Cemeteries and Memorial Gardens - information

How do I select and purchase a plot?
A plot can be selected and purchased by contacting a Wyong Shire Council customer service office who will liaise with the Cemetery Officer.

What is a Right of Burial?
An exclusive right of entitlement to a burial place.

What is a Right to a Niche?
An exclusive right of entitlement to a niche in the Noraville Cemetery Memorial Wall.

Right to a Niche
An application and payment must be lodged with Council’s customer service 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 & bud holder. A plaque can take up to 6 weeks to be made. The Cemetery Officer orders all plaques.

Placement of ashes
If the niche won’t contain ashes in the near future, a plaque stating 'Reserved' is 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. 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 (usually the 4th Thursday of the month between 9.30 – 11.30 am). If the next-of-kin does not want to go to the cemetery (or is unable to), Council staff can collect ashes for placement in the niche.

Can a Right of Burial or Right to Niche be transferred?
Yes - and Council will record any transfer upon satisfactory proof of the Right of Burial; the claimant to be regarded as the transferee or successor to the Right of Burial.

Can a Right of Burial or the Right to Niche be transferred back to Council?
Yes - if it is no longer required. A letter is sent stating that the Right of Burial or Right to a Niche has been transferred back to Council and all rights surrendered.

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 either of the Council’s pre-qualified grave diggers to arrange. A Burial Permit is required as well as a re-opening fee charged.

Grave diggers
There are two grave diggers currently operating in Wyong Council cemeteries – Troy Butcher (0407-220-430) and Clive McKenzie (02 4328 3105).

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 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 nor 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, eg 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.

See definitions of terms used in the Cemeteries and Memorial Gardens section
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Page last updated: 06/02/2007