Cessnock Council has announced it won't be reusing gravesites in its 10 council-owned cemeteries.
The state government announced changes to burials last year, meaning families would be forced to choose between a perpetual burial site or temporary sites - which could be dug up and reused after a certain amount of time.
Mayor Bob Pynsent said council doesn't think its fair graves could be dug up if families are unable to afford a perpetual plot, or if they fail to pay for renewal after a certain period of time.
"Council decided we would not put a 25-year timeline on the purchase of grave sites," said Mayor Pynsent.
"We thought that was wrong; People purchase a gravesite at any of our ten cemeteries, and we believe it should be for life, not for 25 years and the grave needing to be disturbed."
In November 2018, local concerns were raised over the issue when Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said she had seen more concern on social media about the changes than about any other issue.
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| Cessnock Cemetery. Image: Cessnock Council |
