THE name of the local council has always been a contentious issue in Wingham, just ask someone who was around when Taree and Wingham municpal councils – and Manning Shire – were merged in 1981.
The title has once again come under the spotlight after councillor Mave Richardson proposed a name change to Greater Taree City Council during urgent business at Wednesday night’s ordinary meeting.
Her motion aimed to see a survey of an equitable representation of residents of the urban areas of Taree and Wingham plus rural residents, to assess the public preference for the retention of the current name or a change to a name that may better reflect the community. The proposal for a random survey was approved on a vote of four to three, with Crs Richardson, Mal Marks, Alan Tickle and Paul Hogan in favour and Crs Jennison, West and David Keegan against. Cr Eddie Loftus (who is overseas) and Cr Kathryn Bell were apologies at the meeting.
However a rescission motion was lodged with Greater Taree City Council yesterday, countering the proposal to conduct a survey of residents on a suggested change of name for the local government area.
The suggested name change “came out of the blue” at last Wednesday night’s meeting of council and “should never have come up”, mayor Paul Hogan said yesterday.
“We’ve gone back through old records (when similar suggestions have been made in the past)... and it just should not have been raised,” Cr Hogan said.
Together with Cr Trent Jennison and deputy mayor David West, Cr Hogan was a signatory to the rescission motion.
Before the rescission motion, the council stood to gauge a section of the community’s interest in a new name for the organisation before it considered any major steps to see its branding changed.
If there was a favourable response from the survey, the council looked to conduct a full poll of residents at the local government elections in September.
If again supported, it would then approach the government authorities to seek the change.
Cr Richardson put forward two possible names - Manning Valley Council and Taree/Manning Council - but said more names could be suggested through the consultation process.
It was estimated the survey would cost up to $10,000 to conduct, while a poll at the next election would amount to about $60,000.
The council officers could not accurately predict the overall cost to change the name without further investigation.
Cr Richardson said in recent years, the tourism branding of Manning Valley... Naturally had been a huge success and lifted the profile of this name with people outside the area.
“One of the reasons (a name change) was argued down in the past was that people had never heard of Manning Valley but knew of Taree,” she said.
“We have come a long way from there.”
She said about 49 per cent of the council area’s residents lived outside Taree or Wingham and did not believe they were part of the city of Taree.
“This is an opportunity to move into a new century and leave the old days behind.”
She said the survey would give a good indication of the public feeling and provide a sense of inclusiveness.
“We need to promote the region and encourage people to visit.
“I believe the timing is right. Why not put it to the public and let them tell us which way to go?”
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