TWO new cremators and a new crematorium building at Worrigee Lawn Cemetery will result in an improved funeral experience and pave the way for an extension of the chapel.
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Shoalhaven’s Bereavement Services manager Pamela Green said the new crematorium would lead to improvements on two fronts.
“The cremator we have was commissioned in 1992, so it’s come to the end of its life.
“The new cremators will see improvements in capacity and service levels for the future and also ensure consistent service – if one machine is down for servicing, the other can be used.
“The other issue this helps with is the need for a larger chapel.
“By moving the existing cremator from the back of the chapel, we will be able to look at extending seating in the future,” she said.
In July each year Shoalhaven City Council’s Bereavement Services experiences an increase in demand.
Mrs Green said this year she noticed a vast increase in demand for burials that coincided with the recent cold snap.
“Often it is the older people who pass away in the cold weather and they are the majority with reserved grave sites, preferring to be buried,” she said.
“However we still perform cremations throughout that time.
“Our practical limit for burial services in the Shoalhaven in one day would include one at Sandridge Cemetery in Mollymook, one in Berry and one at Worrigee. Sometimes we can do two at Worrigee.
“You really have to manage traffic issues, presentation issues, reparation of the graves and giving the families the appropriate amount of time to carry out their rituals.”
She cited one case where a funeral was accommodated by having staff work on Saturday.
“We can’t just say OK to everyone then have to ask people to leave the chapel because another service is due to start.”
Under the Local Government Act and in line with council policy, bereavement services are required to review prices each year.
Following a price rise of about 10 per cent this year to cover CPI, machinery, fuel and future maintenance, a cremation with 30 minutes in the chapel costs $1100.
Cremation without a service costs $725.
A simple burial in a general cemetery has two components, a burial licence of $2265. Up to three people can be buried in a grave, the first burial cost is $2015 and the second is $1755.
At a lawn cemetery, where burial includes a brass plaque and maintenance by council the burial license costs $3995, while the first internment costs $1265 while the second is $1065.
Funeral director fees are separate to these prices.
