John Hewson and Melinda Pavey clash over new cemetery in Ebenezer
Property Minister Melinda Pavey has ordered an investigation into former Liberal leader John Hewson’s multimillion-dollar land purchase for a potential new cemetery.
NSW
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Former federal opposition leader John Hewson’s spending is being investigated by the state government after he spent $5.2 million from a public trust on the purchase of two farms for a possible cemetery.
Mr Hewson insists there is nothing untoward about the purchase of two properties in Sydney’s northwest by the Northern Metropolitan Cemeteries Land Manager — a public trust he chairs.
Property Minister Melinda Pavey has ordered regulator Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW investigate the deal.
The twin properties are 24ha and are within 3km of the Hawkesbury River in Ebenezer near Wisemans Ferry.
A small part of that land is within a one-in-100-year flood zone, Hawkesbury Council says, creating a potential disaster for buried corpses if the Hawkesbury River and surrounding tributaries were to surge.
The trust purchased the land in July 2018 as either a cemetery site or investment. The site was described by agents as having a “stunning dam, licensed bore” and would be “ideal for stock or an elite equestrian property”.
“I have asked CCNSW to investigate this matter,” Ms Pavey told The Sunday Telegraph.
“I demand high standards of governance, due diligence and accountability from all Crown cemetery operators including compliance with all legislative and policy requirements.”
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Mr Hewson, 73, has been at the helm of the NMCLM since 2015.
The organisation oversees Macquarie Park, Field of Mars, Gore Hill and other cemeteries in northern Sydney.
Mr Hewson said: “We are advised that the board didn’t need to get prior approval for the purchase.
“Our board was surprised and concerned at the lack of future planning for cemeteries in NSW and so embarked on a 50-plus year strategy plan that included, as per our charter, the identification of possible sites for future interment services,” Mr Hewson said.
“It (Ebenezer) is an ideal site for a cemetery but we can’t take DA approval for granted.”
He also criticised Ms Pavey’s perceived failure to return his letters, saying “governance is to some extent a two-way street”.
Cemetery capacity throughout metropolitan Sydney is anticipated to be exhausted by 2051, according to Rookwood’s annual report, with unavailability of ‘at-need’ grave plots anticipated in some regions from around 2026.
Cemeteries often face fierce resistance from local communities, with a fight currently under way over a proposed cemetery at Wallacia near Penrith.
A spokesman for CCNSW said “Crown cemetery operators are required to obtain ministerial approval before purchasing land that is intended for future cemetery use”.
“This is a requirement under section 3.28A of the Crown Land Management Act 2016,” the CCNSW spokesman said.
“The NMCLM did not obtain ministerial approval before purchasing 24ha of land at Ebenezer.”
Hawkesbury Council general manager Peter Conroy said the two parcels on land, on Stannix Park Rd, have frontage to the Chain of Ponds waterway and that “a narrow strip of land is below the 1:100 flood level”.
“Cemeteries are permissible within the zone subject to obtaining the necessary development approval,” Mr Conroy said.
“Development approval would need to be supported by any relevant studies, for example a traffic study, a flood study, a statement of environment effects and community consultation.”
Hawkesbury Liberal MP Robyn Preston said she had no idea the land was touted for a cemetery and will “find out what the community’s mood is”.