7 February 2009

A 20 Megawatt Crematorium?

| harley
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The ABC brings us news that the gubmint is planning a new cemetary on “A site between Mugga Lane and the suburbs of Tuggeranong has been identified for a cemetery and possible crematorium”

There’s a vacant lot near the tip that might be useful…

[ED – I realise a lot of people get emotional about this stuff, but do we really need local cemetaries?]

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VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy10:08 am 09 Feb 09

Why don’t we bury people face down, in a crouching position, with their arses sticking up out of the ground? We could put them in Glebe Park and they could be used as bike racks.

You know it makes sense.

Well, there’s an interesting marketing challenge for somebody!

; )

Actually, combining a gas fired power station with a crematorium makes quite a lot of sense. Use the energy from burning the body of your loved one to create Green Electricity, and then get a discount on your power bill…

I agree, bd84. It’s definitely a matter of personal preference.

: )

There’s no point arguing for or against burial or cremation, it’s a personal preference. Having a crematorium on the site makes sense given the high demand for it and given that there is currently only one crematorium in the ACT, the private one at mitchell.

miz said :

How nice that Stanhope was thinking of Tuggeranong residents! (Per link). Ha! It would be OK if it was just a cemetery (ie parkland) but a crematorium? Geez. Surely they can find a spot away from residents?

Someone always needs to complain, no matter how much of an effect it won’t have on anything.

Cemetery + Arboretum. We could put small plaques on the tree planted over each rello.

You know it makes sense.

Granny said :

I would like to have a tree planted over my grave – something pretty liike a redgum.

I like the idea of planting bodies below where trees might grow. A decent sized tree would have enough space for many more than one.

When you consider that 2/3 of the ACT is nature reserves covered by trees we can spare a few hectares to bury ourselves and our relatives.

I still think the timing of the crematorium announcement was Stanhope giving certain Fadden residents the finger.

I couldn’t bear to be cremated.

When I was fourteen they cremated my grandfather, and as the door closed around the coffin I felt so claustrophobic, it really repulsed me. For some reason the Gungahlin crematorium doesn’t affect me so badly because the coffin descends down into the pedestal.

I guess the coffins in the ground remind me of people sleeping in beds which I associate with peace, whereas burning and fire are something I associate with violence. I know it’s illogical, but I can’t seem to help it.

I would really rather be buried close to my family under a tree than be stuck out at a cemetery by myself, unless there was a family plot which wouldn’t feel so lonely. Not that it matters, I know it doesn’t matter. It just feels like it does.

But I actually like having the cemetery and crematorium located close by and together. Whenever there is a funeral I usually know how to get there, although sometimes the service is held in a church somewhere first. But usually I just turn up and it’s just a few minutes down the road.

It’s always saddest for me when they’re young. A person close to my own age makes me feel my own mortality. With older people I always find it interesting to hear all the things I never knew about them.

There is such a unique story attached to each person, even if they were only six years old and lived all their short years with a disability.

Sammy said :

My brother is interred at the Gungahlin cemetery, and it’s a right hike to get there from Tuggeranong. Obviously a future cemetery in Tuggers would not help with that, but i’ve got other relatives that are due to die at some point, so Tuggeranong would be far more convenient in that situation.

+1. My brother, father and mother in-law are also interred in Gungahlin which I think is a really beautiful place (the lawn bit anyway).

Personally I’m happy with a cemetery, crematorium or whatever else is being built in Tuggeranong. ‘Green’ coffins etc… also sound like a great idea.

I think burying someone standing up is a bit odd but that’s my own view. Enacting this this might require a bit of thought though as I think the top of the deceased’s head will still legally need to be 6ft from the surface for reasons of hygiene. So thats a 12 foot hole for a 6ft person.

gun street girl10:58 am 08 Feb 09

fabforty said :

Surely we are living in a progressive enough world that we should now stop taking up valuable land by planting dead bodies in it.

I understand and sympathise with the logistics of your argument, but unfortunately, people often don’t think logically when it comes to death. Just the same as some can’t fathom the idea of donating organs after death, others can’t deal with the idea of having a relative or loved one cremated. Yep, I know – the idea of burying them is arguably just as unpleasant – but truly, grieving people do what is right for them at the time.

In Singapore because land is scarce they bury you in a plot for a certain amount of years and then you get dug up and put some where else or burnt cant remember. And then they re use the plot.

Surely we are living in a progressive enough world that we should now stop taking up valuable land by planting dead bodies in it.

I know some religions insist on burial but for the rest of us Joe Blows, I think we should automatically be cremated unless there is a very good reason not to – and I can’t think of any.

Cant we just have nice gardens where peoples ashes can be scattered and a small plaque for those who need “something” to look at ?

How nice that Stanhope was thinking of Tuggeranong residents! (Per link). Ha! It would be OK if it was just a cemetery (ie parkland) but a crematorium? Geez. Surely they can find a spot away from residents?

Old news, been in the pipeline for more than 5 years and yes it’s the same site for the former gas fired power plant.

It’s a sensible idea, pretty much all the current cemeteries here will run out of room in the next 10-20 years and will have no impact on residential.

MrPC said :

I do of course agree with the Greens who were saying they want the new cemetery to cater for eco-burial options. Plain wooden caskets buried under trees (or specially designed sacks like when Nate died in the TV show Six Feet Under), or with new trees planted above you after burial.

Cemeteries and the industry in general have been resistant to that since it doesn’t suit their profitability model, with salesmen upgrading you to the swankiest looking casket that will take decades or centuries to degrade. Planting trees is also often frowned upon due to there being no set aside area for such burials in most cemeteries and due to the roots infringing on adjacent burial sites.

Cemeteries have nothing to do with choosing caskets, funeral directors maybe. I can see why planting trees would also not be liked, they would also cost extra money to maintain.

I would like to have a tree planted over my grave – something pretty liike a redgum.

I know it is a long way from Tuggeranong to Gungahlin, but you only have to make the trip once…

It has always offended me that you can’t just get buried in sack, or at least a plywood coffin that you knocked together with bits from bunnings. I am damn sure it is all a rort buy the death industry. And I like the idea of trees. In thirty years they can harvest the trees, and put in another crop, and your loved ones get a return on their investment.

I heard that in Sweden, rather than cremating the bodies, they snap freeze them then shatter the bodies. Apparently a lot less energy is used, and it makes greater fertiliser. Just think, you could use it on your vegie patch. Would that make you a cannibal if you ate the vegies fertilised with your dead loved one?

My brother is interred at the Gungahlin cemetery, and it’s a right hike to get there from Tuggeranong. Obviously a future cemetery in Tuggers would not help with that, but i’ve got other relatives that are due to die at some point, so Tuggeranong would be far more convenient in that situation.

Standing on your feet, like Ben Jonson, would not be such a bad way to be buried – although his hairy skull did roll off when they were digging the grave next door ….

Woody Mann-Caruso10:23 am 07 Feb 09

Upright, naked, in a sack, under a tree.

I think it’s fair that the southside needs at least one cemetery, since Woden will be full in about 10 years. The alternative to this would be more bodies at Gunghalin.

I do of course agree with the Greens who were saying they want the new cemetery to cater for eco-burial options. Plain wooden caskets buried under trees (or specially designed sacks like when Nate died in the TV show Six Feet Under), or with new trees planted above you after burial.

Cemeteries and the industry in general have been resistant to that since it doesn’t suit their profitability model, with salesmen upgrading you to the swankiest looking casket that will take decades or centuries to degrade. Planting trees is also often frowned upon due to there being no set aside area for such burials in most cemeteries and due to the roots infringing on adjacent burial sites.

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