No decision made over Hagley cemetery sale, says Uniting Church

Last week about 90 residents of Hagley and its surrounding suburbs met over concerns of the cemeteries future, including about 20 reserved future burial spots. 

The cemetery is attached to the now defunct church, which held its last formal service on January 31, 2016. 

The group voted unanimously to put a motion to the Uniting Church’s Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, to create a trust that would allow the cemetery to be purchased as a stand alone asset. 

However, a Uniting Church spokesperson said no decision regarding the church’s sale had been finalised. 

“The Uniting Church has been considering the sale of the Hagley Uniting Church as the church building has not been used regularly for a number of years,” the spokesperson said.

“However, no decision has been made. The church is considering the property being sold together or the church and cemetery being sold separately.

“The main concern is to ensure that ongoing management, including statutory obligations relating to burials and cremations, is adhered to.”

Chairman of the Westbury parish council Robert Clarke said the group were now waiting in “limbo” over the requested motion, which would see the cemetery sold at a “peppercorn” rate. 

“We are very hopeful that the synod will see this request from the perspective of the community who made it,” he said. 

“If we are turned down, you will hear about it. My interest in this issue has always been with the concerns of the community. 

“A lot of people have been left very upset by this whole situation.”

The Uniting Church said it was currently looking at options for how to manage cemeteries in areas where there is no longer a worshiping congregation, including inviting local councils “into conversations”.