PART ONE - Fishers Ghost

The general principle of a natural burial is to use an environmentally friendly practicethat allows for a complete dissolution of the body and casket with minimal impacts tothe surrounding environment. This type of burial also restricts the typical hardinfrastructure associated with cemeteries, such as grave construction, headstonesand pathways, so that the land may be utilised for alternative purposes in the longerterm. This could include supplementary/alternative land uses such as the growth ofnatural vegetation, grazing, recreation or horticulture.The report on the matter, considered by Shoalhaven City Council, raised a number ofpotential issues relating to the management and operation of their existingcemeteries, summarised as follows:DemandThere is no evidence that indicates there is a significant demand by the communityfor natural burials. The limited data available from the small number of natural buriallocations within Australia indicates that the overall demand for natural burials is likelyto be within the range of 5 - 8% of all burials. It is important to note that these burialfigures do not account for cremations, which in the Shoalhaven for example,outnumber burials by three to one.The Shoalhaven City Council's Bereavement Services Unit Manager believes only avery small number of people will, when actually confronted with the need to arrange afuneral, opt for natural burial.Management PolicyShoalhaven City Council intends to manage natural burials through guidelines, asopposed to including the provision in Council’s adopted Cemeteries, Crematoriumand Memorial Garden Policy (POL08/160). This provides for flexibility in adapting theguidelines to changing community demand during the 24 month trial period if needbe.Single Use PlotsThe land that is allocated for natural burials should be left in its current state.Immediately after burial, the ground is, as much as is possible, returned to its originalstate although it is common practice to plant a tree or shrub over the grave.Unfortunately, it also makes the common NSW practice of burying up to three adultbodies in a single plot impractical, meaning that until dissolution, only a singleinterment is likely to occur in each natural burial plot.BiodegradabilityThe body should be dressed in biodegradable clothing. A cotton shroud or wrap isoften preferred for natural burial. However, in some cases compliance with the NSWPublic Health Regulation (Disposal of Bodies) 2002 (Regulation) would prevent thisas certain causes of death (eg. infectious disease) require the body to be containedin a hermetically sealed “body bag”.