MANILDRA residents are outraged Cabonne Council has allowed the village’s Meranburn cemetery to become overrun with grass and weeds.
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Resident Fiona Whiley said she was shocked to see the state of the cemetery when she recently visited it to pay her respects.
“I was absolutely flabbergasted at the state of it,” she said.
“It is at the stage where you have no idea whether you are going to drive over a headstone.”
The grass is so long frustrated residents have been forced to take their own mowers out to the cemetery to mow the area around their loved ones’ graves.
The wet summer and fertile conditions means the grass has thrived, while the cemetery’s bin is constantly full and overflowing, according to residents.
Cabonne Council employs a staff member to maintain the cemeteries in the shire on a rotational base.
Council’s communications and media officer Dale Jones says the staff member has been on holidays, which is why the cemetery has not been maintained.
He said council had received reports that Manildra residents had mowed the cemetery over the last couple of weeks.
“We really welcome community-minded people, but this can cause OH and S [Occupational Health and Safety] problems,” he said.
Council advises people wishing to mow at the cemetery to consult with council beforehand, however, residents feel they should not have to mow in the first place.
“This shouldn’t have to happen,” Ms Whiley said.
Council said the cemetery was expected to be mowed and slashed yesterday.
erin.somerville@ruralpress.com