Burial Society
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Aldinga project (SA)
Aldinga project (SA)
History to date:
Action began in March 2008 with a letter to State Government seeking use of a parcel of crown land near Aldinga in South Australia for the establishment of a dedicated natural burial ground.
The call attracted considerable media attention and Society Spokesperson, Kevin Hartley was invited to make a presentation to the local Onkaparinga Council about the proposal. This was well received with a number of Councillors voicing their support for project.
In September 2008, the Report of the Environment, Resources and Development Committee (ERDC) into Natural Burial Grounds in SA was released. The Report was positive in its recommendations for the establishment of natural burial grounds.
Also in September 2008, following several rounds of communication, representatives of the Society met with Planning Minister, The Hon Paul Holloway. The result was a cautious but positive undertaking from The Minister to support the project subject to the support of other Ministers and Local Government.
In November 2008, representatives of the Society met with Advisors to the Minister for Conservation and Environment, The Hon Jay Weatherill's office and the Land Management Branch to discuss the way forward. At that meeting, consent to conduct a hydrogeological assessment of the site to confirm it's suitability was given. This assessment was carried out in December 2008 and yielded a positive result.
In January 2009, the Society determined to write a letter to Minister Weatherill seeking the official dedication of the land for the purpose of establishing a natural burial ground.
The lastest:
At a subsequent meeting with Minister Weatherill, Minister Hill and the Hon Bob Such and advisors, it was agreed that the State owned land could be made available for the burial ground provided Onkaparinga Council agreed to accept the dedication for care and control of the land.
Despite the Onkaparinga Council voting to 'support the natural burial concept', at the end of the day the Council and its administration have declined to accept care and control of the land (or to be directly involved in any associated development) and so the project is stalled at this point. We are currently considering other options for progress.