Strategic planning for cemeteries should be one of the easier tasks for planners. Supply and demand can be estimated with some certainty. Land allocation through a zoning and assessment process should be able to identify and secure appropriate locations with minimal social and environmental impact and disruption. However the stigma of a new cemetery in a neighbourhood, irrespective of need, can be a divisive land use issue that can result in strong resident opposition buoyed by the support of their elected representatives. This paper examines past and present issues that have informed cemetery planning in Sydney and, through four case studies, traces the tensions within the development assessment process for new cemeteries at the rural–urban fringe. We conclude that regionally based planning and assessment must play the dominant role in considering this land use to balance what appears to be emotive community response to what is an essential activity within the urban fabric.