New Islamic Centre set to include retirement and care housing
LOS ANGELES: A major new Islamic Centre will include both retirement housing and a care centre in the development.
When completed, it will be the largest Mosque in Queensland and a most comprehensive Islamic Centre in Australia and a hub for all members of the community.
Brisbane Islamic Centre Ltd (BIC) was founded in 2007, primarily to establish and develop a major new Islamic Centre at 161 Underwood Road, Eight Mile Plains, on the Southside of Brisbane. It is a registered charity with the Australian Charity and Not-for-profits Commission.
The ten-acre block on which the Centre is being established is owned by BIC Ltd, and was donated Waqf to the community. The land is freehold and unencumbered financially.
The location of the Centre promises to be one of the more exciting developments on the Southside Brisbane Landscape.
The Centre that will be built on 5 acres of land and will include the following:
- Masjid with modern male and female facilities
- Underground parking for 300 cars and another 100 car parks at ground level
- Community Hall for weddings and functions for up to 800 guests; with it’s own commercial kitchen and a cold room.
- Several serviced offices for other organisations, with an adjoining shared Board room, reception and a kitchen
- Islamic Library Auditorium with a theatre seating for 150 people with state-of-the-art audiovisual facilities
- Islamic Museum documenting the history of Muslims in Australia and Queensland in particular
- Coffee shop
- Book shop
- Madressah classrooms
- Interfaith and cross-cultural dialogue facilities
- Youth facilities and children’s playground
- Janazah and Gusal facilities
The Complex will consist of 3 levels:
- Underground car park, youth centre, sports facility, Madressah and a Janazah /Ghusl facility
- Ground floor Masjid for men and an Information Centre (Dawah)
- Upper-level Masjid for ladies with direct easy access; serviced offices and the community hall.
The Community Hall will accommodate about 800 people for functions and will include a commercial kitchen.
The cost of construction is estimated to be $20 million with over $3m having already been raised.
The second stage being the other 5 acres of the development will be to build the first Muslim Retirement and Aged Care Village in Brisbane which will also incorporate a Medical Centre and a Child Care facility.
This centre, the Sukoon Village will consist of 91 x 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, 20 aged care units and 10 Dementia care units. The Development Application for Sukoon Village has just been granted by the Brisbane City Council.
Both, the Brisbane Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner and local Federal Member of Parliament, Graham Perrett have recently visited the site to see the progress of the construction and give the project their support.
A major fund raising dinner is planned for Saturday 15 October at Wilson’s Steak & Seafood Restaurant in Eight Mile Plains and an open house family day event on the construction site itself is planned for December.
This Project will form an essential part of the community and fills the huge void currently experienced with the lack of suitable facilities. It will also facilitate a better understanding of Islam and Muslims in Australia for generations to come.