The following residents of the ACT draw the attention of the Assembly to Development Application 202138789 for a proposed crematorium complex located on a 9.72 ha site, adjacent to the Callum Brae Nature Reserve.
DA 202138789 proposes the clearance of critically endangered Box-Gum Woodland which will have a significant adverse environmental impact on threatened ecological communities, including endangered Gang Gang cockatoos, other flora and fauna as well as disrupting the breeding sites for the small ant blue butterfly. The crematorium complex would disrupt connectivity among several Nature Reserves.
Furthermore, there is currently no need for another crematorium with two crematoriums in the ACT operating at 18% capacity and a third planned for the Hume Southern Memorial Park.
The crematorium proposal includes two cremators, expected to use gas infrastructure, which can cause toxic emissions. ACT plans to prohibit new gas connections from November 2023. The DA site is classified NUZ1 broad acre zoning, which does not allow car parks. Nor is it clear that a crematorium rather than a cemetery is allowed.
Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to call on the Government to
• investigate whether existing capacity of crematoria in the ACT is sufficient
• advise on projected greenhouse gas emissions from the crematorium, noting the new EIS trigger that applies to greenhouse gas emissions
• review all licences and approvals required and advise if these have been provided
• review whether the proposed crematorium complex complies with NUZ1 broad acre zoning
• incorporate Block 1, Section 3, 99 Mugga Lane (9.72 hectares) into the existing Callum Brae Nature Reserve to protect biodiversity, connectivity and enjoyment by ACT residents and visitors.