Burials
Reservations At-need burials Prepaid sites Burial options Perpetual interment right FAQs
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We offer 3 types of burials – lawn, lawn memorial and monumental. Burial types are defined by the location and memorial standards.
Families and loved ones can choose from a variety of picturesque burial sites, available across these cemetery locations:
Reservations for burial sites
Burial sites can be reserved ahead of time. Our cemeteries team will reserve your chosen burial site for a non-refundable administration fee. The reservation fee covers the cost of recording your details and ensures the site is held exclusively for you. When the burial is required, the full interment fee applicable at that time will be payable.
You will receive written confirmation of your reservation, and we will maintain the site until it is needed. If you no longer wish to keep the site, you may relinquish it at any time.
Find out more about the next steps
At-need burial
This is when the burial is required now. The full fee of the burial is required prior to the interment. Your chosen funeral director will book the burial and be invoiced.
Prepaid burial sites
Previously, there was the option to pre-pay for a burial site. This option is no longer available.
Re-opening of burial sites
A re-opening is for a site that allows for a second or third burial. This is determined at the time of reservation or need for a new site. Some pre-paid burials or existing first burials may have only had the first burial paid in full and a re-opening fee will be required. See fees and charges for the full list of fees.
Relinquishment or transfer of rights
A reservation for a burial or a burial paid in full which has had no interments into the grave, can be relinquished back to Council or transferred to another person.
This will incur an administration fee to update relevant records and create new records. See fees and charges.
What you need to do:
- call the Cemeteries office and provide your CEM reference number
- advise if you want to relinquish the site back to Council or transfer the rights
- an application for relinquishment/transfer of rights will be sent to you
- complete and sign the application form – for transfers, add name and contact details of the new applicant
- a confirmation of the relinquishment/transfer will be sent to you (a refund minus administration fees will be sent with the confirmation if the site was prepaid)
- an invoice for administration fees will be sent to the person receiving the transfer – their right to the site will be confirmed once it’s been paid.
Burial options
Lawn burials
A lawn burial is where the memorial is flush to the ground. A cast bronze plaque is placed on a granite base. Lawn burials are available at Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads and Tweed Valley cemeteries. Lawn burials can be single, dual or triple burials.
Lawn memorials
A lawn memorial is a headstone with a direct inscription on an upright headstone. There are various styles and colours to choose from. An 80-character (non-coloured* standard characters) inscription is included in the single and first burial and 40 non-coloured* standard characters for the second burial. Also includes 2 × stainless steel vases.
This type of burial is only available at Tweed Heads Lawn Cemetery. Lawn memorial burials can be single or dual burials.
*Font colour additional at time of inscription.
Monumental burial
A monumental burial can encompass a variety of upright style monuments. This can include plinths, granite tiers, upright headstones and grave slabs.
Monumental burials are available at Tweed Heads General, Murwillumbah General, Murwillumbah Roman Catholic Cemetery (only existing reservations), Tyalgum General (existing reservations and limited at-need sites). Monumental burials are single burials.
Ashes in a grave
Ashes can be interred into an existing grave. Generally, there can be a total of 6 interments (burial and ash combined) in a burial site.
The location of the grave and type of memorial will determine the placement of ashes. The ashes will be placed either under the headstone, in front of the headstone or at the foot of the grave. Please note, an upgrade to an existing memorial may be required to memorialise the interment.
Ashes in a coffin
Ashes can be interred into a coffin at the time of burial. This option is when a loved one has passed and been cremated and their remains are to be placed in the coffin for final resting.
An application and associated fee are required to ensure the interment is formally recorded. Additional cost to upgrade the memorial may also be required.
Natural burials
With a natural burial, the body is laid to rest in a biodegradable coffin and materials made from natural fibres to allow remains to return to the earth. This earth-friendly approach minimises environmental impact while offering a simple, respectful farewell aligned with nature.
At-need natural burial sites are available at Murwillumbah Lawn Cemetery.
Payment for a natural burial site is at time of need. Your funeral director will arrange approvals through NSW Health so the burial can proceed.
See costs for natural burial on our fees and charges page.
Burial memorials
All burial fees include a standard memorial consistent with the type of burial. Any deviation from the standard will have additional fees. Check out the Memorials page for all standard memorials and upgrade options.
To memorialise a burial site, an application for the memorial will be sent to the interment right holder. For at-need burials, this will be sent after the fees have been paid by the funeral director.
The application needs to be signed and completed with draft wording and design element upgrades and sent to the Cemeteries office.
Only the right of interment holder can arrange the memorial. To allow another person to do so on your behalf can be arranged when you provide a certified statutory declaration stating the name, address, phone number and email of the person you nominate to undertake the memorialisation.
Contact the cemeteries office for detailed information.
Perpetual interment right – burials
A perpetual interment right is a contract that licences a burial or burials to occur in a designated site. This does not give ownership of the land rather than allowing use of the land for a burial. The burial site can be pre-selected however; Council reserves the right to relocate the chosen site if weather conditions prevent safe access or use of that site.
The interment right holder is the person who has the rights to a grave site. This right allows the holder to determine who will be buried in the site and memorialise the site in accordance with the standards. A person becomes the interment right holder when they:
- pre-purchased a grave site (this option is no longer available)
- inter into a reserved interment site
- the right is transferred from an existing interment right holder (i.e. you are the executor of their Will at the time of passing)
- an existing interment right holder relinquishes their right to their pre-paid site to transfer to another person.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Council approval for a burial on private property?
Yes. You must have written permission from Council before a burial can take place on private property. See Council’s Cemeteries and private burials policy(PDF, 155KB).
Tweed Shire Council may consider an application for a burial on private property under the Public Health Act 2010 and the Public Health (Disposal of Bodies) Regulation 2012.
An application should be made in writing, accompanied by a site plan and the current fee. Applications are not considered if the land parcel is less than 5 hectares.
Private cemetery/burial on private land application
Further information can be obtained by contacting Council’s Environmental Health Unit on 02 6670 2400.
Any application for the establishment of a private cemetery will be the subject of a development application (DA) and enquires should be directed to Council’s Development Assessment Unit on 02 6670 2400.
Can I leave trinkets on a plaque or gravesite?
No. Council’s policy does not allow for trinkets to be left on plaques and interment sites. This helps to ensure sites are maintained and attractive for all visitors. In the past, trinkets have dominated individual sites and impacted upon adjacent sites. They can also deteriorate and look untidy over time.
Council’s Cemeteries and private burials policy states:
“You are not allowed to leave vases, glass jars, ceramic containers, statues, metal containers etc. in the cemetery. For workplace health and safety reasons, such items will be removed without notice. Families may supply their own vases, provided they are made of non-breakable material such as plastic, stainless steel and have a spike on the base to stop them tipping over. Artificial flowers are not permitted and will be removed without notice.”
How much does a natural or green burial cost?
The cost of a natural or green burial varies depending on the specific fees that apply at the time of need. You can find the current pricing by visiting the Cemeteries fees and charges page, which provides the full list of costs for a natural burial at Murwillumbah Lawn Cemetery.
What is the difference between a natural burial and a traditional burial?
A natural burial focuses on minimising environmental impact. The body is placed in a biodegradable coffin, and only natural materials are used so the remains can return to the earth more gently. Natural burials usually take place in designated areas that are maintained in a simple, natural state.
Traditional burials, on the other hand, typically use standard coffins and allow for a wider range of memorials or headstones. These sites are maintained more formally, with landscaping and established memorial standards.
How to arrange a natural burial?
You can arrange a natural burial in the same way you would arrange a traditional burial. Begin by engaging a funeral director, who will guide you through the process, help you choose a suitable burial site, and organise all required approvals and arrangements on your behalf. The funeral director will also take the deceased into their care while you decide on the burial date and any travel or service arrangements. More details are available on the Cemeteries Services page.
How do I reserve a burial site in Tweed Shire Council cemeteries?
To reserve a burial site, you will need to follow the steps outlined on our services page. This page explains how to reserve a plot in advance or arrange a burial at the time of need, along with the information you’ll need to provide and the process for completing the booking.
How much does a burial site cost in a Tweed Shire Council cemetery?
The cost of a burial site depends on the type of burial, the cemetery location and the applicable fees at the time. You can find the full list of current burial plot fees for Tweed Shire Council cemeteries on our fees and charges page.