New push for Airport West to change its name

TO THE people living there it is a “suburb of factories” but would a name change be enough to shed this Melbourne suburb’s dowdy industrial image? HAVE YOUR SAY

Dumped rubbish on land at the corner of Sexton and Moore streets, near Westfield Airport West. Residents were fed up after it constantly happened and rubbish included corrosive and flammable acid. Westfield Airport West has recently installed a new cyclone fence in response.

A NAME change for Airport West would rid it of its “suburb of factories” stigma, residents say.

Airport West ratepayers want Moonee Valley Council to investigate changing its name while it undergoes a review of the suburb’s structure plan.

Sharon Edwards said she thought a name change would be lovely.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Should Airport West be renamed? Vote below

“I think Airport West has got a connotation of being an industrial site and so who wants to go there?” Ms Edwards said.

The council’s draft Issues and Opportunities Report, released for public consultation this week, stated a name change should not be pursued.

But an earlier version of the report recommended the council investigate community support for the change.

Ms Edwards said she was disappointed the council changed its mind to consult with the community.

Ana Georgiou, also of ­Airport West, said the suburb was a hidden gem and its name should be a considered one rather than an “appendage” of Essendon Airport.

“I feel like Airport West is a throwaway name and that we’re a throwaway suburb,” Ms Georgiou said.

Resident Cathy Smith said she ­believed it was time Airport West lost its stigma of being a “suburb of factories”.

But Margaret Noonan, ­another long-term resident, disagreed.

“I am not opposed to ­progress, but for the life of me I cannot see why the powers that be think it is necessary to change the name of a suburb that has been around since 1960,” Ms Noonan said.

Mayor Narelle Sharpe said a survey sent to all Airport West properties in 2009 found only 39.9 per cent of 1841 respondents supported a name change. Essendon Fields was promoted as one option.

“Given that just six years ago the residents in Airport West were consulted and the majority of respondents were against a change of name, it was determined that the significant time and costs involved in undertaking another formal consultation on the issue are not justified at this stage,” Cr Sharpe said.

Councillor John Sipek, who initiated the plebiscite at the time, said he would be happy to examine the issue again if there was a “groundswell of community ­support”.