Agenda Item No. 9.5

Report No: 74 /19 ts

TO: TECHNICAL SERVICES COMMITTEE - MONDAY 13 MAY 2019

SUBJECT: GREEN OPEN SPACE NAMING REPORT

AUTHOR: SCOTT ALLEN - DIRECTOR TECHNICAL SERVICES

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report is to seek direction regarding the naming of the green open space on the corner of Wills Terrace and Leichhardt Terrace

RECOMMENDATIONS

That it be a recommendation to Council:

That Council recommends the naming of the green open space on the corner of Wills Terrace and Leichhardt Terrace as Lhere Mparntwe Park

REPORT

1. BACKGROUND

The green open spaced area on the corner of Wills Terrace and Leichhardt Terrace was upgraded in 2008. The area in question had been neglected for a long time and the large Sacred Tree was in imminent danger of toppling over. Council devised a plan, liaised with Traditional Owners and conducted earthworks and improved the overall aesthetics of the area.

Report No: 74 /19 ts Page 2 of 2

2. DISCUSSION

The area has been never been officially named. Council has recommended previous names which have been not approved by two separate families and once by the Place Names Committee (Attachment A).

After a conversation with the Place Names Committee, Council was asked to contact AAPA and discuss the proposed naming of the green open space.

Lhere Mparntwe (Todd River) Working Group references the Todd River. The recommendation is to name the park Lhere Mparntwe Park.

3. POLICY IMPACTS

Alice Springs Town Council Strategic Plan 2018 - 2021

OBJECTIVE 2: A great place to live• 2.2 - Enhance life-long, library and technology services

» 2.3.1 - Protect and promote local history and heritage

Once a recommendation regarding a name has been approved by Council, the recommendation would be forwarded to the Place Names Committee

4. FINANCIAL IMPACTS

The signs will cost $350.00 to purchase and install

5. SOCIAL IMPACTS

The name of Lhere Mparntwe Park will provide the community green open space with the traditional name of the Todd River

6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Nil

7. PUBLIC RELATIONS

The naming of the park in the traditional language will reinforce the traditional owners of the land

8. ATTACHMENTS

Attachment A: Letter from the Place Names Committee dated 27 March 2019

Scott AllenDIRECTOR TECHNICAL SERVICES

attachment a

PLACE NAMES COMMITTEEfor the Northern Territory

Our Ref: PNJOBFILE2017/0027

Mr Scott Allen Director Technical Services Alice Springs Town Council PO Box 1071 ALICE SPRINGS NT 0871

Dear Mr Allen

Re: Request to name a park - Part Lot 5141, Town of Alice Springs

I am writing in respect of a your request to name a park located on part Lot 5141, Town of Alice Springs which has been progressed to date through letters dated 13 December 2017, 12 July 2018 and particularly 27 November 2018.

On 7 March 2019, the Place Name Committee (PNC) met to consider the request and determined that it will not recommend the name ‘Wills Terrace Park' to the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics for the following reasons:

1. The Committee considers the name to be inconsistent with the ‘duplication’ principle for naming which requires names to not duplicate or nearly duplicate, in either sound or spelling, an existing name in the same local government area.

Specifically, the requested name ‘Wills Terrace Park’ duplicates the nearby road name 'Wills Terrace’. This could cause confusion and does not support unambiguous direction and reference to the park. This is further compounded by the fact that the park is not located on Wills Terrace but is rather at the corners of Undoolya Road and Leichhardt Terrace.

2. The Committee is required by section 9(1 A)(e) of the Place Names Act 1967 (the Act) to seek the views of interested persons before making a report to the Minister recommending a name for a place. The Act is explicit in requiring the views be sought of the family or descendants of a person proposed to be commemorated through the naming of a place.

By email dated 21 January 2019 the requestor advised that attempts had been made, but had not been successful in locating or contacting any relevant next of kin or descendants.

The Committee considers that the further commemoration of Mr William John Wills in the same local government area and in such close proximity to an existing place that already commemorates Mr Wills is not necessary or desirable. This position is taken particularly in light of next of kin or descendant support for the requested

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commemoration not being available, and advice in the requestor's letter of 27 November 2018 that the next of kin of other persons considered for commemoration had "’rejected the opportunity due to the stigma attached to the location” of the park.

3. The Committee is required by section 9(1 A) of the Act to seek the views of interested persons before making a report to the Minister recommending a name for a place.

Having regard to the location and nature of the park in a part of the Todd River zoned for Conservation and containing a sacred tree (identified by the requestor in correspondence of 27 November 2018), the Committee considers that interested persons in this case includes the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation as the representative organisation of native title holders within the Municipality of Alice Springs.

While the requestor’s correspondence indicates that consultation with traditional owners has occurred in respect of the physical upgrades to the park, no evidence of consultation in relation to the proposed name has been provided despite a number of requests.

With a view to assisting the Alice Springs Town Council to select an appropriate name for the park and submit a new request the Committee notes the following:

• The park is located in a part of the Todd River which is a significant natural feature in the municipality, and the area is characterised by the presence of native vegetation (including a sacred tree identified in previous correspondence).

• Noting you have indicated concerns have been raised by next of kin in relation to options to commemorate individuals, the opportunity to engage with the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation to identify an appropriate Aboriginal word for use in the park’s name could be considered.

• Any new request should provide evidence of consultation with interested persons to satisfy s. 9(1 A) of the Act, including, but not limited to:

o Copies of Alice Springs Town Council minutes that clearly evidence Council’s decision to support and request the proposed name (as both the local government established for the area in which the park is located and the land owner (ss. 9(1A)(a) and (d) of the Act);

o Formal correspondence from the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporationconfirming support for the proposed name, including any relevant minutes of meetings that identify the names and cultural standing of those native title holders involved in the consultation (s. 9(1 A) of the Act); and

o If a commemorative name is selected, in addition to the above, confirmation of support for its use for the park from the family or descendants of the person proposed to be commemorated (s. 9(1A)(e) of the Act).

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• If an Aboriginal word is selected for the proposed name of the park, the Council should provide local historical and cultural information relating to the meaning and origin of the name and supporting evidence from an appropriately experienced linguist or linguistic organisation confirming the spelling, pronunciation and meaning of the word.

• If a non-Aboriginal word is selected for the proposed name of the park, the Council should provide historical and cultural information relating to the origin of the name that demonstrates the names connection to the local area and / or the Northern Territory more broadly.

• If a proposed name to commemorate a person is selected, the Council should provide, comprehensive biographical information for the person that includes information about the persons connection and contribution to the local area and / or the Northern Territory more broadly. Please note only persons deceased for more than 12 months may be considered for commemoration in place names.

I note that the Place Names Committee will be holding a meeting in Alice Springs to consider place naming requests in late May 2019. Should Council wish to submit a further request for consideration at that meeting the complete request should be lodged online at www.ntlis.nt.qov.au/placenames-online no later than Friday 3 May 2019.

If you require any additional information or clarification in relation to this correspondence please contact me on 0448 622 617 or email me at place.names@nt.qov.au.

Yours sincerely

Dr Samantha Wells Chairperson

27 March 2019

cc: Mr Rex Mooney, Chief Executive Officer, Alice Springs Town Council

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