Commemorative Policy Review

Update: On 10 April 2024, the Council adopted the proposed Commemorative Policy 2024. The policy will be published on the Council’s website after the draft has been edited and designed for publishing. The Council thanks you for your involvement in the public consultation process. You can read the summary of submissions and officers' response here.

Why do we have a Commemorative Policy?

The Commemorative Policy 2006 provides the Council with a framework to:

• Guide the location of commemorative memorials, and assist with their management
• Deal with requests to scatter and inter ashes and other human remains on public land in a culturally sensitive manner

Note: Commemorative memorials include trees, furniture, plaques, and others. Scattering or interment of ashes or other human remains is also currently categorised as a memorial.

Why are we reviewing the policy?

The current Commemorative Policy 2006 is no longer fit for the purpose of effectively managing commemorative activities in public places.  

Key issues include:  

• The purpose, objectives, scope and principles are unfit or unclear
• There are capacity issues for commemorative planting and furniture
• Commemorative plaques are not consistently managed across the city
• The Policy is out of date and needs to align with new strategic directions

What are the proposed changes?

The Council proposes to review and update the Policy to be more strategically aligned, relevant, flexible and effective in guiding the management of commemorative in public places.  

The following changes are proposed:

• Clarifying the purpose, objectives, and scope of the policy
• Removing ash scattering and placenta interment in public places from the policy to be assessed and approved under the Cemeteries Management Plan 2021
• Developing guiding principles for decision-making on commemorative requests from the public (e.g. a request to place a plaque)
• Establishing an internal panel to review complex memorial requests

Read the full statement of proposal here: Statement of Proposal - Commemorative Policy review

Let us know what you think

Tell us what you think about the review and proposed changes to the Commemorative Policy 2006 in the survey below. Submissions close at 5pm on Friday, 13 October 2023.   

What next?

Your feedback and comments will be summarised and analysed to inform the finalisation of the proposed policy. A summary of the engagement results and how these were incorporated into the final policy will be made available after the consultation period.

Council will consider the submissions and make a decision on the proposal at the scheduled meeting on 29 February 2024. After addressing relevant public submissions and Councillors’ comments, the adopted Commemorative Policy 2023 will come into force on 7 March 2024.