Have say on naming WA place names

IF you want to have a say on WA place names, here is your chance.

Land ownership agency Landgate is looking for two people with an interest in geographic naming to join the committee responsible for approving the names of towns, suburbs, streets and landmarks.

The community representatives will join members from government agencies, property groups, Australia Post and emergency services on the Geographic Names Committee, which meets quarterly and provides advice to Lands Minister Terry Redman.

Formerly the Advisory Committee on Nomenclature, it originally chaired by historian James Sykes Battye and included Paul Hasluck, who later became Australia’s 17th Governor General, when it began 80 years ago.

Landgate chief executive Mike Bradford said there were not processes for geographic naming in WA before the committee formed.

“This led to problems like the duplication of names across the country and European spellings of Aboriginal place names, which led to them being mispronounced,” he said.

“Some of the first items discussed by the committee were the spelling of Burswood Island and the mispronunciation of place names by radio presenters.”

“Today, local councils and property developers submit names to Landgate for approval. The Geographic Names Committee is called upon to rule on names that don’t comply with naming policies.”

He said WA had a rich variety of place names, from the unusual including Useless Loop, Disaster Bay and Geekabee Hill to names reflecting the state’s Aboriginal heritage such as Badgingarra, Narembeen and Bindi Bindi.

Expressions of interest are due on July 29 by close of business.

More information here.