Esther Lauaki
A Werribee South woman says she is fed up with the “heartbreaking” state of the Werribee Cemetery.
Michele Preston regularly visits the resting place of several of her family members.
“I have to go there to see my mum, nanna, pop, nonno, nonna and mother and father-in-law,” Ms Preston said.
“It’s heartbreaking that I have lost them… but to go there and see what surrounds them is disgusting.
“The grounds have looked like this for a couple of years now but I am so annoyed that they continue to leave the grounds looking like this.
“Something needs to be done.”
Ms Preston said graves have sunken into the flood-affected ground, others are raised and cracked.
“In some areas the weeds are nearly waist high,” she said.
“It’s just been left to die.”
Werribee Cemetery is managed by the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust.
Interim operations director Brendan O’Connor said extreme weather was to blame.
“Extremely dry conditions of the early summer period through to mid-January followed by heavy, persistent rain have had an impact on the grounds at Werribee Cemetery,” Mr O’Connor said.
“The unusual weather conditions caused some grassed areas to ‘burn off’ in early summer and the heavy rains since then have caused the rapid growth of grass and weeds.”
He said lawns are mowed weekly and the Trust has reviewed its weed eradication program.
“In response to the impact of the unusual weather conditions, we are devoting extra resources to cope with the ground maintenance requirements,” Mr O’Connor said.
A senior manager has been in contact with Ms Preston.
“GMCT respects that Michele is a regular visitor to Werribee Cemetery and we hope the outcome of the additional maintenance works that have been made result in a positive experience for her,” Mr O’Connor said.
Esther Lauaki
