Cumberland City Councillors say they are united in their opposition to a NSW Government proposal to convert 45 hectares of green, open space at Carnarvon Golf Course into a cemetery, with a public rally against the plans to be held this weekend.
The Council is urging community members to attend the rally on Sunday 31 August at Coleman Park, organised by Member for Auburn, Lynda Voltz.
“We deserve to retain our beautiful green spaces,” said Cumberland City Mayor, Ola Hamed.
“We know that once the green space is gone, it is gone forever. My residents don’t deserve the threat of losing more trees and community space in our area.
“Western Sydney is already doing the heavy lifting in a number of areas, including housing. Why aren’t alternative sites being considered, including in locations such as Strathfield in the inner west and other sites in Sydney’s east.”
“The NSW Government might be looking for an easy solution by lumping this problem on our doorstep. But our community is not simply here to fix all of Sydney’s problems, they need to be shared equally and fairly.”
The Council says the region is already home to the largest cemetery in the southern hemisphere, Rookwood Cemetery, and the NSW Government’s plans are the latest unfair burden to be placed on the shoulders of Cumberland City residents.
It voted unanimously in February and July this year to fight for the protection of the 45 hectares of community green space, the equivalent of more than 63 football pitches.
“Two months ago, we were told a number of sites were being considered in Sydney, I call on the NSW Government to be more open in their decision-making processes,” Mayor Hamed said.
“My councillors and I stand united in our unwavering opposition and are committed to working alongside the community and our local representatives to protect our community’s cherished green spaces, wellbeing, and future liveability.”
The Council is calling on the NSW Government to:
- Immediately remove Carnarvon Golf Course from any list of potential cemetery expansion sites;
- Honour its commitments to protect urban open space, particularly in areas designated for increased density and transit-oriented development;
- Request that Metropolitan Memorial Parks (MMP) undertake a comprehensive assessment of alternative cemetery sites beyond a 30-minute radius of Sydney’s inner suburbs where urban green space is not under threat.
Council is promoting a petition through its website and social media channels, calling for immediate action to protect Carnarvon from future cemetery expansion.
This weekend’s rally will provide an opportunity for residents to make their voices heard and to demonstrate the strength of local opposition to this open space being lost to the community forever, said Mayor Hamed.
The NSW Government has commenced the consultation period for its proposal.
For more information about the campaign, go to https://haveyoursay.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/save-carnarvon-golf-course.
