Australian Capital Territory
Public Place Names (Naming of public places) Guidelines 2014 (No 1)
Notifiable instrument NI2014–643
made under the  
Public Place Names Act 1989, section 4A (Guidelines about naming of public places)

1	Name of instrument
This instrument is the Public Place Names (Naming of public places) Guidelines 2014 (No 1).
2	Commencement 
This instrument commences on the day after notification. 
3	Guidelines about naming of public places
I make the guidelines for the purposes of section 4A of the 
Public Place Names Act 1989 as set out in the Schedule.  

Mick Gentleman
Minister for Planning
 
2 December 2014

Schedule  

Public Place Names (Naming of public places) Guidelines 2014 (No 1)

Naming of public places - generally

1.	In naming a public place, the following should be considered as relevant:
(a)	ACT Place Names Address Policy (2012);
(b)	Terms of Reference for the appointment of the
ACT Place Names Committee;
(c)	Committee for Geographical Names of Australasia
Guidelines for the Consistent Use of Place Names;
(d)	Rural and Urban Addressing Standard AS/NZS 4819:2011 
as in force from time to time; 
(e)	the nomenclature theme assigned to a division by the ACT Place Names Committee;
(f)	the desirability for the totality of public place names in the ACT to be reflective of diverse cultural situations; 
(g)	any advice of the ACT Place Names Committee to the Minister on proposals for geographic and division names and the themes to be adopted for naming roads and other public places on Territory land;  
(h)	in relation to urban open spaces the names of people who had a long association with the place;  and
(i)	any other matters the Minister considers appropriate.
In this section, “urban open space” includes neighbourhood parks.  

2.	In naming a public place, the following terms or names should be avoided: 
(a)	derogatory or discriminatory terms or terms in poor taste; 
(b)	names contrived to circumvent other parts of these guidelines;  and
(c)	terms which could be construed as advertising a commercial or industrial enterprise.

Naming of public places – addressing

3.	If the public place is a road, the requirements of the Unique Address Policy in the ACT Place Names Address Policy 2012 should be complied with unless the name has been recommended to the Minister by the ACT Place Names Committee and/or the ACT Place Names Unit after consultation with:
(a)	the ACT Emergency Services Agency;
(b)	ACT Policing; and
(c)	Australia Post.
Naming of public places – names of persons

4.	Only the names of deceased persons should be determined. 
5.	At least 12 months should elapse after the death of a person before that person’s name can be determined. 
6.	Reasonable steps should be taken to obtain permission from the person’s relatives, close colleagues or a relevant professional organisation before naming a public place after a person.
7.	Before determining a person’s name consideration should be given to the prominence of the person in their particular field. 
8.	A person’s name should not be determined for a major thoroughfare or arterial road unless the person has attained prominence or standing in their particular field.    
9.	The use of two names is not normally acceptable, but could be considered in special circumstances to afford uniqueness for commemoration of a significant name that strives to accord with simple addressing requirements.
Naming of geographical feature or locality

10.	Where no previous official name exists for a geographical feature or locality, preference should be given to a name that: 
(a)	is the local Aboriginal name that was originally applied to identify the geographical feature, provided that the wishes of the relevant Aboriginal community are respected regarding the use of the name; or 
(b)	is in keeping with the character and tradition of the locality; or 
(c)	has historical or local significance; or 
(d)	is suggestive of the peculiarity of the geographical feature.

Note:

1.	The ACT Place Names Committee will advise the Minister on all proposals for geographic and division names and the themes to be adopted for naming roads and other public places on Territory land.  
2.	The ACT Place Names Committee will also provide guidance to the ACT Place Names Unit of the Environment and Planning Directorate to ensure that any sensitivity has not been overlooked in the work of the unit. 
3.	The power of the Minister to determine names for public places and divisions applies to Territory Land only and not to National Land, refer to section 3 of the Public Place Names Act 1989.   “National Land” is land declared to be “National Land” under section 27 of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 (Cwlth) (PALM Act).  “Territory Land” is land in the Australian Capital Territory that is not “National Land”, refer to section 28 of the PALM Act.  
4.	The ACT Place Names Unit will consult with the Commonwealth on the naming of public places in areas of Territory Land specified as Designated Areas.  The National Capital Plan can specify areas of land in the Territory to be “Designated Areas” under section 10 of the PALM Act.