Fraser Coast residents will soon be able to opt for a natural burial after Councillors voted to adopt an updated cemeteries policy to include guidelines around the practice.
A natural burial is a funeral that seeks to make as little impact upon the environment as possible and to return a body to the earth in as natural a way as possible.
Mayor, George Seymour said the new Nikenbah Natural Cemetery facility would be ready to accept burials in early 2023.
“This new burial option is a result of community requests,” he said.
“While natural burials were not an option previously, the updated policy now allows for the natural burial cemetery on the Fraser Coast.”
The Nikenbah location was identified as the most suitable option for the new cemetery due to soil composition and the natural vegetation at the rear of the site.
“While we are not yet selling plots at the facility, people can contact Council customer service to put their name down on a register of interest,” Mayor Seymour said.
Natural burial guidelines state the burial must be prepared without chemical preservatives (no embalming), and must be contained within a 100% biodegradable coffin, or shroud made of natural fibres, such as wool, silk, bamboo, hemp, linen or cotton.
Coffins, caskets and fittings must be made of cardboard, wicker, seagrass, bamboo, sustainably grown, and untreated timber, or other materials that facilitate rapid biodegradability.
Ashes must be also contained in a 100% biodegradable container.
