Sydney light rail: Premier to push for Royal Randwick name
PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian is determined to overrule narky bureaucrats and win the name game over the new light rail stop outside Randwick racecourse.
NSW
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PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian is determined to win the name game over the new light rail stop outside Randwick racecourse — and will overrule narky bureaucrats to ensure it is called “Royal Randwick”.
Boffins at the Geographical Names Board have objected to the obvious moniker for the stop because of arcane rules preventing “commercial” names being used.
In a bizarre radio interview yesterday, the boss of the board Narelle Underwood said Royal Randwick was too commercial, adding that some people also didn’t like the use of the word “royal” in the title because they couldn’t be sure the Queen had approved it.
Ms Underwood told 2GB “a commercial or business name can’t be used for a geographical feature”.
Government officials were baffled by the interview saying the reasoning did not stand up to scrutiny given the light rail stops on the inner west line were already named after commercial operations.
They cited “The Star” outside the Star casino as well as “Paddy’s markets” and “Fish Market”.
A spokesman for the Geographical Names Board later sent a statement to The Daily Telegraph explaining that the board did not sign off on the name The Star.
In the radio interview, Ms Underwood also struggled to identify precisely at which gates at Royal Randwick the stop would be located.
“I’m honestly not sure,” she replied, when asked by 2GB host Chris Smith.
The Daily Telegraph revealed yesterday the board was poised to reject the name “Royal Randwick” in favour of “Centennial Park” after a push led by Greens. Environmentalists wanted the name to honour “big, beautiful and well-loved” trees removed during the light rail construction.
But Ms Underwood insisted it was the commercial sensitivities that had been the main reason for the board’s opposition to the name.
She said the board had received two submissions in favour of “Royal Randwick” and 200 against.
She did not mention that the Australian Turf Club submission supporting the name included a petition of almost 3200 signatures.
The government believes thousands of people will use the stop to attend events at Randwick racecourse.
Ms Berejiklian yesterday said the government’s position was that the name of the stop should reflect that.
“Our intention is for that to be called Royal Randwick,” she said.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance also fiercely backed Royal Randwick.
“The bureaucrats at the Geographic Name Board have blatantly disregarded Transport’s submission ... It’s a stupid argument,” he said.
“It’s obvious to everyone that thousands of people are going to use this stop to access the racecourse. We need to ensure we don’t confuse our customers and naming the stop Royal Randwick is the best way to ensure this.”
The Daily Telegraph understands the government is willing to use its powers to overturn the Geographical Names Board decision.