Allambe Memorial Park to undergo $8m makeover with 4500 burial spots and wetland habitat

ONE of the Gold Coast’s largest cemeteries is about to undergo a multimillion-dollar expansion to address a shortage of burial spaces

ONE of the Gold Coast’s largest cemeteries will undergo a multimillion-dollar expansion to address a shortage of burial spaces.

Nerang’s Allambe Memorial Park has already started construction work across the 11 hectares needed to create 4500 burial spots, a ring road with extra carparking and a regenerated wetland habitat.

An artist's impression of the $8m development which will add another 4500 burial sites at the Allambe Memorial Park in Nerang.

The extra burial sites are expected to support the Gold Coast community for the next 30 years.

InvoCare’s Queensland general manager of cemeteries and crematoria Andrew Dreghorn said the $8 million expansion was sorely needed.

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“The Gold Coast is running out of space,” he said.

“(Gold Coast City Council cemeteries) are reaching capacity. We’ve looked at the fact that the Coast is running out of land for memorials. It’s the right time for us to start development. The additional land will expand the life of the cemetery by 30 years … it’s a very significant development.”

The Garden Chapel at Allambe Memorial Park in Nerang. Picture: Jerad Williams

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Mr Dreghorn said the development had been earmarked since 2005 and community consultation had since taken place.

He said in response to community feedback, there would also be a wider variety of burial methods, including more Orthodox, Croatian and Catholic plots.

Families could also choose to bury family members close to a planted tree for a more natural setting. He said the cemetery hadn’t finalised all plot treatments and there could be more ideas available in the coming months.

Inside the chapel at the Allambe Memorial Park. Picture: Jerad Williams

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The unique wetland area was a part of the park that would not only help beautify the area, but also fulfil council requirements.

“We wanted a peaceful and physically beautiful environment, it’s very nice that we can do that,” he said.

“It does have a practical side, we’re working with the council to have open spaces and ecology. We wanted to allow for movement of water across the property.

“We see that as a really nice way to be sustainable.”