For immediate release.
Contact: Ivan Webber Telephone 02 95454677 Fax 02 95451010The Cemeteries and Crematoria Association of NSW is to facilitate a workshop that will consider the merits of compacting backfill in graves.
The Association’s Education & Training organiser, Mr. Ivan Webber, said, “Traditionally graves have been loose filled, which may be a contributing factor to unstable ground conditions experienced in some cemeteries. There is also good evidence that the appearance of lawn cemeteries can be much improved and maintenance reduced when the fill is compacted.”
Mr. Webber said that there is an emerging opinion that compacting backfill in graves generally reduces the occupational health and safety risks of collapsing and subsiding ground in cemeteries. For example, a grave being dug next to another that has been compacted is less likely to collapse than it would be otherwise. Also, cemetery operators report that lawn surfaces can become undulating when backfill is uncompacted. This is mainly due to continuing subsidence attributed to the loose fill in the grave. Subsidence, especially if on going, can also be expensive to address.
The workshop will address these issues at Cessnock, NSW, on the 26th June 2002. Cessnock City Council and neighbouring Sandgate Cemetery at Newcastle have been using compaction methods for some time and will be part of the workshop to share their experience.
Information and registration details about the workshop can be obtained from the CCANSW website at http://www.ccansw.org.au/workshops/index.html or by contacting the Association’s secretary, Ms. Mary Reid, telephone (2) 9264-2000 or email secretary@ccansw.org.au