Frequently Asked Questions
What is a burial permit?
A burial permit is required prior to any burial in Wyong Shire Council Cemeteries. An Application form must be completed and signed by the Right of Burial Owner (Grantee) and lodged with Council with payment, at least 24 hours prior to the funeral / burial. The same application is used for the interment of ashes or coffin. If the burial is a second interment there is also a re-opening fee charged.
What is a niche?
A niche refers to the place in the Memorial Niche Gardens or Memorial Niche Wall where the Ashes are placed.
How do I select and purchase a plot or niche?
A plot can be selected and purchased by contacting Wyong Shire Council’s Cemetery Bereavement Officer on (02) 4350 5108.
What is a Right of Burial?
A Right of Burial is an exclusive right of entitlement to a burial place which is granted by Council to a person or persons. This is not the land, only gives the right to bury on this land.
What is a Right to a Niche?
A Right to a Niche is an exclusive right of entitlement to a niche in the Noraville Cemetery Memorial Wall or Memorial Garden which is granted by Council to a person or persons. This is not a purchase of the land, simply the right to place ashes in that spot.
What is the process for a Right to a Niche application?
Once a niche has been selected, an application and payment must be lodged with Council’s Customer Contact section. If the niche will be occupied immediately, the Phoenix Foundry order form attached to the application must also be completed to show the desired layout and wording of the plaque. The fee includes interment of ashes plus the installation of the bronze plaque and bud holder. A plaque can take up to 6 weeks to be made. The Cemetery Officer orders all plaques.
What is the process for placement of ashes?
If the niche won’t contain ashes in the near future, a plaque stating 'Reserved' can be fixed to the niche.
Where ashes are to be placed immediately, the Right of Burial owner will be asked to confirm the requested layout and wording for the plaque prior to it being ordered. For the niche wall, an ashes container (with the deceased’s name written on the top and bottom) will be also sent out at this time.
Once the plaque is received by Council, the next-of-kin is advised. When the next-of-kin is ready to place the ashes, they contact Council to make arrangements to meet at Noraville Cemetery on the next scheduled day, on alternate Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 3pm. If the next-of-kin doesn’t want to, or is unable to go to the cemetery, Council staff can collect ashes for placement in the niche. Please note that Council does not hold ashes within its offices.
Can a Right of Burial or the Right to Niche be transferred?
Yes. If it is no longer required it can be transferred to another person or back to Council. A letter is sent stating that the Right of Burial or Right to a Niche has been transferred and all rights surrendered. Council will record any transfer upon satisfactory completion of an application and payment of the applicable fee. Council will only pay back the initial fee paid for the plot/niche to the customer.
How do people obtain a document confirming their ownership?
A Right of Burial or Right to Niche letter is sent out to the owner(s) of the plot or niche once payment is made and the application processed.
Can ashes be placed into a grave?
Yes. Contact one of the Council’s pre-qualified grave diggers to arrange. A Burial Permit is required as well as a re-opening fee charged.
Can we place a flower bud (the same as the niche wall) in the Memorial Niche Gardens?
Placement of ornaments or other items is not permitted. Council will remove and dispose of any unauthorised items during routine maintenance visits. Wyong Shire Council has provided spike vase holders (in the pergola area) that can be used in the Memorial Gardens for all floral tributes.
Grave diggers
There are three grave diggers currently operating in Wyong Shire Council Cemeteries. See Cemetery Contact Details for grave diggers and stone masons.
How many people can be buried in a plot?
It depends on the depth of the first burial and the natural ground conditions. The Regulations of the Public Health Act (NSW 1991) specify the depth to which a casket must be covered by soil. The depth measurement is from the natural soil level to the top of the casket. The minimum cover is 900mm. To allow for variations in size of caskets, a double depth grave must be excavated to a depth of 2.1m. This will allow for a subsequent interment. A grave excavated to double depth should normally accommodate two coffins and 4 sets of ashes. Some grave sites may be restricted due to natural landforms, etc. A grave designated for ashes only should accommodate 6-8 sets of ashes. Graves are generally dug according to the wishes of the family in conjunction with the funeral director.
What type of monument (headstone) is permitted?
All work shall be in accordance with Australian Standard AS 4204m Monuments and Headstones in Cemeteries. All materials shall be of a permanent nature. A permit must be applied for and issued prior to any headstone works on the site. A Council pre-qualified stonemason must be used – with the appropriate authorisation; the stone mason may apply for the permit. A fee applies.
Timber, bricks and mortar, ferrous metals etc are not considered permanent or appropriate for monuments over exclusive Rights of Burial. In the lawn sections of the cemeteries, the scope of the work will be limited to the provision and fixing of a plaque and approved headstone to the concrete lawn beam at the site of the grave. No ornaments, crosses, statues, icons, vases or other items may be placed, permanently or temporarily, onto the lawns. The planting of flora at the grave site or anywhere else within a lawn cemetery is not permitted.
Exhumations (To dig up a buried body)
Exhumations can only take place once written consent has been obtained from the Director-General of the Department of Health (NSW), an Order of Exhumation has been issued by Council. The exhumation is to be supervised by an Environmental Health Officer, according to the standards set out in the LGA Code of Practice. This does not apply if an exhumation is ordered by a Court.
Burials on private property
Burials are permitted on private property in certain circumstances, for example, large rural properties. Permission must be obtained from the Department of Health as well as from Council.
Grave Subsidence
When will Council level a grave site? Graves normally subside after the burial. Within 28 days after a service, the grave is checked for subsidence and topped up if necessary using clean fill. It is then checked each week for a period of six weeks. Heavy rain can cause immediate subsidence, whereas in dry weather it can take up to three months. The grave site is levelled after 28 days, top-dressed and turfed where required.
Return to the Cemeteries and Memorial Gardens page to download required application forms