Support for crematorium

BY ALICE COWDREY

The man who created Hope's Gardens of the World says the establishment of a crematorium at the popular rural site will help see his dream fulfilled.

Along with a panel of nine others, Geoff Etherington, 74, gave supporting evidence on behalf of Nelson funeral director Francis Day during a hearing on the controversial proposal yesterday.

In his second bid at getting approval for the development, Mr Day wants to build a 25-seat chapel, memorial garden, ticket kiosk and small office at the site. The first day of the hearing was held yesterday at Club Waimea and was attended by 30 people.

Mr Day's initial application for the development was declined by the Tasman District Council in July. It included plans for a reception centre for up to 80 guests and a cafe.

The consent became the subject of fierce criticism, mainly from a community group, Living in Hope – made up of about 40 households who live near the gardens.

The group has vowed to fight the application and its submission was to be heard today.

Mr Etherington established the gardens, but sold it to the Day family about 18 months ago. The garden would be further enhanced by Mr Day's proposal which he supported "wholeheartedly", Mr Etherington said.

"I can see nothing but benefits arising for the whole of the community," Mr Etherington said.

There were 220 submissions on the application, with 166 in support and 54 in opposition.

Supporters believe the development is a logical extension of the gardens and a needed facility for an ageing population.

Those opposed are concerned about traffic safety, parking issues, toxic emissions and loss of productive land.

Reports written by council staff on issues such as traffic, rural environment effects, land productivity and noise are in favour of the consent being granted, but only with conditions.

Mr Day is the principal of a family business which runs the Marsden House Funeral Home, Golden Bay, Motueka Funeral Services and Waimea Richmond Funeral Services. During yesterday's hearing he said one of the two crematoriums in the region, at Wakapuaka Cemetery, was "Victorian" with a "crematorium apparatus" dating back to the 1940s.

"We believe and have for many years believed that the people of this district and their departed deserve better than that," he said.

There was also a crematorium in Motueka and it was an "incredible imposition" on families to travel from Richmond to Motueka for a ceremony.

Mr Day said the public garden would have a separate entrance to the area containing the chapel, crematorium and memorial garden. He estimated six cremations would take place each week. On behalf of the applicant, air-quality scientist John Iseli said the gas-fired crematorium was modern and designed to minimise the discharge of contaminants into the air.

Research had also shown that mercury accumulation in soil around crematoriums the size of the one proposed was minor, Mr Iseli said.

During his evidence for the applicant, nurseryman Eric Appleton, who specialises in propagating trees and shrubs, said he heard the gardens were an unproductive use of land, which was "naive and ill-informed".

It was a place where rare seeds could be sourced from a wide range of trees from "practically" every continent, he said. Around 50 submitters will be heard today and tomorrow.

- © Fairfax NZ News