Buyback program to extend Cairns Cemetery

Cairns Regional Council is implementing the Voluntary Plot Buyback Program as part of the current Cairns Cemetery Strategy to increase land availability for future burials and the placement of ashes, and to extend the lifespan of Cairns Cemetery.

The program focuses on burial plots that have been reserved for an extended period of time but remain unused.

Its purpose is to determine whether these plots are still required by the registered Burial Right Holder or if they can be returned to Council.

Plots that are surrendered will become available for future burials.

A refund of up to $450 will be provided for adult monumental or lawn section plots reserved for more than 25 years, and the normal $250 application fee will be waived.

Nearly 400 plots fall into this category, with the oldest reservations dating back to 1941. Many contact details for Burial Right Holders may be outdated or no longer valid.

Under local laws, Council will provide written notice to Burial Right Holders recorded on Council’s records to confirm whether they wish to retain their plot or surrender it to Council for a refund.

The program will run for six months, from 1 December 2025 to 31 May 2026.

Burial rights for plots where written consent is not received during this period will be revoked, and the plots will be made available for future use.

Council anticipates that enquiries may also come from Burial Right Holders with reservations at other cemeteries or for less than 25 years, whereby the same process will apply.

An extensive six-month marketing campaign will run to ensure as many Burial Right Holders as possible are informed of the program.

Cairns Cemetery conducts around 150 burials each year and whilst initiatives are underway to increase available land, supply is becoming critically low.  In response, Council’s Cemeteries strategy seeks to implement projects that open up new space whilst also identify if existing plots can be bought back into circulation.

Of the 1,212 reserved plots, nearly 400 plots have been reserved for more than 25 years but remain unused.

The Voluntary Plot Buyback Program also provides an opportunity for anyone wishing to return a site to Council to receive a refund, helping to balance current burial rights with the future needs of the community.

If you would like to retain your site, or alternatively, surrender your plot or have any questions regarding the program, please contact Cairns Regional Council on 1300 69 22 47 or email cemeteriesbuyback@cairns.qld.gov.au.