Implemented to address public safety concerns, the program was met with vocal opposition after 59 headstones were laid down at Wingham's Bight cemetery.

In response, council suspended the program late last month in order to conduct a full review.

"The intent of the program is to protect the public and while we remain committed to this outcome, we have got the implementation of this program horribly wrong," council's liveable communities director Paul De Szell said.

Of the 59 headstones laid down at the cemetery, Mr De Szell said council would pay to restore 47 of them as quickly as possible.

The remaining 12 headstones would stay down due to ongoing safety concerns.

Prior to implementing the program, council had consulted its Heritage Reference Group.

"When we presented the program to the reference group we discussed the original intent of the program - however it is in the practical implementation of the program that things have gone wrong," Mr De Szell said.

"This is a concern both to us and to the reference group."

Mr De Szell said a crane used to lay down several of the monuments had encroached on the edge of a grave.

"This isn't acceptable and we apologise," he said.

Mr De Szell and MidCoast Council's community spaces, recreation and trades manager, Dan Aldridge, will address community concerns at a meeting in Wingham on Sunday.

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