FAQs

The Geographical Names Board of NSW (GNB) wants to see that Council has included the community in the naming process. We have asked the community for suggestions for names, and the community working group will add another layer of community input into the project. Rather than Council creating the shortlist, community members will bring their expertise and knowledge to support Council with this process. 

The working group participants will follow the instructions on the project page under 'what do I need to do'? 

The main role of the working group participants is to provide information about the suggested names, that will be used to help the group decide on a shortlist of names. This shortlist of names will meet the GNB guidelines and be meaningful to West Dapto. Using the 'name research template' under 'important documents' to organise your information and upload it through the tab at the bottom of the project page titled 'Name research templates'. 

Once the group has developed the shortlist, it will go to the GNB. The decision makers around naming are the GNB. 

If you get stuck, confused or need any help at all contact Carly (who is the engagement officer for the project). 

Carly: cpascoe@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or 4227 7547

West Dapto is the fastest growing residential area in New South Wales outside the Sydney region. Over the next few decades the area will have around 19,500 homes with an additional population of around 56,500 people.  Some of the existing suburbs are now too large to represent the new and /or envisaged residential areas and need to be split into smaller suburbs.

The Geographical Names Board of NSW (GNB) provides guidelines for defining new suburb boundaries that Council will follow to determine the new suburb boundaries.

We understand the historical significance of Avondale, Kembla Grange and Huntley and are consulting with heritage officers to find a ‘best fit’ with the GNB criteria and our local history. 

Council is required to follow the GNB guidelines and has mapped the new suburbs according to these guidelines. The maps will be submitted to the GNB with the new proposed suburb names. 

View maps of the new suburbs.

Wollongong Council Community Engagement www.our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au 

Geographical Names Board of NSW www.gnb.nsw.gov.au

The Geographical Names Board of NSW  (GNB) is responsible for naming suburbs in NSW, however Council would like the community to suggest names that we can then take to the GNB for approval.

We understand the historical significance of these names and suburbs. We are inviting the community to let us know if these names are still relevant to the West Dapto community. Avondale suburb profile,  Huntley suburb profile and Kembla Grange suburb profile provide more information about the history of these names and suburbs.  

• New names should not duplicate an existing place name
• Local Aboriginal significance 
• Gender – consider female names
• Characteristics of the suburb
• Commemorative person
• Be appropriate to relevant local cultural or historical influences in the region
• Be appropriate to relevant local natural influences in the region
• Be easy to read, spell and pronounce
• Not be offensive or likely to cause offence

• Not be a company or business name

We are inviting all the community to suggest names for the new West Dapto suburbs. Once the submission period is closed, a working group of community organisations and groups who have local knowledge and expertise around place naming will assess the suggested names against the GNB NSW Place Name Policy to create a short list. The working group will have representatives from our Aboriginal, Heritage and Dapto communities. Any Aboriginal language names will be reviewed by members of our Aboriginal community. 

The process will be:

• Working group will review all suggested names
• Working group will submit shortlist to Council
• Council will review the list and submit to the GNB for informal approval
• The reviewed shortlist will then go to Council for public exhibition. 
• A review committee made up of the Lord Mayor, Councillors and Council officers will make a recommendation to Council regarding the preferred suburb names. 
• After considering community feedback, Council will submit the preferred names to the GNB for final approval.
• GNB will place the proposed names on public exhibition.
• Council will then endorse the new suburb names

We expect that the new suburb names will come into effect in early to mid-2021. Keep up to date with the project at our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au 

Some homes will experience a change of address if they are within a new suburb. Further information will be provided about the next steps to take once the new suburbs have been approved by the GNB and endorsed by Council.

There are three points where you can have your say with the new West Dapto suburb names. 

1. Suggest a suburb name by:

• Visiting our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au and let us know your idea
• Collect a feedback form from Council’s Customer Service team at 41 Burelli St Wollongong or Dapto Library 93-109 Princes Highway Dapto and return in person or email to engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au 
• Visit us at Dapto Mall on Saturday 14^th March 2020 from 12-2pm.  
• Attend a drop-in information session at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre on Tuesday 17^th March 1-3pm

2. Provide feedback when the short list is on public exhibition:

• Online our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au 
• Collect a feedback form from Council’s Customer Service team at 41 Burelli St Wollongong or Dapto Library 93-109 Princes Highway Dapto and return in person or email to engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au 

3. Provide feedback when the GNB has the short list on public exhibition. 

• Go to the GNB website to have your say

Wollongong Council Community Engagement www.our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au 

Geographical Names Board of NSW www.gnb.nsw.gov.au