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Man expresses concerns about Mooloolah Cemetery |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 28 November 2005 |
A Beerwah man has expressed concerns about the maintenance and future
of Mooloolah Cemetery. The man, who did not wish to be named, said he
has been unable to get any satisfaction regarding his queries at Local,
State and Federal Government levels over the years. I have asked
legitimate questions and I have been ignored.
He said the cemetery was an important historical site and that the area was in desperate need of more grave sites for the future. With the population explosion of the Hinterland they'll need more grave sites.
There are three cemeteries in Caloundra, two of which have a time limit - Mooloolah and Beerwah. There will only be another 194 people buried at Mooloolah. The man said this was despite the fact there was an additional four acres available at Mooloolah Cemetery which could provide for an additional 1800 grave sites.
He said council was worried about chopping down trees which he described as "useless" and full of bracken fern and bladey grass. Trees are cleared for roads, for subdivisions, for parks. So why not for cemeteries he said.
Every Thursday I rake the leaves away from my wife's grave because of those useless trees. Revenue raised from clearing trees could be used for landscaping at the cemetery. I don't think half the councillors would know where that cemetery is. There are people buried in there who helped develop the Hinterland and the Sunshine Coast.
The minister wrote to me and said they were looking at preserving hollow trees for fauna. The only tree I know that was hollow there was outside the boundary. And it fell apart because of white ants. Where's the common sense? "I'm not in this for personal gain or out of any animosity towards anyone. If I die tomorrow I'll be buried there beside my wife. But I hate to see a beautiful cemetery left in disrepair. That cemetery needs to be regarded as an icon on the Sunshine Coast."
A spokesperson for Caloundra City Council confirmed the Mooloolah Cemetery had extension plans for 194 more grave sites and unlimited numbers of ashes interments. But expansion into the adjoining four acres depended on negotiations with the state, who owned the land.
Divisonal Councillor Dell Winkler has funded $80,000 of priority infrastructure spending this financial year towards the development of a new carpark, internal road realignment, landscaping and pruning of the dead wood from eucalypt trees.
Council is waiting on consent from QPWS before proceeding with construction (as the carpark is on State Government land. The nearby vegetation referred to by the resident has been recently mapped by the State Government as being on the threshold of an "of concern" Regional Ecosystem.
As part of its Cemetery Strategy 2000/2001, council is currently considering the location for a new cemetery to service coastal residents in Caloundra City. However, as yet, a suitable location hasn't been identified.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 05 September 2006 )
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Range News 2005 - ON 
