Decision details

Moved by Councillor Chung, seconded by Councillor Forster –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          on 25 May 1953, South Sydney Council resolved that the playground at 39-45 Kepos Street was to be named 'The Mrs Elizabeth McCrea Playground' to commemorate an old identity and highly respected citizen of the Redfern district for many years;

(ii)         on 17 February 2018, the City of Sydney re-opened the playground as 'Elizabeth McCrea Playground' following a refurbishment over the summer of 2017/18;

(iii)        on 12 March 2018, Council resolved on a vote of 6-4 to rename the park 'Kepos Street Playground' and to conduct public consultation into the renaming;

(iv)       there were 55 submissions made during the public consultation period with 45 submissions opposed to the renaming of the park 'Kepos Street Playground' and 31 wishing to retain the name Elizabeth McCrea Playground;

(v)         on 10 September 2018, the Corporate, Finance, Properties and Tenders Committee voted unanimously to follow the staff recommendation, in line with public submissions, to retain the name 'Elizabeth McCrea Playground';

(vi)       on 17 September 2018, the City of Sydney Council resolved to rename the playground “Zamia Kepos Playground” by a vote of 5-5 with the Lord Mayor utilising her casting vote to favour the renaming; and

(vii)      on 14 May 2019, the Geographical Names Board resolved to reject the proposed name noting that the incorporation of two street names for the playground name is not an acceptable combination of words and that name changes are discouraged unless deemed to be in the public interest or for safety reasons;

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to make immediate application to the Geographical Names Board to gazette 'Elizabeth McCrea Playground' as the official recorded name for the reserve at 39-45 Kepos Street to retain the historical significance and familiar recognition of the site.

Carried unanimously.

S129259