High Winds Cause Damage at Albury Cemetery

The recent high winds that hit the Albury area particularly hard, caused considerable damage to approximately 70% of the large old conifers that surround the cemetery as well as damaging eight headstones.

Council has organised for the cleanup process to begin with the trees being cut and removed from the driveway and away from the cemetery plots.

The headstones sustained varying types of damage including breakages and/or tipped off their foundations for example.

Council is sympathetic to the families of the deceased who lay in the cemetery and have had their grave sites damaged as a result of the trees falling.  Staff will try to track down the families of each grave headstone that has been damaged to let them know, but some of the graves are very old so contact may not be able to be made.

Council’s insurance will cover the cost of the required repairs and if affected families have any questions or concerns, they should contact Community Facilities Manager, Garth Nixon at the Council in Fairlie.

The damage has made it necessary to fell additional trees in the cemetery to avoid further damage.  Council will undertake a replanting programme to re-vegetate the surrounding area.

There was no damage sustained at any of the other cemeteries in the Mackenzie District.

ENDS

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