FUTURE OF BATHURST CEMETERIES DEBATED IN NSW PARLIAMENT

8 May 2025

Today in NSW Parliament the concerns of over 14,000 individuals were heard as the petition ‘Against the Closure of Rural Cemeteries in the Bathurst Area’ was debated.

This petition was created by locals who are against the closure of rural cemeteries in George's Plains, Rockley, Sofala, Hill End Tambaroora, Peel, and Trunkey. The community has been clear that they do not support the Bathurst Regional Council’s decision to close the above cemeteries to any new internments.

Without a trust or crown land manager, local councils have become the default owner and manager of many cemeteries across the state. In Bathurst, this process began in 2004 and the general cemeteries in the six rural villages have since been placed into the care and control of Bathurst Regional Council by Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW as part of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 reforms.

Bathurst Regional Council has since closed reservation applications for all six rural cemeteries, even though Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW has classified all six as still active and open for new burials.  This means locals who die or are end of life planning cannot reserve a grave site at any of these six locations nor be laid to rest here without a prior reservation and proof of this reservation. Limited exceptions have been made thus far by the General Manager of Bathurst Regional Council.

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole represented the community in NSW Parliament today.

“The death of a loved one is already an extremely distressing time, the pause on burials in these rural communities is exacerbating this distress and causing much concern throughout the community,” Mr Toole said.

“Community members don’t see these cemeteries as a burden. Generations of village locals have enjoyed looking after the grounds around the graveyards and have seen the task as a right of passage, to do their bit for the community and be buried amongst their friends and family.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke backed the Bathurst community also supporting the petition.

“The combined population of these six communities is just over 1,000 yet this issue has garnered support from over 14,000 signees from the Bathurst region and that speaks volumes,” Mrs Cooke said.

“The challenge this petition puts forward is for Bathurst Regional Council to address the growing needs of the region and increase the number burial plots for the growing population, not reduce it.”

The Minister for Lands and Property Stephen Kamper advised in his response the following.

“The needs of the community should be an important consideration in this decision and Bathurst Regional Council has claimed that the NSW Government regulation of cemeteries has resulted in regulatory impositions and financial burden,” Mr Kamper said.

“This is incorrect as Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW has been working with Bathurst Regional Council to understand their concerns and clarify their regulatory responsibilities.”

The debate was carried and noted by the House.

A transcript of the full debate will be posted on NSW Parliament Hansard. Please see website here - https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/hansard/Pages/home.aspx?s=1