The Ettrick Cemetery is now in the hands of the
Central Otago District Council (CODC).
At the meeting at Roxburgh on Thursday (23
November 2023), the Teviot Valley Community Board agreed to accept the
administration, management, and operation of the Ettrick Cemetery from the
Ettrick Cemetery Trustees. The trustees met in September and decided to wind up
the trust and hand over the running to the CODC.
Under the Burial and Cremation Act 1964, it is
the duty of every local authority, where provision is not otherwise made for
the burial of bodies of persons dying within the district, to establish and
maintain a suitable cemetery, and if the trust is wound up that the local
authority would take over. The current trustees wish to stop administering the
cemetery after being involved for a significant length of time.
Currently Council undertakes the maintenance of
the cemetery e.g., mowing, weed spraying and keeping the site tidy, through the
Council's Open Spaces contract.
The trustees carry out the administration of the
cemetery including keeping the records, supplying genealogical information,
taking plot bookings, and arranging for burials. Sexton and grave preparation
duties are undertaken by the Millers Flat Fire Brigade. The trustees were keen
to see brigade continue to provide interment services. This can continue
subject to approval by Council of any required Health and Safety plan required
for the activity. Since 2019 there has been two interments and one ashes interment,
and there is adequate room within the cemetery for burials for many years.
The advantage of the Council taking over the
cemetery meant there would be a consistency of administration with other
Council-managed cemeteries. This decision is consistent with the Central Otago
Cemeteries Strategy 2010, and enables the ongoing management for Ettrick
residents, for the cultural wellbeing of communities, in the present and for
the future.
It now remained for the Ministry of Health and
Ettrick Cemetery Trustees be advised of the decision, and for the handover of
records and any remaining funds to the Council by the cemetery trustees.
