Disability, Access & Inclusion

Council provides an Infirm Service to residents who are physically incapable of placing their wheelie bins out for collection and have no able-bodied person living with them. The waste collection contractor will enter the resident's property to collect the bins and return them after servicing.

A written letter from a medical professional (GP, occupational therapist, health care professional or nursing agent) is required for this service. There is no additional cost for the infirm service; it is covered under the annual cleansing charge on the property.

You can download and fill in this form to apply for the service ( PDF, 0.64 MB ). Contact Council on 1300 69 22 47 for more information.

If you come across a damaged footpath or other issue that is a public safety issue and/or restricts accessibility in public places, please report the details including exact location to Council's Customer Service Centre by phoning 1300 69 22 47. Alternatively, you can use our online form to report a problem or request service or download the My Cairns App to report a problem.

Be sure to specify that this is a disability or access issue in the Details box to help us better serve you.

If you hold a blue Queensland accessible parking permit, you can use on-street and off-street accessible parking bays as well as paid parking bays - including  pay-and-display spaces - for an unlimited time, free of charge*. You are exempt from the general time limit in all traffic areas (eg a 3P zone).

We recognise all interstate and international accessible parking permits.Please display your permit where it is easily visible on the car's dashboard.

Skip ahead to our Accessible Parking finder.

Drivers must obey regulations applying to taxi zones, loading zones, bus zones and no stopping zones.

*Free parking is not available at Council's Lake Street Car Park or the Cairns Performing Arts Centre Car Park as these are operated by boom gates.

Disability permit conditions of use

Your permit must:

• be used to park only in the parking spaces stated
• be clearly displayed so the permit number and expiry date are visible from the outside of the vehicle
• be displayed when you (or the eligible person for organisations) are getting in or out of the vehicle
• be displayed in a vehicle up to and including 4.5t gross vehicle mass
• not be damaged, altered or copied.

Where the permit holder is the passenger in the vehicle and the driver drops the permit holder at the entrance to a building (e.g. shopping centre, doctors surgery) the driver is not eligible to then park the vehicle in a disability parking bay.

The permit cannot be used by anyone other than the permit-holder or eligible person. (e.g. A permit cannot be used or displayed to access disability parking by family members, friends or anyone other than the permit-holder.)

Permit conditions must be followed or fines may be issued.

Hearing loop and accessibility features of our arts venues

Cairns Performing Arts Centre has a hearing loop that uses the Telicoil software. You can find out more about accessibility features, ramps and disabled parking at our arts venues here.

Braille and street signs

Cairns has the largest Braille and tactile street name program in regional Australia. We have installed over 250 Braille and tactile street name signs located above every pedestrian button throughout the CBD, and at eight schools and major intersections.

The signs provide much needed street name and directional information and way-finding for a person with vision impairment.

The signs also assist every member of the community and tourist to Cairns, as the signs are easily readable and located appropriately.

Beach wheelchairs

A beach wheelchair is available for free hire at Palm Cove during patrol hours year-round. Just ask the on-duty lifeguard to issue it to you and fill in the indemnity book.

A beach wheelchair is available for free hire at Ellis Beach (Queensland Life Saver station) from noon on Saturdays and all day Sunday and public holidays during the months of April to November.

When Council hosts an event where a person who is deaf or hard of hearing is known to be attending, we will ensure we have an Auslan interpreter on hand. Please tell us if you require an interpreter prior to attending so we can book an interpreter through Deaf Services Queensland.

Council's Customer Service Centres at Spence Street and Manunda Library have a portable hearing induction device to enable a hearing impaired person to communicate efficiently with customer service team members. Please indicate your requirement to the staff on arrival.

We also have a hearing induction loop installed in our the Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre at Edge Hill.

Council's Stay Safe: Mobility Guide ( PDF, 2.36 MB ) contains helpful information on how to safely use motorised scooters and wheelchairs including tips on:

• Queensland Transport rules and registration requirements
• Travelling on public transport, trains and taxis
• Crossing roads and railway lines
• Sharing the footpath and avoiding 'footpath rage'
• Emergency breakdown service and battery recharge station

Power-assisted wheelchair bike hire

Council has partnered with Spinal Life Australia to provide a power-assisted wheelchair bike (or ‘Brike’) based at the Cairns Health Living Centre at the northern end of the Esplanade.  The three-wheeled power-assisted cycle has been specifically designed for people with disability and their families, friends and carers.

It can be hired by locals and tourists seeking to enjoy a ride along the waterfront. For more information about how to hire the Brike, including fees, please contact the Spinal Life Healthy Living Centre on 4047 7600.

Changing places toilet and change facilities

Changing Places toilet facilities allow people with high support needs to participate in all elements of community life, without having to limit their time out due to concerns about being able to access a suitable toilet. Changing Places toilet and change facilities are located at Woree Pool, Smithfield Pool and now the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. The rooms incorporate ceiling track hoists (you must have your own sling for hygiene reasons), height-adjustable change beds, shower and toilet with adequate space for two carers. All Changing Places facilities can be accessed using a MLAK key (refer below).

Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) information

MLAK keys enable people with disability to gain 24/7 access to a network of public facilities across Australia. In Cairns, the MLAK system is fitted to the changing places facility rooms at the Esplanade Lagoon and Woree and Smithfield pools, Behana Gorge access gate, and the Liberty Swings at Muddy's Playground on the Esplanade and Sugarworld Gardens in Edmonton. On-site signage at the facilities provides contact numbers to call for immediate access without an MLAK key.

People with disability are able to purchase a MLAK master key which will open all toilets, playgrounds and other facilities which are fitted with this specially designed lock. A limited number of MLAK keys are available each year provided free of charge to residents with disability of the Cairns Regional Council local government area. You can fill in the application form below or visit Council's Customer Service Centre in person to request a free MLAK key. Carers may complete the form on behalf of a resident with disability. Unfortunately, due to a three-fold increase in the cost of MLAK keys in 2025, MLAK keys are no longer available from Council for free to visiting tourists or disability support providers, but anyone can purchase their own key directly from the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia website.

To be eligible for Council’s free MLAK key service you will need to provide proof of disability and proof of residency within Cairns Regional Council local government area. You can search your address using the Electoral Commission website to check if you live within the Cairns Regional Council local government area.

You will need to provide one of the following proof of disability documents:

• Disability parking permit
• Disability card or similar
• Letter from your doctor
• Letter from a disability organisation.

If your chosen document from the list above does not include your name and address, you will also need to provide one of the following documents that proves you are a resident of the Cairns Regional Council local government area:

• Drivers licence
• Photo ID or Proof of Age card
• Electricity, gas, internet or landline phone account
• Rental lease agreement
• Document from a government authority issued within the last six months (e.g. rates notice, official letter from Services Australia, Australian electoral document, Australian Taxation Office Notice of Assessment)
• Bank statement or letter issued within the last six months.

You can choose to either upload a copy of your documents in the online form, or show your documents to Customer Service when you visit to request or pick up the MLAK key.

Apply for a free MLAK key online

Power-assisted wheelchair bike hire at Cairns Esplanade

Council has partnered with Spinal Life Australia to provide a power-assisted wheelchair bike (or ‘Brike’) based at the Cairns Health Living Centre at the northern end of the Esplanade.  The three-wheeled power-assisted cycle has been specifically designed for people with disability and their families, friends and carers.

It can be hired by locals and tourists seeking to enjoy a ride along the waterfront. For more information about how to hire the Brike, including fees, please contact the Spinal Life Healthy Living Centre on 4047 7600.

Council has prepared cyclone information in different formats to ensure all sections of our community can plan, pack and listen.

People with hearing or vision impairments or complex communication needs can use our accessible and multi-lingual cyclone and emergency information resources.