Councillor offers insight into controversial funeral parlour plan

Bruce Devereaux has outlined his interpretation of a contentious development application to build a funeral parlour at the old Brodies site beside one of the region’s biggest nursing homes, saying a decision would likely be made at the next general council meeting.

Bruce Devereaux provides clarity on propose funeral parlour in Gympie to be possibly built on the old Brodies site.

An application lodged by InvoCare to build a 40-head funeral parlour on the old Brodies site in Gympie has caused some uproar among the public, with many believing it’s an inappropriate development to even consider beside an aged care facility.

Questions surrounding the lack of car parking spaces available and the likely increase to traffic in an already bus traffic are were also areas of concern on social media.

Gympie Regional councillor Bruce Devereaux said while he couldn’t provide his opinion on the topic ahead of the council’s decision, he was able to shed some light on the plans.

In response to the parking dispute, Cr Devereaux said the application outlined 22 parking spots for the Supercheap Auto showroom, which would leave 13 to be designated for the funeral parlour.

“However, the car spaces are available for both to use and the application doesn’t say it will be sectioned off,” Cr Devereaux said.

“The plans are for 34 plus one in garage, which equals 35 parking spaces in total.”

Demolition began this week to knock down the old Brodies building and make way for the two new developments.

Assuming the matter would need to be discussed at the next general meeting due to the controversy, Cr Devereaux said Mayor Glen Hartwig wanted to make sure the public knew why certain decisions were made.

“Whether they agree with it or not, at least they know what the thinking was, which is part of being transparent and responsible to the community,” he said.

Come time for the next meeting, Cr Deveraux said the funeral plans would be brought to council as a recommendation for whether or not to approve them.

“Then it will be up to councillors to discuss and decide whether or not they agree with that recommendation taking into account the views of the community,” he said.

“If we do say no, they (InvoCare) will probably legally challenge it and if it does fall within our plans they will probably win, so all it will do is add an extra cost to council for the same end result.”

Plans for old Gympie Brodies fast food site.

As for the added congestion a funeral parlour would likely create on an already busy intersection, Cr Devereaux said this would improve once the Gympie Bypass was complete.

“According to page 12 of the 2018 PTT Traffic Study, traffic on both the Bruce Highway and Channon St will decrease with the Bypass opening up,” he said.

“It doesn’t seem like it‘s a funeral parlour for funerals the same size as Gympie funerals, they can do a lot more out there so it does look like it‘s a niche market.”

A map showing the expected decrease in traffic on both the Bruce Highway and Channon St, following the completion of the Gympie Bypass.

Cr Devereaux did not comment on the funeral parlour’s location next to an aged care home, but said he hadn’t had any luck in the past asking developers to add screens to block visibility.

“What I’ve been told is if they meet the town plan we can't go after them for extra stuff, but I don't even know whether it meets our town planning yet,” he said.

Gympie residents have until June 21 to express their views on the application, according to the council’s website.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ABOUT THE FUNERAL PARLOUR:

• Letter: Gympie council needs to knock back funeral parlour proposal
  
• Thirteen parking spaces for a 40 head funeral parlour?

Email your letters to the editor to [e-mail]