Apriling the Controversy – What’s Happened?
On Monday, 18 August 2025, the New South Wales government formally launched an eight-week community consultation over the proposed conversion of the Carnarvon Golf Course in Lidcombe into a modern memorial park and cemetery. The plan, spearheaded by Metropolitan Memorial Parks (MMP), aims to address Sydney’s pressing shortage of burial space. Key factors include the site’s proximity to the existing Rookwood Cemetery and the fact that it’s government-owned—reducing land acquisition costs.
However, the proposal has met fierce resistance. Auburn MP Lynda Voltz, representing the local community, condemned the plan as “lazy and short‑sighted,” arguing that the decision was essentially made already and lacks real consultation—adding that no alternative sites are being considered
Underlying Need: Burial Space Crisis in Sydney
Sydney faces a growing burial space crisis. Current trends indicate:
- Islamic burial plots at Rookwood are expected to be fully occupied in about three years.
- Armenian Orthodox plots at Macquarie Park are projected to be exhausted in approximately two and a half years.
- On average, around 10,000 people are buried in Sydney each year.
In light of this, MMP CEO Denise Ora emphasized the urgent need for sustainable, long-term solutions that consider Sydney’s growing and diverse religious communities.
Local Concerns: Green Space, Noise, and Community Impact
The local backlash is rooted in deeper concerns:
- Voltz warned that turning Carnarvon into a cemetery would strip Lidcombe of vital green space and suggested it would concentrate burial grounds in the area, impacting residents psychologically—especially within Asian communities, for whom living adjacent to cemeteries is culturally sensitive.
- She also expressed fears that, once the golf course is full, neighboring recreational areas—such as adjacent sporting fields—could become the next target for cemetery expansion.
- Meanwhile, the Carnarvon Golf Club, with a lease valid until 2035, voiced uncertainty despite assurances from Lands Minister Steve Kamper that the lease cannot be terminated without mutual agreement. The Club’s general manager questioned the point of consultation if only one option—Carnarvon—is on the table.
Broader Coverage: Scale and Political Fallout
Other media outlets add layers to the narrative:
- The Daily Telegraph reports that the new cemetery may hold up to 70,000 plots, potentially making it the first central Sydney cemetery in 80 years. The design includes parklands, walking paths, and a reflection lake, with a transitional nine-hole golf course operating for now.
- Lynda Voltz has also labeled the proposal a “betrayal of public trust,” criticizing the secretive planning process and limited public engagement. She is backed by a growing petition with over 5,000 signatures, alongside support from federal MPs. Voltz also highlighted the environmental concerns: Carnarvon lies within a flood-prone catchment area and is part of Landcare green canopy initiatives, making its rezoning questionable under NSW planning guidelines
