Singleton mayor Sue Moore plans to formally launch a relief fund and investigate CCTV cameras at Sedgefield Cemetery after seven graves were desecrated.
Hunter Valley police are investigating the vandalism, which occurred sometime between 11am on May 26 and May 27 at the council-operated cemetery.
"Some headstones were smashed, making them beyond repair," Hunter Valley police said in a statement.
"Needless to say, this crime has caused families and community members emotional pain and hurt."
The Sedgefield Cemetery was also targeted by vandals in May 2019, when 36 gravestones were damaged.
Cr Moore told the Newcastle Herald on Monday that she will introduce a mayoral minute at the next Singleton council meeting on June 16 to set up a relief fund to repair the headstones that were destroyed.
She also wants to investigate installing CCTV cameras at the Gresford Road cemetery.
"It's a very disappointing situation to go through it a second time, and hopefully we can get ourselves some CCTV cameras there that will actually deter this sort of thing from happening again," Cr Moore said.
A mayoral relief fund was established to pay for the desecrated graves in 2019 and CCTV was briefly investigated.
"There was talk of security cameras at that stage, but nothing was pursued," Cr Moore said.
"Obviously, there are a lot of issues with putting surveillance cameras in cemeteries, privacy matters and the like."
A spokesperson for Singleton Council said it was taking the vandalism seriously and urged anyone with information to contact NSW Police.
"Our team is on site assessing the damage and working through the most appropriate and respectful way to restore the affected memorials," the spokesperson said.
"Our highest priority is to support those families who have been impacted, and we are looking at all options available to provide assistance. Council staff have attempted to contact affected families."
