Petition to stop funeral home plan

TRAFFIC impacts and parking are two concerns people have about a proposed crematorium and funeral parlour at Railway Estate.

However, not everyone is against the business, despite a petition starting to stop the proposal, which more than 100 people have signed.

The owner of Gloss Your Hair Specialist Renee Lloyd was supportive of the business moving next door.

“I think it will be very positive for the area and the economy,” Ms Lloyd said.

Resident Valmai O’Dwyer, who lives about six houses and around the corner from the proposed crematorium, said it was “tacky”.

She said she was not concerned about the smell from the crematorium, but said the location was just wrong.

“I think it should be in more of an industrial part of the city,” she said. “Everyone else I’ve spoken to has felt the same way.

“When you’re living in suburbia you wouldn’t expect it.”

Ms O’Dwyer said her concern with the development related to parking and traffic.

“Funerals can carry a lot of people,” she said.

“Also you don’t want to come out grieving and dealing with traffic and noise. “I just think it’s tacky.” One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he had no concerns about the proposal.

Townsville Cremations is behind the plan and has a development application to build the facility at 1- 3 Railway Ave in front of Townsville City Council now. The petition, started by Teresa Edwards, focuses on the potential impacts on traffic, too. It said the development would “significantly impact residents in the area along with the wider community and road users of the major intersection of Boundary St and Railway Ave”.

Ms Edwards’s petition said while local businesses were supported and it was important for the funeral market in Townsville to be competitive, the business expansion must be established in a “suitable location” and with consideration to local residents and the wider community and road users.

She warned of “dangerous traffic congestion” and queuing at the driveway entrance to the facility on what is a busy arterial road.

The Townsville City Plan, adopted by the council, says funeral parlours must have one space per employee, one per hearse and one space per four people capable of being seated in any chapel or accommodated in a function area with a minimum of 10 spaces.

In response to a request for information from the council, town planner BNC Planning said there was adequate parking for the facility.

“Accordingly, the funeral parlour parking rate will cover the peak demand generated by the use,” the response said.

“The proposed site layout can provide for 25 spaces plus up to three internal parking spaces capable of accommodating a hearse and which will be used by staff.”