"The Queenstown Lakes District Council Cemeteries Strategy 2005 is now available for comment," QLDC parks manager Gordon Bailey said.

"This is a document that takes a strategic look at the resource we have available across the 12 cemeteries in our district," Mr Bailey said.

The strategy projected that the district was in good shape to provide plots for the next 50 years and beyond, however Arrowtown, Frankton and Queenstown Cemeteries were a finite resource.

"We are spending $200,000 this year to extend Queenstown and add more plots but when you are projecting 50 years on it is entirely conceivable that the plots will eventually be used up," Mr Bailey said.

Prior to reaching that point, the as yet unutilised 3.1 ha Lower Shotover Cemetery would be brought into use.

"We are probably looking at opening the new cemetery in approximately 10 years time."

The strategy also recommended that a study be undertaken to determine if a crematorium could be sustained in the district.

"The introduction of a crematorium would undoubtedly reduce the number of plots required and the strategy makes some projections on that basis but a crematorium would need to be a private sector undertaking and it comes down to the expected population growth and corresponding increase in deaths," Mr Bailey said.

Other recommendations included:

• That a district-wide cemetery conservation plan be developed.
• That when cemeteries reach capacity, burials are instead undertaken at the nearest available cemetery.
• That cemetery development plans, including landscaping, be developed in order of priority.

The strategy is available from Council offices in Wanaka and Queenstown and can also be viewed on the Council website www.qldc.govt.nz.

The opportunity to comment will close on Friday September 30 and the matter will then go back before the Council?s community services committee in October.

ENDS

For further information please contact Gordon Bailey 03 441 0499.

By: Tamah