Funeral home for Lismore's CBD given thumbs up by council

A CONTROVERSIAL development application to allow funeral services to take place in the heart of Lismore’s cafe district has been recommended for approval.

BURY IT: Shop owners in Magellan St are concerned over proposals to put a funeral home in the CBD. Picture: Marc Stapelberg

A CONTROVERSIAL development application to allow funeral services to take place in the heart of Lismore's cafe district has been recommended for approval by Lismore City Council staff.

In supporting the development, the council's executive director of sustainable development, Brent McAlister, said it did not contradict any zoning requirements for the Magellan St area.

But he acknowledged concerns that the funeral parlour might be at odds with the character of the street.

"The proposal won't encourage some of the policy directions planned for Magellan St, such as outdoor dining and shop-top housing," Mr McAlister said.

"However, from a planning perspective ... there is an absence of direct policy of what are appropriate land uses in this precinct."

Mr McAlister also said the council's policy for the CBD only focused on Magellan St's outdoors - such as markets and outdoor dining - and was not concerned with land uses "fronting the street".

The plans for the former Gundarimba Shire Council building at 59 Magellan St involve furnishing the interior with a small chapel and morgue. It would host up to 30 funerals each year with a maximum of 50 guests.

Given the limitations on activity, the impact of the funeral home on the street would be limited to signage outside the premises and funeral guests entering and exiting the front of the building.

The service's hearse would park at the rear of the building in a custom-built garage.

Director of Binney Family Funerals, Warwick Binney, told The Northern Star the site would have a "dignified, discreet appearance ... people could walk past it and not even notice it's there".

But opponents of the development have argued it clashed with Magellan St's "lively and vibrant" character.

The council papers also noted that from an indigenous cultural perspective, "to bring dead people into the centre of our city is disrespectful and against the traditions of our local people".

Councillors will vote on the proposal next Tuesday night.