Memorials, monuments and acknowledgments

Cairns Regional Council acknowledges that the death of a loved one can be traumatic. As such, Council’s approach to the issue of memorialisation within public spaces is to provide a compassionate, consistent and effective approach to the management of requests for acknowledgements, memorials and monuments in public spaces.

Permitted acknowledgements, memorials and monuments

Use this form to apply to Council for the installation of acknowledgements, memorials and monuments in public spaces.

These include:

• Memorial: A temporary object, arrangement or activity delivered in memory of a person or event.
• Monument: A permanent statue or structure which is built for commemorative purposes
• Tree dedication: A dedication tree of an approved species in an appropriate location. Please note a memorial plaque on or near the tree is not permitted
• Donated assets: A physical asset provided to Council for a community benefit in the form of standard public infrastructure or equipment where no return benefit expected.

Non-permitted acknowledgements, memorials and monuments

Council will not approve applications for any of the following in public spaces:

• Plaques
• Memorials for pets
• Memorials for persons, groups or events already commemorated elsewhere in the region
• Memorials, in the opinion of Council, that are considered to be offensive or which have the potential to offend
• Memorials with religious or political affiliation
• Establishment of memorial gardens

Generally, new memorials or monuments will not be supported at:

• Esplanades within the local government area, including the Cairns esplanade and Northern Beaches.
• The Cairns Botanic Gardens, including Flecker Gardens, Centenary Lakes, Visitor Centre, Tanks Arts Centre, Mount Whitfield Conservation Park, and Munro Martin Park.

Please note this application form does not cover plaques, memorial or monuments in Council-owned cemeteries, naming of infrastructure, public art, social awareness initiatives, temporary or permanent interpretive signage, display boards, banners, and plaques associated with Council projects.

Allow at least 20 business days from lodgement of your form before you receive an acknowledgement of receipt from Council.

Commemorations of deceased persons will not generally be considered until an individual has been deceased for a period of at least twelve (12) months to allow for historical perspective to be gained.

For details on the Acknowledgements, Memorials and Monuments Policy click the following link: Click here for the policy