Former Bachelor star Elora ignites crematorium controversy

A former Bachelor contestant known for her fire-twirling owns a crematorium and things have gotten weirder from there.

It's not every day a former reality star comes under fire for her involvement in a crematorium, but that's exactly what's happening to The Bachelor's Elora Murger.

Elora, who first appeared on our screens in Matty J's season of The Bachelor in 2017 as well as subsequent seasons of Bachelor In Paradise, is the director of a Sunshine Coast business called Coastal Cremations.

The business has recently sparked controversy after a report from A Current Affair detailed that the facility is blowing smoke onto neighbouring properties, with the stench being touted as 'unbearable'.

Elora Murger fire twirling on Matty J's season of The Bachelor
Elora Murger first appeared on Matty J's season of The Bachelor in 2017.

The crematorium moved into the complex earlier this year after council approval, but one business owner, Dan McKay, told A Current Affair that the day the crematorium opened in the area is the day other businesses started being drastically affected by the ash and fumes.

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Dan, a mechanic, said the ash from the crematorium comes into his workshop and lands all over the cars, while another business owner, John Kelly alleges his lungs are inflamed as a result of the fumes.

"I end up in major coughing fits, dry retching everywhere. I've had X-rays, my lungs are inflamed. So where do we go from here?" he said.

A third business owner, Jason McGarry, has used his own funds to understand what is happening.

"I organised some testing after we, sort of, collected over a short period of time," Jason said. "It confirmed our suspicions that the ash was coming from the crematorium and it did actually contain organic matter."

A photo of the ash thats being collected from a crematorium
Business owner John Kelly said he's forced to clean up the substance on a daily basis. Photo: Nine network

An environmental scientist told A Current Affair that the matter could be cremated human remains or burnt coffins but that further testing would be needed.

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Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association Vice President, David Molloy, told the program that in all his dealings with crematoriums he has "never seen anything like this", but also stipulated that the organic matter is more likely to be burn-off of the container that the body is cremated in.

Elora and Coastal Cremations made a statement to the program off the back of the investigation.

"At the outset, our client is committed to operating its cremation business to the highest ethical and legal standards. Prior to commencing operations, our client obtained all the necessary approvals for the carrying out of cremation services at its current premises from the Sunshine Coast Council," the statement read.

"As a result of the complaints made about our client, our client has been subject to an independent inspection by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. After that assessment was completed, which included an inspection of the premises, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland closed the complaint as the business was considered compliant in all respects."

Yahoo Lifestyle has contacted Elora for comment.

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