Natural Burials being proposed for some Coromandel cemeteries.

Natural burials areas could be provided for in some of our cemeteries on the Coromandel.

This is outlined in our new Cemetery Bylaw which was adopted by Council this week. The new Bylaw includes a standard depth for all burials of 1.9m, with the exception for natural burials which are treated differently, but maintain a minimum soil cover of 1m between the top of the casket or shroud and the surface of the earth.

"During the submission period on our Bylaw, earlier this year, we received several submissions from members of the community requesting we designate specific areas in its cemeteries as natural burial areas," says Council spokesperson Greg Hampton.

"Our staff got in touch with the founder of naturalburials.co.nz during the preparation of the bylaw and sought advice on current practice around natural burials" says Mr Hampton.
On its website Natural Burials says the burial method involves no embalming, a 1m-deep plot, rapid bio-degradable non-pollutant caskets, compost soil and over-planting with native trees. This enables natural processes to take place, returning the body’s nutrients to the ecosystem rapidly and without pollution.

Our staff will be considering where specific natural burial areas could be accommodated in existing cemeteries in the “cemetery master planning” exercise which is due to start in the next financial year.

"We have to consider that the one size fits all approach isn't appropriate as we need to take into account local conditions like soil quality for different areas," says Mr Hampton. ""For example some cemeteries in our District have predominantly clay soils which will affect the ability to have shallower burials.

Other changes to our Cemetery Bylaw.

For health and safety reasons, we've reduced burial hours slightly, particularly in winter so staff aren't back-filling graves in low light and/or darkness. For the same reason, the Bylaw includes departure times from the cemetery following a burial.

As at 15 May 2015, the hours for interment are:

• Summer Period - 1 October to 31 March, from 8:00 am – 3:30 pm. The latest funeral cortege arrival time for casket burials at the cemetery is 3:30pm. The cemetery must be cleared by the funeral cortege no later than 5:00pm.
•
• Winter Period - 1 April to 30 September - 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. The latest funeral cortege arrival time for casket burials at the cemetery is 2:00pm. The cemetery must be cleared by the funeral cortege no later than 3:30pm.
•
We're also getting more requests dealing with transfer of Exclusive Right of Burial.

We may now request a statutory declaration from the applicant as proof that they have the right of ownership (through succession or otherwise) to the exclusive right of burial.

Unless we have cause to doubt otherwise, the provision of a statutory declaration will be sufficient evidence ownership of Exclusive Right of Burial. (Section 10 in the Bylaw)

We're also creating a more collaborative approach with the funeral industry and we are arranging, regulatory stakeholder meeting for cemeteries.

"This is a good opportunity for our staff and industry to meet and discuss any operational matters and emerging issues and to keep communication channels open between us," says Mr Hampton.

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