Cairns is facing a critical shortage of burial space, with a council-led buyback scheme for unused graves providing only a temporary stopgap. The initiative has secured just five more years of capacity at the city's main cemetery, pushing local authorities to urgently seek a long-term solution.
A Temporary Reprieve from the Burial Space Crunch
The Cairns Regional Council launched a grave site buyback scheme in late 2023, offering to purchase unused burial plots from their owners. The goal was to free up space for new interments at the crowded Martyn Street cemetery. While the program has had some success, the results highlight the severity of the issue.
Mayor Terry James revealed that the buyback has yielded enough space to extend the cemetery's usable life by approximately five years. This means, without further action, the main cemetery could reach full capacity around 2029. The council has acquired about 150 plots through the scheme so far, with ongoing efforts to secure more.
"We're trying to buy back graves from people who may have purchased them 30 or 40 years ago and no longer have a need for them," Cr James explained. The council is contacting plot owners directly and has set aside funds to facilitate these purchases.
The Search for a New Cemetery Site Stalls
The core of the problem lies in the need for entirely new cemetery land. The council has identified a pressing need for a new site to serve the growing region for the next 50 to 100 years. However, progress has been frustratingly slow, with the ball now firmly in the state government's court.
The council has submitted a business case to the Queensland Government, specifically to the Department of Resources, seeking the release of suitable Crown land for a new cemetery. This process has been underway for years, but a final decision and land transfer have not been secured. The preferred location is understood to be in the Edmonton area, south of Cairns.
Mayor James expressed clear frustration at the delay. "The state government owns all the land. We've done the business case, we've done the business plan, we've done the feasibility," he stated. "We just need them to release the land to us." The council is now publicly calling for the state to prioritise and finalise this critical infrastructure decision.
Implications and the Path Forward
The lack of burial space has direct consequences for the community. Without new land, families in Cairns could soon face the prospect of having to transport deceased loved ones to other towns or cities for burial—an emotionally and financially taxing scenario.
The buyback scheme, while helpful, is a reactive measure. It manages existing assets but does not create the new, long-term capacity the region requires. The council continues to advocate for the release of Crown land in Edmonton as the only viable, long-term solution.
For now, residents who own unused grave plots at Martyn Street cemetery can still contact the council to participate in the buyback scheme. This provides some financial return to owners while helping to alleviate the immediate pressure. However, all eyes are on the Queensland Government to provide a permanent answer to Cairns's burial space crisis before the five-year reprieve runs out.
