
July will mark community consultation on the future of Innes Gardens Memorial Park Crematorium and Lawn Cemetery. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council says it has committed to community consultation about the options under consideration.The consultation comes as the council enters into negotiations with organisations which registered an interest when the council tested the market over the facility's potential sale or long-term lease.
The council will embark on the negotiations with a view, subject to further consideration, to enter into a contract or other arrangement.
Council director Rebecca Olsen is reported stating "The current investigations are focused on ensuring the best possible ongoing delivery of cremation, lawn cemetery and memorialisation services to our community, including first and foremost the ongoing care and protection of existing interments and inurnments at Innes Gardens Memorial Park,"
Tender Funerals Working Party convener Celia Kershaw said she was deeply disappointed that the council was entering into the negotiations. Nevertheless she welcomes the consultation but believes the consultation should have been done much earlier."I think everybody who can needs to get onto the have your say [website] and demand a public meeting in their centre," Mrs Kershaw said.
She said the council really needed to get a feel about the community's opinion on the issue.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council moves ahead with negotiations over crematorium's future https://t.co/iKXRjr5kZ7 via @portmacnews pic.twitter.com/I654GPlXvC
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