Grave concern over burial costs

Simon Mulqueen, from Bendigo Funerals, is leading a campaign against the price hikes, which include rises of as much as 270 per cent for burials.

At Pine Lodge the scheduled cost is proposed to increase from $3590 to $5190.

The cost of a family-arranged cremation would rise from $820 to $1700, which Mr Mulqueen said penalised people who chose not to use a funeral director.

He said RPCV was trying to align pricing with similarly classified cemeteries in Melbourne.

“It is a bit rich to say just because we are a Class A cemetery we should be charging Melbourne prices,” Mr Mulqueen said.

“People in the regions don’t have the same disposable income, it is not fair.”

RPCV maintains the new schedule is based on a business review and a requirement for the trust to maintain cemeteries in perpetuity.

Chief executive Emma Flukes said the burial options at Pine Lodge and Kialla West were changing, which had led to confusion.

The traditional lawn grave at Pine Lodge will no longer be offered and is instead replaced by a greater choice of burials, including premium graves.

“They are completely different products, so you can’t compare the pricing,” she said.

“We need to look at full cost recovery and cover the perpetual obligations on behalf of the community and make sure our cemeteries are sustainable financially and environmentally.”

Mr Mulqueen has urged Mr Foley to intervene.

“In my view this is clearly a money grab and it is a betrayal of the communities they operate in,” he said.

“I have actually called for the trustees to be sacked and for an administrator to be put in place while an inquiry is held.”

State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said the proposed increases were unconscionable.

“The Health Minister needs to intervene to ensure that RPCV does not impose such large fee increases.”