PLANS for a Buddhist monastery and Karen community space have been scaled back to make the project more affordable.
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The Karen community has been fundraising for a monastery and community space for a number of years.
The building originally planned for the land in Eaglehawk was likely to cost more than $800,000.
Venerable Ashin Moonieinda said the Karen Culture and Social Support Foundation, which he heads, would have struggled to secure a loan for that sum.
Amended plans have been submitted to the City of Greater Bendigo for planning approval.
The city is seeking further information about the project.
The amended plans are likely to shave more than $150,000 off the project cost.
Most of the project's financing comes from donations from the Karen community, both in central Victoria and further afield.
The Karen Culture and Social Support Foundation is also seeking support from the Victorian Multicultural Commission.
The new building would sit alongside the foundation's central offices at Pine Street, which were completed about six months ago.
Venerable Moonieinda said the completed building was originally envisaged as a refugee house - a place where newly arrived Karen families could stay until they found more permanent lodgings in the community.
"What we are doing here now is using it as a central office for our community," Venerable Moonieinda said.
"Families who need help, they just come and we help them."
English classes, sewing classes and homework classes also run out of the existing building. It has become a meeting space for the Karen community.
Venerable Moonieinda said the new building would also be used for many things, including cultural celebrations and festivals.
He also hoped the monastery and community space would be a place for future generations to practice their culture and learn about their parents' experiences.
A hall dominates plans for the inside of the proposed building. It would also contain a kitchen, an office, a laundry, two rooms, a laundry and amenities.
Car parking is included as part of the plans.
Insufficient funding has stalled plans for the property before, notably in 2018.
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