New pet memorial site proposed as a ‘tranquil’ final resting place
A $20,000 proposal could revolutionise pet farewells, with Bannockburn landowners seeking approval for a hi-tech memorial site offering 24-hour camera access to grieving families.
Property owners in Bannockburn have submitted plans to create a $20,000 “tranquil and respectful” pet memorial site, offering grieving families the opportunity lay their four-legged friends to rest.
The proposal, lodged with Golden Plains Shire Council, has sought approval for the development of a non-cremation pet cemetery at 2352 Midland Highway, Bannockburn.
Elevate Planning, acting on behalf of the property owners, outlined plans to transform the site into a serene resting place for pets.
The rural property currently contains a dwelling set about 550m from the road and is characterised by steep slopes toward the Moorabool River, established vegetation buffers and an existing access track.
Property owner Marlen Farley said the business would fill a gap in the market.
“People rent places and don’t want to bury them because they don’t know how long they’ll stay,” she said.
“Urns with ashes are left in homes and people feel guilty.
“This is something completely new that will give them (pets) a resting place without taking away any of the productivity of agricultural land.”
Under the proposal, pet owners would arrange for sealed, labelled canisters containing cremated remains to be permanently placed in above ground boxed garden beds within existing vegetation in the centre of the property.
“The canisters will be discreetly placed within the landscaped area, with no disruption to the nature or ecology of the land,” the application stated.
“Each canister will be carefully placed and geo-referenced to allow for precise location tracking and visualisation.
“A unique identifier will be assigned to each memorial site.
“No cremation is conducted onsite.”
According to the application, the memorial area would be monitored around the clock by security cameras erected throughout the treed area, providing both site protection and the ability for pet owners to virtually view their pets’ final resting place at any time.
Alongside remote viewings, visitors would be able to visit between 9am and 5pm.
The memorial’s design aims to ensure minimal environmental impact while meeting the “growing community demand” for a permanent resting place for pets, along with a natural, peaceful environment that promotes healing and remembrance.
The site would be entirely managed by the property owner, who would handle all aspects of collection, placement and maintenance.
The project’s estimated cost is $20,000.
Originally published as New pet memorial site proposed as a ‘tranquil’ final resting place
