China's Shaolin Temple to build complex in Australia

China's Shaolin Temple will build a complex in Australia that would include a temple, a kung fu academy and a hotel.

Shoalhaven City Council, 200 km south of Sydney, said on Wednesday that the developer Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia, had finalized a land purchase in the local area and the complex would be a boom for tourism and employment.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash told Xinhua that the council and the state government had both approved the concept plan for the project, which will include a temple sanctuary with resident monks, a live-in kung fu academy and a hotel.

Gash said local community was looking forward to the new landmark operating in the area.

"This is the first Shaolin Temple in Australia and we are really excited about this development. It has been eight years in the making and will be a tremendous boost for the local community, " Gash said.

"There is a lot of interest in the Shaolin Temple and it's more than a temple and will boost tourism and create jobs."

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