MORE LAND FOR MUSLIM BURIAL

More burial land has been acquired for the Muslim community at Rookwood Cemetery.

Minister for Lands, Tony Kelly, said he was pleased to deliver the final instalment of an agreement that sees an additional 800 burial plots made available for Muslim burials at Rookwood.

“This new land will relieve pressure on the Muslim community which is facing a shortage of land for burial purposes,” the Minister said.

Member for Bankstown, Tony Stewart, Member for Auburn, Barbara Perry, and Member for Lakemba and Canterbury City Council Mayor, Robert Furolo, welcomed the announcement.

Mr Kelly said the local members have been working hard with the Muslim community and the Land and Property Management Authority to find a solution to the problem.

“The land, formerly held under lease by the Rookwood Crematorium, has been placed under the management of the Muslim Cemetery Trust which allocates plots on an as-needs basis,” the Minister said.

“It and will ensure there is enough burial space available at Rookwood for Muslim burials until the final large parcel of land on the southern part of Rookwood Cemetery, to be managed by the General Cemetery Trust, comes on line by 2015.

“That parcel will provide burials for a number of faiths and communities in Sydney, including the Muslim community.”

The NSW Government is also currently identifying more sites within the Sydney basin that may be appropriate for future public cemeteries.