Development of a long-planned Sikh temple just outside Hastings is still on, despite years of delays.

Hastings District Council has extended the resource consent until November 2027, giving the New Zealand Sikh Society Hastings time to start construction.

The extension pushes out the original consent timeframe by three years, as the first expiry date was November 5, 2024.

Sikh Gurudwara Hastings president Jarnail Singh said the delays were caused by Covid, Cyclone Gabrielle and difficulties securing engineering work.

“Construction hasn’t started yet, but we did start some groundwork,” Singh said.

“Everything is running nicely and smoothly through ... and, hopefully, very soon, we will start developing.”

A Hastings District Council spokeswoman confirmed the update status.

“Last year the NZ Sikh Society (Hastings) applied for and was granted an extension of time to their 2018 resource consent,” she said.

“The extension allows them until 5 November 2027 to give effect to their consent.”

When Hawke’s Bay Today visited the site on Friday, only fencing and hazard boards were in place, with no active machinery.

The approved Sikh temple site on Richmond Rd, Tomoana.

The original process of gaining consent to build on the land was complex, as the proposed temple sits within Plains Production Zone land, where places of assembly are generally discouraged.

After the Sikh community objected to the initial decision to decline the application, a Hastings District Council hearings committee reversed its position and granted consent, citing the social and cultural wellbeing of the community as a key factor.