Pre-cyclone clean-up at Cairns and Gordonvale Cemeteries

In preparation for the upcoming cyclone season, Council will be conducting a clean-up of the Cairns Cemetery on Martyn Street and Gordonvale Cemetery.

Over time, Council has seen an increase in unapproved and unsecured adornments and memorials placed on grave sites that could become missiles in high winds and cause damage and be a danger to the community.

In the interests of community safety and to ensure Council’s cemeteries are maintained to be inclusive respectful places of remembrance for all, Council officers will be removing the following prohibited items from Monday 11 November:

plastic flowersglass or breakable items, vases or receptacleswater holding items, vases or receptaclesanything deemed offensivedraped or flying flags as adornmentslights (including solar or battery powered)alcohol or alcohol containers (full or empty)clothingballoons, photo frames, candles or naked flames, windchimes, toys, furniture, statues or other ornaments, or anything with sharp edges, spikes or hooksrocks, pebbles, bark chips, shells or the like, unless incorporated within an approved permanent memorial borderpermanent planting of bushes, flowers or trees, or installation of any garden edging or fencing within a cemetery.

Families are encouraged to collect any items of significance or value before Monday 11 November as Council will not be retaining any removed items.

Council’s Cemetery Policy and Fact Sheets on the Guidelines for Adornments and Memorials outline what is acceptable when placing tributes on grave sites.

Council will not be removing white crosses that are in good condition and are adequately secured.