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Questions and answers
Find answers to questions about Sydney’s urgent need for more burial space and our proposed solution. Learn why new burial sites are essential to serve one of Australia’s most diverse communities and how we are working to meet cultural and religious needs while planning for the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Metropolitan Memorial Parks (MMP) has announced a consultation process about the identification of a new, suitable location for a modern memorial park in central Sydney.
The NSW Government has tasked MMP with identifying options to significantly increase the supply of new burial space in Sydney as existing burial space continues to quickly diminish.
A NSW Government review found that public cemeteries across Sydney are running out of burial space, with estimates that they will need to begin turning away some faith groups in less than two years.
Over 50% of deaths in Greater Sydney require land for interment - either through burial or ash interment.
Around two-thirds of people in Greater Sydney choose cremation when they pass, but for the rest, the need for new burial space is significant for cultural and religious purposes. Burial space is also needed for ash interment because for some cultures, even after cremation, returning to the ground is important.
A new Crown cemetery has not been built in the heart of Sydney in more than 80 years, despite significant population growth and increases in demand.
The statutory review of cemeteries, the 11th Hour Report, found that burial space will be close to exhaustion by 2030, and without new burial space, the future unmet demand will be significant.
Without the identification of new land for public cemeteries, MMP may need to begin turning away some faith groups in less than two years and will be fully exhausted within a decade after that.
A new Crown cemetery has not been built in the heart of Sydney in more than 80 years, despite significant population growth and increases in demand. Previous governments have attempted to act because demand for land in Sydney is high and delivering new burial space is highly challenging.
Planning and consultation
Every person in NSW deserves burial and cremation services that are easy to access and are affordable. Plans are underway to deliver a new memorial park in South-West Sydney, but new land is also required in the heart of Sydney.
New burial space is an important issue for community groups who rely on it. Creating a modern memorial park will also add new green space for the community at a time when density within Sydney is increasing and more open space is needed.
Sydney is one of Australia’s most culturally diverse communities, with people from 307 ancestries practicing 46 religions and speaking more than 215 languages. Sydney also has an aging population and demand for new burial space is forecast to increase significantly over time.
Coleman Park Sports Fields
No. The playing fields are not included as part of the memorial park and will remain sports fields for the community.
Project details
It is still early days, but the construction will occur in phases to enable the continued use of the golf course and to minimise impacts. The current lease on the Carnarvon site is due to expire in 2035.
It is estimated that up to 70,000 new burial spaces could be delivered at Carnarvon Golf Course.
Identifying Carnarvon Golf Course is part of the solution. Additional and and new sustainable burial practices are still required to ensure Sydney has a long-term solution to the burial space shortage problem, so we don’t find ourselves in a similar crisis further down the track.
No. Cremations are currently held at nearby Rookwood and there are no plans for this service on the site.
This will not cost the taxpayer. MMP is self-funded and has the balance sheet to deliver the new memorial park at no cost to government or the taxpayer.
The delivery of a new memorial park will require planning approval where all impacts will be assessed and addressed. The usual development issues will be addressed, including traffic, noise, construction, visual etc and the community will be informed as the planning process gets underway.
Yes, this new space will unlock green space for the whole community to enjoy.
The exact split for land use will be finalised through the planning approvals process. However, at this stage we estimate 30% publicly accessible parkland.
The details of this memorial park will be finalised in consultation with the community; however, it could contain a cafe, function rooms, flower shop etc. The details will be finalised in consultation with the community.
The costs will be competitive. MMP is committed to providing affordable burial space for those who choose this option.
Modern memorial parks
Modern memorial parks are about unlocking and providing new green spaces as places for reflection for those that have lost loved ones, and a peaceful open space for the community.
They have more of a park feel with lawns, landscaping, footpaths and lakes, with burial sites and monuments integrated into the landscape to provide privacy for mourners.
They contain community spaces, places for reflection, walking paths, reflective spaces and cafés; while also a space to remember loved ones.
See Modern Memorial Parks Fact Sheet for more information.
Carnarvon Golf Course
Carnarvon is central and close to Sydney’s largest existing cemetery, Rookwood, and meets all the best practice criteria for a modern memorial park.
Carnarvon is an ideal site because it is already Crown land, it is in the heart Sydney, free from flooding and a modern memorial park would enhance the existing natural landscape.
MMP used extensive criteria for a modern memorial park including researching world-leading best practice for a new memorial park. This was the foundation for assessment criteria for suitability, permissibility and feasibility. More information about this can be found in the information brochure found on the MMP website.
This site is part of a long-term solution to a long-running problem; however, additional land and sustainable interment practices are still required to solve the problem in the long-term.
The golf course is being repurposed to a modern memorial park which will also unlock new open space for the whole community to enjoy. Sydney’s burial space crisis is an urgent problem that needs a quick solution. Carnarvon Golf Course is Crown land and the government needs to decide what is the best use for the community.
An extensive planning approvals process is still required, and the staging of Carnarvon could continue to provide a 9-hole golf course as the site transitions over many years.
Environmental impacts
Most of the existing mature vegetation will be retained within the site. Burial sites and monuments will be integrated into the natural landscape to provide privacy for mourners and will enhance the natural beauty of the site.
Traffic access was an important consideration when assessing the site. A full traffic assessment will be conducted as part of the planning approvals process; however, the impacts are expected to be minimal.
The memorial park will have lawns, landscaping, footpaths and lakes, with burial sites and monuments integrated into the landscape. It will contain community spaces, places for reflection, walking paths, reflective spaces and cafés; while also a space to remember loved ones.
Most of the existing mature vegetation will be retained within the site. The natural typography of a golf course makes it an ideal starting point for a modern memorial park.
Consultation
MMP understands that the burial space crisis is an important issue for the community. MMP is committed to explaining this choice with the community. We are running a process that enables the government to make a final decision.
MMP is running a consultation process to receive feedback from the community on its choice for Carnarvon. The feedback will be collected and presented to the Minister for Lands to enable the government to make a final decision.
A survey is available on the MMP website to collect feedback. Click here to access the survey.
The feedback will be collected and presented to the Minister for Lands to enable the government to make a final decision.
MMP is consulting with the community for two months from 19 August to 19 October 2025.
Process
The Minister for Lands tasked MMP with identifying new land. MMP has conducted an assessment process for over 12 months and is now consulting with the community on its recommendation to repurpose Carnarvon Golf Course as a modern memorial park.
MMP assessed over 1,000 sites against a set of criteria for best practice.
An extensive planning approvals process is still required and there will be many more opportunities for the community to have its say before construction begins.
An extensive planning approvals process is still required, and the staging of Carnarvon could continue to provide a 9-hole golf course as the site transitions over many years.
MMP is running a consultation process that will enable the government to make a final decision.
Metropolitan Memorial Parks (MMP)
Metropolitan Memorial Parks (MMP) is an important government cemetery manager providing 60% of interments in Sydney/NSW.
MMP manages eight memorial parks across Sydney and Newcastle, spanning over 400ha of Crown land. As a Category 1 Crown cemetery manager operating under NSW legislation as a self-funding entity, MMP is responsible for providing accessible and affordable interment services, addressing market gaps, and ensuring equitable access.