Cemetery Fee Restructure – Ensuring the future of our communities beautiful and unique asset

Rich in history, Ballarat General Cemeteries is intimately linked with pivotal moments in Australia’s past.Comprising the Old Ballarat Cemetery, New Ballarat Cemetery and Crematorium, we reflect not only life’s progress, but also that of the community and society around us. Opened in June 1867 the New Ballarat Cemetery is one of only 2 Botanical Cemeteries in Victoria, covering 55ha that include 63,000sqm of lawns, over 6500 trees and roses and peaceful open parkland.It is a memorial landscape esteemed for its tranquility with more than 78,000 burials recorded in the grounds, serving the needs of Ballarat and the surrounding region.

Cemeteries are a not for profit entity and not publicly funded by government. The Ballarat Cemeteries provide the government with 3% of their revenue to support the Victorian state government and cemetery industry.

It is the role of Ballarat General Cemeteries to ensure the future of this communities beautiful and unique asset, keeping it perpetually maintained for the generations ahead. We employ 16 staff and support/partner with businesses within our community

Following an in depth review, auditing and consultation with the Department of Health & Human Services and primary stakeholders, Ballarat General Cemeteries is revising its fee structures. For many years our cremation services have subsidised the management of our beautiful cemeteries. With the change in market and the need to be more competitive this is now not possible into the future. These fees move us to a user pays service delivery model including allocation for service delivery, cost recovery, perpetual maintenance and future development allocation.

The recent review has carefully considered the communities economic and experiential needs in the modern world, and the new fee structure aims to distribute costs fairly based on service, location, preparation and the perpetual ongoing maintenance required. Ballarat General Cemeteries welcomes community feedback on these changes.

This consultation finished on 5 pm Monday 19th June 2017.  We would like to thank all those that contributed to the consultation. Our cemetery is a place where history is remembered, where stories can be shared, and lives never forgotten. It is assets that we are responsible to care for in the present and sustain for the future.

Choosing a final resting place for a loved one in a time of grief is very challenging. We encourage our community to have a conversation with loved one’s about their future wishes when they die. The cemetery provides options for people to think about the future and reduce the financial burden for their families. Flexible Payment Plans The Trust has established the option for payment plans for pre-purchased locations and services.