A function centre planned at Innes Gardens Memorial Park won't be limited to wakes.
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The vision is to build a facility which will be available for wakes after funeral services as well as for broader community use such as conferences and meetings.
The function centre's location is yet to be decided.
Walker Funeral Group chief operating officer Michael Bolton said they had to be quite measured about the location as to not impede the ongoing memorialisation, while respecting the protection of koala habitat.
The architect and interior designer have been engaged for the function centre project and the funeral group is consulting with staff.
The Philip Charley Drive crematorium and lawn cemetery's new owner, Walker Funeral Group, committed to invest in capital improvements as part of the contract of sale.
The work will also include a chapel upgrade with new audio visual and TV system, new chairs and carpet, and a screen added on the verandah.
At least one row of new sites will provide 150 additional graves sites in the next two to three months.
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The facility's former owner, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, had already started that process and the Walker Funeral Group is continuing the project.
Mr Bolton moved to allay any concerns around pricing.
"If we priced ourselves out of the local funeral directors and the community [reach], it wouldn't be an ongoing concern," he said.
There is a higher rate of cremation than burial.
Innes Gardens Memorial Park includes a 150-seat chapel, administration offices, extensive grounds and memorial gardens.
It provides a range of crematorium, lawn cemetery and memorialisation services to the community in conjunction with funeral services provided by funeral directors.
Mr Bolton assured the community it was business as usual under the new ownership.
The staff members have been retained.
He acknowledged the employees' extensive knowledge, the communication with funeral directors, support of the council and a spike in interest from the community.
Mr Bolton recognised some concerns had been raised due to the sale.
The Walker Funeral Group welcomes any questions as a result of those concerns.
Innes Gardens Memorial Park general manager Debbie Hesse said it had been a wonderful team effort from the staff and new owners.
"We have all worked together really well to continue the service for the community and are committed to the same level of care and attention to memorial sites within the facility," she said.
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