Cassowary Coast cemetery strategy finds no room for Mission Beach burial site

A tropical coastal community may have to make do with a designated area for spreading ashes, after a recent cemetery strategy found there was no room for a burial site.

A FAR Northern community’s newest cemetery strategy has found there is no room for a burial site in the region’s fastest growing town.

The Cassowary Coast cemeteries management strategy was endorsed and adopted at the council on Thursday and is aimed at guiding the planning, management and operation of council-controlled cemeteries for the next ten years.

The strategy includes a number of recommendations such as the development policy, guidelines and fact sheets, ensuring that graves and columbarium walls are constructed of materials more suited to the region’s climate.

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Planning and regional development portfolio holder, Mayor Mark Nolan said while the strategy was specific to the operation of cemeteries in Innisfail, Tully, Cardwell, and Murrigal, during the consultation period, feedback was also received regarding a potential burial site at Mission Beach and the possibility of a “green” burial cemetery.

“In deciding whether to propose a cemetery or ’green’ burial cemetery at Mission Beach as part of this strategy, council officers reviewed a number of key considerations including cemetery operations, cost and capacity of existing cemeteries,” he said.

Cassowary Coast Mayor Mark Nolan said there was no suitable public land available at Mission Beach for a burial site.

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Cr Nolan said upon analysing these factors, the council found that it was not feasible to establish a new cemetery at Mission Beach.

“Council wants to keep charges to a minimum and as a result, it would not be feasible for council to open another cemetery when there is capacity in existing cemeteries,” he said.

“As an alternative, council may provide a designated area for the scattering of ashes and reflection in a local parkland at Mission Beach.”

He said the private sector could establish a cemetery at Mission Beach if a suitable private freehold property could be found, after no council-owned land could be identified, and appropriate development approvals obtained.

“Other feedback received during the consultation phase included suggestions to improve the maintenance of the different cemeteries, which has been noted and shared with council maintenance teams,” Cr Nolan said.

“The strategy will ensure a consistent level of service is upheld to council owned cemeteries to reflect the significance of these import facilities to our community.”

Originally published as Cassowary Coast cemetery strategy finds no room for Mission Beach burial site