Interment rights in NSW - industry information

Interment refers to the burial or cremation of human remains either below ground or in above ground structures.

NSW cemeteries and crematoria are regulated by

Crown cemetery operators have additional regulation to other cemetery operators because they operate cemeteries on Crown land (State government land).

Interment rights are explained in the Questions and answers fact sheet (PDF, 206KB), overview of the interment rights system (PDF, 92KB) and the guides below.

The resources on this page will help cemetery and crematorium operators meet their requirements under Part 4 of the legislation.

For information and resources on the requirements under Division 3 Part 3 of the legislation visit the Interment Industry Scheme page.

Guides

Interment rights (system) in NSW

Part 4 of the Act sets out the interment rights system for NSW

Guide to the interment rights system in NSW (PDF)(163.9 KB)

Industry terms and references

Guide to terms and references used in the interment sector (PDF)(106.99 KB)

Maintenance of memorials

Requirements for the maintenance, alteration and repair of memorials (PDF)(305.68 KB)

Heritage advisory committees

Under the section 69 of the Act, operators must establish and manage heritage advisory committees.

Guide to heritage advisory committees (PDF)(246.38 KB)

Cemetery operator's register

Operators must meet information compliance requirements under part 4 of the Act and the Cemeteries and Crematoria Regulation 2022 (previously shown as the 2014 Regulation)

Guide for a cemetery operators register (PDF)(236.36 KB)

Multiple interment rights

CCNSW can remove the restriction on a person holding interment rights for more than 2 sites in a cemetery. These guides explain what information cemetery operators must provide when applying for an exemption.

Guide for applications for multiple interment rights granted under S56.4 (4)(155.63 KB)

Supplementary guidelines for approvals for large applications under Section 56 (PDF)(93.66 KB)

Guide to records: certificates and forms

Guide to help operators complete certificates and forms required under part 4 of the Act.

Guide for records, certificates and forms (PDF)(253.42 KB)

Templates

The templates from the Guide to records: certificates and forms are in PDF format.

Template A - Application for perpetual interment right (DOCX)(55.13 KB)

Template B - Application for a renewable interment right (DOCX)(55.74 KB)

Template C - Application to renew a renewable interment right (DOCX)(42.8 KB)

Template D - Order for interment (DOCX)(43.53 KB)

Template E - Certificate of a perpetual interment right (DOCX)(41.55 KB)

Template F - Certificate of a renewable interment right (DOCX)(41.42 KB)

Template G - Application for transfer of an interment right (by holder) (DOCX)(49.43 KB)

Template H - Application for transfer of an interment right as a bequest (DOCX)(49.27 KB)

Template I - Application for transfer of an interment right as a result of intestacy (DOCX)(52.1 KB)

Template J - Application for compensation after revocation of a perpetual interment right (DOCX)(50.4 KB)

Template K - Application for copy of entry from cemetery operators register (DOCX)(48.27 KB)

Regarding religious or cultural practices

Under the Cemeteries and Crematoria Regulation 2022, cemetery operators must determine if any cultural or religious practices apply to human remains before they can be disturbed.

To help you identify cultural or spiritual leaders you can consult, see the table below. We will update this over time.

Organisations are listed alphabetically.

Organisations	Contact details
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney	Gateway to search for one of the registered churches database
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils	Email: [email protected] Telephone: 02 9931 96733
Australian National Imams Council	Email: [email protected] Telephone: 1300 765 964
Australia and New Zealand Diocese of the Russian  Orthodox Church Outside of Russia	Email: [email protected]
Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT	Email: [email protected] Telephone: 02 9868 9201
Buddhist Council of New South Wales	Email: [email protected] Telephone: 02 9966 9683
Churches of Christ in NSW and the ACT	Email: [email protected] Telephone: 02 8719 2600
Congregational Federation of Australian and New Zealand (no website)	Email: [email protected]
Maronite Diocese of Saint Maroon	Email: [email protected]
NSW Ecumenical Council	Email: [email protected] Telephone: 02 8259 0819
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies	Email: [email protected] Telephone: 02 9360 1600
Sabian Mandaean Association of Australia (no website)	Email: [email protected] Telephone: 02 9602 3114
Sydney Beth Din	Email: [email protected]
Sydney Chevra Kadisha	Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: The organisations listed provided the information on this page. This is to help with enquiries about religious and cultural practices for interment.

The State of NSW (including the Department of Planning and Environment) and the publisher take no responsibility, and will accept no liability, for the accuracy, reliability or correctness of any information on this page.