A Sikh temple in Melbourne fast-growing western suburb of Tarneit has received a financial boost with a major bank lending nearly $3 million to settle a ten-acre land deal.
The Sikh temple on Davies Road in Tarneit opened in 2008 but has since seen massive growth in the number of devotees attending the religious shrine, especially on the weekends and special Sikh festivals and events.
The gurudwara management, in order to expand the building, bought a 10.5-acre block for nearly $3.5 million just across the road from the temple building two years ago.
The temple management has all but repaid the initial deposit of $700,000 within just two years and was able to settle the land, securing $2.8 million loan from the National Australia Bank.
Members of the management committee said a bigger block of land will help cater to the growing needs of the Sikh community in Western Victoria, especially when a part of the existing Sikh temple is expected to be acquired for road widening and development.
Members of the Tarneit Sikh Temple management committee with NAB officials. Source: SBS Punjabi
NAB’s assistant director of community business, James Brit said the bank was satisfied with the Sikh temple’s accounts and its projected ability to service the loan.
“We love to support faith organisations as they are an important fabric of the community around them,” Mr Brit said.
While there’s no immediate plan to start construction on the bigger block, the committee says securing the land right next to the existing building in the fast-growing area would benefit the devotees as well as the local community.
