The Huon Valley Council is opening an expression of interest (EOI) process for the purchase of vacant land within the Huon Lawn Cemetery and development of funeral and memorialisation services on-site.

As noted in the Huon Lawn Cemetery Master Plan initial draft, there is an area of vacant land that is undeveloped (see below in red), with no future plan to utilise the area for burials. This area could be developed to complement the use of the whole site and improve the range of services and facilities offered to Huon Valley residents.

Located on Council-owned land at 422 Glen Huon Road, Glen Huon, the Huon Lawn Cemetery has been operating for 50 years. Council has been developing a master plan to determine future use of the cemetery, including the portion of vacant land which has been identified as surplus to Council’s long-term needs for burials or cemetery use.

“Council recognises that this land is important to the Huon Valley community and we are committed to ensuring that the best return and development opportunity are achieved on the site,” said Huon Valley Council Mayor Bec Enders. “We have made it a requirement of the EOI that development on the land can only be for the construction of funeral and memorialisation facilities, such as a chapel and crematorium.

“A purpose-built funeral home complex would improve the services that Council is currently able to offer families, particularly in providing better facilities for conducting graveside services, such as shelter, seating and accessibility features. It may also mean that residents can access crematorium facilities locally, rather than needing to travel to Hobart.”

“A purpose-built funeral home complex would improve the services that Council is currently able to offer families”

“Funds from the sale of the portion of land could also be put towards elements included in the proposed master plan for the cemetery,” said Cr Enders. “We look forward to releasing this document for community feedback after an EOI decision has been made to gain an understanding of what the people of the Huon Valley would like to see for the future use and development of the site.”

EOI submissions from experienced, professional and suitably qualified funeral and memorialisation operators can be made via Tenderlink (HUON-924709) by 5pm Friday 31 July 2020.