Stage one plans to expand Bartholomew’s cemetery revealed

Blacktown Council has put plans for stage one of the multimillion-dollar expansion of Prospect’s historic St Bartholomew’s cemetery on public exhibition.

Blacktown Council has put plans for stage one of an expansion of St Bartholomew’s cemetery on public exhibition.

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Blacktown Council has unveiled stage one of plans for an expanded St Bartholomew’s cemetery in Prospect.

Plans to expand St Bartholomew's Cemetery at Prospect. Picture: Supplied

New carparking and more than 3000 extra burial plots will highlight the first stage of development, which will transform the historic site and help bolster Sydney’s dwindling grave supply.

First announced in 2015, the expansion will eventually see 10,000 new burial plots over the next 40 years as the council develops about eight hectares of vacant land to the east of the site.

It has now put a $5.9 million development application for stage one on public exhibition, which will include 1262 lawn-style graves, two columbarium walls with niches for 1927 ashes internments, and a new internal service road from Ponds Rd to St Bartholomew’s Place.

The entire site set to be redeveloped. Picture: Supplied

Plans also include major landscaping to create a formal carpark for 42 vehicles and an overflow carpark for 26 vehicles — both adjacent to St Bartholomew’s Place.

Later stages of the development would see the restoration and repurposing of Old Prospect Post Office, potentially as a cafe, florist or administration office on Tarlington Place.

The council’s vision to revamp the site, which dates back to the 1840s, was given the green light in October 2015 when then Planning Minister Rob Stokes transferred 28 lots of land to Blacktown Council.

Land alongside the Great Western Highway, Prospect, which will be transformed.

Prospect Post Office will be renovated as part of the expansion.

The cemetery currently holds about 3600 graves but new internments have been sold since 1972.

It is hoped the expanded cemetery will help cater for Blacktown’s bulging population and growing number of elderly residents.

St Bartholomew’s has become a Blacktown icon, hosting community events and popular ghost tours in the church overlooking the cemetery.

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It is the resting place of explorer William Lawson, who along with Graham Blaxland and William Wentworth discovered the first route across the Blue Mountains in 1813.

The Sydney Central City Planning Panel will rule on the proposal.

Submissions close on February 20.

Details: https://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Have-your-say/SPP-18-01557