Council approval
Any person, community group, organisation, government department or authority can propose a new name, change an existing name or change a boundary. A person must not apply a name to a road, feature or locality without the consent of the council. This does not apply to any freeway or to any supplementary name applied to the entire length of a declared road by VicRoads
Upon receipt of a request, council, as the naming authority must adhere to the naming rules including the checklist located in Appendix C of the naming rules and specifically will ensure proposals include:
- the proposed name
- the location of the road, feature or locality, including a map and, if relevant, its current name
- background information on why council should consider naming or changing the name or boundary including any historic reasons of local relevance
- the reason for the proposal or why the current name is not considered appropriate or any other relevant information
- contact details of the proposer(s) and information on public consultation that has occurred and/or support and non-support that has been gathered from community members or groups.
Assessment and evaluation
A preliminary assessment and evaluation of all naming/renaming proposals will be undertaken by council officers. The objective of this assessment is to establish that the proposal has reasonable and justifiable merit and will consider:
- the reasons / rationale for the proposal
- broad community interest and benefit
- gender equality
- potential costs
- existing community views
- Traditional Owners views
- any controversy that a proposal may generate
Principles council must consider
- ensuring public safety
- recognising the public interest
- linking the name to place
- ensuring names are not duplicated
- names must not be discriminatory
- recognition and use of Aboriginal languages in naming
- promoting gender equality
- dual names
- using commemorative names
- using commercial and business names
- language
- directional names to be avoided
- assigning extent to a road, feature or locality
Guidelines council must consider
The following naming themes are encouraged for all place naming applications:
- names derived from Indigenous heritage and language
- social and historical events of the local area
- prior uses of the land
- prior landowners/residents of the land
- notable community members
- local flora and fauna
- whether the name is likely to be confused with the name of another road, feature or locality in the area
- whether the name would duplicate the name of another separate road in the area
- whether the same name would apply to separate lengths of road which are separated by a physical obstruction to vehicular travel, within the same area
- any other matter relevant
Consultation
Proposal – New or renamed road. New feature. Boundary change of a road.
Who to consult – Immediate community.
Type of consultation
- letter to affected residents, ratepayers, or businesses
- notices
- surveys
- public meetings (if it is a large scale or potentially contentious issue)
Proposal – New locality / suburb. Renamed feature or locality. Boundary change of a feature or locality.
Who to consult – Immediate and extended community.
Type of consultation
- letters to affected residents, ratepayers or businesses; and residents, ratepayers and businesses in properties adjacent to the proposed new boundaries
- notices
- surveys
- public meetings (if it is a large scale or potentially contentious issue)
Changes to road, feature, or locality names
Prior to the finalisation of a change of a road, feature or locality, council must give public notice, enabling people to make written submissions.
Such notice shall be undertaken in accordance with a consultation strategy determined as appropriate in line with Section 7 of the naming rules.
Objections and submissions
Following notification, any objection or submission received during the public consultation period must be considered by council with regard to the naming rules. All submissions must be included in an assessment report which includes an assessment of the submission
If council accepts a proposal and lodges it with the Registrar of Geographic Names, it must provide details of what the objections/submissions were and how they will be or have been dealt with
Council must advise submitters of its decision in writing in accordance with Section 8 of the naming rules. Objectors have 30 days within which to lodge an appeal to the Registrar of Geographic Names
Council must write a report of its decision of a proposal which includes information about how the proposal conforms to the relevant principles and guidelines of the naming rules and discussion on and responses to any objection/submission received during the public consultation period.
Road identification
Where the council erects signs on roads/streets which are readily passable by traffic to indicate the road name, regard must be had to the requirements of Australian Standard AS 1742.5 “Street name and community facility name signs”
Notice of road, feature, or locality names
After changing or naming any road, feature or locality, where applicable notice shall be forwarded to
- the owners of abutting property
- the Registrar of Geographic Names
- all emergency services including Victoria Police, CFA, SES, Ambulance Victoria
- state and commonwealth electoral officers
- other services including Australia Post, Powercor, Wannon Water, Telstra, AusNet
- Google Maps, OpenStreetMap and Melways