<\/p>\n
The Metropolitan Memorial Parks (MM), which manages Crown Land reserves and cemeteries on them<\/a> for the NSW Government, said the course was an \u201cideal location\u201d for a graveyard and meets \u201call the best practice criteria\u201d for a modern memorial park.<\/p>\n But residents aren\u2019t sold on the idea. <\/p>\n Many claim the flood-prone land is unsuitable for burials<\/a>, goes against government guidelines, and would see the area\u2019s last big green open space and beloved community hub disappear.<\/p>\n Several letters sent by local real estate agents, seen by news.com.au, also warn that prices have already dropped dramatically, while auctions have had to be withdrawn after failing to secure a single bidder.<\/p>\n One letter, by local estate agent Michael Karouche, claimed some homes have lost more than $600,000 in value.<\/p>\n He said most buyers in the area are of Asian descent and that they will not buy a property opposite a cemetery because cultural beliefs such as feng shui discourage them from living near burial sites.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the proposal has also hit people\u2019s finances, as shrinking property prices force mature-aged residents to put off retirement.<\/p>\n Karen Wright, 62, who has lived in the area since 1999, said her family has ditched plans to sell one of their properties.<\/p>\n \u201cWe used to have several sales a week in the area. Recently – I\u2019ve been tracking it for a couple of years, actually, but even more so recently – there has been virtually no sales at the weekend. I think if that\u2019s happening now, what\u2019s going to happen when the cemetery is actually here?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Kerrie Gerard, 68, said she sold her late mother\u2019s home for up to $150,000 less than expected because of the proposal.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t have any choice. It was either pay the Capital Gains Tax because, obviously, [it was] after she\u2019s passed, or we had to sell. Either way, we\u2019d have to lose money. We were told by the estate agent that the sale, because of the proposed cemetery, cost us between $100,000 and $150,000,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cNormally, mum and dad\u2019s house – directly opposite the golf course – was the highest peak in Carnarvon. So, if you put a two-storey [house] up, it would have the best view of the golf course.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Brendan Donnellan, 59, said he\u2019s considering coming out of retirement after the value of his property dropped by $300,000.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely devastating. I\u2019ve just retired and I\u2019m sitting in a four-bedroom house that I probably don\u2019t need to be sitting in but for me to downsize – I\u2019ve lost too much money to think about moving – and the government has just forgotten that the people here are affected by it,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n In March, he told The Daily Telegraph <\/a>the value of his property was $1.8 million.<\/p>\n \u201c[NSW Premier Chris] Minns, [NSW minister Stephen] Kamper, [NSW minister Paul] Scully – none of them have come out and faced the people who pay their wages, the people of NSW, and they should come face us and talk to us and tell us why,\u201d he told news.com.au.<\/p>\n It also means Mr Donnellan can\u2019t help out his kids financially.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were expecting to downsize, to help our children \u2026 get into the housing market, get their debts down because the value of houses are fairly high in Sydney and now that\u2019s just changed our plans.<\/p>\n \u201cThat extra money would have been an absolute godsend for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Mohammed Bardouh, 61, said he felt \u201ctrapped\u201d. He built his home 10 years ago just so he could be near the golf course.<\/p>\n And Choi Yau said her home would be sandwiched between the Carnarvon site and Rockwood Cemetery, which is Sydney\u2019s largest existing cemetery, according to the MMP<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t imagine in the future, if this goes ahead, driving our car past the cemetery. It has mentally affected me a lot. I\u2019m feeling very stressed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u2018Bodies will be shifting\u2019<\/p>\n The move has also drawn criticism from Labor MPs and councillors.<\/p>\n Lynda Voltz, the Labor MP for the NSW seat of Auburn, said the golf course was the one piece of big green space the community has left and accused the MMP of choosing the site without carrying out a proper assessment.<\/p>\n \u201cTo take something that is highly used – the most used sporting precinct in our area – and turn it into a cemetery when no one can use it, it\u2019s absolutely something we\u2019re opposed to,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Cumberland City Labor councillor Enver Yasar said the move looked like \u201ca sugar hit land-grab\u201d from the MMP.<\/p>\n \u201cInstead of doing the work needed to scope out the new site, they looked at the map, saw this piece of green land next to Rookwood, it\u2019s Crown Land, it\u2019s easy pickings, a quick sugar hit, and that\u2019s the decision they made,\u201d he said, pointing out the area is a flood zone.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it is flooding on the surface, can you imagine what\u2019s happening underneath? Bodies will be shifting.\u201d<\/p>\n Independent Cumberland City councillor Helen Hughes unleashed on the NSW Government.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are abusing us by taking away this place. It\u2019s critical to have for the community. It\u2019s a beautiful club to be in. I\u2019ve been there for weddings. I\u2019ve been there for wakes – I\u2019m not denying that – and 21st birthdays. The socialisation for people is critical and the state government is just abusing us enormously by taking away our needs for our community.\u201d<\/p>\n She accused the government of taking the community for granted.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a working class area and we\u2019ve always been Labor and so they can use us and abuse us. The minister has not had the guts to come here and speak with the community and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve been asking for.\u201d<\/p>\n