The Dunedin woman is happy about the idea of being buried in her home town in the manner she wants, after news yesterday that a natural burial site in Dunedin was one step closer.
''I'm so pleased. A natural burial is written into my will, and it will be ideal to be buried locally,'' Ms Richardson (37) said.
In about five minutes and with no debate the Dunedin City Council's community development committee unanimously approved a natural burial site plan, saying a final decision from the committee of the whole later this month should confirm that.
The site was to be established at the Green Park Cemetery, near Waldronville, where natural burials would be able to be carried out from the beginning of next year, after a period of road and path construction.
Ms Richardson, manager at Kip McGrath's South Dunedin centre, said she was not ill. Several years ago, after discussions with her family, she had decided she wanted a natural burial and had that specified in her will.
''I don't believe in embalming bodies. I don't think it is necessary in our climate.''
Back when she made her will, Wellington was the only place a person could have a natural burial. Now, she was ''really happy'' that she could be buried in Dunedin.
In natural burials, bodies are not embalmed. They are placed in untreated and biodegradable caskets in shallow graves close to the surface, within composted soil.
At the Dunedin site, native trees from a list determined by the council would be planted on top of graves, to eventually return the burial site to bush.
The method has been advocated as a way to bury people without using chemicals or polluting the environment.
Ms Richardson was one of 24 submitters on the proposal to establish a natural burial site and associated natural burial protocols.
Other submitters were ''overjoyed'', ''wholeheartedly supported'' and applauded the council for supporting the initiative.
''I've waited a long time for this and will be very happy when the project is actualised,'' Nancy Earth said.
''I see this as a very good thing to do. I have told my family that this is what I would like,'' Alexina McKie said.
After 20 submissions requesting it were received during the 2010-11 draft annual plan consultation period, councillors asked council staff to investigate the idea. An area at the back of the Green Park Cemetery has been set aside as a natural cemetery.
The guidelines say the use of toxic embalming fluids would be prohibited, natural fibre clothing would be encouraged and caskets would have to be biodegradable.
Plots would be 2.5m by 2.5m to provide room for grave plantings, and caskets would be in the active layer of soil, but at least 750mm from the surface, marked only by selected plants and, if desired, an untreated timber marker.
The area would be developed as natural bush regeneration, with the GPS co-ordinates of graves retained by the council.
Natural burial would cost the same as traditional burial, and costs would be reviewed after at least 10 natural burials or one year.
