Graves
Purchasing a private (purchased) grave space (burial rights)
A Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial can be purchased at the time an interment takes place or in advance to reserve a grave space for the future.
When a grave is purchased this refers to the purchase of the Exclusive Right of Burial in the grave space and not the purchase of the land itself. This means that you do not own the land but have the exclusive right to say who can be buried in the grave.
The council will issue a Deed of Grant to the person purchasing a private grave space and register them as the owner.
The burial rights can be purchased for up to 3 interments and a fee paid on initial purchase. The number of interments will be indicated on the Deed.
The council currently grants burial rights for a period of 100 years.
Memorials and headstones are only permitted on private graves and only with the council's prior permission.
Transfer of ownership
The transfer of a Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial is a legal process and each transfer must be looked at individually. Contact the council for more information.
Once the grave owner has been interred within the grave it is advised that the ownership is transferred. No further burials, interments, new memorials or changes to memorials will be allowed until ownership has been transferred. The new grave owner must demonstrate ownership of the grave by producing a will, grant of probate, letters of administration or a Statutory Declaration witnessed by an authorised court official, a Commissioner of Oaths, a magistrate or solicitor to prove that they are next of kin. A fee should also be paid. If the ownership is not transferred on the death of the grave owner, the grave will be considered to be closed.
Selection of a private (purchased) grave space
Any selection of a grave space needs to be approved by the council and consistent with the plan of the cemetery.
Burials are only allowed in designated areas. Arrangements can be made to meet a member of staff to select a grave space.
Opening a private grave space
Only the owner of the Exclusive Rights of Burial or their personal representative can authorise the reopening of the grave space. This authorisation must be received in writing. The Deed of Grant should also be produced when an interment takes place.
Where this is not reasonably possible, any person whom the council considers to be entitled to request that the grave may be opened may do so by making a statutory declaration and giving indemnity to the council.
Non-purchased grave
The ownership of the Exclusive Right of Burial in non-purchased graves remains with the council. More than one interment may take place in the grave which may be of persons who are unrelated.
No memorials are permitted on un purchased grave spaces.
Upkeep of private grave spaces
All private graves and memorials should be kept in good repair by the grave owner. The council is not responsible for any damage caused to a private grave space.
Items may be placed in the grave space up to a half a metre away from the headstone. No item may be placed beyond this. This includes the planting or placing of shrubs or plants, vases, crosses, pictures, kerbing or any other item that may denote the grave boundary or restrict the maintenance of the area. Any such item may be removed without notice.
The council may remove any material or inscription which is deemed to be outside of this policy or may have fallen into disrepair. This includes lighting.
Fresh floral arrangements will be removed from all graves 2 weeks after the funeral.