PART ONE - Fishers Ghost

2.2 Natural Burials Trial by Shoalhaven City CouncilReporting OfficerManager Environmental PlanningAttachmentsNilPurposeTo inform Council on a trial of natural burials by Shoalhaven City Council, and thefeasibility of Campbelltown City Council conducting a similar trial within theCampbelltown Local Government Area.HistoryAt the Planning and Environment Committee Meeting on 7 December 2010, aquestion was raised without notice in reference to Item 2.3 - 'Submission to thePublic Exhibition of the Metropolitan Strategy Review and the Metropolitan TransportPlan', and noted that recent media highlighted a natural burial trial being conductedby Shoalhaven City Council.The Director Planning and Environment was asked to investigate the feasibility ofconducting a similar trial in Campbelltown given the importance of issues relating tocemeteries in South West Sydney.ReportNatural Burial Trial by Shoalhaven City CouncilAt its meeting on 16 November 2010, Shoalhaven City Council considered a reporton 'natural burials', and resolved to undertake a 2 year trial of this type of burialservice within an existing Council owned and operated cemetery at the ShoalhavenMemorial Garden and Lawn Cemetery.The following definition of a 'natural burial' considered in the report by ShoalhavenCity Council is noted:"The purpose of a natural burial is to return the body to the earth in a mannerthat does not inhibit decomposition and allows the body to recycle naturally. Itis intended as an environmentally sustainable funeral practice that will limitfuture hazards to public health and is in harmony with modern resourceconservationactivities."