Community & Business
26 March, 2022
New Kuranda cemetery moves to costs stage
COSTS for a new cemetery at Kuranda will be sought by Mareeba Shire Council as it goes ahead with a detailed design for the new facility and the development application process.
The current cemetery is on a 2-hectare site and has been servicing the Kuranda community since the early 1900s, but it is unable to be expanded due to constraints by the railway to the north of the boundary, the Kennedy Highway to the east, and rainforest to the south and west.
Mareeba Shire acquired a 13-hectare site at 70 Kuranda Heights Road in 2020, of which 0.7 hectare will be used to create Stage 1 of a new cemetery.
“We are very fortunate that the land became available for purchase in November 2020. The property provides a significant quantity of previously cleared land of generally suitable topography and no further significant clearings of established vegetation are required,” Mayor Angela Toppin said.
A report to council advised that Stage 1 would provide the cemetery needs of Kuranda for in excess of 30 years at the current rate of use, allowing for 250 lawn burials, 100 full monumental lots, and a Columbarium wall to accommodate ash internments.
An officer told council that the overall site would provide council with all the space it would require for cemetery purposes for the next 100 years.
Councillor Locky Benstead acknowledged the cemetery had been the source of some angst for Kuranda residents in the knowledge the current facility had only 12-18 months’ use remaining.
In recognition of the unique requirements associated with the development of a cemetery, council has engaged the services of a suitably qualified consultant to assist with development of a masterplan for the site and to provide guidance as to long-term management of the facility.
“The provision of quality services and infrastructure for our growing community is of the utmost importance to this council and the development of the new Kuranda Cemetery will ensure that the Kuranda community is provided for well into the future,” Mayor Toppin said.
