The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) is to merge the five existing Crown cemetery operators in metropolitan Sydney into one, after a statutory review found a danger of financial collapse.
Minister for Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey said the formation of a single entity for Crown cemeteries was a key recommendation from DPIE’s Independent Statutory Review of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013, The 11th Hour: Solving Sydney Cemetery Crisis, released in February.
“The Review found the five existing Crown cemetery operators are collectively facing combined unfunded liabilities of more than $300 million and Sydney is fast running out of cemetery space,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Consolidation will ensure the financial sustainability of the sector, allowing us to strategically address the need for more cemetery space while delivering culturally relevant and affordable interment services,” she said.
“This will ensure that cemetery space is accessible and affordable for everyone.”
Mrs Pavey said the single operator, to be known as ‘OneCrown’, would support consistent, transparent and affordable pricing across all Crown cemeteries to better support consumers and ensure available land into the future.
The Minister said there would be no immediate change to the operation of Crown cemeteries, with existing staff to continue in their roles.
She said Lee Shearer would be appointed Administrator to take on the functions of the boards of the five Crown cemetery operators.
DPIE’s 277-page Independent Statutory Review can be accessed at this PS News link.
