Queenstown's cemetery has received a second lease of life with the Queenstown Lakes District Council community services committee approving extensions to the area.
Parks manager Gordon Bailey said the Cemetery Strategy 2005 indicated the cemetery in Brecon St had only one plot left in its existing developed area.
To extend the graveyard's life, plans had previously been drawn up to develop an unused hill area, providing 100 more burial plots and 150 cremation plots, which would give the cemetery 10 to 15 more years of use.
The community services committee approved those plans in November 2006, but tender prices came back over budget, so the committee decided to hold the matter over.
No funds were allocated in the 2007-08 year, so the plans had remained on hold, Mr Bailey said.
"It would seem most prudent at this time to install one burial beam [allowing for 54 burial plots] on the relatively flat section of ground above Brecon St, between the present burial areas towards the gondola," he said.
The plan, which allows for a hearse vehicle entrance - with the loss of two parking spaces - also allowed for an additional row of cremation plots, allowing for cremations to take place for several more years.
Mr Bailey said $317,000 had been budgeted this financial year for the work, which required steps to be replaced with a slope and the additional beam.
The community services committee approved the tabled plans and the preparation of construction drawings, calling for tenders in line with the council's tenders policy.
