Catholics and Muslims in holy war over who should run Sydney’s cemeteries

A proposal for one trust to manage Sydney’s 13 cemeteries has Catholics and Muslims at loggerheads, and the state government is taking its time to announce its decision.

A religious war has broken out between Muslims and ­Catholics over dead people.

Lebanese Muslim Association president Samier Dandan is calling on the state government to take control of the city’s lucrative $1 billion cemeteries sector away from the Catholic Church.

But Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust CEO Peter O’Meara said the plans are anti-religious and are seeking to take the church’s money.

Cabinet last year approved a plan to amalgamate the five trusts managing Sydney’s 13 cemeteries into one, known as OneCrown.

Rookwood Cemetery in Western Sydney. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Housing Minister Melinda Pavey. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The amalgamation is yet to be announced amid objections from a number of senior MPs.

OneCrown, backed by Housing Minister Melinda Pavey, would sideline the CMCT, which runs Rookwood, Liverpool and Kemps Creek.

All the cemeteries are on crown land.

Sydney cemetery operators, including the Catholics, are on average 23 per cent less ­efficient compared to other Australian cities — leading to higher costs for families.

Mr Dandan represents by far the largest faith group requiring burials.

“We will not accept any other operator apart from the state running state-owned cemeteries in NSW,” he said.

“I want the responsibility to remain with the Crown to protect the interest of all members of the state and not pass on the responsibility to any other group — religious or not.”

Lebanese Muslim Association president Samier Dandan. Picture: Adam Yip

The death rate will double in the next 25 years as Baby Boomers die out.

And Crown assets at Varroville and Wallacia — the second of which was approved by the Land and ­Environment Court this week — will mean the sector will soon be a goldmine.

The 11th Hour report, which was commissioned by the Department of Planning, said the sector will have $600m in excess capital by 2038.

Mr O’Meara described Mr Dandan’s comments as “unfair”.

As for Ms Pavey’s plan, he said “she wants to take our money off us and she wants to get rid of the church”.

A spokeswoman for Ms Pavey said: “The government is considering the findings and recommendations … and is preparing its response.”

Originally published as Catholics and Muslims in holy war over who should run Sydney’s cemeteries