Woollahra mayor hits out ‘Eastern Beaches Council’ name suggestion for merged council

Woollahra Mayor Toni Zeltzer has slammed the suggested name for a new eastern suburbs council

Waverley mayor Sally Betts said the name Eastern Beaches Council was chosen to reflect the community’s pride in its coastal lifestyle . Picture: John Appleyard

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WOOLLAHRA Mayor Toni Zeltzer has slammed her Waverley and Randwick counterparts for endorsing “Eastern Beaches Council” as the winner of a council naming competition.

She said the name did not “conjure up creativity, celebration or relevance” and was not an accurate reflection of the three council areas.

“A significant proportion of residents across our three council areas do not live on the beachfront and while our beaches are lovely, they do not define us. We are more than our beaches,” she said.

“In addition Woollahra also believes that the name of a new council area should be an inclusive representation of all its parts and considerate of the image, branding and marketability that is inherent in the name chosen.

“​I am not sure that the outcome derived from a naming competition will deliver on these important considerations.”

Woollahra mayor Toni Zeltzer said the name would not be an accurate reflection of the three council areas

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts and Randwick Mayor Noel D’Souza chose the name out of 349 submissions made to the competition.

“Eastern Beaches” tallied 19 per cent of the vote, with “Eastern Suburbs Council garnering the next most at 11 per cent.

The winning name and other options will be submitted to the State Govermnet prior to proclamation of the new entity.

Cr Betts said the name was chosen because of the community’s pride in its coastal lifestyle.

“Residents rightly pointed out that this area has the best beaches in Australia in Sydney’s East,” she said. “I am delighted the community had an opportunity to have a say on this important decision.”

According to a council spokeswoman comments from the submission period included: “the beaches is what makes this part of Sydney so special”, “it is a logical descriptive and evocative of the area”, “it describes the area’s main attraction”, “it’s obvious”, “it’s a true name and very fitting”.

Waverley and Randwick Council mayors Sally Betts and Noel D’Souza have embraced a plan to merge with Woollahra, which is fighting the plan in court.

Randwick Mayor Noel D’Souza said the competition showed residents across the eastern suburbs felt a strong sense of connection with the beach.

“It’s clear that the beach lifestyle resonates strongly with many people and it creates a proud community of interest,” he said.

“Randwick City Council has an adopted position of a preference for the name Eastern Sydney Council, however the community has spoken and I am happy to also put forward to the Government the suggestion Eastern Beaches Council.”

“The proposed merger of Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra will result in a strong eastern beaches council with 28 beaches and bays, three national parks and 274,000 residents.”

Woollahra Cr Andrew Petrie said his municipality was harbour-oriented and the name didn’t suit the area.

“It seems like they have just done a survey to come up with the name they wanted three years ago,” he said.

“It’s self-serving of Waverley and Randwick councils, which has been the case right the way through the amalgamation process.

Waverley Cr John Wakefield said the process had been pre-emptive considering Woollahra’s legal challenge over the amalgamations.

“I believe that Eastern Beaches does not fully summarise or encapsulate the geography of the proposed merger,” he said.

“Woollahra should have been more involved in this process. Decision making by unelected officers from only two of the three councils is not a fair and reasonable process.”