The ACT Place Names Advisory Committee provides advice to establish policies for the naming of divisions (suburbs) and public places on Territory Land in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Members
The committee is appointed by the Minister for Planning and Land Management to advise on the naming of suburbs, public places, geographical features and contentious naming matters. The current members are:
- Mr Greg Ledwidge, Surveyor-General of the ACT (Co-chair)
- Dr Marilyn Truscott (Co-chair)
- Mr Bradley Mapiva Brown
- Ms Roslyn Dundas
- Dr Anne McGrath
- Mr Tom McIlroy
- Mr Allen Mawer
- Mr Andrew Smith
- Ms Rebecca Sorensen
- Ms Caterina Sullivan
- Dr Karen Williams
Secretariat
- Ms Sharon Priestly, ACT Place Names Officer
- Ms Genevieve Palm, ACT Place Names Officer
- Mr Anthony Mollett, ACT Place Names Officer
Committee responsibilities
The Terms of Reference for the Place Names Advisory Committee are to:
- establish policies and guidelines for the determination of place names for Territory land in the ACT, including suburbs (divisions), roads, public places and geographic features; and
- provide recommendations to the Minister or his delegate on place names for Territory land in the ACT.
The Committee meets on an as required basis or at least twice a year. A meeting is arranged whenever issues arise that need a consensus of opinion from the Committee. Issues that would require a meeting may include:
- discussion on and formulation of place names policies
- contentious issues
- discussion on new suburb names and/or themes
Advice is sought from Indigenous Elders, nominated experts (historians and cultural experts) from external agencies, organisations and community groups when required.
The Public Place Names (Naming of Public Places) Guidelines 2021 detail the established policies for the naming of new divisions, roads and other public places in the ACT.
The committee has been appointed until 30 June 2024.