried ceremonially.

No Aboriginal community people, not even the traditional owners from the Wreck bay or the Jerringa communities, have been consulted by council, on the sale of Comberton Grange. These are people, who have people buried in this sacred place.

Why were not the traditional owners offered the site in compensation for the dispossession of their land and culture?

Is the South Coast Regional Strategy at risk over the next twenty-five years? Is it possible now for any international government or multinational corporation, to inappropriately develop pristine and sensitive environments? Will they now get an automatic green light status, if they are prepared to spend 1 billion dollars in the name of tourism?

The south coast regional strategy. An exciting vision for sustainable development on the south coast over the next twenty years...

We encourage a Commission of Inquiry into the actions of the Shoalhaven City Council and the Comberton Grange taskforce. The Council taskforce has shown negligence as custodians of the people’s cultural heritage.

The people of our bay are passionate about saving the bay and ’Comberton Grange’

Comberton Grange Proposed development site

1. Temple complex – temples, pagodas, library, accommodation for monks (50-60), meditation hall, kitchen areas and dining hall, Abbott’s residence and official reception hall (40ha)
2. Kung fu academy (10ha)
3. Amphitheatre (400 seats) and multicultural centre for cultural performances and exchanges (8ha)
4. Conference facilities (to be publicly available) 1500 seat and 400 seat
5. 500 room 4-star hotel ( 200000 international guests a year) (10ha)
6. Retirement home (10ha)
7. Herbal farm and agricultural areas for self sustainability (12ha)
8. Eco-tourism and exercise areas Animal husbandry 27 hole golf course and club house (70ha)
9. 500 housing lots (various categories of dwellings for the public, including Shaolin followers) and convenience stores (200ha) (now changed to 300 homes)
10. Therapeutic Centre for massage and alternative medicine (2ha)
11. Car parks and roads (20ha).

Voice your concern and write to:

Shoalhaven City Council: council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au
City Administrative Centre
36 Bridge Road, Nowra 2541

Mayor Greg Watson
Contact address PO Box 42, Nowra 2541 (Council)
Office phone (02) 4429 3111 (Council)
Email address watsong@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au

And write to: NSW Minister of Planning,
the Hon Frank Sartor,
Level 34, Governor Macquarie Tower,
1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000
or email office@sartor.minister.nsw.gov.au