Funeral Director and Contractor Information

Find out your requirements as a contractor for carrying out works in Council's cemeteries: 

  1. Funeral directors
  2. Monumental mason
  3. Gravedigger

1. Funeral directors

All funeral directors carrying out works within Cessnock City Council cemeteries must be licensed by Council. Licenses are valid for 12 months and are issued at the beginning of each financial year upon assessment of application.

Licensed funeral directors must complete an Order of Interment Application and Perpetual Interment Right Contract when completing At Need Interment arrangements, in order to obtain permission to carry out an Interment.

Applications must be completed for each individual Interment and be submitted to Council at least 48 hours prior to the Interment. Council will issue an authorisation to proceed in the form of an Order of Interment Certificate within 24 hours of receiving the application.

Please email cemetery@cessnock.nsw.gov.au to request relevant applications.

2. Monumental mason

All monumental masons carrying out works in Council cemeteries must be licensed by Council. Licenses are valid for 12 months and are issued at the beginning of each financial year.

Monumental Masons applying for a license should read the Works Within Council Cemeteries Guidelines and complete an Application for License to Work in Council Cemeteries.

A license will be issued to each employee who carries a current Work Health and Safety Induction card. Licenses must be carried at all times when working within cemeteries. 

Note: all persons working within Cessnock City Council Cemeteries must wear appropriate long longs PPE and broad brim hats at all times. All Council sites are smoke free.

Monumental masons must complete an Application for Monumental Work and email to cemetery@cessnock.nsw.gov.au in order to carry out works in one of Council’s cemeteries. This application should be completed for each individual monument. A letter of approval will be provided upon assessment of compliant proposed works.

Please email cemetery@cessnock.nsw.gov.au to request relevant applications.

3. Gravedigger

All grave diggers carrying out works in Council cemeteries must be licensed by Council. These licenses are valid for 12 months and are issued at the beginning of each financial year.

Grave diggers applying for a license should read the Works Within Council Cemeteries Guidelines and complete an Application for License to Work in Council Cemeteries.

A license will be issued to each employee who carries a current Work Health and safety Induction card. Licenses must be carried at all times when working within Cemeteries.

Note: all persons working within Cessnock City Council Cemeteries must wear appropriate long longs PPE and broad brim hats at all times. All sites are smoke free.

Grave diggers should liaise directly with the funeral director and ensure the necessary approvals and instructions are obtained prior to Interment.

Please email cemetery@cessnock.nsw.gov.au to request relevant applications.

Please contact Council’s Cemetery Officer on (02) 4993 4100 if you require any further information about these processes.

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