Ballarat Cemeteries Trust chief executive David Beames said that in 40 years, the Ballarat General Cemetery would only have 25 per cent space left for burials.

The cemetery, which started in 1867, will be full in 80 years. 

Mr Beames said all the cemeteries in the district would have to consider whether they could accommodate the future population of Ballarat. 

“Our future business plans would always be about addressing land availability,” Mr Beames said. 

“We have enough available land that has been cleared for burials, cremation and memorials for 30 to 40 years.

“Then we have to start looking at land that has got native vegetation; that would have to be a very long and involved process to get it approved.”

Mr Beames said there had not been enough focus on the issue of how to dispose of the mortal remains

of a burgeoning population. 

“Eventually, a long time down the track, we will run out of land,” he said. 

“New cemeteries will have to be built, land will have to be allocated but the next question is where could the new cemetery be built?

“Should it be 20 or 30 kilometre out of Ballarat? Which direction should it be built – toward Melbourne or Ararat?

Mr Beames said a growth in the number of cremations might ease the pressure on the cemetery. 

“There has been a gradual change to those numbers in the past 20 years,” he said.

“At the moment, we do 60 per cent cremation and 40 per cent burials.”

Last week, the Ballarat Cemetery Trust was granted $100,000 of state funding to develop a new burial area.

Cemeteries and crematoriums come under the jurisdiction of the Victorian Department of Health.

City of Ballarat mayor John Burt said the council would receive a briefing on the issue from Mr Beames next month. 

neelima.choahan@fairfaxmedia.com.au