Cremation
Planning a funeral serviceFAQs
If you choose cremation
You will need to:
- engage a funeral director, who will make the arrangements of your behalf
- the funeral director will take the deceased into their care while the family decide on a cremation date and memorial service options
- the funeral director will process all paperwork on your behalf including but not limited to:
- NSW Cremation Application
- Coroners Cremation Permit
- Cremation Risk Advice
- Medical Certificate Cause of Death
- Medical Referees Cremation Permit
- Tweed Shire Council will invoice the funeral director for the cost of the cremation and memorial service (if required)
- the funeral director will invoice the family inclusive of their fees and Council’s.
Ash interment
If you require ashes to be interred, please contact Council to arrange purchase of an ash interment site or to discuss an existing reservation or prepaid interment.
Planning a funeral service
To arrange a burial or cremation at one of Tweed Shire Council’s cemeteries, families will need to appoint a funeral director, who will gently guide you through the process and coordinate all arrangements with our cemetery staff on your behalf.
Find a local funeral director by searching online or reviewing local obituary pages.
Role of the funeral director
- Transportation and care of the deceased.
- Removal of pacemaker (cremation).
- Coordination of the burial or cremation date.
- Coordination of the service type, for example: memorial, funeral or wake.
- The collection of ashes (cremations).
- Coordination of graveside memorial or chapel service.
- Chapel booking (if required).
- Paperwork and transfers.
- Guidance or quotes for at-need or prepaid funerals.
Once you have a funeral director, they will guide you through the process, next steps and will liaise with Tweed Shire Cemetery staff on your behalf.
Role of the Cemeteries team
- Liaison with funeral directors.
- Assistance with selecting and purchasing burial or ash interment sites (can be reserved in advance with a reservation fee, with the balance paid when needed).
- Help in choosing a suitable site location and share the details with your funeral director (if you don’t have a reserved site).
- Processing applications for burial or cremation.
- Booking burials and ash interments.
- Booking the chapel and outdoor Memorial Stump.
- Designing and ordering plaques.
- Maintenance of Tweed Valley, Tweed Lawn and Murwillumbah Lawn Cemeteries.
- Managing daily cremations, burials and ash interments.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cremation?
A cremation is a method of final disposition of a deceased person, using intense high-temperature heat (around 1000°C) resulting in bone fragments.
The remains are then collected into a metal container to cool. When cool, the remains or fragments are processed into a fine powder or “Ash”. The consistency of the ashes ranges from course grit to powder.
Health regulations specify that only one body and casket can be cremated at a time. The cremated remains are collected individually and kept separate and are placed in an ash container or urn to be returned to the family.
What are the benefits of cremation?
- Cremation and ash interment is far less expensive than burial.
- Cremation is seen as a more convenient option than burial.
- Ashes can be kept at home until the family are ready to part with their family member.
- Ashes are portable and can be transported easily to a final resting place.
- Ashes can be scattered at a location that’s personal to the deceased.
- Ashes are often split between family members.
- Ashes interment sites are static, can be researched, found and visited in years to come.
- Ashes can be interred into an existing grave, or within a coffin.
- Some faiths view cremation as a respectful way to handle human remains.
What are the main cemeteries in Tweed Shire?
Tweed Shire Council maintains 11 cemeteries across Tweed Shire. See all of the cemetery locations across the Tweed.
How can I find a funeral director in Tweed Shire?
You can find a funeral director in the Tweed Shire by searching online or checking local obituary and funeral notice pages, where many funeral directors advertise their services.
You may also come across local providers through community networks, word of mouth, or by looking at directories that list funeral services in your area. Choosing someone who feels supportive and aligned with your family’s needs is important, so take your time exploring the options available.
Where can I find help planning a funeral in the Tweed Shire?
You can find help planning a funeral in the Tweed Shire by contacting a local funeral director, who will guide you through each step with care and handle arrangements on your behalf. You’re not expected to navigate this alone – a funeral director will support you with planning the service, completing required paperwork and coordinating with cemetery staff.
Where can I find eco-friendly burial services in Tweed Shire?
You can find eco‑friendly or natural burial options in the Tweed Shire by contacting a local funeral director, who can help you explore environmentally conscious choices that align with your family’s wishes. Tweed Shire Council cemeteries offer natural burials, which can be arranged through your funeral director as part of the funeral planning process.