A MOREE funeral director has slammed the Moree Plains Shire Council over its burial rates rise and its maintenance of the local cemetery. The council on July 1 increased the price of a burial plot from $1503 to $3637 – a rise of 140 per cent.
“The council has abused the graves and it is showing no respect for the dead,” said Shirley Goater, of Goater Funerals.An irate Mrs Goater told the Moree Champion that the Moree Lawn Cemetery was the worst one she had been associated with for the last 21 years.

“I have done funerals in Gold Coast, Sydney, Toowoomba, Narrabri, Warialda and even Sunshine Coast but the Moree cemetery is the worst one I have encountered,” she said.

Councillor Rodney Brazel weighed in on the debate, saying the burial rates rise “were beyond belief”.

“Two years ago we were paying $800 for a plot and now we are paying 450 per cent more. It is an absolute disgrace,” Cr Brazel said.

Source: Moree Champion