Board Meeting: March 2015
Agenda Number: 11 (i)
File Ref: TE0009
LORD HOWE ISLAND BOARD
Business Paper
ITEM
Land for use as a cemetery
BACKGROUND
At the November 2014 Meeting, the Board recommended that the Administration prepare a
paper on land to be set aside for future use as a cemetery.
A coordinated, strategic approach to planning and management of cemeteries on Lord Howe
Island is required to address a shortage of burial space and to ensure the full range of
interment options is accessible and affordable to the community.
CURRENT POSITION
The Lord Howe Island Board currently manages one public cemetery and one historic
cemetery at Ned’s Beach. The public cemetery is generally reserved for the burial of Island
residents or their direct families. Projections indicate available burial sites at the existing
public cemetery will reach capacity within 15 years.
Two private cemeteries are located on the Island namely, the Thompson Family cemetery on
Portion 55; and the Pinetrees cemetery on Portion 236.
A number of options have been considered and include the allocation and / or acquisition of
land for use as a public cemetery, and more sustainable burial practices to extend the
capacity of the existing public cemetery.
An analysis of physical constraints (soil depth, slope, significant native vegetation, flooding,
threatened species habitat, distance to creeklines etc) and social constraints (proximity to
houses or alternate uses) has been carried out as part of this process (Attachment A).
Under section 19 of the Lord Howe Island Act, 1953, the Minister, on the recommendation of
the Board may reserve or dedicate Crown lands in such manner as may seem best for the
public interest for any purpose declared by the Minister. The acquisition of land held under
perpetual lease would need to be done with the consent of the leaseholder while land held
under special lease may be withdrawn for public purposes under section 22(8) of the Act.
The majority of special leases identified under this process have also been previously
identified for other public purposes and housing (i.e. Category B) and are unlikely to be
supported by the community. Discussion has also been held with various church groups as
to the possible independent management by religious trusts, community and other
organisations on permissive occupancies held by the various denominations.
Given the scarcity of land and increasing competition over land use priorities, better use of
existing cemetery space is crucial to addressing the issue of diminishing cemetery capacity.
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Consideration has been given to the establishment of crematoria on the Island and other
methods of burial, for example at sea burials.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board provide the Administration with guidance on the options to
be given further consideration.
Prepared __________________ David Kelly
Manager Environment & Community
Development
Endorsed __________________ Bill Monks
Acting Chief Executive Officer
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Option
Location
Description
A
Portion 236, Lagoon
Road
Private cemetery at
Pinetrees
B
Portion 76,
Cemetery Road
C
Portion 76,
Cemetery Road
Main (historic)
cemetery
Expansion of main
(historic) cemetery to
the north with access
from Neds Beach
D
Portion 253,
Cemetery Road
E
Portion 254
F
Portion 55
G
Portion 55
H
Portion 152
I
Portion 0
J
Portion 322
Existing cemetery
Expansion of existing
cemetery north on to
Portion 254 (currently
held under Perpetual
Lease by R.
Rathgeber)
Thompson family
cemetery, off Ocean
View Drive, Portion
55
Expansion of
Thompson cemetery
to the south and east
Located south of
Ocean View Dr and
immediately north of
Thompson Family
Cemetery
Old Met site,
previously held under
Commonwealth
Lease, now lapsed
Held under
Permissive
Occupancy by the
SDA Church
Advantages
Disadvantages
Constrained by land availability
Restricted to use by families associated with Pinetrees Lodge
Listed as a heritage item under Schedule 2 of the LHI Local
Environmental Plan, 2010
At capacity.
Listed as a heritage item under Schedule 2 of the LHI Local
Environmental Plan, 2010
High visitor use area, considered high value habitat for
FFSW.
Approximately 100 plots remain,
estimated at 15 years till capacity
Current mapping of significant native
vegetation is incorrect and being
reviewed.
Comments
Not recommended
Not recommended
Not recommended
Recommended with
additional management
controls listed below
This option would require the consent by the leaseholder to a
boundary adjustment and acquisition of land upon the sale of
the lease, and may result in reduced valuation /
compensation
Listed as a heritage item under Schedule 2 of the LHI Local
Environmental Plan, 2010
Restricted to use by Thompson family
Possible unsuitable geology
Discussion to be held with Thompson Family, with possible
restrictions to use.
Assessment to be carried out regarding geology and impacts
on heritage values
Not recommended
Not recommended
For investigation
Constrained by slope, likely to have negative social impacts
For investigation
Site may have other better alternate uses
Not recommended
Site constrained by land availability
Not recommended
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K
Portion 323
L
Portion 323
M
Portion 299
Consider the
purchase of a
cremation
equipment
Consider the use of
plots for burials only
with cremations to
be in wall or smaller
plots
Seek relevant
approvals under the
Environment
Protection (Sea
Dumping) Act 1981,
for at sea burials
Explore options for
alternate forms of
burial
N
O
P
Q
Held under
Permissive
Occupancy by the
Catholic Church
Held under
Permissive
Occupancy by the
Anglican Church
Used by the LHI Golf
Club
Site constrained by land availability
Not recommended
Site constrained by land availability
Site constrained by soil depth, previous dumped material,
and flooding
Not recommended
Cost prohibitive, comparison to be carried out in relation to
costs for persons returning to the mainland
Increase the capacity of the current site
Not recommended
For investigation
Recommended
Recommended
For investigation
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