Frequently Asked Questions

A restoration burial ground is a dedicated natural burial place, established on land that has been cleared or is in need of environmental restoration. Importantly, the fees charged for burial in a restoration burial ground are used to fund further land-scape scale, restoration programs at other environmentally significant locations.

Once the site has reached capacity, the vision is that the area will resemble a natural bush setting with both environmental and ecological benefits for people to enjoy and remember loved ones.

This enables individuals and families to choose an affordable, natural burial that connects the death of an individual to the environmental restoration of the planet.

No two burial grounds will be the same, but most will share some common features, like native vegetation, walking and access paths and essential infrastructure like parking and toilets. Genuine restoration burial grounds are not part of an existing cemetery, so you won’t see any large headstones, manicured lawns, or typical infrastructure like office buildings, asphalt roads, or built memorials. 

In the beginning, after mapping all the grave sites, about one-third of the land is revegetated to create boundary buffer zones and smaller burial groves. During its active phase (when burials are occurring) the restoration burial ground will resemble a grassy native park land. As sections of the site are used, additional ‘in-planting’ of trees, shrubs and grasses will transform the area into a lightly wooded parkland.

When all the grave sites in the burial ground have been used, the whole area will be preserved as a native vegetation site and memorial forest, resembling national and state park areas.

No. The existing area that contains the historical burials within the Old Goolwa Cemetery site will not be disturbed.  

This proposal seeks to establish a restoration natural burial ground specifically utilising the existing un-used and un-occupied cemetery land immediately surrounding the historical burial area at the Old Goolwa Cemetery. 

A vegetation buffer zone will be provided to ensure there is no disturbance to the existing historical burial areas within the Old Goolwa Cemetery site. 

Refer to the draft site concept plan that illustrates the burial ground positioning in relation to the existing old Goolwa Cemetery site. 

Council’s involvement in supporting this proposal is to provide access to the land for the Nature Foundation and Natural Burial Trust of Australia to use for natural burials and environmental conservation purposes. This will be undertaken by way of a formal agreement between the Alexandrina Council, the Natural Burial Ground Trust of South Australia and the Nature Foundation.

There is no cost to Council for this proposal. 

The costs associated with environmental conservation works, site development and burial costs will be the responsibility of the Natural Burial Ground Trust of South Australia and the Nature Foundation. 

This is seen as a big win for the community and the environment. At no cost to ratepayers, this proposal will provide a unique public facility and burial option for people of the Fleurieu Peninsula as well as providing environmental benefits by means of revegetation and restoration of the site. 

The Natural Burial Ground Trust of Australia is a charitable Trust created to establish and manage natural burial grounds across Australia. The Trust’s aim is to create accessible, affordable and sustainable burial options for everyone.

The Natural Burial Ground Trust of Australia was designed to operate in partnership with existing environmental charities, such as the Nature Foundation.

The Nature Foundation, established in 1981 is South Australia’s largest charitable conservation organisation. 

With a vision of inspiring people to connect with and conserve the natural habitat of South Australia for future generations, the Nature Foundation work closely with community groups to sustainably manage South Australia’s unique biodiversity for better environmental outcomes.

The Nature Foundation currently manages over 500,000 hectares of land, including the existing Watchalunga Nature Reserve, located 2.5km from Finniss within the Alexandrina Council district, which provides critical habitat for the endangered Mount Lofty Rangers Southern Emu-Wren.

The Nature Foundation has an extensive community engagement focus with well-established community engagement programs, connecting with and inspiring more people to conserve our beautiful natural environment.

No. 

To create and preserve the environment, traditional headstones or plaques are replaced by native plantings. The intent of the natural burial site is to return the area to a natural bush setting and no site markings will be visible. An option may be considered for those wishing to commemorate their loved ones, and ideas include the provision of a large entry stone at the entrance, for those wishing to have their loved one’s names inscribed on the stone. 

The law requires that formal records of all burials be kept. As such, a copy of the location of burials will be available through the Natural Burial Trust of Australia. In addition, non-electronic methods are used including survey markers, to allow for a highly accurate location of every grave.

Due to demand, natural burial grounds are increasing throughout Australia. These are usually developed as a commercial offering, alongside existing traditional cemetery grounds.

The proposed restoration burial ground at the Old Goolwa Cemetery site is different. As both the Natural Burial Trust of Australia and Nature Foundation are not-for-profit organisations, the intent is to enable individuals and families to choose an affordable, natural burial that connects the death of an individual to the restoration of the planet. Therefore, costs associated with a restoration natural burial will be kept to a minimum to cover operating expenses associated with the individual burial only, and surplus revenue is used for the protection and expansion of the native habitat.  

All revenue from the burial ground operation contributes toward the restoration and management of the natural burial ground itself, in this case, the protection and expansion of valuable remaining native habitat at the Old Goolwa Cemetery site.

Surplus revenue contributes to other Nature Foundation conservation and land restoration projects, in this case, the immediate focus being the funding of management of the Watchalunga Nature Reserve, located 2.5km from Finniss, within the Alexandrina Council district.  

Yes.

The late Hon. Dr Bon Such worked tirelessly to introduce the new burial legislation in South Australia. The Burial and Cremations Act 2013 allows for the establishment of natural burial grounds in South Australia.

The Act calls for the use of biodegradable coffins or shrouds; without embalming or the use of toxic chemicals.  

All funeral types involve a similar use of resources to transport, hold and contain the remains of the deceased. Cremation uses fuel (gas, electricity) and emits atmospheric pollution. In virtually all cases, both traditional and natural burials (known as green burials, eco-burials or conservation burials) also use some fuel to dig and refill graves.

Traditional burial results in non-biodegradable, and potentially toxic, materials being buried in the earth. In contrast, a genuine natural burial process conforms to the principles of permaculture and yields a neutral environmental impact.

Logically, and emotionally, a natural burial and green funeral represents the simplest, lowest impact end-of-life option. This is even more so in this case, where proceeds from the burial are directed to fund environmental restoration works.

Local native indigenous and local non-indigenous plants will be used at the site to revegetate and restore the natural environment. 

The existing Bush Forever Planting site within the Old Goolwa Cemetery grounds already contains diverse vegetation, including over 42 native species. Seed will be sourced from existing vegetation on the site and used for further revegetation. 

Some of the existing species onsite include (but not limited to), Kangaroo Thorn (Acacia paradoxa), Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), Spiny Wattle (Acacia spinescens), Bidgee widgee / Sheeps Burr (Acaena novae-zelandiae or echinate), Ground Berry (Acrotiriche sp.), Vanilla Lily (Arthropodium strictum), Flame Heath (Astroloma conotephioides), Native Cranberry (Astroloma humifusum), Sweet-Apple Berry (Billardieria cymosa), Scarlet Bottlebrush (Callistemon rugulosus), Southern Cyprus Pine (Callitris preissii), Common or Smooth Correa – Native fuchsia (Correa reflexa), Wallaby Grass (Danthonia sp.), Black-anther Flax Lily (Dianella revoluta), Crinkled Hop-bush (Dodonaea bauri), Sticky Hop-bush (Dodonaea viscosa), Scented Sundew (Drosera whittakeri), Common Donkey-Orchid (Duiris maculata), Ruby Saltbush (Enchyleana tomentosa), Cong Mallee (Eucalyptus conglabata), Slender-leaved Red Mallee (Eucalyptus leptophylla), Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata), Red Mallee (Eucalyptus socialis), Mallee Bush-pea (Eutaxia microphylla), Sedge (Gahnia laterale), Raspwort (Gonocarpus mezianus), Hop Goodenia (Goodenia ovata), Hollyleaved Grevillea (Grevillea illicifolia), Dwarf hakea (Hakea rugosa), Native Lilac (Hardenbergia violacea), Satin Everlasting (Hibbertia riparia), Slender Velvet-bush (Laisiopetalum bauerii), Spreading Sword Sedge (Lepidosperma concavum), Scented Irongrass (Lomandra effusa), Stiff Irongrass (Lomandra multiflora), Mallee Honey-myrtle (Melaleuca accuminata), Dryland Tea-tree (Melaleuca lanceolata), Broombush (Melaleuca uncinata), Coastal Lignum (Muehlebeckia gunnii), common boobialla (Myrporum insulare),Silver-leaved daisy bush (Olearia pannosa), Twiggy Bush-pea (Pultenaea largiflorens), Seaberry Saltbush (Rhagodia candolleana), Flesh Saltbush (Rhagodia crassifolia), Elegant Native grass (Stipa elegantissima), Bower Spinach (Tetragonia implexicoma). 

Yes, the Nature Foundation will continue to work with existing volunteers who are currently involved in the existing Bush Forever planting site at the Old Goolwa Cemetery. New volunteers are always welcomed and interested members of the public are encouraged to register their interest with the Nature Foundation.