As the federal election campaign approaches its end, a newly-opened Sikh temple in Melbourne’s southeast has inadvertently acquired centre-stage with both Labor and Liberal pledging funds towards its refurbishment.
Earlier in March, Jason Wood, the federal Liberal MP from LaTrobe had promised funds worth $340,000 for ‘Shri Guru Nanak Darbar’ Sikh temple, followed by a subsequent federal grant of $195,000 in the month of April.
Now in a display of one-upmanship, Mr Wood’s Labor opponent, Simon Curtis on Sunday declared that if elected to power, his party would match up to Liberal’s commitment of $535,000 towards funding multiple community-focused projects within the temple premises.
Community spokesperson, Harpreet Singh told SBS Punjabi that the funds would be used towards building a “language school for kids, a play area, community kitchen, a multipurpose room and a dining area, while a part of it would be used to assist organic production and rainwater harvesting.”
The proposed funding - if delivered - would give a financial lease to the newly-opened Gurudwara which had initially run into trouble over its location.
In October 2017, a group of residents had raised objections with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) expressing concerns that a green wedge zone was not a suitable area for a place of worship.
But after some deliberation, the appeal was eventually withdrawn and a permit was issued by the council for the construction of the Gurudwara.
The new place of worship officially opened its doors to the local Sikh community in January earlier this year.
At present, the temple does not have a formal structure, but the organisers have a blueprint for the next five years, “with community integration and engagement as one of the core verticals.”
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