The council is to step up maintenance of cemeteries after complaints of neglect.
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In one case, family members said they had difficulty reaching the grave of a father and mother because of long grass.
One bereaved person told the Examiner: “Emmavile cemetery is such a disgrace. I was visiting my grandfather’s and great grandparents’ grave on Christmas day.
“My uncle had to take his own whipper snipper and go around the graves so that we were able to get to them”.
Some families have organised “working bees” where they collectively go to the cemetery and tidy it up. The council has provided equipment to be used by bereaved people because of the lack of council staff.
Glen Innes Severn Council has acknowledged the problem and said that it would be sorted out.
A statement said: “Glen Innes Severn Council acknowledges that over the Christmas/New Year period there have been maintenance issues at Emmaville Cemetery which have yet to be fully rectified.”
It blamed a string of factors at Emmaville and the other local cemeteries. Firstly, there were staff shortages; secondly, relief staff were unable to do the work over Christmas because of bad weather; thirdly, the council said “there has been a good growth season with high summer temperatures accompanied by rainfall and moist, humid conditions, all combining to accelerate growth.”
Dot Wooder, one of the complainants, said: “Everybody’s complaining. The whole cemetery needs doing. The long grass was up to our knees. It is in disgraceful order. I’m upset about it.”
She said the council had given families a mower to try to get some order while it’s short of cemetery staff.
The main problem has been the older section of Emmaville Cemetery. The council said that would be addressed: “Council has already re-commenced maintenance work at cemeteries in order to clear the delayed backlog. Council will give due priority to maintenance at local cemeteries over the coming months.
“The staff shortage has been addressed and Council is finalising the recruitment of two new Recreation and Open Spaces staff.
“The spraying of weeds, mowing and whipper snipper work and the removal of floral debris will be attended to as soon as possible.
The council praised families: “Council acknowledges and commends the excellent work done by cemetery volunteers at Emmaville and other cemeteries. Volunteers carry out maintenance at the lawn sections of village cemeteries.”
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