7.9. Determination - Proposal to Name Civic Space at 350 ... · 7.9 Determination - Proposal to...

Council Agenda 26/11/18

City of Boroondara 693

7.9 Determination - Proposal to Name Civic Space at 350-352 Burwood Road, Hawthorn 'Beswicke Square'

Abstract

In accordance with Council's Naming of Council Properties Policy and ‘The Naming rules for places in Victoria, Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities – 2016’, Council resolved to commence the process on the proposal to name the site at 350-352 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, “Beswicke Square”.

The public consultation period to name the site “Beswicke Square” concluded on 7 September 2018. Officers received 47 written responses in support of the naming proposal and 16 written responses objecting to the naming proposal.

A report was then presented to the Services Special Committee Meerting on 8 October 2018. The Committee resolved to receive and note the verbal and written submissions received and to refer the naming proposal to Council for determination at the Council meeting on 26 November 2018.

This report recommends the Council owned land at 350-352 Burwood Road, Hawthorn be named “Beswicke Sqaure”.

Officers' recommendation

That Council resolve to recommend to the Registrar of Geographic Names that the Council owned land located at 350-352 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, as showing on Attachment 1, as annexed to the minutes, be named “Beswicke Square”.



Responsible director: David ThompsonGovernance

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1. Purpose

The purpose of this report is for Council to consider naming the Council owned land at 350-352 Burwood Road, Hawthorn (as shown on Attachment 1) “Beswicke Square”.

2. Policy implications and relevance to community plan and council plan

This matter is addressed under Council’s Naming of Council Properties Policy (the Policy). The Policy provides that in selecting appropriate new names, Council will endeavour to create a "sense of place" and strive to honour and observe the local character of the relevant area. Council will also aim to honour heritage and historical connections of the relevant precinct and select names consistent with any identifiable historic naming trends in the local precinct.

In progressing a naming proposal, Council will ensure that all processes followed will be transperant and compliant with the processes detailed in ‘The Naming rules for places in Victoria, Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities – 2016’ (the Naming Rules). The Naming Rules uphold the guidelines provided for in the Geographic Place Names Act 1998.

The proposal to name the site at 350-352 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, “Beswicke Square”, also relates to Priority Theme 7: Civic Leadership and Governance in the Boroondara Community Plan 2017-2021.

3. Background

Consultation

At the Council meeting on 26 March 2018, Council resolved to commence the public consultation process, for a minimum period of 30 days, on the proposal to name the site at 350-352 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, “Beswicke Square”. The public consultation process commenced on 25 July 2018 and concluded on 7 September 2018.

In accordance with the Policy and the Naming Rules, public information on the proposal was exhibited and advertised. The following communication channels were utlised during the public exhibition period:

574 hard copy survey forms were sent to the immediate community (including residents and traders) comprising:

o Owner occupiers of property located within 400 metres of the site.o Occupiers (non-owners) of property located within 400 metres of the

site.o Owner non-occupiers of property located within 400 metres of the site.



The Naming Rules dictate how consultation surveys should be framed and conducted. The surveys therefore included the following wording:

"Do you agree or disagree with the proposal to name 350-352 Burwood Road, Hawthorn,"Beswicke Square"

Please mark (X) in the box of your choice

I agree with the name “Beswicke Square” proposed for 350-352 Burwood Road, Hawthorn

I disagree with the name “Beswicke Square” proposed for 350- 352 Burwood Road, Hawthorn

If you disagree please explain why:

If you do not support the proposal, please indicate why and/or demonstrate why the proposal does not conform to the Naming rules for places in Victoria - Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities 2016:

If you would like to make any other comments in support of or objection to the proposed name please do so:

All submissions must be received by Friday 7 September 2018.

All name submissions must comply with the Naming rules for places in Victoria - Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities 2016.

Further information can be found at:

https://www.propertyandlandtitles.vic.gov.au/naming-places-features- and-roads/naming-rules-for-places-in-victoria

In accordance with the Naming rules for places in Victoria - Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities 2016, if you do not respond to this survey it will be taken as "tacit approval" of the proposed name."

In addition to the 574 surveys sent to the immediate community, letters were sent to the following organisations seeking their feedback on the proposal:

o Boon Wurrung Foundationo Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporationo Glenferrie Traders Associationo Grace Park Residents Associationo Hawthorn Historical Societyo Headspace Hawthorno Swinburne Senior Secondary Collegeo Swinburne University of Technologyo Wurundjeri Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council

Aboriginal Corporation (Wurundjeri)



The only response received was from Swinburne Senior Secondary College who were in support of the proposal.

Consultation was undertaken with the family of Mr Beswicke and support for the proposal was received.

An online survey and information about the naming proposal appeared on the 'Have Your Say' page on Council's website. The questions appearing on the online survey duplicated those questions appearing on the hardcopy survey.

Posts appeared on Council's Facebook page on 2 August 2018 and 23 August 2018 inviting community feedback on the proposal.

Posts appeared on Council's Twitter page on 5 August 2018 and 20 August 2018 inviting community feedback on the proposal.

Advertisements appeared in the Progress Leader on 7 August 2018 and 28 August 2018 inviting community feedback on the proposal.

Posters outlining the proposal and inviting community feedback were displayed at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, Council's customer service centres, Council's libraries and within the civic space itself.

Submissions Received

At the conclusion of the public consultation process, officers received 47 written responses in support of the naming proposal and 16 written responses objecting to the naming proposal.

The 63 submitters who provided their written response regarding the naming proposal were invited to attend the Services Special Committee Meeting on 8 October 2018 to speak to their written submission. At the meeting, 2 verbal submissions were received objecting to the naming proposal.

4. Outline of key issues/options

Consultation Analysis

Of the 574 surveys that were sent to the immediate community, 508 were not responded to (88.50% of the immediate community). The survey form indicated that "In accordance with the Naming rules for places in Victoria - Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities 2016, if you do not respond to this survey it will be taken as "tacit approval" of the proposed name".

o Of the 574 surveys that were sent to the immediate community, 14 surveys were received 'return to sender'. These 14 responses were not treated as 'tacit approval' of the proposal.



At the conclusion of the public consultation period officers received 63 written responses in total to the proposal. This included:

47 written responses (74.60% of written responses) were received in support of the naming proposal.

16 written responses (25.40% of written responses) were received objecting to the naming proposal.

o Of the 63 written responses received, 52 responses comprised completed survey forms from the immediate community, 2 responses comprised emails sent directly to officers and 9 responses were received via the online survey on the 'Have Your Say' page on Council's website.

o 2 written responses were also received by officers after the conclusion of the public consultation period (7 September 2018). These responses have been included in the total number of 63 responses.

o In addition to the above, members of the community who provided their view on the naming proposal were also provided with the opportunity to speak in support of their written submission at the Services Special Committee Meeting on 8 October 2018. Only two members of the community attended to express their views.

Officers consulted with the family of Mr Beswicke and received support for the proposal.

Community Feedback

The community feedback received during the public consultation process is summarised as follows:

Written commentary received in support of the naming proposal

Written commentary received in objection to the naming proposal

The name recognises the historical connection Mr Beswicke has to the site

For the name to include 'Hawthorn'

That Mr Beswicke has been recognised elsewhere in Victoria and his contribution is not specific to Hawthorn

'Beswicke' is difficult to spell

To name the site something that is gender or race neutral

For the name to include an Indigenous acknowledgement

Difficult for the public to have a connection to the name 'Beswicke'



To name the space after local flora or fauna

The name 'Beswicke Square' won't be easily remembered

Naming the site after an architect is contradictory, as the site itself once held other architects' buildings before they were demolished

To name the space in recognition of a female contributor to the community instead. The following suggestions were provided:

o Betty Marginsono Doris Blackburno Ellison Harvie

Other naming options provided by the community included:o Palmers Rest or

Palmers View (in recognition of Sir James Frederick Palmer)

o Crimmins Square (in recognition of Peter Crimmins)

o Reconciliation Squareo Hawthorn Squareo Pioneers Square

Verbal submissions received at the Services Special Committee Meeting on 8 October 2018

Two submitters addressed the Committee and outlined that they were not in support of the proposal to name the space “Beswicke Square”.

o Both submitters suggested the proposal incorporate an Indigenous recognition or acknowledgement.

o One submitter suggested that the proposal incorperate a dual name, the suggestion being “Beswicke Square/ Gerang Gerang Square” (gerang gerang meaning leaf [of tree]).

Officer Response to Community Feedback

In response to the community feedback, officers acknowledge that under the Policy and the Naming Rules, in selecting a name, Council should endeavour to create a "sense of place" and strive to honour and observe the local character of the relevant area.



The name 'Beswicke Square' has been proposed to commemorate the prominent Hawthorn resident Mr John Beswicke (1847‐1925). Mr Beswicke was a prolific architect who lived in Hawthorn and designed many heritage houses, civic and commercial buildings in Victoria.

In Boroondara, Mr Beswicke designed the Hawthorn Town Hall at 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn (now known as the Hawthorn Arts Centre, which is located adjacent to the site), and many of the distinctive and notable houses in Hawthorn.

Officers are of the view that the name represents a strong link to both the site and suburb and is considered to be an appropriate way to honour Hawthorn’s history and rich heritage.

The Office of Geographic Names (OGN) has also provided ‘in principle’ support for the name ‘Beswicke Square’. The OGN has confirmed that the naming proposal complies with the following key principles in the Naming Rules:

Ensuring public safety Recognising the public interest Linking the name to place Ensuring names are not duplicated Names must not be discriminatory Using commemorative names Language Directional names to be avoided Assigning extent to a road, feature or locality

Acknowledging the alternative naming proposals suggested by the community, based upon the results of the consultation process, officers are of the view (as outlined below) that there is strong support for the site to be named 'Beswicke Square':

Consultation with immediate community Population in immediate community: 574Respondents who objected: 7 (1.22%)Respondents who expressed consent: 45 (7.84%)Non-responses (tacit consent): Return to sender (not counted):

508 (88.50%)14 (2.44%)

Total community that consents: 553 (96.34%)

Overall written responses received Total submissions received: 63 Submissions in favour: 47 (74.60%)Submissions against: 16 (25.40%)

No member of the immediate or extended community, raised or demonstrated during the public consultation process or at the Services Special Committee Meeting on 8 October 2018, that the naming proposal did not comply with the Naming Rules. The only feedback received (as demonstrated within the table under the heading ‘Community Feedback’) related to the choice of name.



If Council was of a mind to officially name the site “Beswicke Square / Gerang Gerang”, officers would need to commence the consultation process outlined in the Policy and section 7.3 of the Naming Rules.

This means the current naming proposal would be abandoned and the consultation process would start again.

5. Consultation/communication

Consultation

In addition to the Naming Rules outlining that consultation is a key component in the process of naming features, Council also recognises the importance of community consultation in naming its property and that members of the public should be involved in the naming exercise.

As previously outlined: Members of the immediate and extended community were directly afforded

the opportunity to comment on the proposal.

The proposal was advertised to the broader community, who were also afforded the opportunity to comment on the proposal.

Members of the community who provided their written view on the proposal were directly invited to attend the Services Special Committee Meeting on 8 October 2018 to comment on the proposal. The broader community (regardless of whether they had provided a written submission on the proposal) were also afforded the opportunity to verbally present their view point on the proposal.

Communication

Should Council proceed with the naming proposal “Beswicke Sqaure”, in accordance with the Naming Rules those who have objected to the propoal during the initial rounds of consultation, will be informed of:

Council’s decision regarding the proposal; and

Their ability to to appeal Council’s decision to the Registrar of Geographic Names within a 30 day period and outline:o If they believe that Council did not consider the objections during its

deliberations. o If they believe that the proposal does not reasonably conform to the

principles and statutory requirements of the naming rules.

6. Financial and resource implications

Not including officer time, the costs of the broad consultation was not greater than $2,000. This cost has been incorporated as part of the Governance Department annual operating budget.

The financial implications of the installation of signage are not known until a decision is made on the appropriate name and type of signage to be installed.



Signage must comply with the Boroondara Planning Scheme Policy. The naming of Council properties should also not inappropriately impact the environment of Boroondara through unnecessary signage.

7. Governance issues

Officers involved in the preparation of this report have no conflict of interest.

The list of prescribed human rights contained in the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities has been reviewed in accordance with Council's Human Rights Compatibility Assessment Tool and it is considered that the proposed actions contained in this report present no breaches of, or infringements upon, those prescribed rights.

8. Social and environmental issues

The naming of the site will enable easier identification and will recognise the significant local history associated with the site.

Manager: David Thompson, Governance

Report officer: Elizabeth Manou, Governance Projects Officer


City of Boroondara Attachment 7.9.1 702

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