Council’s Thorak cemetery burden to be buried

LITCHFIELD Council could be relieved of the Thorak Regional Cemetery’s ongoing burden after years of financial loss

The cemetery has long been troublesome for the council, thanks to a number of issues Picture: Justin Kennedy

LITCHFIELD Council could be relieved of the Thorak Regional Cemetery’s ongoing financial burden after years of financial loss.

A report commissioned by Top End Regional Organisation of Councils recommended the establishment of a minister appointed board with a budget of $400,000 per annum over four years.

The board would serve the needs of the Thorak Regional Cemetery, which is the only open cemetery in the NT, through assisting overdue repairs, renewal and upgrade in the short to medium term and look at alternative long term options to help preserve the facility.

Litchfield Council Mayor Maree Bredhauer said council and the NT Government needed to work together to ensure a fair and sustainable outcome was reached.

“Thorak Regional Cemetery is a regional (not local) community service and as such, should be the concern of the NT Government, at the very least,” she said.

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“Without this funding Litchfield ratepayers are at risk of receiving a rate increase to cover the direct cost of the Thorak Regional Cemetery, this is not fair.”

The cemetery has long been troublesome for the council, thanks to a number of issues including more people choosing to be cremated.

“For some years now the cemetery has been running at a loss and will shortly be relying on its financial reserves to continue to operate,” Ms Bredhauer said.

“When these reserves are depleted, the running costs, maintenance and asset replacement costs will fall on Litchfield ratepayers and come from rates.”

Minister for Community Services Gerry McCarthy said there had been discussions over the cemetery’s ongoing operations.

“The Top End Regional Organisation of Councils (TOPROC) has had ongoing discussions around the operation of the Thorak Regional Cemetery to work on a more sustainable operational model,” he said.

Palmerston Council will tonight discuss the report and whether to move forward and support the report from Litchfield Council.