NATURAL burials in which bodies were placed in biodegradable coffins and lowered to a minimal level in the ground could be one of the burial methods used should Woronora cemetery obtain an extra 13 hectares.
Woronora Cemetery and Crematorium chief executive Graham Boyd said such plans were a long way off and these could be combined with more conventional burials should the cemetery obtain a portion of Prince Edward Park.
Mr Boyd was unaware that at its last meeting of the year 23 of the 700-strong Woronora Valley Residents' Association unanimously opposed the plans to take away part of the bushland park.
As the trust manager for the park, Sutherland Shire Council has to give "in principle" approval before the matter proceeds but a Department of Primary Industries spokesman has reported that the council was doing feasibility studies.
"If these studies are supportive, the trust (the council) would consult the community on its intentions and lodge a development application for the necessary planning approvals," the Primary Industries spokesman said.
The Residents Association's objection said that the land was an unusual strip of ridge-top bushland ranging from dry forest to hanging swamp in a high-use fauna and birdlife corridor.
The association president Norm Dixon and his wife, association treasurer Betty Dixon, said that should the plans go ahead rock wallabies, echidnas, sea eagles, plus native flowers would be disturbed.
The Dixons' daughter Clare Carroll said that the family did not want to lose the treeline.
Her father said "no disrespect to the dead but we'd rather see native animals in the bush".
Mr Boyd said any plans for the expansion would consider fauna and flower, that the cemetery would not extend to the escarpment edge and that he was due to speak to the next residents' meeting in 2013.
The Dixons are in favour of the sea wall under construction along the banks of the Woronora River.
Norm Dixon said most of the association's members approved of the sea wall.
Betty Dixon said that the sea wall would benefit the likes of her granddaughter, Jade, who attends the local lifesavers' club whose building is on the river bank.
A council spokesman said the sea wall provided habitat for local species such as mussels, periwinkles and Pacific oysters as well as existing sea vegetation. It will also control erosion.
What do you think about the cemetery plan?
