The trust wishes to convert Nolan St into off-road parking, which is becoming an increasing issue near the cemetery. They also want to relocate its large work shed out of the cemetery proper to open more space for burials.
Echuca Cemetery Trust chairman David Jones said the council had no interest in the road, and the space was needed to expand the cemetery.
“The Echuca Cemetery will need to expand for future use, and we are land locked in the location of the cemetery,” Mr Jones said.
“If we are forced to purchase a new space, it will be an expensive parcel of land needed for burials at a new memorial site.
“People in future are going to be disappointed that they won’t be able to be buried in the same place as their loved ones from previous generations, or to be with their families after they’ve departed.”
In April 2020 the road was retired from Campaspe Shire’s Council’s road register and was returned to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
Council declined any rights to use the land and the cemetery trust was made aware of this via written correspondence at the time.
Mr Walsh asked Environment, Land, Water and Planning Minister Lily D’Ambrosio for clarity during a parliamentary session in Melbourne.
“Can the Minister for Environment, Land, Water and Planning advise me what the Echuca Cemetery Trust must do to be able to acquire a small parcel of overgrown land — nominally know as Nolan Rd – adjacent to the cemetery?,” Mr Walsh said.
“The trust has plans to relocate its existing shed, and off-street parking to the block, freeing up more space for burials in the cemetery proper.
“But the department, without any on site assessment, has decreed the area has ‘significant public land values and needs protection’.”
Mr Walsh said that in living memory, it was used by one local to access a property, and that would continue if the trust acquired the land.
DELWP program manager of land and built environment Calum Walker said investigations determined that the road had been inspected twice since 2001.
“These assessments have involved both desktop and onsite inspections and followed the department’s assessment guidelines,” Mr Walker said.
“The 2001 investigations determined that the unused road was within the Urban Flood Zone Overlay and therefore unsuitable for inclusion to the cemetery.
“In addition to being flood prone, the site also contained good quality native vegetation enhancing the ecological and amenity values of the area.”
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