An Ipswich lawn cemetery will get new gardens, ponds and pavilions to future-proof the site against flooding.
A draft master plan for Warrill Park Lawn Cemetery was adopted unanimously by Ipswich City Council at its June 25 ordinary meeting, according to minutes posted online.
(A proposed nursery for the site was not approved and will be considered by council at another meeting.)
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding calls cemeteries “sacred”.
“They provide dignified spaces for grieving and healing while serving as shrines to our history and heritage as Warrill Park Lawn Cemetery has done for 55 years,” she says.
She says the master plan “sets a clear direction” for the future of the 15,000-memorial 25-hectare site which is next to a forest of protected Melaleuca irbyana (swamp tea) trees at Willowbank.
“It is a detailed plan proposing new features improving the experience of those who are visiting, often when they are at their most vulnerable, by providing nature-bound spaces for quiet reflection,” Harding says.
CEMETERY SITE WOES
“The plan is built on collaboration. Our extensive community and stakeholder engagement campaign reached more than 40,000 people and attracted 114 survey responses.”
She concedes that previous maintenance efforts have “left the cemetery, at times, not meeting community expectations”.
“Environmental challenges such as flooding natural to the site caused issues,” she points out.
“This master plan will reinforce Warrill Park Lawn Cemetery’s amenity and accessibility; council will continue to work with the cemetery managers to deliver a cemetery that is attractive, peaceful and well-maintained now and into the future.”
Key concepts include a new memorial garden and upgraded dam area, a natural bush burial area with native trees, grasses and shrubs and a large timber pavilion.
There will be a reflective pond, shelters, bench seating, feature trees, arbours, accessibility paths, a new administration building and visitor amenities.
Swales, with bridges, will course throughout the site to guide the flow of water during heavy rainfall.
Council intends to look to grants and other sources to fund the works, it says.
Keep up to date with master plan updates at Shapeyouripswich.com.au
OTHER IPSWICH NEWS: Population passes 270,000 mark
