Council is seeking feedback on a new Memorials and Naming Honours Policy which intends to sets clear guidelines for managing proposals for memorials and naming honours on Council land. Submission close 22 June 2025.https://yoursay.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/memorials-and-naming-honours-policy

This draft Policy, once adopted, will replace the 3 existing memorial related policies from the former Councils and the current Northern Beaches Naming our Reserves, Roads and Facilities Policy. Manly gets dudded again by the ‘harmonising’ of Council policies! This draft memorial policy replaces the Former Manly Council Reserves – Outdoor Furniture - Dedication Policy which allowed plain old ordinary residents to pay for an outdoor bench with a small dedication plaque to a loved one placed in our public reserves and open spaces. Despite the introduction on the Your Say page that states Council supports meaningful, respectful and discrete ways to accommodate memorials, including memorial trees and seats, at suitable public spaces on Council land, the policy itself states that its preferred memorial is an unmarked tree.

Furthermore, the draft policy states a memorial will only be considered for a person which honours, celebrates or recognises the historical, cultural, environmental, social or community significance of an individual, event or location. Council’s intention is to make it difficult for mere mortals or ordinary people to have a memorial bench installed in their favourite park or even a tree dedicated to them or their loved ones.