Brian O'Connor
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QUESTION 1
We are told that Noosa Shire is experiencing a housing shortage, but I wonder whether is extends beyond death? The Tewantin Cemetery is not accepting any more prospective guests in repose and the council has given up land set aside for expansion of the Cooroy Cemetery for use as affordable housing for the living instead. At Pomona, the dead are buried beside the rubbish at the adjacent waste disposal facility. Given Noosa Shire's growing and ageing population, what current and future planning is the council undertaking to ensure sufficient land is reserved for burials and for niches containing cremated ashes, or even so-called 'natural' burial sites, now creeping into favour?
Answer provided by Kerri Contini Director Community Services
Thank-you for your question and interest in the cemetery services Council provides. Council operates three cemeteries at Tewantin, Cooroy and Pomona. To clarify, although I’m sure Mr O’Connor was being tongue-in-cheek, people are not buried beside rubbish at Pomona Cemetery. Our Pomona Cemetery is a beautiful garden sited cemetery surrounded by trees with a 200m vegetation buffer between the cemetery and the waste transfer site. Council officers are currently undertaking the research and analysis stage to develop a Cemeteries’ Plan to guide the future internment needs for Noosa residents. This includes understanding the impacts of changing trends which is broadly seeing a reduction in demand for traditional burials and an increase in requests for ashes internment, memorial plaques and contemporary offerings such as green burials. This Plan will guide requirements for land requirements.
QUESTION 2
Noosa and Gympie councils have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that aims to explore efficiencies in waste management and potential cost-sharing arrangements across the two-council area. Would this be a model for cooperation on possible development of a management model for establishing a regional cemetery in the hinterland serving a wider catchment area?
We are told that Noosa Shire is experiencing a housing shortage, but I wonder whether is extends beyond death? The Tewantin Cemetery is not accepting any more prospective guests in repose and the council has given up land set aside for expansion of the Cooroy Cemetery for use as affordable housing for the living instead. At Pomona, the dead are buried beside the rubbish at the adjacent waste disposal facility. Given Noosa Shire's growing and ageing population, what current and future planning is the council undertaking to ensure sufficient land is reserved for burials and for niches containing cremated ashes, or even so-called 'natural' burial sites, now creeping into favour?
Answer provided by Kerri Contini Director Community Services
Thank-you for your question and interest in the cemetery services Council provides. Council operates three cemeteries at Tewantin, Cooroy and Pomona. To clarify, although I’m sure Mr O’Connor was being tongue-in-cheek, people are not buried beside rubbish at Pomona Cemetery. Our Pomona Cemetery is a beautiful garden sited cemetery surrounded by trees with a 200m vegetation buffer between the cemetery and the waste transfer site. Council officers are currently undertaking the research and analysis stage to develop a Cemeteries’ Plan to guide the future internment needs for Noosa residents. This includes understanding the impacts of changing trends which is broadly seeing a reduction in demand for traditional burials and an increase in requests for ashes internment, memorial plaques and contemporary offerings such as green burials. This Plan will guide requirements for land requirements.
QUESTION 2
Noosa and Gympie councils have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that aims to explore efficiencies in waste management and potential cost-sharing arrangements across the two-council area. Would this be a model for cooperation on possible development of a management model for establishing a regional cemetery in the hinterland serving a wider catchment area?
Answer provided by Kerri Contini Director Community Services
Thank-you for your additional question. Council is researching a range of options for the planning of future cemetery needs. Regional models for service delivery can be very effective in relevant scenarios however we would need to investigate a range of factors such as land availability, community willingness to travel to a regional cemetery and importantly priorities of our neighbouring Council before considering whether that would be appropriate for cemetery services. We do meet with cemeteries’ staff from other Councils in Southeast Qld each month to share knowledge, trends and approaches which supports a strong public cemeteries’ sector.
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What was said?
Named discussion on NoosaWatch TV
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Frank Wilkie0:00Welcome to the Ordinary Meeting of Thursday 20th of February 2025. We declare the meeting open at 10am. I'd like to acknowledge that we're meeting on the traditional lands and waters of the Kabi Kabi people and I pay my respects to the elders past, present and emerging and also reiterate their invitation for us to join them as joint custodians respecting and caring for this place we all love. Respecting and caring for each other. I note that all Councillors are in attendance. Confirmation of the Minutes. Can I have a mover and seconder of the Minutes for the Ordinary Meeting held on 23rd of January 2025. Moved Councillor Lorentson. Moved Councillor Lorentson, seconded by Councillor Finzel. All in favour? That's unanimous. There are no petitions, there are no presentations, there are no deputations. The first is an application with two questions from Brian O'Connor. Is not in attendance but has requested the CEO read out his questions which will be answered by Kerri Contini, Director Community Services. Mr. Mayor. Thank you.
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