The Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate is calling for feedback on the early designs of a new ‘bush cemetery’.
Minister for City Services, Chris Steel said the future Southern Memorial Park would create a new place for families on Canberra’s Southside to bury and commemorate their loved ones.
“As Canberra continues to grow we need to ensure that we have cemetery and crematoria facilities that will meet the city’s needs for the next 100 years,” Mr Steel said.
“Government has been undertaking detailed environmental studies and a staging plan for the development for the new Memorial Park to be ready for consultation with the community,” he said.
Mr Steel said the Memorial Park’s staging designs were informed by the initial Master Plan, drafted in 2012, and revisions of the Master Plan took into account further due diligence work on the site.
“Stage One is planned to include the basic infrastructure to establish the Memorial Park including a road access point from Mugga Lane, preparation for future wetlands, car parking, landscaping and the first burial plots,” the Minister said.
“Key planned features of the future Southern Memorial Park Stages include a variety of burial and memorial areas; a main visitor facility with memorial halls, function rooms, hospitality facilities, florist and crematorium; and further landscaping that is consistent with the native surroundings.”
He said Southern Memorial Park was proposed to be a full-service cemetery set in a natural grassy woodland landscape, with a focus on natural burials and space for traditional burials.
Mr Steel said the Directorate would accept feedback until 7 June on features that should be included in the plans such as public art; walking and cycling trails; nature play areas for children; and landscaping design.
The Directorate’s Master Plan and designs for Stage One of the Memorial Park, including information on how to have a say, can be accessed at this PS News link.
