CITY Council will extend the community consultation process to name the $39.1m Community and Recreation Hub after a sub-committee rejected the list of 74 public suggestions, Mayor Lynette Martin says.
At Monday night’s sub-committee meeting, Mayor Martin and Councillors Ben Hood, Sonya Mezinec, Frank Morello and Max Bruins were expected to shortlist five names before releasing them to the public.
However, members felt none of the names, which included The Ripple, H20 Fitness Zone and Percy Penguin’s Palace, were suited to the future image of the hub and supported postponing the process.
The recommendation was expected to be discussed at the upcoming general council meeting but in a statement released late yesterday, Mayor Martin said “consultation will be extended over the coming months to allow for additional name ideas to be lodged as the project unfolds”.
“Council is now at the stage where we can begin to share updates on the detailed design of the project,” she said.
“This is important with regard to a potential name as we want to ensure that the community can really envisage what the hub will be and its importance within the community.”
“Therefore, we continue to invite people to put their thinking caps on and keep their ideas flowing for a name as we move forward with the project over the coming months.”
At this week’s meeting, committee presiding member Cr Ben Hood said the purpose of allowing the public to contribute names was “never so much about the name but more the community engagement”.
Of the handful of names discussed, ‘The Core’ was favoured by Cr Hood and Cr Max Bruins flagging ‘Community and Recreation Entertainment’ as a potential branding.
“I like The Core because the centre will be in the core of the town and it does sound quite volcanic,” Cr Hood said.
Despite not having voting rights, Cr’s Paul Jenner and Steve Perryman attended the committee meeting, with the latter likening the list to “pay television”.
“You have a million channels but nothing to watch,” Cr Perryman said.
“If there is a need for more community consultation then just put it back out to the community.”
A suggestion by Cr Bruins to seek help from an advertising company prompted a warning from council chief executive Andrew Meddle.
“You are in a really difficult position there and you do not want to break expectation from the local community,” he said.
“You will have to handle the community consultation and labelling process perfectly from here on in because you do not want to undermine your community engagement from here on out.”
Council’s community engagement general manager Barbara Cernovskis told the chamber the process may be flawed due to community members having a lack of internal information.
“There is the potential to release some information surrounding the designs so community members have more information and a better idea of what the hub will look like,” Ms Cernovskis said.
“Therefore it will enable them to think a little more clearly about what they may want to call it.”
