Residents of Inverleigh are invited to vote for their favourite of four potential new names for the park containing the town’s newest play space.
In late 2018, the Inverleigh community were successful in obtaining grant funding through the Victorian Government’s Pick My Project initiative to provide a new multi-age play space for the community at 1 East Street, which opened in early 2020. The community requested to formally name the parcel of land containing it “Inverleigh River Park”, however, the Victorian Geographic Names Registrar rejected the proposed name and subsequent appeal.
Based on the recommendation of the Registrar for Geographic Names, Council is now asking the local community to participate in a vote to determine which of the following options will be the name for the Inverleigh Play Space:
- Leigh River Park;
- Inverleigh Community Park;
- Inverleigh Play Park; and
- Yerram Yaluk Bun (translation: bank of the morning river).
Votes may be cast by completing the online voting at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations, downloading a copy of the form from the website, or by requesting a hard copy from Council’s Customer Service Centres at 2 Pope Street, Bannockburn and 19 Heales Street, Smythesdale. Forms can be returned to Council prior to the close of voting by email, post or hand-delivery at a Customer Service Centre.
Voting is open until 5pm, Friday 29 January, 2021. In line with the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s Naming Rules, only one vote per household will be permitted. Residents can also request to be heard in support of their submission, or nominate a representative to present on their behalf to the Council meeting on Tuesday 23 February, 2021, if they wish.
Mayor Cr Helena Kirby says that while it is disappointing the original name was rejected, Council hopes the Inverleigh community will embrace one of the new names.
“Council understands the Inverleigh community’s disappointment that its preferred name was rejected by the Victorian Geographic Names Registrar. Following the rejection, Council worked with and supported the community to appeal against the decision, however, this was also unsuccessful.
“Now, the community is invited to vote on one of four new compliant names for the town’s newest play space, that it had actively campaigned for under the State Government’s Pick My Project initiative.
“Council hopes local residents from the town and its surrounds will take up the opportunity to vote either online or by paper before 29 January 2021, and I look forward to seeing which name the town selects.”
At the conclusion of the vote, all votes will be counted and the name with the majority of votes will become the official name of the parcel of land containing the play space, subject to Council approval.