The strategy aims to:
- renew our approach to maintaining Council-managed cemeteries and,
- improve cemetery services into the future.
Overview
We manage 34 cemeteries across the region. It’s important to
plan to meet future demand from a growing and ageing population.
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We want to:
- ensure cemeteries are able to cater for future demands in response to a growing and ageing population
- review our operations in the face of changing regulatory requirements
- establish consistency across the Manning, Gloucester and Great Lakes regions.
The strategy identifies six principles for the future management of cemeteries across the region:
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Environmental assets
Be considerate of natural assets and environmental outcomes
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Respect and care
Respect and care for facilities and infrastructure
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Heritage and history
Document and celebrate heritage and historical opportunities
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Accessible documentation
Establish more accurate and accessible interment listings
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Consistency
Create and implement consistent policies and procedures
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Cultural understanding
Recognise and respect Aboriginal and other cultural needs
community consultation
Specialist consultant, Locale managed the community consultation of the Cemetery Strategy on our behalf. Locale held community consultations across the MidCoast region to inform the development of a draft strategy.
The community's feedback can be read further down this page.
View the strategy
To view the document in full-screen in the interactive PDF viewer above, select the bracket icon at the bottom-right side the toolbar to enable full-screen.
If you are having trouble viewing the document in the interactive PDF viewer, you may also download the documents below.
exhibition period
The draft strategy was on public exhibition for community feedback from 8 December 2023 to 11 February 2024. We received 14 formal submissions and one late submission. The feedback received from the community was considered and some changes were made to the draft document.
The strategy was adopted by the elected Council at the 20 March 2024 Ordinary Meeting.
community feedback
The feedback from the submissions on the draft strategy touched on areas such as the naming of cemeteries, operational matters, improvement suggestions for various cemeteries and requests for Council to maintain privately operated cemeteries.
The feedback was considered, and some changes to the Strategy made as a result. The changes include:
- changing the name of Elands Cemetery to “Bulga Plateau Cemetery”
- including reference to vacant Council land that adjoins Redbank Cemetery.
Learn more about what you told us
This snapshot provides a brief overview of how our consultants, Locale, engaged with the community and the key themes that emerged.
Timeline
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Timeline item 1 - complete
September 2022 - June 2023
Draft cemetery review documents developed
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Timeline item 2 - complete
27 March - 14 May 2023
Initial review and stakeholder consultation
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Timeline item 3 - complete
1 December 2023 - 11 February 2024
Public exhibition of draft Cemetery Strategy and Policy
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Timeline item 4 - complete
Mid-2024
Review of submissions
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Timeline item 5 - complete
20 March 2024
Final documents endorsed by Council
