Leppington: Invocare challenges council’s refusal to expand Forest Lawn Cemetery

A determined global funeral provider has challenged a southwest Sydney council’s decision to knock back a major cemetery expansion due to planning shortfalls.

Forest Lawn Cemetery in Leppington.

A global funeral provider has challenged a southwest Sydney council’s decision to knock back a major cemetery expansion due to multiple planning shortfalls.

Plans were lodged with Liverpool Council on behalf of InvoCare Australia in April 2022 to expand burial and memorial spaces at Forest Lawn Memorial Park cemetery on Camden Valley Way at Leppington.

The site contains two chapels, expansive burial areas including mausoleums, crypts, vaults and memorial gardens, a tea room and on-site florist.

Forest Lawn Cemetery at Leppington.

The nearly million-dollar ($954,000) proposal includes plans to expand existing burial spaces, including memorial gardens on the northeastern portion of the site.

The portion is currently vacant, but could host more than 3000 additional burial plots.

The expansion would cover 1.5 hectares and include the construction of new internal roads to ensure easy access.

The proposal was rejected by council in August 2023 for failing to comply with “council’s environmental health and natural environment protection requirements”, among other reasons.

Inside of the chapels at Forest Lawn Cemetery at Leppington.

Of particular concern, it was determined insufficient details were submitted about the management of floodwaters to offset the impact on adjoining land.

Another concern was that the submitted ecological report did not “accurately identify” how the proposal would impact flora and fauna in surrounding bushland.

Planners for Invocare state revised plans still seek to expand, but on a “reduced scale”.

Yvonne Katczuk who was selling a spot in Forest Lawn Cemetery at Leppington. Photo: Bob Barker.

They also state a new flood impact assessment was undertaken and developers have addressed the council’s flooding concerns.

“The proposed flood mitigations world are sufficient in ensuring that downstream properties will not experiences any adverse impacts as a result of the work,” planners state.

The development would benefit the growing southwest community and “meet the growing demands of the local population over the next decade”, the developers state.

“Over 1.5 million persons are expected to require burial or cremation within Metropolitan Sydney by 2056,” the plans reveal.

“If current trends continue, cemetery capacity is expected to be exhausted by 2051.”