“The state of our lawn section in parts looks a picture, then there are parts that are very much neglected,” Mr Hotston said.

Mr Hotston had brought soil from home and watered the grass on the gravesite of his late wife Doreen three times a week to help improve the aesthetic of the area. 

Last month, Mr Hotston found the grass had been removed, leaving a barren patch of dirt.  

He went to the shire office seeking an explanation as to why the grass was removed and when senior staff were unavailable to speak to him he contacted the Cootamundra Herald. 

After the Herald made contact with council, general manager Ken Trethewey replied defending council’s decision to remove the turf.

“We need the lawn areas to be flat for mowing and that particular grave had been built up above the surrounding ground so when the mower went over, it cut it flat again,” Mr Trethewey explained.

“We replanted kikuya as in the whole cemetery and it will grow with the rest.”

Mr Trethewey highlighted that the council is responsible for maintaining the cemetery and any individual efforts may well be in vain.

While the grass may, in time, grow over the grave in question Mr Hotston is unhappy with its appearance and has reflected that it still looks like a “dry, deserted section of the cemetery.”

Council has had its hands full addressing cemetery issues of late, as residents dispute council’s requirement to pay a second fee upon burial in an already reserved plot/niche.

The argument from residents is they were not told at the time of making a reservation a second fee would be applicable. 

Council’s current policy is that people pay the full price at the time of reservation and the difference between that and the current price when the plot/niche is used. 

Mr Hotston has also condemned council on the way this matter has been handled so far.

“I consider the extra charges for a burial to be very much out of order.”

Councillors have said a decision will be made regarding burial charges at their regular meeting in early December.