Council plot Toowoomba cemetery plan

A PET cemetery and crematorium could be new additions to the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery within the next five years.

Peter Cullen stands near the grave of Michael Irwin at the Drayton Cemetery. Picture: Debbie Bruce

A PET cemetery and crematorium could be new additions to the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery within the next five years.

The Toowoomba Regional Council Cemetery Master Plan was discussed at this week's ordinary meeting of council.

Preliminary research showed that a pet cemetery, pet crematorium and human crematorium would be viable options for the council-owned cemetery within the next two to five years.

It would be the Garden City's first pet cemetery and first public human crematorium.

The plan will also look at creating a Memorial Park that would focus on emerging industry trends such as multiple burials per plot, cremation and memorialisation.

Councillor Ros Scotney said the master plan also suggested utilising the cemetery's prime commercial location.

Cr Scotney said council could consider erecting temporary industrial sheds and lease them to businesses.

The sheds could then be taken down in 15 to 20 years time when that land is needed for cemetery expansion.

“It is an interesting proposal, one that I'll be looking forward to following,” Cr Scotney said.

The master plan will be completed by April next year.

The Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery began operating in 1866 and was run by a trust, under the management of a Sexton until 1960.

In 1974, the cemetery trust handed over the site to the former Toowoomba City Council.

Originally published as Council plot Toowoomba cemetery plan