Leppington: Plans to expand Forest Lawn Cemetery rejected by Liverpool Council

A proposal to expand a cemetery by more than 3000 lots has been knocked by a southwest Sydney council due to a number of planning shortfalls.

Forest Lawn Cemetery in Leppington.

A proposal for a major expansion of a cemetery has been knocked by a southwest Sydney council due to multiple planning shortfalls.

Plans had been lodged with Liverpool Council on behalf of InvoCare Australia to expand the burial and memorial spaces at Forest Lawn Memorial Park cemetery on Camden Valley Way, Leppington.

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

The $954,000 proposal included plans to expand the existing burial space, including the memorial gardens on the northeastern portion of the site which is currently vacant to hold more than 3000 additional burial plots.

The burial expansion would be completed in stage one and would cover 1.5ha and include the construction of new internal roads to ensure easy access to the new memorial sites.

Forest Lawn Cemetery in Leppington.

Planning documents state the surrounding suburbs have transitioned from rural to urban estates and the plans would “meet the growing demands of the local population over the next decade.”

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

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

However, the proposal was refused due to various reasons, including failing to comply with “council’s environmental health and natural environment protection requirements”.

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

Of particular concern, insufficient details were submitted relating to the management of floodwaters to offset impact on adjoining land surrounding the cemetery.

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

InvoCare Australia has been contacted for comment.

Inside of the chapels at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Leppington.

Forest Lawn was established in 1962 on a former dairy farm property and went through various owners before becoming apart of InvoCare Australia in 2004.

The memorial park has undergone various expansion, including the opening of new chapels in 1999 and five crypt complexes in 2012 in response to the growing cultural diversity in the area.

To date, Forest Lawn has conducted over 30,000 cremation services and 11,500 burial services at the site.

“InvoCare is in ongoing discussion with Liverpool Council with regard to their decision,” A spokeswoman for InvoCare Australia told this publication.