Griffith site rezoning in 2023 allowed for ratepayer-funded crematorium to be built opposite school

A Griffith business at 172-174 Wakaden Street was rezoned in 2023, a decision that has ultimately allowed it to build a crematorium opposite Marian Catholic College, the NSW Planning Department has told Region.

However, bureaucrats said this change was coincidental – rezoning was undertaken to several sites as part of broader productivity reforms and not specifically to enable a particular company to install a cremator.

Some 14 months after this rezoning (in December 2024), Griffith Council has approved a development application (DA) for its own joint venture with Griffith Regional Funeral Services to build a crematorium at 172-174 Wakaden Street. The council itself has agreed in principle to spend $400,000 of ratepayer funds to buy the cremator.

Griffith Council has also approved a separate proposal by a different funeral company to build another crematorium in town. Trenerry Funerals was given the green light to construct a fully privately funded facility for both a human and pet crematorium at 1-3 Battista Street in Yoogali.

Trenerry director Daniel Calabro questioned how and why a site next to a school was allowed to build the rival crematorium.

“When discussions about a crematorium started in 2022, the Griffith Regional Funeral Services premises was zoned as a business enterprise. But now, all of a sudden, it’s zoned to allow for a crematorium. Isn’t that interesting?” he said.

“It’s very odd that something gets rezoned overnight with nobody knowing about it. Rezoning is usually a massive process.

“I thought, ‘There’s no way they’d be allowed to have a crematorium there, opposite a school’ but now it’s zoned correctly thanks to council changing the zoning.”

Region asked the NSW Planning Department whether and why this site was rezoned. After several delays, we received a response on Friday (20 December).

“There were changes to employment zones in Griffith and other local government areas (LGA) in NSW in 2023,” a spokesperson said.

“These changes were associated with the employment zones reforms undertaken by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in 2023 and were not specifically for this site or this purpose.

“These zoning changes meant land located at 172-174 Wakaden Street in Griffith, which was originally zoned B7 Business Park, was transitioned to E4 General Industrial.

“Under the E4 zone, activities such as crematoriums and other industrial, warehouse and logistics land uses are permitted with development consent.

“The consent authority for any development application for a crematorium in this LGA is Griffith City Council.”

According to town planning firm Precise Planning, the rezoning of land in NSW is done following a public exhibition process and community consultation.

Region asked both Griffith Council and NSW Planning what public consultation was held regarding the rezoning of 172-174 Wakaden Street, but neither answered this question.

We also asked Griffith City Council whether it initiated the rezoning of this land but it declined to respond.

Griffith Regional Funeral Services director Peter Woodward told Region he did not make any application to rezone this land.

Region spoke to two residents, who live near the proposed crematorium opposite Marian Catholic College, who told us they had not been made aware of either the rezoning or the DA.

“We were not given any information at all. I asked council about it after the decision was made and was told it was too late,” said one woman, who asked not to be identified.

Region also asked Marian Catholic College whether it had any concerns about having a crematorium opposite its campus and whether it had been consulted on the DA and apparent rezoning.

“We can confirm that the college was consulted on the submission processes related to the application,” principal Dr Penny Ludicke said in a statement.

Griffith councillor Scott Groat questioned the location of this crematorium.

“It’s near a busy highway and it’s next to a school,” he said. ”That’s the feedback I’m getting from the community. I wouldn’t want a crematorium next to me; it belongs in a parkland right out of town … that’s the case for other crematoriums too.”

Mr Calabro said he told Griffith Council he was going to build a private crematorium in town before the council pursued its own plans with Griffith Regional Funeral Services. He said ratepayers’ money should not be spent on the joint venture.

“I don’t care if there’s two crematoriums or even six crematoriums in town, but none of them should be paid for using your or my rates, by people who may never use the service,” he said.

”Council should stick to being a council, not delving into private business.”