By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
NARRE Warren residents in the Montbrae Circuit area could soon be living in Narre Warren North under a renaming proposed by council.
The proposal comes after a survey in which 97 residents voted for the area to be renamed as Narre Warren North, the favoured choice ahead of second preference ‘Berwick’.
While council recommended the name change after it was raised by residents, it is not completely official until the Registrar of Geographic Names reviews and accepts the proposal.
City of Casey Manager and Property, Rates and Valuations Peter Gillieron re-iterated that the name change would only take place with the registrar’s approval.
“Council will write to the State Government’s Registrar of Geographic Names and advise the registrar of council’s decision,” he said.
“The registrar will review council’s processes against the guidelines under the Geographic Names Act 1988 and, if satisfied will gazette the suburb name change. The suburban boundary change takes effect at gazettal.”
Casey Councillor Rafal Kaplon said the proposed name change is mainly for geographical reasons.
“Ernest Wanke Rd is regarded by council as a secondary arterial road, with a plantation reserve in existence between the road and the adjoining properties. Therefore there is no “linkage” between the Narre Warren properties south of Ernest Wanke Rd and Narre Warren properties north of Narre Warren Rd,” he said.
“Ernest Wanke Rd is effectively a “divider” between the two residential areas in that part of Narre Warren.”
Cr Kaplon said he agreed with residents that ‘Narre Warren North’ was a more appropriate name change than ‘Berwick’.
“Berwick already covers a vast area and currently Berwick is exclusively within the ward boundaries of Edrington,” he said.
The City of Casey is currently undertaking a survey of property owners in Cranbourne East and part of Clyde North in regard to another proposed suburb name change.
