Shepparton electorate – crematorium in Shepparton

Asked: 4 August 2021 Shepparton electorate

My question is for the Minister for Health. Members of our growing Sikh community in Shepparton, a wonderful multicultural community, met with me recently for the purpose of discussing the establishment of a crematorium in Shepparton. Shepparton does not have a crematorium at all, and members of many communities who wish to use a crematorium facility have to travel either to Bendigo or to Melbourne, which is a long distance away.
The number of people in our community seeking to use the facility of a crematorium is growing. We have a number of religious groups, and certainly our Sikh community is growing, and they are very keen for me to advocate on this issue, and I do so. I do support the need for such a facility because the travel times and distances, when people are in a time of grief, is really quite difficult, and I think cremation is becoming more popular. I seek that the minister consider this.

Answered: 7 April 2022
Thank you for your question. Under the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003, crematorium facilities in Victoria can only be operated by public cemetery trusts.

Cremation services are currently available at nine public cemeteries across the state. As you have noted, the closest Victorian crematorium to Shepparton is located at Eaglehawk Remembrance Park in Bendigo.

Under the Act, a cemetery trust can seek approval from the Secretary of the Department of Health to establish a crematorium. To obtain approval, the trust must have sufficient funds to construct a crematorium, provide a robust business case and demonstrate the viability of the project.

If a cemetery trust intends to seek approval from the Secretary to establish a new crematorium, they should contact the department to discuss the process that is required to support their application.

Martin Foley MP
Minister for Health
Minister for Ambulance Services