Page 1099 - Week 03 - Thursday, 26 February 2009
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is symbolic respect in their minds if they can be laid to rest in a way that can continue to take positive environmental steps. By not being able to do this, there is a sense of disempowerment and of not being able to have their true wishes fulfilled.
The Greens have had constituents contact us about natural burial options since this option was put into the public arena. There is a large unmet demand in the community for alternatives. There is a solution available. It is to allow burial in what is called a natural cemetery or green cemetery. This type of cemetery places great importance on ecological objectives. The most obvious feature of a natural cemetery is that it looks very different from the highly maintained, orderly layout of a standard cemetery. Natural cemeteries are essentially a natural landscape such as bush or a reserve. Natural cemeteries maintain the natural environment. It seems especially appropriate for Canberra, the bush capital, and a region where we care greatly for our natural environment.
Natural cemeteries are also beneficial for the residents who live nearby. They maintain the natural amenity of the landscape and are a much more pleasant option than living near a crematorium, a prospect that is currently causing some concern amongst the residents of Tuggeranong. Natural cemeteries minimise impact on the environment by using biodegradable coffins or a simple biodegradable shroud. This allows a person’s body to be returned to the soil naturally and contribute to the regeneration of life. The only grave markings are natural ones such as trees or bush rocks.
Some people are concerned that with natural burial they may not be able to locate the last resting place of loved ones. To counter this there are natural cemeteries that use a sophisticated GPS system to record the location of each grave and then supplement this with a communal memorial wall to record names.
It is also important to understand that a natural burial can be the final part of almost any funeral practice. It complements religious ceremonies and people’s individual spirituality. When people are faced with these important decisions it is important to have the full range of options and information available to them. It is also important to distinguish between the kind of natural, green burial that I am discussing and regular funeral services that offer green options, such as coffins made from recycled materials. This kind of “greener” burial is already offered in some parts of Canberra. However, a natural cemetery takes the process one step further.
To some, natural burials might sound like a new concept. In fact, it is not new at all. The United Kingdom established its first natural cemetery in 1993. Fifteen years later, it has 200. If this trend continues, natural burial could become the preferred option within 50 years. Natural cemeteries also operate in other parts of the world, including the USA and New Zealand. Remember also that cremation, which is now often used, was for a long time considered an innovation.
Lismore City Council has led the way in New South Wales. It founded a natural burial ground last year on a bush site housing gum trees, possums, native birds and a large koala population. The Lismore public has been very supportive of the initiative. In South Australia, a parliamentary committee inquired into natural burial grounds and
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