Thursday, 5 March 2026


Adjournment

Cobram Cemetery Trust


Tim McCURDY

Cobram Cemetery Trust

 Tim McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (17:22): (1571) My adjournment is to the Minister for Health, and I am pleased that she is in the chamber tonight. The action that I seek is that the Cobram Cemetery Trust and mausoleum receive a review by the minister into their request to increase the amount of crypts that they have available. The Cobram Cemetery Trust completed an actuarial report, which cost $11,000, and the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust replied saying that extending the number of crypts was not viable. Then the Cobram Cemetery Trust explained three things: of the 22 crypts available, they have already pre-sold 15, so effectively they have only got seven available; with a large Italian and Muslim population in Cobram, many families who may have moved away still come home to be buried, so seven available crypts is not many, as they could get sold out in a very short space of time; and the final factor is that the Cobram Cemetery Trust is cashed up and can afford to build them out of cash flow. Once the Cobram Cemetery Trust explained the above reasons why seven was not enough, they were told, ‘We didn’t know about those cultural issues and your cash flow situation. You need to do another report.’ They think it is quite unreasonable to spend another $11,000 on a report they have already done, and the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust wants another report, which will not vary from the one they have already submitted. I seek the minister’s participation to get some common sense into this situation, instead of a fruitless report for another $11,000, and to allow Cobram Cemetery Trust to go ahead with the next stages: either stage 1 for 32 crypts, or stages 1 and 2, which is for a total of 74 crypts, considering that the trust has the cash in the bank to prepare for the longer term needs of the Cobram and surrounding community.