Noosa Council has begun preparing a new cemeteries’ plan to guide ‘future demand’ for interment services marked by a reduction in traditional in-ground burials and an increase in requests for cremated ashes internment, memorial plaques and contemporary offerings such as green burials.
A green or eco-burial involves placing a body in the soil without embalming, thereby accelerating decomposition, and use of a biodegradable coffin or shroud.
Director of community services Kerri Contini told councillors at their 20 February ordinary meeting that council staff were in the research and analysis phase of a new plan that included an assessment of changing interment trends and how best to meet them.
“This plan will guide requirements for land,” Ms Contini said.
She was responding to a question from local resident Brian O’Connor inquiring whether sufficient land had been reserved for future burial requirements across the shire’s three cemeteries now that reservations for plots are no longer being accepted at the Tewantin cemetery and council has given up land set aside for expansion of the Cooroy Cemetery for use as affordable housing.
Mr O’Connor also asked about the possibility of Noosa and Gympie council’s working together to establish a regional cemetery in the hinterland to service a wider catchment area.
Ms Contini said a regional model cemetery, perhaps serving a larger area covering two or more councils, could be very effective but its suitability would need to be weighed against factors such as land availability and people’s willingness to travel to a regional location.
“We meet with cemeteries’ staff from other councils in South-East Queensland each month to share knowledge, trends and approaches, which supports a strong public cemeteries’ sector,” she said.
In Noosa, reservation of a burial site costs $1008, and $658 for reservation of an ashes site. A $6143 internment fee applies for a traditional burial.
