
A rendering of the proposed Sikh temple in Weston, from the DA.
A two-storey temple to hold 400 worshippers, topped with decorative gold domes, has been proposed for Weston to serve the ACT’s growing Sikh community.
A development application has been lodged by the Canberra Sikh Association for the site of the community’s current temple, a smaller structure on Hickey Court next to the Orana Steiner School and the Baha’i Centre.
The new temple will incorporate the current one and require a lease variation to allow for an almost doubling of the allowable floor space from 1500 square metres to 2914 square metres.
The upper level will house a prayer hall, with the lower level containing a kitchen, dining hall and library or study, with an intermediary entry area with toilets and shoe rooms. There will be a new driveway crossing, car parking and landscaping.
The DA, prepared by Hugh Gordon Architects, says the large 11,234 square metre block is zoned for community use and the $427,000 proposal will meet the spiritual and community needs of the growing Sikh population in the ACT.
“This significantly larger, and accessible, Temple, is critical to fostering social inclusion in Canberra,” the DA says.
The pre-cast concrete structure is designed according to the principles of Sikh architecture, with the gold-painted domes an important design element.
Although a two storey building, the domes mean the overall structure will be three-storeys high but no taller.
The temple complex will be completed in two stages – first the mid floor and lower floor, with a gravel car park; followed by the upper floor, domes, and a sealed car parking area.
Initial consultation with the community prompted some revisions to the plans, but subsequent feedback from the school, Baha’i Centre and neighbouring residents has been positive and no objections have been lodged.
The DA says the proposed temple is set back six metres from the boundary and 26 metres from the nearest residential blocks.
The temple will use opaque glass on those windows facing the boundary to protect the privacy of closest houses, and it will not overshadow them, it says.
A Traffic and Parking Report prepared by Graeme Shoobridge Advisory Services says car parking will be sufficient for a congregation exceeding 550 worshippers and the predicted traffic generation is not expected to exceed the spare capacity of the existing road.
What’s Your opinion?
Growing Sikh community to build new temple, complete with gold domes
Oldest to Newst
All Sikh Gurdwaras (Temples) are open to everyone and do not discriminate. Prayers start around 10 am and finish by about 12 noon when holy communion (Deg) is served followed by Langar (vegetation meal)
Didn't see mention of a room to practice their Sikh flippy, spinny, stick-twirly dancing?
How beautiful! A lovely addition to our diverse community - hope there will be open days so we can all visit.
Sikh mate Sikh subwoofer
Congratulations to the Sikh community the temple will be a great sanctuary for generations
Wonderful! I love that there is a diversity of places to workshop in Canberra. Looks beautiful!
It looks magnificent.
wish they'd build it at tuggs though
Hamish Sinclair why!😳
Bob Sekhon jacob knows me well :)
I see the beauty of God in all people. Great news.
Pretty!!
What a wholesome comment section
Hoo boy, coulda been ugly
What a mad building – fully Sikh bro.
sweetest people
These people are so welcome in our community.
Looks very smart.
Looks beautiful!
As a resident of the ‘new bit’ of Weston, I was please to join a diverse and welcoming community. Am looking forward to this. My only reservation is that it will take two stages.... hopefully the vision can be delivered more quickly.
Paul James The 2 stages are due to funding constraints. It is not possible to get a bank loan as the land is designated Community Use. All work being done will require cash up front.
I've never met a Sikh who wasn't a superb human. :) Sounds like a great development.
Looks Sikh 😎🤙🏼...
So.... Sikh's are cool, but Muslims aren't?
As there was massive outrage about a mosque.
Not trying to be sectarian, just notice that people are being positive here about a Sikh place of worship, but there was anger about a Muslim place of worship.
Saab InOz no, exactly the opposite if you read my comment right.
My comment, in a nutshell is "Why do we care, why is one OK and not the other? Can't we just get along?"
So why are you mad at my comment?
Christopher Scott ummmm because sikhs are known to help more than they are to terrorise, this was shown in the Paris outrage in 2016 where a Sikh allowed a lot of victims to stay in the Sikh temple as refuge. Mosques are just breeding grounds of terrorism and besides there’s a lot of mosques in Canberra and only one Sikh building (not a temple)