Melbourne council asks the public to name new roads. What could go wrong?

Have you ever dreamed of living in Streety McStreetface Street, Warnieville? Here’s your chance.

Melbourne City Council has announced plans to allow the public to suggest names for new roads and locations in the city.

Names proposed for roads must meet the 1998 Geographic Place Names Act to ensure they are not duplicated or offensive, and support the local community interests – and they can can be submitted by community members, landholders and developers.

The draft policy will defer naming proposals back to the community, with a preference for “Aboriginal language names and the names of women who have contributed to Melbourne’s historical development.”

According to the Council, this is intended to “correct the imbalance” of naming representation in Melbourne – which in the past 20 years has seen 50 new roads named after men, 23 named after women, and six the use local Aboriginal language.

The scheme will cover new roads, laneways, localities, and public places.

This means that – as amusing as it would be – Streety McStreetface Street is unlikely to get a look in, but Camira Way could very well be in with a chance.

As well as being a rather infamous piece of Holden’s history, a Camira is an Aboriginal term that means ‘windy’.

To keep the Holden theme, Maloo (storm), Monaro (high plains), Torana (to fly) and Barina (summit) would all be considered as part of a new road or place name.

Note that there is already a Camira Street in Malvern East, Monaro Court in Vermont South, Torana Court in Doveton and Barina Road in Glenroy, among others. No Maloo though…

If established, the new policy will set out a process where the community can submit suggestions, have these reviewed by the relevant Registered Aboriginal Party or historical society, and then proceed through a council approval process.

As well as using community consultation for new roads, the policy applies to existing places that may seek to be renamed under the new guidelines.

Previous examples of governing bodies turning to community consultation for names haven’t always gone to plan, with the now iconic ‘Boaty McBoatface’ result of a public vote for the name of a new British polar research vessel.

The research agency had to intervene against an overwhelming majority vote and name the ship the RRS Sir David Attenborough. However, in recognition of the public vote, one of the ship’s autonomous submarine drones was named Boaty McBoatface.

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