Councillor Doug Curran highlighted concerns over the current state of Yenda’s cemetery following a number of complaints from residents and the Yenda Progress Association (YPA).

Last week The Area News reported the cemetery had fallen into dismay with out-of-control weeds, unkempt gardens and no car parking facilities, and the YPA was calling on council to take action.

Council’s general manager Brett Stonestreet said he was in talks with YPA president Kay Pellizzer to come to an agreement and devise a plan to maintain the site and ensure work is carried out on a regular basis.

Ms Pellizzer said members from the YPA are happy to carry out the work and contract workers where needed to have the cemetery looking better and up to standard.

YPA are currently required to contact council when the grounds need maintaining, especially in the lead up to a funeral or Christmas and Easter.

“We want the cemetery looking nice, we might be out in the bush and considered a bush cemetery but it should be better than this,” Ms Pellizzer said.

“We are more than happy to work with council to come up with a plan.

“The Griffith cemetery looks lovely and that is a credit to council but Yenda needs the lawns mowed, gardens looked after, trees watered, weeds sprayed and a lot more work.”

Cr Stonestreet acknowledged in recent months there has been a number of issues and delays with accessing the site and carrying out work due to prolonged periods of rain. 

Going forward Cr Stonestreet said council does not expect the YPA to volunteer or fund the maintenance work themselves and there will be future planing to sort equipment and funding.

“We understand during winter and with all the water it was hard to do the work but it has dried up now and we want to see it tidied up and looking good. We don’t want the cemetery looking like it is forgotten,” Ms Pellizzer said.