Strict conditions will be put in place around the placement and maintenance of fake – and fresh – flowers under the council’s new Cemeteries Operations Policy which was adopted by councillors at this week’s meeting.

However, after community consultation, the policy has been amended to allow artificial flowers to be placed in council-approved vases, although it states that arrangements must be replaced when “faded, weathered or otherwise degraded”.

During the public exhibition period, council received 19 submissions on the policy, with many issues raised in relation to the original plan to ban artificial flowers.

In moving the recommendation to adopt the updated policy, Councillor Kellie Marsh said she was “proud” council had listened to community concerns.

“It was pointed out to me by a resident who lost a young child when she was in her early 20s, and the lady was now in her early 70s, so you can imagine over the years the amount of times this poor mother must have attended that grave,” she said.

“She said she used to have fresh flowers (but due to the costs) she would take artificial flowers because that was within her means. I’d hate to think you would be taking that opportunity away from any family.”

The new policy – which will be implemented from January 1 – does ban ceramic, glass and metal objects at the two cemeteries at Croome and Shellharbour.

Meantime the public will not be able to enter or remain at cemeteries between sunset and sunrise; they cannot be accompanied by any animal (except companion dogs) nor place unauthorised ornaments or candle holders on a burial plot.

Other rules dictate that mourners cannot glue or otherwise permanently attach items to gardens or wall sites; or plant any tree or shrub, create a rockery or pebble garden, without special permission.

“What we’re looking at doing is trying to make our cemeteries safer for the general public, safer for our operations staff and make sure that the public have the opportunity to go and mourn in any way they see fit,” Cr Marsh said.

After a query from Cr Peter Moran, council staff admitted that those with relatives in the cemeteries had not been contacted directly for comment.

However, after advice from staff, Cr Moran said: “What I’m hearing is that council staff are going to be very sympathetic to the needs of residents who have relatives in these cemeteries, and council is not going to adopt any heavy-handed attitude that might cause grief for people.”

The policy was developed to provide a “dignified and responsive cemetery and memorial service” to the community.

“A cemetery is a place where each of us go to have a closeness to our loved ones so we need to be respectful of each other,” Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said.

“What might be a suitable way for somebody to acknowledge their family member, it may not be (suitable) for the person right next door to them.

“I think having a set of rules by which we operate the cemeteries allows a little bit more respectful consideration of each other.”

The policy was carried unanimously.