LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORT AND CITY SERVICES Ms Suzanne Orr MLA (Chair), Mr Steve Doszpot MLA (Deputy Chair) Ms Tara Cheyne MLA, Mr Mark Parton MLA

Inquiry into the Management of ACT Cemeteries

Submission to the inquiry

2 - Martin Miller

ist September 2017

Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services Legislative Assembly for the ACT committees@parliment.act.gov.au

Inquiry into the management of ACT cemeteries

Dear Committee,

This brief submission will only suggest alternative locations for new cemeteries in the ACT ratherr than looking into t he financial side relating to the costs of burials or to any management, cost effectiveness and comparat ive ana lysis y,iith other jurisdictions.

In my opinion the extensive to the Woden cemetery in open space is a poor ideal given the limited high quality open space t hat is left within the Woden town centre precinct. ACT Cemetery Authority have only saggested this option because of lack of funding and commitment from the ACT Government to commence work on the southern cemetery.

Given the timeline for the new southern cemetery, its operation would have fully commenced by now. The location across the way from the Mugga Lane land fill site has always been a concern of mine and I dare say many in the community. Having a cemetery near a t ip was never a good idea even if and when the tip ceases its operation as a land fill site. The beauty of t he Woden site is its setting which is close to public transport and a major town centre. Which includes Hotel accommodation for interstate relatives and friends. Its also a t ra nquil place for people to sit a reflect on past lives lost. This certainly can 't be achieved at the Mugga lane site, with smells coming from t he t ip and also with constant t rucks and vehicles driving past .

So this submission proposes two new cemetery sites within the town centre setting similar to that of Woden, which would be in Belconnen and Tuggeranong. Whether these sites are suitable for a crematorium is not known but a crematorium doesn' t need to be located at the same site as a cemetery but in a location suitable for the control of emissions. These sites will also be suitable fro natural burial due o limited services located within the area.

The site for Belconnen would be located next to Ginninderra Drive within the Lake Ginninderra public urban open space, Block 1,Section 159. Some or most of this site cou ld be used and designed sensit ively within t he open space. Currently the site is not used for recreational or leisure activities . I am unaware whether this site contains any endangered species.

The Tuggeranong site would be located next to Athllon drive, Greenway Block 16, Section 46. Tlhis site has several Territory plan overlays and is part of the river corridor. This area was part of the recent study / investigation for possible residential development. Access to the site off Athllon can be achieved from the intersection with Anketell Street. This would be a nice t ranquil spot comparable to Woden and the Belconnen site suggested in this submission.

Belconnen Site:

Possble Belconnen site for Cemetery

BELCONNEN: Block ·J, Section ·159 Urban APPROVED GINNINDERRA DRIVE Territory Plan - Land Use Zone: PRZ-J: URBAN OPEN SPACE Territory Plan -Overlay Zone: Pe: Urban Open Space. Plan Nos. AP988, POL3633

1: 5,000

DISCLAIMER

The map is .a user generated static output from an lnlemet mapping sire and is forrefer€11ce only. Data layers ihat appear on this map may or may JJotb& accurate, currentorothe1wise reliable..

Tuggeranong Site

Possible Tuggeranong for Cemetery

GREENWAY: Block 16, Section46 Urban APPROVED 299 SOWARD WAY, 60 PINE ISLAND ROAD Terrttory Plan - Land Use Zone: CZ6: LEISURE ANO ACCOMMODATION; PRZ1: URBAN OPEN SPACE; NUZ4: RIVER CORRIDOR Terrttory Plan - Overlay Zone: Pc: Nature pgcogm ·

PUBLAN: Public Land;o fi':J:~ial Purpose Reserve. m~P6534, 1"0rnJOu The map is a user gemrated static; outputtivm an Jntemetmappin9 sfte and is for reference only. Daia layers that appear on this map mayor may not be ac,urate, cu1Tent orothernise reliable.

I am available to appear before the committee if need be and look forward to the outcome of th1e

committee inquiry.

Your Sincerely

Martin Miller