A dedicated home for worship, festivals, religious education and volunteering, strengthening cohesion and cultural continuity across generations.
~110 jobs a year during construction and ~143 ongoing roles, plus new demand for local accommodation, food and services from visitors. Ongoing economic value of ~$12.1M a year.
Habitat protected and enhanced, thousands of plantings, a wildlife corridor and long-term stewardship on land once cleared for grazing.
A unique cultural and pilgrimage destination, the first traditional stone Hindu Mahā-Mandir in the southern hemisphere.
Yes. The proposed BAPS Hindu Mahā-Mandir, Melbourne will deliver a range of benefits to the City of Casey and the broader Victorian community.
It will serve as a significant cultural and spiritual landmark, providing a permanent place of worship and community gathering for the Hindu community across Victoria. The project is designed to be open and welcoming to the broader community, contributing to cultural diversity and social cohesion in the region.
The $190 million investment is entirely community-funded and will contribute to the local economy through the procurement of goods and services. The facility is also expected to attract visitors from across Victoria and beyond, generating additional economic activity for businesses and services in the Cranbourne area.
During the estimated seven-year construction period, the project is expected to support approximately 110 direct and indirect jobs per annum. Once operational, the facility is forecast to support around 143 jobs per annum across operations and maintenance.
The project is estimated to generate approximately $19.4 million in direct and indirect Gross Value Added (GVA) to the Victorian economy each year during construction, with an ongoing contribution of approximately $12.1 million per annum once the facility is operational.
The goal of a place of worship is to build a space where Hindus can share their traditions and religion and connect with the wider community.
The BAPS Hindu Mahā-Mandir, Melbourne will offer:
Yes. This place of worship will be built by the community for the community, embracing the belief that all people are welcome. Hinduism is a non-proselytising faith and anyone can come visit and learn about Hinduism and our culture including locals, visitors and school groups.
The BAPS Hindu Mahā-Mandir, Melbourne is intended to operate daily, reflecting the continuous nature of Hindu worship.
General operational hours are anticipated to be 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily, with planned variations for major religious observances and festivals.
Patron attendance is expected to vary depending on the day and the type of event, with the following anticipated attendance levels:
The average visitor stay is expected to be up to three hours. Visitor numbers will be managed through appropriate operational controls to support a safe, comfortable and respectful experience for patrons and the surrounding community.
BAPS Hindu Mahā-Mandir is being designed as a place of prayer, contemplation, and inner stillness, where quietness is essential to the experience of reflection and connection with God. This purpose shapes how spaces and activities are arranged across the precinct, naturally keeping noise to a minimum and supporting a calm, peaceful environment for visitors and the surrounding community.
The design of the site will work to reduce noise pollution in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act and City of Casey Planning Scheme; including instating acoustic barriers area and ongoing tree plantation.
All buildings will be located central to the site, with generous setbacks from all sides of the property, to minimise any noise impact.
The Religious Services Complex is designed to be sound-proof. No external bells will be used on site.
We are heartened by the strong interest from the community in being part of this unique project, and we welcome this spirit of collective support.
As the project progresses, opportunities to be involved will be shared. We encourage you to stay connected through this website to receive updates as the project continues to unfold.
The permit application for the BAPS Hindu Mahā-Mandir, Melbourne is now in the public notice phase, and we welcome the community to have their say.
You can provide a written submission directly to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) using the link below:
Make a submission to the Department of Transport and Planning
Alternatively, you can also get in touch with the project team through this website to share your feedback, comments or questions.
We value hearing from our community and encourage you to get involved. Every message is read, and we will endeavour to respond as promptly as possible.
Questions that may be of broader interest to the community will be answered in the FAQs on this website, without identifying the person who asked the question.
Thank you for taking the time to share your views and engage with the project.
The project does not receive any funding from local, State or Federal governments. The project is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from members of the Australian community.
Both an arborist and ecologists were engaged to provide technical inputs regarding the master planning phase of the project. Their findings have ensured native vegetation, habitat opportunities and revegetation were appropriately factored into the submitted development design, reflecting the high importance of retaining and improving biodiversity values in the area. The reports prepared by the environmental experts were submitted as part of the Permit Application.
Ongoing engagement regarding native vegetation and biodiversity between the relevant authorities and the project team have ensured the site design can positively contribute to the local flora and fauna. A Land Management Plan, Wildlife Management Plan, Flora and Fauna Assessment, and Landscape Design Report have been submitted as part of the Permit Application.
Our project prioritises both tree preservation and expansion. Around 830 new trees will be planted over time as part of our development. This is in addition to retaining and preserving more than 1,125 existing trees in their natural state (which covers almost 70% trees currently on site).
Special consideration was taken to minimise the impact of native trees, resulting in about 89% of high-retention-value trees to be retained.
This combination of preservation and new plantings will result in a 42% net increase in tree canopy across the site well exceeding the 30% Victorian target.
Plans for water conservation and green landscaping will support environmental sustainability with an integrated water system designed for future climate protection. The site will include raingardens, water permeable parking areas and a large, landscaped water management area to store water and manage drainage.
The proposed development prioritises carbon-neutral principles through sustainable building materials, energy-efficient systems, and renewable energy sources like solar panels while enhancing amenities and comfort.
In Victorian Planning law, Places of Worship are a permissible land use and development within the Green Wedge Zone, to be contemplated through a planning permit application process.
The proposed design, which has now been submitted as part of our formal Permit Application, was carefully developed to protect and enhance the local environment where possible including green spaces, landscape and protection of remnant bushland. This project has included extensive consultation with environmental experts, specialist consultants and relevant government bodies. These steps are made to ensure that all environmental and planning considerations for the Green Wedge Zone are addressed responsibly.
The proposed site for this development is 1390–1450 Western Port Highway, Cranbourne South.
The site has been carefully selected for its suitability to the community’s needs, its location at the urban–rural interface, and its close connection to the natural environment. The City of Casey currently accommodates one of the most diverse communities in Victoria, making it a highly appropriate location for the proposed development.
BAPS proposes to develop a new Hindu Mahā-Mandir (place of worship) at the site, which is intended to serve as a place for worship, prayer, spiritual reflection, learning, and community connection. Mandirs are the central sites for the Hindu religion for religious practices and cultural activities. Also included within the proposal, are integrated spaces across the site, to support the operation and functioning of the Mahā-Mandir itself, such as cultural celebrations, religious education, community gatherings and volunteer activities.
The development will also offer quiet, reflective spaces and contemplative gardens across the campus where visitors can embrace, connect with, and enjoy the natural environment.
All will be welcome to visit the Mahā-Mandir which will serve both the faithful and the wider community.
The site consists of a combined area of approximately 42 hectares or 102.9 acres.
No. Only approximately 6% of the 42-hectare site will be occupied by the building footprint. A further 17% will be used for formalised landscaping, car parking and open spaces.
The majority of the site (74%) will remain undeveloped, with the southern portion permanently protected, restored and actively managed.
Yes. The site has been designed with inclusion in mind, to support people with a range of access needs. This includes (but is not limited to) step-free access for those using wheelchairs or with reduced mobility, as well as accessible parking.
Accessibility considerations will continue to guide planning and design as the project progresses.
A detailed Landscape and Visual Impact Analysis prepared by technical expert has been submitted as part of the permit application. To minimise any visual presence of development at the site edges and ensures the proposal is read within a landscape-dominated setting, built form is consolidated toward the centre of the site, with substantial setbacks maintained to all boundaries.
As part of the Permit Application, BAPS is preparing an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan and is working in partnership with the Bunurong Land Council.
A traffic engineer has been engaged from project inception to provide technical inputs to the project, this has included but is not limited to safe access and egress to and from the site; number of carparking spaces required to support anticipated visitor numbers; onsite vehicle management; and opportunities for alternative traffic management options.
Engagement with relevant statutory stakeholders, State and Local Government, have ensured that all relevant matters are considered and to ensure the site can function in a safe and efficient manner, and to limit off-site impacts.
The development includes 642 fixed parking spots. Additionally, there are provisions for 450 overflow parking spots which can be used when required.
We are working with the relevant authorities to determine if any changes are required to the surrounding roads as part of this development construction and ongoing operation, and we will be willing to looking into any recommendations that are provided by them.
We believe that access and connectivity to the site should be respectful of both environmental and community needs. As the application progresses, we will work closely with local and state government to explore and implement initiatives that improve access for all visitors, including sustainable and active transport options.
We believe that the right consultants, architects, and contractors based here in Melbourne combined with the dedication of our volunteers and experienced project teams, can thoughtfully and responsibly deliver this project. This confidence is informed by experience gained through delivering and managing major community and cultural projects across Australia, supported by staged planning and careful governance.
BAPS complies with all requirements set by relevant authorities, including the payment of applicable rates and charges.
During the estimated seven-year construction period, the project is expected to support approximately 110 direct and indirect jobs per annum. Once operational, the facility is forecast to support around 143 jobs per annum across operations and maintenance.
The project is estimated to generate approximately $19.4 million in direct and indirect Gross Value Added (GVA) to the Victorian economy each year during construction, with an ongoing contribution of approximately $12.1 million per annum once the facility is operational.
This fully community funded project is estimated to be approx. $190 million.
BAPS welcomes your questions and will endeavour to respond promptly via the FAQs section on this website.
