Wamberal Cemetery Plan of Management - Gosford City Council

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Rehabilitate site edges meeting Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve through removal of weed species (Lantana, Bitou Bush, Asparagus Fern, etc) and re-plant/landscape using only endemic species of the area. (Wamberal Lagoon Conservation Society may be utilised to rehabilitate area around proposed viewing deck). Minimal use of fertilisers onsite to reduce risk of Lagoon contamination, minimal tree removal and rehabilitation / revegetation of adjacent reserve drainage channel. * Note regarding rabbits, foxes and dogs/cats being the main pests (fauna) onsite but there is little evidence. 2.8.5 Control of floral and other tributes on Graves As per Council Standards. 2.8.6 Care of War Graves, responsibility and contacts The Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG) is part of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. It has three distinct roles: • To maintain war cemeteries and individual war graves within Australia and the region, as agents of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission; • To officially commemorate eligible veterans who have died post-war and whose deaths are accepted as being caused by war service; • To provide and maintain national memorials overseas. They can be contacted at the Office of Australian War Graves, PO Box 21, Woden, ACT, 2606 Phone 6289 6517. 2.9 General Management Issues 2.9.1 Opportunities for expansion and types of Burials The main driver behind the preparation of the Wamberal Plan of Management was, also like for Point Clare Cemetery, the need to ensure availability of grave sites into the future. However, this need is somewhat more urgent at Wamberal Cemetery because the residual land area is not as great and poses somewhat greater access and circulation management. Wamberal Cemetery is not as flat or open as Point Clare and the land available for potential expansion, is not as easy to adapt. Again, like Point Clare, Wamberal needs to provide shelter for visitors and needs better facilities, addition car parking spaces and on-site interpretation. The only area available for additional Lawn Cemetery plots is the western side adjacent to The Entrance Road. When the Citywide comprehensive LEP is adopted next year the two lots Councill has acquired from the Crown will be rezoned for burials. Because of the great views of the water from the top of the site, locating any additional car parking spaces within the view frame should be avoided. Hence it is desirable to contain any new areas of car parking to the land BEHIND the viewer. That is, additional car parking spaces should be concealed within the area of sparsely-planted trees, in the area of the middle of the site, against the road boundary. The physical advantage of the entry access road at Wamberal Cemetery, is that it emerges into the open at the top of the rise and at a point providing the best possible view over the Cemetery and on to the lake. It also takes the visitor to the intersection of the two short branches of the internal roads. At this point, there is currently ample space for an Interpretation and Signage board and for a shelter for contemplation. Installation of these facilities at this point is recommended, along with centralised toilet facilities. Because of the “stillness” and isolation of the site and the beautiful water view from the sloping site, spaces for contemplation can be located in many spots. An opportunity which presents itself, is that of extending the road down the slope, to a point where a viewing platform, possible covered, can be built, with seating oriented towards the lake. 2.9.2 Security It is recommended that security gates be installed at the entry from The Entrance Road and the opening and Gosford City Council, Plan of Management Wamberal Cemetery Page 8 Andrews Neil Pty Ltd FM/07210/051207RevB
closing of the gates and regular security patrols be included in Council’s security contract. 2.10 Continuing Use Policy The principal purpose of the Wamberal Cemetery Plan of Management, is to provide the basis for appropriate future managed development and therefore to ensure its relevance and continuing use into the future. Council intends to remove insignificant vegetation and to stage future development of additional grave site. In addition, Council intends to make the site more interesting, attractive and educational to visitors, through undertaking: a range of interpretive work, including reinstatement of front entry identifications; new, consistently designed directional and site signage, and additional of sheltered and contemplative areas. 2.11 Interpretation and Community Involvement 2.11.1 Consultation and Communication with Stakeholders No amount of physical upgrading and Interpretation of the Cemetery will be of value if no-one knows about it. Further, worthwhile interpretation requires comprehensive background information and an understanding of local community aspirations – especially of the aspirations of the principal interest groups. It is appropriate for the local community to be advised of Council’s initiatives by way of invitations to all key interest groups to review Council’s Draft Plan of Management. The Plan of Management sets the context for and identifies all proposed interventions and proposed means of interpreting the place. These should be reviewed and commented on by the community so that nothing important is missed and so that the Cemetery retains its cultural significance and relevance for future generations. Both individual and group inputs should be accepted and reviewed by Council, with all respondents being given an opportunity to confirm the accuracy of the final document before its adoption by Council. 2.11.2 Options for Interpretation Proposals to enhance internal Cemetery interpretation are as indicated on the Masterplan. All unusual grave sites (previously identified) should be identified on the new Interpretation Board and should be identified at the Section itself. 2.11.3 Friends Groups / Volunteers – Management, Briefing and Supervision Wamberal Cemetery is currently managed by Council though the dedication of one part-time Cemetery Officer and two full-time ground staff. Opportunities for Friends Groups / Volunteers fall most readily into the areas of general maintenance and fund raising. Possible volunteer general maintenance activities could include: community day rubbish; graffiti removal; passive surveillance and reporting; gravestone general cleaning and hedge trimming and removal of fallen branches. Management of the inputs of all volunteers should remain with Council’s nominated staff who should have authority to order any volunteer to cease any potentially harmful intervention. 2.11.4 Tourism Potential There are no Cemeteries identified in the Central Coast Tourism Strategy and this is to be expected. Cemeteries are generally of interest only to: locals who know where they are; visitors who have an interest in local history and; special interest group such as National Trust members. Although the Cemetery has very limited tourism potential, well-conceived, appropriate interpretation and upgrading of it, can be expected to result in greater visitation / use by locals and their guests. This in turn can be expected to result in increased positive word-of-mouth comments about its value/ attractiveness. Gosford City Council, Plan of Management Wamberal Cemetery Page 9 Andrews Neil Pty Ltd FM/07210/051207RevB
Page 1 and 2: Gosford City Council Wamberal Cemet
Page 3 and 4: Executive Summary Wamberal Cemetery
Page 5 and 6: 1.0 Introduction - Management Issue
Page 7 and 8: Many cemeteries are identified as
Page 9 and 10: • That to a Scotsman David Grace,
Page 11: 2.5.3 Plan / Layout of the Cemetery
Page 15 and 16: Appendix A Analysis, Opportunities
Page 17 and 18: Appendix B Landscape (and Developme

Wamberal Cemetery Plan of Management - Gosford City Council

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?