Cemetery rests on its green laurels

Geelong Cemeteries Trust has been successful in winning the Environmental Protection category at this year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
The trust was recognised for retaining the existing protected Coastal Moonah Woodland and developing a natural reserve offering unique burial and cremation memorials at Queenscliff Cemetery.
The site, Moonah Memorial Walk, is a habitat for endangered woodland and species at the cemetery.
Augmented with the addition of over 1500 additional trees, shrubs and understory plants, the walk is also home to a variety of fauna and other flora in a beautiful natural setting for burial and cremation memorials.
Sustainability Victoria chief executive officer Stan Krpan congratulated Geelong Cemeteries Trust and other Premier’s Award winners.
“Each year we continue to discover the passion Victorians have for protecting their environment and thinking creatively about new sustainable practices,” Mr Krpan said.
“Our state has an excellent track record of delivering innovative projects that benefit our environment and the community through efficient waste management, resource recovery, and new technologies for clean energy.”
“Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. Your contributions will have positive long-term effects on our society and our way of life.”
Geelong Cemeteries Trust also acknowledged Environmental Protection category co-finalists Armstrong Creek Development Corporation and GbLA Landscape Architects for a joint project at southern Geelong’s Warralily estate, and Moonee Valley City Council for its Afton Street wetland and stormwater harvesting scheme.
The trust said its Moonah Memorial Walk drew on “extensive community consultation, botanical assessment and careful, thoughtful environmental planning”.
“The walk was a great challenge and we are proud to have been a part of this extensive project saving the endangered woodland and restoring it back to its former beauty,” trust chairman Lynden Smith said.
“We are so happy that we can offer the walk as a treasured place for the community to visit for years to come.”
“This project has gained interest within the cemetery industry, both nationally and internationally, and is a first for working with existing original vegetation and creating a true natural burial setting.”
“My fellow trust members and I would like to publicly thank our wonderful staff for their creativity and hard work in completing the project and also thank the Borough of Queenscliffe council and the communities of Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale for their support and enthusiasm”.
The trust encourages the community to visit the memorial walk.
Further information on the purchase of limited burial and cremation memorials is available by phoning the trust’s administration office on 5249 3939 for an appointment with a staff member.