Wallacia cemetery: Catholic Metropolitan Cemetery Trust overhauls plans for Nepean Gardens
Huge changes have been put forward for a proposed cemetery in western Sydney — which would impact a golf course. But it has failed to win over at least one politician, who has described the revised plan as ‘deeply offensive’.
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Mass changes to a development application for a cemetery in Wallacia include drastically reducing the number of plots, retaining part of a golf course and building a swimming centre and a gym.
Catholic Metropolitan Cemetery Trust has lodged a revised $25 million development application for Nepean Gardens with Penrith Council last month after an original DA was declined in July last year.
The major changes in the DA include halving the physical size of the cemetery, reducing the amount of planned burial plots from 88,000 to 27,000, and keeping nine holes of the existing golf course.
The clubhouse would also be revamped with a swimming centre and a gymnasium.
The proposal has previously caused a public outcry, with some residents fearing the development would turn the village into a “ghost town”.
Catholic Metropolitan Cemetery Trust Chief Executive Peter O’Meara said the original decision was being appealed, but hoped to come to an agreement with Penrith Council to help keep the Wallacia Country Club viable.
“We listened to the feedback from the first application where they said the size and scale would be detrimental to the local community,” he said.
“From a community point of view, I think this is a better development.
“We believe the club has a long-term sustainable future, but at the same time Sydney and Penrith are facing a critical shortage of memorial parks.
“I think it’s a good way to preserve an open-space area. You’ve got the aerotropolis nearby, so would you rather the area be overtaken by residential development or something that will be sustainable and there for a very long time.
“We’d like to sit down and negotiate a solution with Penrith Council – we want to work out a way where we can move forward without the need to fight this out.”
Mulgoa state Liberal MP Tanya Davies said she was still against the development.
“I feel the new proposal is appalling and deeply offensive, and the community has expressed its concern that it will destroy the rural character of the Wallacia village forever,” she said.
“The community, council and local MP are all opposed and I want to stay around and keep fighting for the community.”
Penrith Deputy Mayor Karen McKeown said she hoped people would make “all the submissions they possibly can to this second DA”.
“You always have to work with community to get the best possible outcome,” she said.
“There will always be people who don’t believe such a development is appropriate for that particular area and I completely respect those points of view.
“I think it’s for the community to make their minds up as to whether this is appropriate or not.”