THE Ipswich City Council has identified the Stone Quarry Cemetery in Jeebropilly as the “best possible location” to establish a section for the city’s Islamic community.

The cemetery is a denominational burial place, has a preliminary design that identifies about 690 potential burial plots, and Council has ascertained that it has adequate space.

Mayor Teresa Harding said members of the Islamic community petitioned council in July for an appropriate location to be set aside within an existing Ipswich cemetery for Muslim residents.

“Traditional Islamic burials have different requirements to Christian burials, and to date there has been nowhere in Ipswich suitable for members of the faith to lay their loved ones to rest,” she said.

“Brisbane’s Mt Gravatt cemetery is the closest cemetery with appropriate burial options, so it’s important that we find a suitable location for Ipswich’s Muslim residents close to home.

“Traditional burials for a person of Islamic faith place the body generally in a North-South orientation, as it is important for the deceased to be perpendicular to the direction of Mecca.

“Council’s existing cemeteries have burials plotted in an East-West orientation, which is generally for people of Christian faith.

“After members of the Islamic community approached council earlier this year, we have been working to find a potential location within one of our existing cemeteries, which includes the Stone Quarry Cemetery.”