THE success of Bathurst’s new crematorium development by Canberra-based Norwood Park has given the company the confidence to push ahead to build a similar facility in Queensland.
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Since it opened on August 5, 41 cremations and services have been held in the local chapel based in the grounds of the Bathurst cemetery just off the Mitchell Highway.
It’s a pleasing sign for Norwood Park, which took the gamble to spend more than $1.5 million over a seven-month construction phase expanding the company’s operation into regional NSW.
The plan is to now tap into the Ipswich district’s need for a crematorium and to build in the grounds of the Warrill Park Lawn Cemetery.
General manager Stephen Beer said the company’s faith in Bathurst is already being justified, even before the facility’s official opening scheduled for tomorrow morning.
“The response has exceeded our initial expectations,” he said. “It shows that Bathurst residents were ready for this type of facility and are keen to support this type of memorial option.
“We opened without much fanfare, but have planned a function to officially launch the crematorium on October 23.”
Mr Beer said any teething troubles have been sorted out, noting the only real area that needed tweaking was with the audio equipment.
“Other than that, things have been terrific,” he said. “We had a bit of a test when we had a service with nearly 300 people attending.
“However, while we couldn’t fit everyone in the chapel, which has a limit of 150 people, we do have overflow areas which are protected from the wind and sun and have outside television screens and audio so people can follow the service inside.”
Mr Beer said Norwood Park intends to consolidate its growth with the Ipswich development following on from Bathurst and its headquarters at Mitchell in the ACT.
“For Bathurst, the continuing development of the facility will be to give people a choice of memorials,” he said.
“At present, the ashes are being taken home by loved ones, but once we develop the gardens here they can come back and have the ashes interred in a landscaped setting.
“The thing we are really pleased about is the way the building in Bathurst sits into the side of the hill, making it unobtrusive. We didn’t want it to be too much over the top and wanted to ensure it was in keeping with its surroundings and we have achieved that.”
