Council makes changes to public asset naming policy to formally allow renaming if someone has been ‘discredited’

The Toowoomba Regional Council has voted to make amendments to its public asset naming policy, which will formally allow it to rename infrastructure if its namesake gains a criminal record or becomes “discredited” in the public’s view.

Toowoomba City Hall. Picture: Bev Lacey

Public assets like parks and bridges in Toowoomba can now be formally renamed if the person they’re named after has been discredited or cancelled, following a council decision.

Councillors voted at Tuesday’s committee meeting to make minor amendments to its Naming/Renaming of Council Assets policy as part of a standard review.

The policy relates to certain road types, bridges, park and community infrastructure but not town or place names.

Thanks to the changes, the council will not name any public asset after someone with a criminal history or who had been “discredited or dishonoured”, and reserves the right to change a currently-named asset for the same reason.

“The policy defines council’s intentions and processes in relation to the names selected for the assets within our region to ensure they reflect the pride and honour of our community,” the officer’s report said.

“It has been updated to better articulate the function of parks and the timing for the naming of parks contributed through the development assessment process.”

When Cr Tim McMahon queried why this change was being made the policy, infrastructure general manager Mike Brady said it was mainly a move to reflect societal norms changing.

“This has come up over the past four or five years, how society has reviewed the standing of persons who have been discredited,” he said.

“It would be by resolution of council, for (a renaming) to occur.

“The likelihood of that occurring is extremely low.”

Cr McMahon said he was not opposed to the changes, but noted the phrase “discredited or dishonoured” was not objective.

The motion passed unanimously.