RESIDENTS are furious at the “disgusting and appalling” state of disrepair at the main funeral grounds in the city – Warrill Park Cemetery at Willowbank.
One mourner told this newspaper how they went to lay flowers at the graves of their parents at Christmas and were “horrified” by the neglect.
“The cemetery was infested with ducks, snakes, mosquitoes and fire ants – and there were pools of stagnant water, overgrown grass, sunken headstones, sunken graves, and headstones that can’t be found,” they said.
“I saw broken bins and driveways and graves covered in grass clippings.
“The final insult was that council noticeboards at the grounds justified the mess and mismanagement, blaming the rain.
“I don’t want to know about staff shortages, the weather, a change of management, broken machinery, or drainage problems.
“I have heard every excuse over more than 30 years.”
Warrill Park Cemetery is one of five that Norwood Park Pty operates under the auspices of Ipswich City Council.
The cemetery is the largest operational graveyard in Ipswich, with more than 14,800 burial and ash placements, with recent work adding more than 1,500 additional burial plots.
“December is a wet month but there seems to be no management plan to cater for weather events,” the resident said.
“And all this when it hadn’t rained for more than a week.
“If there is a drainage problem, fix the problems; the cemetery is 50 years old. We are sick and tired of excuses.
“Norwood Cemeteries should get a show cause notice as to why they should continue with its management rights.
“This is not the first time I have had to bring this matter to the attention of Ipswich City.
“Shame on Ipswich City Council.”
Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee Chairman Andrew Antoniolli said he would meet with the contractor about the condition of the cemetery “to get a full appreciation of the circumstances being faced on site”.
“I can guarantee to residents and visitors that it is my intention to ensure that their needs and expectations are met,” Cr Antoniolli said.
“I apologise to residents that the present circumstances at the cemetery do not meet expectations, however due to ongoing weather impacts, there have been some unavoidable impacts to the ground conditions.
“It’s critical for council that all council-owned cemeteries are maintained to the standard our community expects.”
He said the location and geology of Warrill Park made it “vulnerable to severe weather and heavy rainfall”.
He said more than 550mm of rain over the month “made it difficult to conduct regular maintenance, such as mowing” and that the Norwood Park manager would ensure more grounds staff and contractors brought the cemetery back to a suitable standard as soon as possible.
Division 1 Councillor Jacob Madsen said it was important that wildlife not be disturbed at the cemetery.
“Most wildlife will not be disturbed, unless for safety reasons,” he said.
“Snakes are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and are generally not interfered with unless they are a risk to safety.
“Council has treated identified fire ant nests at the cemetery, with fencing and signs established to protect the public.
“Council will continue to work with the cemetery manager to deliver a service to Ipswich that is to the standards our community expects.”
