Food security is more important than burying the dead. I made a suggestion on another forum. Start a system where people donate their remains to be made into fertilizer for the food gardens. I would donate my body for fertilizer. Let us start a new trend. We get to bury the dead and grow food at the same time. It called thinking outside the box and a ideal solution a win win.

Congratulations. This is an excellent report with intelligent suggestions. Trust the Cemetery management takes note and investigates alternative sites and leaves the market gardeners to continue growing fresh food to keep us fit and healthy.

The other real reason this is not a good decision is that the Mayoral Minute paves the way for bulldozing the site for extensive development as a cemetery and destroying its landscape and heritage values. The Mayoral Minute, put on at the last minute by Clr Scott Nash [Liberal] and approved by Randwick Council encourages development by providing for a DA approval process and subsequent approval subject to "sucessful" reports, whatever this may mean. It was a political decision giving the Mayor a claim to say he supports RU4 primary production land uses for the Chinese Market Gardens whilst simultaneously seeking to evict them from their livelehoods. Andrew Woodhouse Australian Heritage Institute

I do not support the use of the food producing Market Gardens site as a cemetery. I believe that only land unsuitable for residences and agriculture should be used for cemeteries. There is much degraded land in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney ripe for rehabilitation. Take, for example, the 18ha Orica site, Southlands, in Banksmeadow. Southlands could be transformed into a Burial Parkland within a peaceful bushland haven, rich in native flora and fauna. Using Natural Burial techniques without cremation (saving up to 160kg of greenhouse gasses per corpse) and without the use of embalming liquids (that often contain the carcinogenic chemical formaldehyde that can leak into the soil once a body is buried), this would be a win for the environment, a win for the communities that don't accept cremation and a win for the Market Gardens and our food security. Market gardens in cities are vital for feeding people now and into the future as our prime agricultural land is being threatened by coal mining and coal seam gas extraction. At a time when we really need to focus on protecting food growing land close to cities, keeping these market gardens going should be of the highest priority.

Were Randwick Council to approve the destruction of the heritage value market gardens then that would show that Council is happy to disregard such values. Therefore, noone else in Randwick should have to consider them either. What's good enough for council is good enough for all. Such a move would also bankrupt council's claim to be interested in sustainability.

The Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, administered by the Botany Cemetery Trust, is located in Matraville. It wants to expand into the neighbouring suburb of Phillip Bay and it will continue to make proposals to this long as long as it has support from Crown Lands and Planning. Email Minister Hodkinson (Crown Lands, Fisheries, Forestry, Agriculture, Food Security etc) and ask her to support the Gardens. Her contacts are:(02) 9228 5210 office@hodgkinson.minister.nsw.gov.au The Minister for Planning is Brad Hazzard - (02) 9228 5258 office@hazzard.minister.nsw.gov.au . The Minister for Heritage is Robyn Parker - 9228 5253 Email: office@parker.minister.nsw.gov.au - ask Ms Parker to speak up for the agricultural heritage of the whole 7ha site. Then contact the Premier and ask what the Government is doing to protect Crown Land currently under agriculture as well as identify Crown Land with potential for agriculture. Contact: 9228 5239 Email: office@premier.nsw.gov.au The Government established the Office of Agricultural Sustainability and Food Security in November 2011. The head is Dr Regina Fogarty 02 6391 3605 regina.fogarty@dpi.nsw.gov.au Randwick Council has passed the RU4 rezoning and as RG says it would bankrupt any claims they had in sustainability and heritage if they supported the Cemetery proposal later this year. It is the State Government we need to concentrate on - not only to protect food producing land but also to identify sites deemed unsuitable for food production/residential which could become Sustainable Cemeteries.

Great report above. Randwick Council, Mr Mayor and Councillors please look into the future, The gardens should remain a part of now the present and then into the future for future generations. At the Council meeting it was mentioned by people in support f the cemetery expansion that further away would be hard for loved ones to travel, Please look at the Land around the Orica Site, Make an offer for that land instead of a 20 lot Sub division which would intensify the truck traffic movement around the area it would be a good close location for a possible Cemetery. Protect the market gardens. We should be very proud. There was alot of emotions in the room at last nights Council meeting, everyone was effected in different and same ways, We all grieve for the passing of friends and loved ones, we should also celebrate the living and understand that population is growing and will continue to grow, we all want to look at our history and plan for the future, we all have views, we are very lucky to live in a country that allows for us to practice our beliefs and faith, we are from many cultures, we are Australians, Last night many things were mentioned, The Anzacs, The holocaust, religious beliefs, the rights to protect our lands, the rights to grow fresh produce, the right to protect the land, the need to look elsewhere for land to be used for cemetery expansion with less impact on our future such as land around the Orica site and other areas. Many things were mentioned by speakers and also people around the room in attendance. There were also some silly things being said and yelled out such as calling a Councillor a Malaka which is not a nice word, There was alot of passion around the room for various reasons and so there should be. land such as the Market gardens where fresh produce can be grown should not be put at risk, it should be protected. It should be and remain a part of present and our future. I also received many calls regarding my support for the gardens, many said that I should have an open mind and realise how this effects people who lose loved ones, I was also informed that being European that I should have understanding of the need to expand the cemetery. I do understand, I am proud to have been born in Portugal but I am also an Australian, Its not about where I am from its about where I am and what's at stake, We must protect the La Perouse Market growers gardens, my family also believes in burials over cremation but this is not about what i believe in spiritually this to me is what I believe we need to preserve for our future and future generations, for our communities, for our families, for our environment. Some of the calls were as if i could chance the path of support for the votes at the coming council meeting, i am just a resident and If I am asked to support something that I believe will impact on our local environment and put us at risk in the future then I look into it and asses how it will impact and what actions can i help with to ensure we protect what we have such as assets like the growers gardens. We need more Cemetery space but not at the expense of the assets such as the growers market gardens, other land needs to be searched for the expansion of the cemetery. We may need to travel, It may be a fair distance away but we must protect lands such as the gardens. To reduce the land where the La Perouse market gardens are situated would be a huge mistake as we need to maintain what we have in assets such as the gardens. I was so proud of the group in support of the gardens last night, we were a few but represented many and we did not call people names or disrespect others with different views and beliefs, It was all about preserve and protect. our land about In natures gifts of beauty rich and rare, this describes the La Perouse gardens and land as such, well done to the speakers you were all great and I think that we did our environment very proud. I would also like to thank Councillor Belleli for standing up for us raising concerns about the mayoral minute. Once gone it will be gone for ever. It was good to have the Greens and Labor Councillors supporting the Gardens, All supported the RU4 rural zone. This was the right thing to do. Now we ask that you go one step further and ensure the market gardens are protected for ever, the Market gardens should remain what is today not be reduced to a portion. Please Councillors think hard about what's at risk here, Many other Councils would love to have what Randwick City Council has, We are very lucky lets not look back and say I wish we supported the gardens, lets say We did support the gardens and will do so for many many years to come., Noel from Matraville Chemist thanks for supplying the T Shirts we are all very grateful for your generosity. Regards, Carlos Resident of Matraville Previous email Councillors please speak with the local communities, think about what we got and what we can lose, what makes Randwick City special is we have and what many others don't have, we have growers markets, national park, headlands, great Beaches, golf courses pony club,equestrian clubs, great community centres, history and much more, please protect and preserve our assets for now and for the future. I met with Mr Passos at a meeting last week, he mentioned that Council had around 3000 submissions in favour of the cemetery expansion and not much against. He said I could check with council to get accurate stats on the submissions. I listened to him and all that he said.i asked what area the the letters go out to regarding the proposed cemetery expansion, he showed me the maps, regarding the submissions of support for the cemetery expansion Was it the same letters of submissions with people just adding signatures, did it reach all around the local area. There are over 120,000 people in the Randwick city area are the 3000 from the nearby area or afar. Regardless councillors, All I ask of our Councillors is please consider what we have at stake, this land is precious, the gardens need to be part of the future of the south east area. Once gone its gone for ever.40% is what's been said that the cemetery plans to leave under a proposed development proposal and use 60% for cemetery expansion. It will be a great lose for us all. When you decide on what choice you will take for or against please think about the future not just of the south ward but Randwick City Council in general, we are like a resort, we have it all please don't let it go. Protect our future. Regards, carlos

Why waste any land burying people. Use it for growing food. Even land we have polluted will one day be able be cleaned up.

There has been a lot of weight placed on the 3000 submissions in favour of the Cemetery expansion into Phillip Bay and the Market Gardens but there has not been a survey done of the local population. Most people don't bother making submissions and younger people in particular are more likely to engage on the internet. Councillors and State representatives can google La Perouse Market Gardens and read comments made by those who haven't made submissions. They can also evaluate the quality of the arguments, eg. there were Cemetery supporters on Tuesday night still questioning the validity of assurances provided by the Chief Scientist of the NSW Food Authority.

We are local residents for over 20 yeear and have never seen or heard of such a proposal by c Radnwick Council which is so anti-business. Council's Mayoral Minute now binds council to a DA approval process which will see 60% of the Market Gardens handed over to graves, providing heritage reports are considered "sucessful". Council should be promoting, not denigrating, small business, especially direct-to-table fresh food produce The market gardens are sustainable and support other local businesses such as cafes, fresh food stalls, markets, restaurants and vegie shops. If the market gardens are zoned out of existence, either in whole or in part (via a 60% claim by cemetery), then food prices will rise. Don't we have enough economic pressure without more? The cemetery's claim is wedge development: get 60% now and the rest later. We are both members of the National Trust, which has over 22,000 members. go to: www.nationaltrust.com.au/about/default.a... The National Trust opposes reduction of Chinese Market Gardens. A large attendance by pro-Greek Church supporters at tonight'ss meeting does not equate to a merits-based decision: empty vessels make the loudest noise. Mr Passas, cemetery CEO, may be of Greek origin himself but Greeks generally do allow, promote even, cremation, despite claims to the contrary. See article: http://www.athensnews.gr/issue/13420/347... The Greek Church is not the only church represented in the cemetery: others such as Anglicans are not seeking expansion. Greeks do not represent the only cemetery uses. The cemetery should looking at more sustinable land use such as grave rotation after 20 years, vertical grave sites, more cremations etc. Cemetery uses are not the best and highest available uses of this land. The site is unsutiable for graves on shallow, sandy soil on a steep slope with a very high water table. Graves will flood. Decomposing bodies will produce toxins which will degrade the surrounding landscape including remaining market gardens. The earth will be poisoned. The 'proposal' put up the cemetary is unknown: why is not on council's website? Why is this a secret? When is work due to begin or finish? Where is the sub-soil analysis, geo-tech report or feasibility study proving a need for this site in this location - or any site plans? Is this a secret deal? Is this an ICAC matter? What compensation is being offered to Market gardens for losses of production and their future livelehood? The Mayoral Minute is a legal loophole, which should now be plugged, and which provides a way for the cemetery to get what is want but at others' expence. Put the 'local' back in local government please councillors. Yours Sincerely Jake and Ellie McPherson

Perhaps we could be advised by the 'religious communities' if natural burial is acceptable. I suspect that some wish to embalm, use lead coffins and the like. That being the case, would alternative sites be suitable for burials? Hopefully.

Also, cemetaries don't seem to be a permitted use for sites zoned rural or for that matter industrial. That would need to change. ------------------ Would it be possible for golf courses to be adapted for burial there are plenty in Randwick City (these being zoned open space, also not currently permitting cemetaries) - something similar is occurring for the golf course near Rockwood Cemetary.

If you support the market gardens and you want it to be a part of our growing future then speak out and be heard. WE all respect and greive for the passing of friends and loved ones, Its a hard time for all of us but we need to also look into the future, The future of food, the future of fresh produce, the future of future generations, the future of the land and assets such as the La Perous market Gardens, One gone its gone for ever. Does not matter what we believe in or where we come from, we all have different beliefs and in the great country we can maintain our beliefs as a freedon of choice. Please who ever you are and what ever you believe in, tell your local Councillors and Mayor and Council that we must protect this asset we call the La Perouse Market Gardens for now and for our future. Other land with less impact needs to be searched and looked for Cemetery use. Speak with the Orica group there is alot of land there that could be concidered otherwise its hard for all but land further away with less impact on local communities may be the only option to concider.Protect. preserve for our future and future generations. Regareds, Carlos skippyoz@hotmail.com

Check out this site that shows how contaminated industrial sites can be rehabilitated by transforming them into burial sites: http://perpetuasgarden.org/green-cemeter.../ BRING IT ON!!

Thank you GJOESQ - have just had a look at this website http://perpetuasgarden.org Everyone needs to go there and have a read on what it has to say about Grave Matters and New Cemetery Solutions. Here are some great thoughts and solutions to solving, not only the ESMP but the world's ever increasing need for burial sites. Turning good food producing land into burial lots is not a sustainable solution. Hands off the market gardens - we need to keep the living alive and well, with the healthy produce from these gardens.

Thanks Kelley and Greg, I've added the link to the American site to the page on Sustainable Cemeteries at www.laperousemarketgardens.wordpress.com

One of the big problems is prtesneing information on the number of people affected. Sydney Ports can facilitate better reporting by encouraging residents to register complaints on a free hotline as well as an easily accessed webpage. This could be advertised within other Port related advertisements/announcements in the Southern Courier. Information gathered should be published in reports and easily accessed on the Ports website. Both Botany Bay and Randwick council could have a noise reporting page on their respective websites to deal with this and other disturbances. We also need to build up a picture of the cumulative noise impacts in our communities. The EPA(within OEH), as regulators, need to step up and the Department of Health should also be involved as well as Workcover. We need better monitoring and better reporting of how measurements are taken and how thresholds are determined. This is a health issue leading to stress, sleep deprivation and other problems which can be quantified in terms of lost work hours and other negative externalities.

This planning proposal comes before the 24 July 2012 meeting of Randwick Council. Seems staff recommend approval for the cemetery to use the market gardens.