Many Wollongong people were disturbed by an advertisement placed in the business section of a Sydney newspaper last Saturday. It seems that Wollongong council is " testing the market " by offering it's crematorium for public sale !
One of the functions of councils that is rarely thought about is the provision of a cemetery. In the case of Wollongong, it is one of just five of the one hundred and fifty two councils in this state that own and provide a crematorium service.
What is not clear is the extent of this sale offer. The council states that it will retain the land at Unanderra, but what happens to the existing arrangements as regards memorial gardens where the ashes of those cremated are located, or the memorial walls and other facilities.
If these become administered by a private owner the cost will most certainly rise, and this leaves a question mark over plot reservations and future facilities.
Is Wollongong council so desperate for money that they are prepared to relinquish a public asset and impose added costs of death to ratepayers ? It would make sense if council came clean and issued a balance sheet and profit and loss statement on crematorium operations.
Is it running at a loss ? Is it making a financial return to council ? Will council be better or worse off if it passes into private hands ?
There will be a suspicion that this sale is a bit like pawning the family silver to raise money for continuing projects like the " Blue Mile ".
At the moment, the ratepayers of Wollongong own that crematorium by the nature of past rates paid to establish and maintain it. Before this sale goes any further they have a right to all the facts and figures. Put them on the table - and allow the ratepayers to decide !
That is also a decision that should not be made by administrators. A decision of that magnitude should wait until an elected council is again deciding this city's affairs !
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