Council staff oppose Peninsula naming

Gosford Council officers have argued that the Peninsula should not be officially named.

In a report to council, the officers argue that the area is not a peninsula and none of it is currently unnamed.

In a recommendation expected to come before tomorrow night's council meeting, the officers say that no further action should be taken to name "The Peninsula" as "none of the areas in the submissions are unnamed, and as the area...is not a peninsula".

Officers stated that the Geographical Names Board's (GNB) designation of "peninsula" covers "a piece of land almost surrounded by water, especially one connected with the mainland by only a narrow neck of land or isthmus."

They said that under this definition the land known as the "The Peninsula" was "not appropriate".

Officers also noted that the use of the geographical names board designation of "urban place" was "a place, site or precinct in an urban landscape, the name of which is in current use, but the limits of which have not been defined under the address locality program."

The council report stated that it received two submission to name the area of land administered as the suburbs of Woy Woy, Umina Beach, Ettalong Beach, Blackwall and Booker Bay as "The Peninsula or Woy Woy Peninsula".

The submissions are understood to have been those of Mr Lyle Stone of Peninsula News, and of local historian Ms Joan Fenton with community activitist Ms Heather McKenzie.

The report stated that an investigation into the name "reveals, anecdotally, that in the early 1970's the then Shire President, suggested Woy Woy Peninsula, as a way, of minimising issues, that existed between three progress associations".

"In addition council has and continues to use the name The Peninsula or Peninsula in its management of the area."

Council agenda COR.20, 27 March 2007