The question of reopening the cemetery, which was closed to new burials in 2005, arose in March, when Mosgiel resident Alistair Grant approached the Mosgiel Taieri Community Board to see what it could do on the matter.
At the time, he believed it was "ridiculous" that "a town the size of Mosgiel" did not have its own cemetery.
The closest were in Allanton, Waldronville and West Taieri.
Expanding the cemetery by buying vacant land beside it, owned by the New Zealand Transport Agency, was a viable option, he said.
However, a Dunedin City Council report to be placed before the community board today, says otherwise.
Botanic garden and cemeteries team leader Alan Matchett said in the report that buying and developing the extra land was "not a sustainable or realistic proposition".
"There are no specific advantages or options available to reopen and or extend the life of East Taieri by the purchase of the adjacent parcel of land," he said.
The community board had access to a fund of about $28,000 for improvements to the cemetery, but that would not cover the cost of the land which had a rateable value of $241,000, nor necessary consents and development.
The land, which was also identified as an access corridor for an approved subdivision, had the same surface flooding and drainage problems as the cemetery. The high water table caused "anxiety and distress to family of those buried" there, "making it unsuitable for burial purposes", Mr Matchett said.
Cemetery services in the area were being provided by Allanton and Green Park cemeteries, with the former undergoing an upgrade in preparation for increased use. His final recommendation was that no further action be taken in the pursuit of expanding East Taieri Cemetery.
Community board chairman Bill Feather declined to comment before the meeting.
