Melbourne’s housing crisis is extending from the living to the dead, with many of the city’s burial grounds close to capacity.
According to a recent report in The Age, Melbourne’s historic General Cemetery in North Carlton is just five years away from having zero vacancies available.
Leigh Funston, spokesperson for the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, said of the eight graveyards the trust manages, only two still have “significant burial positions” available.
Like any other real-estate, the high demand has resulted in a spike in prices.
“Space is at a premium and if people want to secure places in these older cemeteries [for burial], particularly an iconic cemetery such as Melbourne General Cemetery, well then, there is only a limited period of time that they could do so,” said Mr Funston.
But the price hike hasn’t deterred Melbourne resident Metaxia ‘Maxi’ Tsibidis.
To ensure she and her husband have a plot close to her parents at Melbourne General, the 48-year-old has decided to make the investment.
“Unfortunately, it is not cheap to purchase [a plot] in the inner city. [But] there is only a handful of them and we didn’t want to miss out,” Ms Tsibidis told The Age.
“This is our town and all our history is there and it makes sense if the history continues to the nearest burial point – it completes the whole circle.”
For Ms Tsibidis, it is important to have the plots close to their home so that they can visit, and observe the Greek Orthodox traditions when required.
“Part of our culture is to frequently be able to visit the plot as often as possible, especially in the beginning, when people pass away. We have a strong period of mourning,” she said.
Also facing vacancy issues, are the Dandenong Community Cemetery, Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery and Cheltenham Memorial Park.
Aware of the land supply issue, Jacqui Briggs-Weatherill, chief executive of the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, says they are planning ahead.
“The trust has embarked on the preparation of a formal land strategy, and is in discussions with the Metropolitan Planning Authority to integrate cemetery planning into Plan Melbourne,” said Ms Briggs-Weatherill.
“Solutions to the impending depletion of cemetery land may include acquiring additional land and changing cultural practices.”
Source: The Age