Don Duffy, a trustee of Pakenham Cemetery Trust, says the two-hectare site, thought to have hosted burials since the 1850s, has at most four years of available land.

"Of course, that's dependent on demand. Pakenham is growing quickly and while most new arrivals are young, a lot are coming into aged-care homes."

For more than five years, the cemetery trust has been on the lookout for an alternative site.

The cemetery trust has formed a sub-committee to lobby the council and state MPs for funding and to help them find a 12-16 hectare site outside the urban growth boundary. The anticipated cost would be $1.5 million and meet the town's needs for 50 years.

With insufficient funds, the cemetery trust is hoping for financial assistance from Cardinia Council and the state government.

"I imagine the council will be keen to have a local cemetery. The problem is the cost of land close to the site is very expensive," Mr Duffy said. "It will also require the shire's support for suitable land to be rezoned."

Mr Duffy said the nearby Berwick cemetery - believed to have 10 years of land supply left - was also filling fast. Other options include Lang Lang and Bunyip cemeteries.

A Department of Health spokesman said state governments did not normally fund cemetery land acquisitions. "Cemeteries are supposed to be self-funding," he said.

Last year a council report stated that the shire may need to assist with start-up costs or the land purchase.

Cardinia councillor Brett Owen said the state government had contributed $200,000 to extend Gembrook cemetery, though it was not a common precedent.

He said the council was willing to advocate for funding but "the push" had to come from the cemetery trust.

"I find it unbelievable that state governments don't fund cemeteries; I don't think it's the role of the council to pay for the land. We need the whole trust to jump on board to rev up the government."