"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 director of liveable communities, Paul De Szell said.

A number of headstones laid down at cemetery will be repaired, MidCoast Council has confirmed. Of the 59 headstones laid down, council will restore 47 will be restored.

The repairs for the identified headstones will be undertaken at council's cost and as quickly as possible, Mr De Szell said.

The remaining headstones - about 12 - will stay down due to safety concerns.

"Several very old headstones, on the eastern side of the cemetery near the existing tree line, had been broken in storms during November and December last year."

The program has been suspended while a full review is undertaken.

Mr De Szell and council's manager of community spaces, recreation and trades, Dan Aldridge, will attend the community meeting to be held in Wingham on Sunday, August 11 to address community concerns.

The program, undertaken by council staff, was implemented to address public safety concerns in relation to monuments. Council had spoken to its Heritage Reference Group prior to implementation.

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

Council confirmed a crane had been used to lay down several of the larger monuments.

"In manoeuvring a vehicle around the cemetery it appears that it has encroached on the edge of a grave. This isn't acceptable and we apologise."

Council indicated that while the heritage status of The Bight Cemetery does not place any restrictions on council's management of the area, the review of the program will take into account the National Trust Guidelines for Cemetery Conservation and other conservation advice.