Masterplan for "100 years and beyond"

Plans have been revealed to tackle the lack of burial space in Moreton Bay region - by almost tripling the size of our largest cemetery.

The Tallowwood Cemetery Masterplan is a “100 years and beyond” framework for the facility on Deception Bay Rd and help meet huge population growth.

Endorsed by Moreton Bay City Council last month, it includes adding 9.5ha of land previously cleared for farming, to the 5.25ha of existing cemetery.

The plan would provide new lawn burial areas, an “innovative range” of internment options and an operations base for staff.

“Shifting ideologies of death care require a rethink … with the need to diversify offerings onsite and reconsider grave tenure”, the Masterplan says.

A 2021 Future Cemetery Survey, by DeathTech Research Team at University of Melbourne, found a “gentle shift” from burial towards cremation.

It also reported “growing demand for natural amenity, including bushland burials and ashes scattering in nature”.

The Masterplan says Tallowwood is best placed to meet City of Moreton Bay's expected growth to 700,000 residents by 2041.

Tallowwood, with its size, would be the City’s main cemetery, with centralised operations and a network of 11 additional Council or trust-run sites.

Redcliffe is the second largest cemetery at 6.95ha but will reach capacity within five years. At 2.6ha, Samford is third largest, but on the City’s southern fringes.

Other cemeteries are Caboolture 2ha, Woodford 1.95ha, Albany Creek 1.6ha, Lawnton 1.475ha, Mt Mee 1.375ha, Bribie 0.825ha, Dayboro 0.7ha, Upper Caboolture 0.45ha, Samsonvale 0.45ha.

The Masterplan includes an “onsite customer services centre” which will create a “direct feedback loop between customer and operations”.

It also says Tallowwood can benefit from mature woodland, Freshwater National Park and koala habitat on the site and nearby.

"There is great potential for enhancement of this natural asset to increase visitation and aid in the shifting of paradigms for memorialisation and death care over the next 100 years,” the Masterplan says.

The “unique bushland setting and surrounds” can be used to connect people with nature, encourage use and increase site visits, according to the Masterplan.

Further recommendations include engaging with Traditional Custodians of the land, community, stakeholders and Arethusa College on the proposals.