Shire puts contract out on cemetery woes
The front page of the Sentinel-Times on November 18 this year, describing how we are dishonouring the deceased at Wonthaggi. IN November this year, after a disturbing visit to the cemetery on Friday, November 11, Remembrance Day, Cr Les Larke blew...
IN November this year, after a disturbing visit to the cemetery on Friday, November 11, Remembrance Day, Cr Les Larke blew the whistle on the parlous state of the Wonthaggi Cemetery and now, in the last days before Christmas, the shire has taken decisive action.
In a statement published on the Bass Coast Shire Council website, the Council has acknowledged ongoing problems with the cemetery, and in so doing, thrown their contractor under a bus.
“Council recognises the importance of our cemeteries and acknowledges that their recent presentation has not been at the standard expected by the community,” said the shire.
“Whilst prolonged periods of wet weather have impacted the ability to undertake works, Council has also undertaken a review of the maintenance arrangements and is now working with a new local contractor to improve the presentation of the Wonthaggi Cemetery.
“Additional measures have also been put in place for San Remo Cemetery Memorial Garden.
“Council has funded a capital project to improve the drainage at the Wonthaggi Cemetery and these works are expected to be completed during 2023.”
Commenting on the issue, Bass Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association President Kevin Griffin has paid tribute to Cr Larke for continuing to raise the profile of the Wonthaggi cemetery.
But he’s also queried how the shire’s department heads are managing their contracts.
“Without doubt, if Les Larke hadn’t made this a personal crusade of his to get something done about the state of the cemetery it wouldn’t have happened,” said Mr Griffin.
“And we’d certainly welcome a review of the maintenance arrangements and also a program of capital works there. The cemetery certainly needs it.
“But another concern I would have, is the shire’s ability to manage contracts. It can’t all be the fault of the previous contractor.
“The shire is the manager of the tip and ultimately the buck stops there,” he said.
“If this is an indication of how they manage their contracts, I’d like to see the CEO Ms Wastie call for a review of how her general managers are managing their contracts to ensure ratepayers are getting proper value for money.”
