Burial and cremation processes and procedures

One of the choices families and friends need to consider is the sort of memorial they would like for the person who has died. This should be considered when deciding which cemetery to use.

Booking Interments

Normally arrangements for an interment are made just before burial. Funeral directors can arrange the plot and make interment bookings on your behalf, as part of their service. Customers are also able to purchase plots and book ash interments directly with Council.

All burial plots other than natural burial plots are dug to a double depth unless otherwise specified. This allows for the later burial of another loved one in that plot.

Standard interment hours are between 10.00am and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Interments requested outside of these hours will incur an additional charge.

Application for Warrant of Interment

Headstones

There is no requirement to place a headstone on a grave and some people leave this for many years. The Council can supply records of burial plots for people who want to place a headstone for someone buried several years ago.

How to apply for a cremation

Although most funerals are arranged through funeral directors, some people like to make their own arrangements. The documentation can be quite complex so if you are not used to administration you may prefer to reach an agreement with a funeral director or your solicitor for this side of it. Council has prepared a booklet to assist families with the process of arranging a cremation directly with Council: Cremation Guidelines for Families Arranging a Cremation

The following forms are provided in order to make application for cremation:

Urgent Cremations

An urgent cremation is one that needs to take place urgently for the reasons of religious requirements, health risk or decomposition factors and not simply for the convenience of the family. The decision about whether an urgent cremation is required is made by the cremation registrar or delegated deputy.