BETHANIA’S retirement village community think the prospect of living across the road from a proposed crematorium is a sick joke.
The Bethania Residents Action Group were fired up with the support of a grey army of protesters after learning of a development application lodged by James Family Funerals Trust on October 5 to build a crematorium on 1/3-13 High Road.
Protesters went to a community meeting with Forde MP Bert van Manen at the Bethania Community Centre on Monday, November 19, wielding signs with slogans: “We are not dead yet” and “No crematorium in our backyard”.
The crematorium proposal is consistent with the Logan Planning Scheme 2015 with the area classed as a mixed light industrial and residential zone.
However, opponents of the proposal note it is in close proximity to retirement villages and schools.
Mr van Manen said there were at least a dozen more suitable alternative sites away from residents and schools.
“I call on the proponents of the project to withdraw their application and importantly I call on Logan City Council to reject this application on behalf of the community of Bethania,” he said.
Berwen Smith has been a Bethania resident for 20 years and his wife is a resident at Palm Lake Care, 100 metres away from the proposed crematorium site.
Mr Smith said the crematorium would impact quality of life for the existing 150 residents, in addition to an extra 80 residents when stage two of the Palm Lake facility would be completed next year.
“I thought it was literally a sick joke, but it was a fact,” he said.
“There are about 20 to 25 per cent of residents in the facility that are in palliative care, and cases where you have residents in their last days. To be in a facility only metres away from a crematorium is evil.”
Bethania Residents Action Group member Annette Clarey said the proposal was in poor taste.
“All the school children walk through the intersection and everyday they are going to see hearses morning and night. They could have grandparents who might have passed away, it is traumatic for the kids to have to see this everyday,” she said.
Bethania resident Dawn Miles said she was concerned about a potential hit to her hip pocket.
“It is going to affect house prices because people aren’t going to want to move next to a crematorium,” she said.
Bethania Residents Action Group president Diana Howes said a petition opposing the crematorium had received 700 signatures.
“Our primary concern is that we believe the proposal will release contaminants which may cause physical or environmental harm,” she said.
“Council has a duty to protect the health and well being of residents. If that doesn’t fit with their town plan they need to step up and work out how they will protect us.
“It will be an important issue as vulnerable members of our community, our seniors, not only deserve but have a right to dignity and quiet enjoyment of life.
“If Logan council does not see this as a priority, it will be made a priority by ratepayers on voting day.”
Ms Howes said the group were organising a community compassion day at the Bethania Community Centre on Friday, November 23 from 5am to 7pm for residents to sign a letter to council opposing the crematorium.
Logan council acting mayor Cherie Dalley said community concerns were taken into account after residents met with council representatives on November 13.
“Residents raised issues including potential health, noise and traffic concerns,” Ms Dalley said.
“Following the meeting, the applicant (James Family Funerals Trust) committed to providing further air quality information to support their application which council planning officers will review and will also have independently reviewed.
“We anticipate this will take two to three weeks.
Ms Dalley said council could not refuse to accept receipt of any properly made development application.
In a planning assessment report, compiled by East Coast Surveys on behalf of James Family Funerals Trust, it was recommended the proposed crematorium proceed subject to reasonable and relevant conditions.
Council planning officers are due to reach a decision on the proposal in early January, 2019.
