frequently asked questions

Greater Sydney is fast running out of burial space. Research shows that the city’s cemeteries will reach capacity in the next few years. The Douglas Park Memorial Park proposal seeks to redress this urgent need. 

The Douglas Park Memorial Park Concept Plan includes the layout of the site, as well as an overall plan for a crematorium, chapel, vaults, remembrance sanctuaries, and associated groundworks and infrastructure.

The Stage 1 component involves the detailed design of approximately 26,000 burial plots, as well as a chapel, a caretaker building, associated infrastructure on the southern portion of the site, and an administration building with a café accessible.

Overall, the key features of the proposal include:

• Approximately 58,000 burial plots overall delivered over seven stages and designed for all faiths with the stage 1 DA comprising approximately 26,000 burial plots
• A crematorium (to be constructed at a later stage) designed to protect air quality
• A chapel for all faiths with seating for up 230 mourners
• 10,500 square metres of open space for quiet reflection and remembrance sanctuaries which will be open to the public
• Pedestrian and cycling paths for use by the local community
• Approximately 130 car parking spaces
• A café for visitors to the Park that is also open to the community

The project’s biodiversity report shows that the site is home to valuable flora and a variety of local fauna, including arboreal mammals, reptiles and native birds.

To minimise any impacts on biodiversity, a vegetation protection zone around the perimeter of the site will be retained, enhanced and managed to protect high-value flora and the vegetation providing shelter, habitat and foraging for fauna.

The Park’s design will embrace the area’s unique flora and fauna, including:

• Extensive landscaping and planting with drought tolerant species that are local to the area
• Connecting to Country and celebrating the area’s Indigenous heritage
• Water use that does not impact the groundwater
• All water captured on building roofs will be used for toilets and other grey water needs
• Stormwater management through sustainable landscape features, including capture and reuse
• Fencing to protect flora and fauna from construction impacts.

The Park’s design pays respect to the deep connection to the land of the traditional owners - the Dharawal and neighbouring Gundungurra people. It acknowledges the layers of Country for traditional owners across: time, geology, the Cumberland Plain, water and sky. 

The Park’s design also honours the area’s namesake, Henry Grattan Douglass, a man of medicine and philosophy, and a leader in his community.

Traffic management is a priority in the proposal and will be designed to comply with all regulatory requirements. Vehicle access points, internal roadways, and car parking will be designed in accordance with the relevant traffic standards, including Austroads Guidelines,  Australian Standards and Council Standards.

The map below shows the anticipated routes for visitors entering and exiting the Memorial Park from various directions using main roads.
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Importantly, visitors will not need to travel through the Douglas Park village or the gorge on Douglas Park Drive to access the Memorial Park.

As standard operating practice, visitors to the site will be made aware of the most suitable routes to and from the site, in particular avoiding the route through the gorge. A Green Travel Plan will explore sustainable transport modes to be included where possible.

The main vehicle entry and exit for visitors and staff will be on Douglas Park Drive.  A separate right turn lane on Douglas Park Drive is expected to be provided for entering vehicles to ensure safe and efficient access.

The small number of service vehicles associated with the site will exit through a new service road onto the southern end of Mitchell Place close to the intersection with Douglas Park Drive.

The proposal includes around 130 car parking spaces for visitors and staff.

Sustainability is embedded across all operations in the Park’s design. Adopting the most advanced technology available to operate the crematorium to protect air quality will be prioritised. An air quality impact assessment was conducted in 2024.

Based on modelling, the assessment found that operating a crematorium will not impact the air quality of the surrounding area with the proposed location and design of the exhaust chimneys in the Concept Plan.

Construction of a crematorium is proposed for later stages. Importantly, there will be dedicated consultation aligned with the delivery of later stages.

Sandstone forms the bedrock for much of the Sydney region and rock excavation is a standard part of working on sites. The bedrock for the proposed site for the Douglas Park Memorial Park is no exception, and some rock excavation will be needed.

The depths of burial plots will range from 0.9 metres to up to 3.6 metres. The deeper plots will accommodate double or triple-depth plots with the option of caskets being placed vertically or horizontally in the same gravesite.

All excavation works will be undertaken in accordance with an approved Construction Management Plan, and in accordance with conditions of development consent and all NSW Environment Protection Authority requirements.

Onsite wastewater is to be serviced with the installation of an onsite sewage system in accordance with Water NSW and Wollondilly Shire Council requirements. This system will implement sustainable water recycling practices within select landscaped areas away from burial zones.

The Douglas Park Memorial Park is located to support the rapidly growing local community of Wollondilly and surrounding local government areas. 

Wollondilly Shire sits within the South West Growth Area. This area has been prioritised by the NSW Government for the delivery of new homes, employment areas, health and education facilities, and key infrastructure to support new communities. 

The population for Wollondilly is already increasing sharply with a projected annual growth rate that is almost three times higher than the state average.

There will be a series of gardens providing a sanctuary for the local community to visit at any time for quiet reflection. And it will be a place that welcomes everyone in our community across all faiths to celebrate and remember loved ones.

Local residents will be able to walk and cycle through the site and enjoy refreshments at the Park’s café.

In July 2020, the Wollondilly Shire Local Planning Panel approved a concept plan (DA/2018/780/1) for a cemetery comprising about 27,000 burial spaces.

This proposal seeks to expand the Park to provide approximately 58,000 burial spaces through renewable tenure. This means that people can choose to be rested in the same plot with their loved ones and increases access for the community to burial spaces.

Greater Sydney is fast running out of burial space. The NSW Government has not built a new cemetery in more than 80 years and very few new cemeteries are planned. Research shows that the city’s cemeteries will reach capacity in the next few years.

The Douglas Park Memorial Park proposal seeks to redress this urgent need.

Engagement is critical to the success of this project. The views of local residents and businesses, local Indigenous representatives, local stakeholder groups, Wollondilly Shire Council and faith-based groups will shape the proposal that is lodged with the government.

Please share your thoughts about the proposed Douglas Park Memorial Park proposal by completing this short survey.

There will also be further opportunities for people to share their views during the State Significant Development Application exhibition period following lodgement of the application, and additional consultation to support the delivery of later stages including the crematorium.