Weeks of rain and wind have played havoc with the Illawarra's roads, beaches and other amenities - now, it's cemeteries.
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The sandy topsoil at Helensburgh Cemetery has started to erode, causing significant damage to internal roads; tarmac has cracked and crumbled, leaving deep gashes in the roadway.
Initially internal road access was the only concern but now graves in the cemetery's Roman Catholic section at the back of the site are also threatened, as heavy falls over the past week have eaten away at the soil underneath.
A Wollongong City Council spokesperson said these graves were between 70 and 120 years old, the cemetery itself having been established in the 1890s.
"One grave site has been damaged with the front curb falling off, and to prevent further damage we have used temporary measures to underpin it, and any other impacted grave sites, and placed sandbags to divert water away from the area," the spokesperson said.
"Once the weather improves, we will address road access to this section of the cemetery."
The spokesperson said the council was looking at short, medium and long-term options to preserve the historical cemetery.
"In the short-term we have put in place barriers to prevent people from driving along the internal access road to this section of the cemetery, and warning tape around the grave sites," they said.
Longer term, the spokesperson said, the council would consider ways to preserve the grave sites and provide road access into the future.
"At each stage the options will consider the site's geology, and how people move through the site," the spokesperson said.
"Our engineers are currently investigating the site's existing swale and considering whether this is sufficient, or if other solutions around water diversion are needed."
However, the weather will need to clear up before work on any permanent measures can get underway.
The Illawarra saw record-breaking falls in March - in that month, Shellharbour Airport recorded more than half of all the rain it experienced in its wettest ever year.
The spokesperson said Wollongong council was aware of the importance of cemeteries to the community as resting places, areas for reflection, and the preservation of the city's history.
"We are keenly aware of the importance to care, protect and maintain these spaces in perpetuity," they said.
Helensburgh Cemetery, while now 130 years old, continues to become the final resting place for Illawarra residents, with a lawn section and a memorial garden available.
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