Huon Lawn Cemetery

The Huon Valley Council is taking expressions of interest (EOI) for the purchase of vacant land within the Huon Lawn Cemetery and development of funeral and memorialisation services.

The Huon Lawn Cemetery Master Plan, which is currently in initial draft form, identifies that the area of vacant land (outlined in red below) could be privately developed to improve the range of services and facilities offered at the cemetery for Huon Valley residents.

Council recognises that this land is important to the Huon Valley community and is committed to ensuring that the best return and development opportunity are achieved on the site.

BACKGROUND

The Huon Lawn Cemetery is located at 422 Glen Huon Road, Glen Huon on land owned by Huon Valley Council, and has been operating for 50 years. The cemetery is managed by a caretaker employed by Council and includes gravesites, memorial walls and rose gardens.

The Huon Lawn Cemetery requires upgrading to address concerns with ageing infrastructure and a draft master plan has been developed by Council to determine the future use of the cemetery. The plan identifies that the portion of vacant land is surplus to Council’s long-term needs for burials or cemetery use.

Any successful purchaser of the portion of land must be experienced, professional and suitably qualified to deliver funeral and memorialisation facilities (e.g. a chapel, crematorium) and must use the land only for this purpose.

Having purpose-built funeral and memorialisation facilities at the site would enhance the services that Council is currently able to offer families, including providing better facilities for conducting graveside services (e.g. shelter, seating, accessibility features).

Huon Valley residents may also benefit from having access to crematorium facilities locally, so they won’t need to travel to Hobart.

Funds from the sale of the portion of land could also be put towards elements included in the proposed master plan.

Community engagement on the master plan will take place after a decision on the EOI process outcomes has been made, to gain an understanding of what the people of the Huon Valley want for the future use and development of the site.

Please note: The outcome of the sale of the portion of land is expected to complement the master plan, not to achieve the goals of the master plan.