General Maintenance Cemetery Grounds

Blayney

Blayney Cemetery is only managed for active graves and there are no conservation zones present. Blayney Cemetery has a fringe of native and exotic trees, although none of the eucalypts are of local provenance.

Blayney Cemetery is actively managed via mowing, edging and general maintenance of fences and other infrastructure.

Ecosystem Type:  Modified and planted with native and exotic species. The cemetery is managed only for cultural values.

Carcoar

Overall the condition of the Carcoar Cemetery is good, with old headstones, mausoleums and decorative fences beginning to deteriorate.

Issues that present management challenges include:
litter from blown plastic flowers and vases; active surface erosion; deterioration of headstones, mausoleums and decorative fences; garden weeds such as Robinia and Laburnum; and environmental weeds including freesias and periwinkle.

Ecosystem Type: Derived native grassland in the cleared portion of the cemetery and Box-Gum Grassy Woodland in the uncleared portions, boundary areas and road reserves.

Hobbys Yards

Hobbys Yards Cemetery is only managed for active graves and there are no conservation zones present. It is located on the top of a hill with sweeping views over the valley. Hobbys Yard Cemetery is actively managed via mowing, edging and general maintenance of fences and other infrastructure.

Ecosystem Type: Modified with pasture grasses dominant.

Lyndhurst 

The Lyndhurst Cemetery is largely cleared but has significant native grasslands featuring forbs, orchids and small shrubs.

Issues that present management challenges include:
litter from blown plastic flowers; deterioration of headstones and fences; grazing pressure from large population of kangaroos; and increasing numbers of rabbits.

Ecosystem Type: The conservation areas of this cemetery are largely White Box Woodland derived native grassland, and some areas of White Box Woodland regrowth.

Millthorpe

Millthorpe Cemetery is also used by the community for walking and cross country racing.

Issues that will present management challenges include:
Presence of rabbits and active burrows; blown litter from plastic flowers and other tributes; erosion of tracks as well as compaction of soils due to lack of a formal parking area; over-frequent mowing of conservation area by community  stakeholders; weed incursion in conservation area; and removal of fallen timber from
conservation area.

Ecosystem Type: Remnant Box-Gum Woodland in conservation zone, and 
some derived native grasslands in active cemetery.

Neville

Neville Cemetery is the largest of the village cemeteries, yet only a small proportion of the land is actively managed leaving most of the reserve relatively undisturbed.

Significant work has occurred to protect the biodiversity at Neville including the installation of chainsaw hollows, fencing, and cool burns to encourage forb and grass
diversity. The community use the cemetery as part of a local walking circuit and everything is generally tidy and well-kept, while the woodland area is maintained in a
more wild condition to respect its habitat values.

Ecosystem Type: Box-Gum Grassy Woodland and derived native grasslands.

Newbridge

Newbridge Cemetery contains a small section of the total cemetery site that is actively used for graves and burials with the remaining land retaining good quality native vegetation that is of high biodiversity value.

The active area is well managed with no erosion, few weeds, no rabbits and very little litter. The conservation management area is also in good condition and is fenced, appearing to the public as a separate reserve. The site has been cleared historically, but there are some more mature trees present.

Ecosystem Type: The area is an ecotone that includes a variety of woodland communities and species.
 

Weed Hygiene Protocol

The key to managing the quality of the native vegetation within the Blayney Shire Council rural cemeteries is to follow strict quarantine practices before entering the sites to conduct maintenance.

Requirements:

• All plant and equipment including mowers, vehicles and small plant (such as whipper snippers) will be blown down or washed at the Council Depot prior to departure to the respective cemetery that requires work.
• No chemicals other than glyphosate bi-active will be used in the cemeteries without prior consent of the Parks Supervisor or Parks Ganger.
• Any chemicals other than the above mentioned must have a specific target and be used in accordance with the label to prevent, or at least where practical minimise, collateral damage to off-target species.
• No exotic, aggressive or invasive turf species will be introduced as part of any rehabilitation of disturbed soil in any part of the cemeteries - especially species such as Kikuyu and Couch.
• All staff and contractors must hold relevant qualifications for tasks being undertaken, and be well supervised, with the confidence to ask questions and seek clarity, prior to conducting any allocated works within the rural cemeteries.

Working in accordance with this Weed Hygiene Protocol over many years has ensured the minimisation of weed intrusion to the rural cemeteries.

Cemeteries Operations Plan