At the Council Meeting on 21 July 2025 Council received and noted two reports:

• Administration’s report on the Natural Burial Ground Trust of Australia - Draft Lease Consultation Outcomes.
• The outcomes of the Community Engagement on the proposed draft lease with The Australian Natural Burial Authority Inc. as trustee for The Natural Burial Ground Trust of Australia, for a portion of the Old Goolwa Cemetery.

Council resolved to grant consent to a 42-year lease with the Authority, as trustee for The Natural Burial Ground Trust of Australia, for the use of the land located at the Old Goolwa Cemetery site, Kessell Road Goolwa, Crown Record Volume 5674 Folio 782, in accordance with the draft lease. The Mayor and Chief Executive Officer were also granted authorisation to sign and seal the lease agreement.

Click to read the Decision and Council Report.

Following strong community support during the 2024 consultation, Council began negotiating a draft agreement with the Natural Burial Trust of Australia to establish a proposed natural burial ground on the unused and unoccupied land at the Old Goolwa Cemetery.

Council welcomed feedback on a proposal to enter into a 42-year lease with the Natural Burial Ground (NBG) Trust of Australia, for the purpose of establishing a not-for-profit natural burial ground within the unused portion of the Goolwa Cemetery.

As the land is classified as community land and the term of the lease is greater than 5 years, community engagement was required to ensure the community is provided with the essential terms of the proposal and an opportunity to comment on the proposal should they choose to do so.

Review the Lease Terms which includes:

• Who is responsible for maintenance and management responsibilities
• Concept Plan (staged planting, design intent)
• Steps to realisation plan