New pet crematorium could light up Bendigo under plans lodged with council

Central Victorian Pet Cremations hopes two incinerators - known as "cremators" - can be installed at a MacDougall Road property, according to plans lodged with the City of Greater Bendigo's planning department.

The company only wants to use its cremators during "council-approved hours", but owners want the freedom to access the cool room 24-hours a day, their planning application states.

Most pet owners can wait until morning if their pet dies overnight, but some need assistance faster, including older people with bigger animals, CV Pet Cremations co-owner Chris Waterson said.

"A lot of pets are owned by people who have disabilities. They're the ones you try to get to as soon as possible," he said.

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Only standard security lights would need to be installed at the Golden Gully premises and the business required no extra parking or loading facilities, the application stated.

The cremators would be approved by the Environmental Protection Authority, it said.

"The use of the site would generate minimal adjustments in the current noise levels experienced (and) should not involve emissions via air, land or water," the application stated.

Owners want to move from a temporary space in Eaglehawk, where the business was founded three-and-a-half years ago.

Some of Victoria's cremators are big enough to handle horses, Mr Waterson said. Most, including Bendigo's, handle smaller animals like dogs, cats, birds, lizards and other animals weighing less than 80kg.

Clients want to know their pets are being looked after, he said.

"Cremation is a clean and very careful process," Mr Waterson said.

He often forms unique bonds with pet owners.

"We are dealing with people who can be at an extremely distressing time of their lives. You become quite attached to those owners and we are often a type of support for them," Mr Waterson said.

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