Kedron Park renaming halted by council over insurance hike concerns

A move to convert a park to wetlands, by name only, has been sensationally halted by a Queensland council following fears residents in the area could face home insurance premiums hikes.

Kedron Park on Bottlebrush Drive at Lammermoor, Yeppoon.

Livingstone Shire Council has sensationally deferred a decision on a potential name change for a Yeppoon parkland area due to concerns it could lead to rises in home insurance premiums for nearby residents.

A move was afoot to rename Kedron Park on Bottlebrush Drive at Lammermoor - adjacent to Sacred Heart Primary School - Kedron Wetland with overwhelming numbers of the community surveyed in favour of the change.

During public consultation conducted by the council, 84 respondents (72.41 per cent) favoured the name change to Kedron Wetlands with just 32 (27.59 per cent) against.

It was further revealed by Councillor Lance Warcon at the latest monthly council meeting, that he had conducted his own doorknock of residents in the surrounding streets and again the vast majority supported the change.

Livingstone Shire Councillor Lance Warcon.

“So I asked 15 people directly affected on Frangipani Drive whether they would like the name changed to ‘Wetland’ and 14 people opted for the name change from ‘Park’ to ‘Wetland’,” Mr Warcon said.

“One person wanted the name to stay as is.

“I also asked eight people on adjoining streets to Frangipani Drive - six people wanted the name changed to ‘Wetland’. Two people wanted the name to stay as ‘Park’.”

The parcel of land known as Kedron Park is classified “Reserve for Park and Recreation” and was named at a council meeting in 1994.

Council documents state the area is low lying and naturally swampy “so not practical to be used for recreation purposes.”

The reserve currently called Kedron Park at Lammermoor.

“There was a suggestion that the name Kedron Wetland would be more appropriate given the ecosystem, flora and fauna in the area,” a council report said.

“The change of name would not change the official title of ‘Reserve for Park and Recreation’,” the report added.

Cr Rhodes Watson asked Cr Warcon if the residents wanting a name change to ‘Wetlands’ gave a reason.

Cr Warcon said they did - it was their belief that for it to be named ‘Park’, the land would have to be raised so it served the function of such.

An important point, as was noted in the council report, is that there is “some concern” that re-naming to ‘Wetland’ may create a perception that the area would be left in a “natural state” and receive less maintenance from the council.

A recently mowed section of Kedron Park at Lammermoor, close to neighbouring homes.

The council meeting heard that residents in the area had experienced problems with snakes, rats and vermin, but Mayor Adam Belot stressed that even with a name change to ‘Wetlands’, the council would not reduce its maintenance of the area.

Cr Andrea Friend said she had been contacted by residents who opposed the name ‘Wetlands’, and she spoke strongly against such a change.

Livingstone Shire councillor Andrea Friend.

“No matter how often, and I’ll say it again, they (residents) are assured that maintenance of this reserve will continue, they are convinced over time council will not continue to keep this area (maintained),” Ms Friend said.

“They have real concerns with the vermin and snakes, along with mosquito-borne viruses.

“There’s a school opposite this area and numerous residents surrounding.

A recently mowed section of Kedron Park at Lammermoor, closest to the “swampy” section.

“Let us continue, as we have promised, to maintain this area by the mowing and clearing of drains, but let us keep the name Kedron Park for the peace of mind of those wishing to keep (that) name.”

However the big turning point came after Cr Glenda Mather spoke about fears residents could face potential hikes in home insurance premiums if the name was changed to ‘Wetlands’.

Livingstone Shire councillor Glenda Mather.

“Either way, whatever you call it, it’s going to be wet,” Ms Mather said.

“And it needs to be maintained and those drains need to be kept cleared.

“The Frangipani Drive people and the people along the wetlands, some of them may not have considered what their insurer might do if they found that they were living in an area that’s called a wetland - that’s my concern.

“And that was the real fear that the lady (I spoke to) had when she called me.

“(She said) ‘we can’t afford any more than what we’re paying with the cost of living’.”

After considerable discussions at the council meeting, councillors ultimately voted to defer a decision on this issue until more clarity and information could be obtained about potential impacts on home insurance premiums.