​Council adopts first Memorial Policy

Central Otago District Council (CODC) today adopted a policy to provide a clear and consistent process for the community to request memorials in our parks and reserves.

Council regularly receives requests from the public to memorialise people, events and activities on public land. These include commemorative trees and park seating, metal plaques, and ornamental features and sculpture memorials. Until now these have been handled on a case-by-case basis as they are received.

The new Central Otago District Council Memorials Policy provides a guiding process for how all requests for plaques and memorials will be managed in the future, and is complemented by a new online Memorial Application form.

“It will assist both our staff and the applicant with more clarity around our approach,” said Parks and Recreation Manager Gordon Bailey.

When determining suitability of a commemorative memorial factors considered include the location, materials, language and historical significance of the memorial. Commemorative memorials are only considered for subjects (whether individuals, associations or events) that have made significant contribution to the Central Otago district.

The policy as adopted, with slight amendments, will be available on Council’s strategies and policies page later this month at www.codc.govt.nz/publications/policies