SIEV-X memorial plan stalls

Efforts to stage an exhibition honouring the lives of refugees who died in a maritime tragedy have been stalled.

A total of 353 people died when the asylum seeker vessel SIEV-X sank five years ago.

A spokesman for the exhibition, Steve Biddulph, says hundreds of wooden poles have been decorated to commemorate the lives of the women and children who died.

Mr Biddulph says permission had been sought from the NCA for the poles to be temporarily erected for up to three weeks at Weston Park, but the request has been denied.

"We're particularly concerned because there about 10 or 11 bereaved fathers and they have decorated poles to virtually be grave markers for those they have lost and to not be able to leave them there for a week or two is very hurtful to their feelings," he said.

The NCA says the organisers need to seek permission from the ACT Government before it can consider the proposal.

Mr Biddulph says if the poles cannot be erected, they will be carried.

"It will be like a procession of poles coming out over the water and snaking across the land," he said.

"It's very spectacular. It goes for about 300 metres because there is a pole for every person, mother and child that died.

"But it will only last for about five minutes because that is as long as we can safely hold them up."