Have your say on cemetery changes

Changes are underway for the management of the San Remo and Wonthaggi cemeteries.

Both cemeteries have been the responsibility of Bass Coast Shire Council, with councillors recently agreeing to pay $4 million-plus to Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust to take over the mantle in perpetuity.

A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 6 at 10am at the Newhaven Visitor Information Centre, about transferring the operation of the cemetery to Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT).

Council and SMCT staff will be available to answer questions.

Council is seeking registration for attendance - email cemeteries@basscoast.vic.gov.au

A meeting will also be held in Wonthaggi on February 5. Both have been limited to one hour.

There are other opportunities for feedback by either emailing the above address, posting a letter or accessing the council's community engagement page online.

Jane Ross, who co-ordinates the Friends of San Remo Cemetery Group, urges residents to email council and/or attend the public meeting "to try to ensure suitable arrangements are made for the running of a facility we all need and which hosts some of San Remo's history".

"The new arrangements may not bode well for the San Remo community," said Jane.

"Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust manages multiple cemeteries, including Springvale and Melbourne General.

"On phoning on Monday morning, the wait time for a human being to answer my query was up to 23 minutes on pressing button six or up to 16 minutes on pressing button one.

"Fortunately I wasn't calling to arrange a plot or a plaque for a loved one."

Transfer

Council has stated it believes the community would benefit from the voluntary transfer of the Wonthaggi Cemetery Trust and the San Remo Cemetery Trust to SMCT.

"SMCT are specialists in the management of cemeteries and currently manage nine other cemeteries in southern Victoria.

"They deliver higher maintenance standards and bring a level of expertise, experience and economy of scale that surpasses what Council can offer," it stated on the Engage Bass Coast website.

How to provide your feedback:

• Online at engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au/cemeteries
• Email the shire Cemeteries Team at cemeteries@basscoast.vic.gov.au
• Post your feedback to Bass Coast Shire Council, 70 McBride Avenue, Wonthaggi 3995 or drop in to one of its Customer Service Centres.
• Attend one of the two public meetings on February 5 or 6.

Please note: RSVP is required to attend the public meetings. Please RSVP by February 2, 2024.