Prices are set to rise at Pine Lodge and Kialla West cemeteries under a proposal by the Trust that runs the cemeteries.
Remembrance Parks Central Victoria is planning to increase prices beyond CPI rises for the first time in a decade at Pine Lodge and Kialla West for right of interment and interment.
The Trust is proposing to raise prices at eight Victorian cemeteries it is responsible for.
Across all the Remembrance Parks Central Victoria cemeteries, the proposed fee increases range from $250-$345 — an average of 14 per cent — for right of interment and $230-$420 for an adult interment, depending on location and depth of interment.
At Pine Lodge, the right of interment fee for an adult lawn grave will increase by $345 — 14 per cent — to $2800 under the proposal.
There will be no change in the price of a single depth adult interment at Pine Lodge — with the price remaining at $1685.
A double depth adult interment at Pine Lodge will increase by $230 — 16 per cent — to $1685, while a triple depth adult interment will increase by $285 — 15 per cent — to $1685.
At Kialla West cemetery, the adult right to interment for a standard lawn grave will increase by $250 — 15 per cent — under the proposal.
An adult single depth interment will increase by $310 — 15 per cent — to $2350.
The price for a double depth adult interment at Kialla West will increase by $370 — 15 per cent — to $2810, while a triple depth adult interment is proposed to increase by $420 — 15 per cent — to $3260.
Remembrance Parks Central Victoria chief executive officer Lauretta Stace met with some of Shepparton’s funeral directors to present its fee increase proposal on Friday, November 1.
“The cost-of-living crisis has put significant pressure on many of our fixed costs and as a result RPCV has, and still is, experiencing deficits and cannot sustain the current pricing regime for some of our services,” Ms Stace said.
“In some cemeteries we are providing interment services at below cost and cannot continue to do so”.
Ms Stace said Remembrance Parks Central Victoria was “acutely aware” of the cost-of-living pressures on the community.
“We have done everything we can to keep our prices as affordable as possible,” she said.
“Our costs are fixed, such as fuel, gas, construction, labour, land value, equipment, depreciation and telecommunications.
“All these costs have increased well beyond CPI over the past five years.”
Ms Stace said there had been an independent review of Remembrance Parks Central Victoria’s costs to ensure it was “operating as lean as possible while still being able to deliver on our core responsibilities”.
Remembrance Parks Central Victoria is seeking feedback from key stakeholders and the community about the fee proposal before it is formally submitted to the Victorian Department of Health for consideration and approval.
If approved, the new fees will start from December.
Any questions or feedback can be made by emailing enquiries@rpcv.org.au or submitting a form on the Remembrance Parks Central Victoria website at www.rpcv.org.au/pricing or writing to PO Box 268, Eaglehawk 3556.