Hervey Bay’s Polson Cemetery running out of space

A Qld councillor’s controversial social media post has revealed how much room is left at a city’s cemetery, causing mass concern among residents about their final resting place.

A social media post from Fraser Coast councillor Denis Chapman has caused controversy after he revealed only five years remained until Point Vernon’s Polson Cemetery was full.

A social media post from Fraser Coast councillor Denis Chapman has caused controversy after he revealed only five years remained until Point Vernon’s Polson Cemetery was full.

In the since-deleted Facebook post, Mr Chapman said the options for the region were buying more land in Hervey Bay or using Maryborough Cemetery, which has about 300 years left of future use.

He said Hervey Bay would continue to be able to have ashes internments, which did not take up much space.

The post sparked a huge response online, with many feeling that buying land in Hervey Bay was the best way forward.

Others were concerned that the council had not already planned for when Polson Cemetery was full.

It is understood the council had been aware of the pending problem and was in the process of coming up with proposed solutions, which were not to be released to the public until they’d reached an agreement.

Polson Cemetery, Point Vernon. Photo: Alistair Brightman / Fraser Coast Chronicle

However, it is understood Mr Chapman’s post came before a strategy could be agreed upon.

Ben Collinwood was one person who responded to the original post, describing the situation as “odd”.

“Something as critical as a cemetery should be in planning many, many years in advance not five years before it’s out of space,” he said.

Along with Polson Cemetery there are other burial options on the Fraser Coast.

Eco burials began in the region in 2023 at Nikenbah Natural Cemetery, giving residents another funeral option.

A natural burial is a funeral that seeks to make as little impact upon the environment as possible and to return a body to the earth in as natural a way as possible.

Rules and regulations at Polson Cemetery. Photo: ALISTAIR BRIGHTMAN 10h1488a

At the time, Mayor George Seymour said the new burial option was a result of community requests.

“While natural burials were not an option previously, the updated policy now allows for the natural burial cemetery on the Fraser Coast.”

The Nikenbah location was identified as the most suitable option for the cemetery due to soil composition and the natural vegetation at the rear of the site.

It is unknown where a new cemetery in Hervey Bay would be located.

Cemeteries at Tiaro and Howard were still taking internments.

The council also oversaw Deborah Cemetery at Netherby, but internments were limited to special circumstances only.

A council spokesman responded to the Chronicle’s request for a response on Tuesday.

“The Polson Cemetery at Point Vernon has enough space for additional grave sites for about the next five years,” he said.

“Council has been actively exploring its options and potential cemetery sites with a confidential report considered at the November 2023 council meeting.

“A further report is expected to be provided to council for consideration in coming months.”

The November 2023 council meeting report was confidential because it related to negotiations regarding the potential acquisition of land and commercial-in-confidence matters.

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Originally published as Hervey Bay’s Polson Cemetery running out of space