Lithgow City Council have voted in favour of writing a letter of support to the family of the late Rae Swift to assist with the attempt to name a section of roadway in her honour.
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The Swift family made a request for Council to assist in making further representations to government after a year of knock backs, with a suggestion being Council provide a letter of support.
In November 2019, Council resolved to name a section of laneway located between Rifle Parade and Enfield Avenue, Lithgow, as Rae Swift Lane.
However, during the process, the Geographical Names Board rejected the proposal, suggesting to place a Christian name and surname in the naming of a road is outside the road naming guidelines.
Councillor Wayne McAndrew said he doesn't know how it has come to this point in naming a road with the attempt only to recognise the many years of work the individual had done for the community.
"This nonsense of not being able to have a surname and a first name in a road is just ridiculous, it needs to be fixed and I strongly support that council provide a letter to the family of the late Rae Swift in making further representations to the NSW Government seeking naming of the section between Jim Robson Aquatic Centre and the adjacent car park, Rae Swift avenue," he said.
"I know there were ideas to name it Rae or Swift Avenue but it makes no sense to name it either with the first or surname, it takes away recognition of it.
"I really believe if we don't get a decent answer we've got to keep pushing for it."
The numerous examples of first and last names used in road names within the Lithgow Local Government Area where pointed out, with the use of Fred Burley Drive and George Coates Avenue identified.
An appeal was lodged to the original decision, however, the rejection was upheld with the following advice was received:
"The road name does not meet the principles of the NSW AUM: 6.7.5 Acceptable Road Names - the use of given or first names in conjunction with a surname is not acceptable for road naming. Council have not demonstrated that the principles in the AUM have been incorrectly interpreted."
Council then decided the possibility of naming a section of road between the Jim Robson Aquatics Centre and the adjacent car parking area and to name it Rae Swift Avenue.
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Council made correspondence with Member for Bathurst Paul Toole seeking his assistance to further the request. A response was subsequently received from Mr Toole in his capacity as Minister for Regional Transport and Roads indicating that Transport for New South Wales had contacted GNB and was informed due to their already being a Ray's (Sic) Crescent within a five kilometre radius of the nominated laneway; the submission was rejected.
Ray Crescent is at an entirely different locality in Clarence and the two road names could not be confused.
However, the GNB advised that if Council and Mrs Swift's family would like to proceed they may submit an application for Swift Lane as there is not another Swift Lane in the Lithgow LGA and meets the GNB's criteria.
Cr Steve Ring said he had no problem honouring Rae Swift but wanted to know why Council was pushing so hard for it to be a road.
"If we're going through all this hassle with the geographical names board, banging our heads up against the road, are there better options out there? Are we better off with new estates coming talking to the family about naming one of the parks Rae Swift park?" he said.
"Is that a better option then the frustration, the anger this will raise with the family? I think we approach the family and offer the option of the alternative, or something similar."
But Cr McAndrew said the reason that avenue was chosen was because the section of road is located where she was involved in sport, just down from the basketball courts.
A departmental contact was provided and further discussions were held as there appeared to be a significant misunderstanding, particularly as the issue of Ray's Crescent had not been raised previously.
Furthermore, there had never been any suggestion the matter be referred back to the geographical names board but rather the Minister intervene and use his powers to approve a name outside the provisions of the State Governments address policy and user manual.
However, despite further verbal representations on Council's behalf, the geographical names board declined to review their position.
According to a report from Council staff, there is no further action available for council to take but they would be willing to support Rae Swift's family.
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