A NEW crematorium and cemetery in Farley could begin construction within six months if a development application is approved by Maitland City Council.
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The proposed development, with a $3.2 million price tag, would see the construction of a 300-capacity chapel, 5000-plot cemetery and memorial gardens with 10,000 niche capacity on Old North Road.
It also includes the construction of a tea room for post funeral receptions, car parking for 61 vehicles and overflow parking for 82 vehicles and an additional on-site effluent system.
Hill Top Planners director Richard Bennett, who was commissioned to prepare a statement of environmental effects, said it was an important facility for the Maitland area.
“The issue of increased population requires a demand for all sorts of services, and this is just another one,” he said.
“This is a facility that the community at some point of their life will require, and currently there’s only the crematorium at Beresfield – which is the only other one in the area.”
In 2009, Farley was identified as having the capacity for 1500 residential lots by Maitland City Council. Since then, construction has already begun on the 351-lot subdivision Ravensfield Estate.
But according to a statement of environmental effects, assessments for noise and emissions concluded potential impact on neighbouring properties would be low.
Mr Bennett added the crematorium would be ‘odourless and noiseless’, with the large chapel surrounded by mature trees.
“It’s set back from the road and has a lot of tree covers. It won’t be overly visible,” he said. “We believe we have addressed all the issues for council, and we will await the outcome from neighbours.”
The facility would employ 14 staff on-site and operate from 7am to 6pm every day.
The application will be on public exhibition until February 12.
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