Wollongong Crematorium's 50-year-old furnace will need to be replaced in 10 years, potentially costing ratepayers $500,000. At an emotional public meeting on Saturday to discuss the future of the crematorium, residents were told money also would need to be spent to bring the crematorium building "up to a more contemporary standard". "It competes with every other asset (the) council owns to get funds," Wollongong City Council property and recreation manager Peter Coyte told the meeting.
Crematorium sale plan goes publicDespite the looming maintenance issues, Mr Coyte revealed the business on Berkeley Rd, Unanderra, had returned a "modest profit" for the past few years.The council relined the furnace about five years ago, has upgraded the exhaust and converted it from diesel to gas fuel.But he refused to provide specific figures on the facility's financial performance, noting the risk of giving competitors the upper hand.About 20 residents attended Saturday's meeting at the council's Burelli St administration office, which came after a similar public meeting on Thursday night.Some expressed concern for the future of the business and the associated memorial gardens where their relatives are interred.There were fears about how fees would be structured and maintenance of the grounds."You have got something spectacular there and it is a credit to you," one resident said.The public has until October 2 to send submissions to the council on whether the crematorium should be sold. "I think the administrators will recognise we haven't put financial data on the table. I think what they want to hear is your emotions on it," Mr Coyte replied.Mr Coyte could not confirm if money residents had paid to reserve niches or to have family members' ashes placed at the gardens or in the memorial wall would be reimbursed if they chose to go elsewhere.But he assured the meeting the private operator would be buying only the business and would be accountable to the council as the owner of the land and building."Cemeteries are seen as core businesses," he said. "Whether ... the council should be in a business of running a crematorium, that is another question."
