Cemetery costs increase

RESERVING a grave site has just become more expensive thanks to new fees and charges brought in by the Gympie Regional Council.

Picture: Craig Warhurst

RESERVING a grave site has just become more expensive thanks to new fees and charges brought in by the Gympie Regional Council.

The new fees will be for the reservation of grave sites and columbarium wall niches at all cemeteries directly administered by council.

The motion moved by Cr Rae Gate and seconded by Cr Graham Engeman empowers council to charge a non refundable fee of $500 for a 15 year reservation on a grave site or wall niche.

This fee does not pay for the grave or interment costs.

People may reserve up to four consecutive grave sites but will have to pay another reservation fee after the 15 year time period expires to keep the reservation of the plot.

People aged 60 years or more will not have to pay a reservation fee.

The new fees will make reservations at council controlled cemeteries more expensive than at the Gympie Cemetery which is controlled by an independent body the Gympie Cemetery Trust.

A Gympie Cemetery Trust spokesperson said their current reservation fee at the Gympie Cemetery costs $440 for a 25 year reservation and was renewable at no cost after that time.

The reservation fee only holds the plot, a grave site costs $1775 to purchase.

The Gympie cemetery spokesperson said they also had spots for reservation in their new Memorial Garden for ashes.

The cost is $400, renewable after 25 years at no cost.

Originally published as Cemetery costs increase