Plan to convert Sydney golf course to cemetery a ‘fait accompli’, says MP

The plan to turn a Sydney golf club into a cemetery appears to be a fait accompli, according to the local MP, with the club urged to seek assurances about its lease following a meeting between the sport’s stakeholders and the state government.

Golf NSW chief executive Stuart Fraser walked away from a January 23 meeting with Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper last month alarmed that the 18-hole Carnarvon Golf Club, near Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney’s west, would have its lease cut short.

Carnarvon Golf Club in Lidcombe is earmarked for conversion into a cemetery.Credit: Wolter Peeters

One week later, Fraser met with representatives for Carnarvon to discuss plans to turn the 45-hectare green space into up to 90,000 burial sites, urging them to meet with Kamper to seek assurances about their Crown land lease.

Carnarvon’s lease ends in 2035, but the government could compel an early exit.

First revealed by the Herald in early January, the confidential plans for a new cemetery were at such an advanced stage that faith leaders involved in the consultation believed it would be announced on December 4. Premier Chris Minns intervened at the 11th-hour to delay the announcement, fearing community pushback, sources involved said.

Neither the golf club, local council nor local Labor MP Lynda Voltz were aware of the Carnarvon plan before being contacted by the Herald. The club and Voltz are now campaigning against the proposal.

“I’m extremely disappointed this appears to be a fait accompli before there’s even been a conversation with the local MP and the local community,” Voltz said, referencing last month’s meetings.

Carnarvon general manager Adam McGregor said he left the meeting with Fraser feeling Golf NSW had “resigned itself to the future possible loss” of the club amid uncertainty over the future of Moore Park golf course, which the government has vowed to slash to nine holes to increase public green space. He is “increasingly concerned” Kamper will intervene to cut its lease short.

“Golf NSW expressed support for our position but appears constrained by the complexities surrounding Moore Park and broader government processes,” he said, suggesting Carnarvon could be “a tactical concession in the larger battle over Moore Park”.

Golf NSW categorically rejected the suggestion that Carnarvon has been used as fodder for those negotiations.

“Golf NSW, Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia, and Moore Park Golf Club contributed to an all-of-sport approach to the redesign and adaptation of the Moore Park footprint,” Fraser said.

In response to questions, Fraser said he did not believe Carnarvon’s future was already determined. Despite this, he said he implored the club to urgently seek assurances from the minister about the existing lease.

“At that meeting, it was conveyed to the club that still having 10 years left on its lease was a real positive, and the first priority of the club [and] Golf NSW was to ensure the lease is honoured in its entirety,” he said

“It was suggested the club meet with the minister as a matter of urgency to seek an assurance that the full term of the lease would be honoured.”

A spokesman for Kamper said no decision had been made on any site.

“Carnarvon Golf Club has a lease on the site to 2035, any early termination of this would require mutual agreement,” he said.

“The NSW government has directed Crown cemetery operators to conduct community consultation on any preferred sites, prior to a proposal for a new cemetery to be put to the NSW government.”

Sydney is running out of burial spaces. A 2023 audit found less than three years’ supply for some faith groups.

Metropolitan Memorial Parks (MMP) quietly undertook an audit of Crown land, private land and green space to consider the best site for a new cemetery in Sydney.

Carnarvon was considered suitable, given its central location and position on Crown land, meaning little to no cost for the state government, sources familiar with internal deliberations told the Herald.

Converting Carnarvon could yield between 60,000 to 90,000 interments. Nearby Rookwood Cemetery, the southern hemisphere’s largest necropolis, holds around one million burial spaces.

Golf NSW has been absent in the public debate over tearing up the 75-year-old golf course. Fraser said a statement had been prepared and given to Carnarvon on January 7, but it was “impressed upon the club to not release this until a ministerial meeting could be arranged”.

“Golf NSW has recently been made aware of a proposed community consultation process regarding the potential repurposing of a member golf course in the Sydney Metropolitan area and will be seeking an urgent meeting with the minister,” the prepared statement read.

“Golf NSW is extremely disappointed a popular and viable facility could be considered for repurposing, especially at a time when golf participation is booming across all age groups and demographics.”

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