Bass Coast Shire Council currently manages the Wonthaggi and San Remo cemeteries. Over a two-year period Council conducted a review of cemetery operations to determine the best way to manage the cemeteries into the future. Council is not an expert in managing cemeteries and we are currently only able to provide a minimum service offering.

A range of alternate options were considered with Council supporting the voluntary transfer of management to a Class A cemetery.

Council believes the community would benefit from the voluntary transfer of the Wonthaggi Cemetery Trust and the San Remo Cemetery Trust to the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT). SMCT are specialists in the management of cemeteries and currently manage nine other cemeteries in southern Victoria. They deliver higher maintenance standards and bring a level of expertise, experience and economy of scale that surpasses what Council can offer.

Consultation is now closed.

Next steps

We will review the feedback received throughout the consultation period and provide to Department of Health. The report will be considered and we will be notified if the transfer has been approved.

Once Council has been notified we will update this page to reflect transition timelines.