A call to include the construction of a crematorium from the start of the city's new cemetery has been made as public submissions for the plan prepare to close.
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The public submission period for comments on Griffith City Council's New Cemetery and Crematorium masterplan will close on July 31, with an area for a crematorium already identified and included in the plan, but based on the plan a separate feasibility study should be made first regarding the crematorium.
However, some members of the community believe a crematorium needs to be included and prepared for from the get-go of the project and should be built alongside the rest of the new cemetery.
Licensed conveyancer Bill Lancaster said some certainty is needed in the plan and a feasibility study into the crematorium could have progressed alongside the development of the masterplan.
"A crematorium is inevitable," Mr Lancaster said.
"It will have to happen, but if it doesn't happen this year, it'll happen 10 years down the track.
"It's better off to have it in the planning process now and then it can be an integral part of the cemetery - I know in the plan they do say they've got their plot position for where it will be when it happens but they've avoided making any definite plans."
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Data from market research firm IBISWorld indicates in the past five years cremation has now been regarded as the most common way to farewell someone in Australia, and Mr Lancaster said if a cremation service was provided in the region, it would be used not just by Griffith residents, but many from surrounding areas as well.
"Council is going to spend millions of dollars on the new cemetery over time," Mr Lancaster said.
"What will happen is they'll get the cemetery and they wont have a crematorium and they'll [community members] wonder why.
"Provide the facilities and people will use them."
If you would like to provide feedback on the masterplan, you can do so by visiting the Griffith City Council website here.