Controversy over ‘offensive' park name getting ‘woke' change
The city held public consultation on the proposed name change earlier this year after years of debate and an 11-1 council vote in December approving the change to Koorlangka Park.
Just more than 1800 submissions were received, with 55 per cent backing the name change, while 43 per cent supported keeping the original name.
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Of the 1802 submissions, 40 per cent (746) were from people living outside the City of Joondalup.
Despite public support, the city will need to return to the drawing board for a new name after Landgate said 'Koorlangka Park' would not be supported due to its similarity in pronunciation and spelling to the nearby Koolyanga Road. The park is named Blackboy Park due to the presence of xanthorrhoeas, plants more commonly known today as grass trees. Credit: Simon Santi / The West Australian
City officers have recommended the city pursue an alternative Aboriginal place name through an Aboriginal-led engagement process.
The decision comes despite Landgate, the authority responsible for place naming in WA, previously expressing general support for the proposed name.
The city had engaged Aboriginal consultancy Nyungar Birdiyia in early 2024 to provide a recommendation for the renaming.
Koorlangka Kallip, which loosely translates to 'children's park' in Noongar, was initially suggested by the group, though city officers advised keeping 'Park' based on feedback from Landgate.
The park is named Blackboy Park due to the presence of xanthorrhoeas, plants more commonly known today as grass trees.
Currently there are only a handful of these grass trees in the 20,750sqm park.
Common points raised by those in support of the changes during the community consultation included that the current name was 'offensive, outdated, derogatory and racist', and that renaming the park would be 'more respectful and welcoming'.
The main arguments of those opposed to the change were that the current name was 'not offensive', that it referred to a plant name, and that changing it was seen as 'woke'.
City officers believe the council should still consider changing the park's name as the community expected it.
'The community consultation undertaken revealed that, overall, a majority of those who responded support the renaming of Blackboy Park,' city officers said in a report.
'Actions undertaken by the city and decisions of council on this issue to date have raised an expectation with the community that Blackboy Park will be renamed, and more specifically renamed with an appropriate Aboriginal place name.
'Not proceeding to rename Blackboy Park, or renaming the park with a non-Aboriginal name, creates a reputational risk with members of the community that consider reference to the term 'blackboy' is outdated and offensive.'
The Joondalup council will consider the city's recommendation at their meeting on June 24, following discussion at the agenda briefing on June 10.
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