Public Notice: Proposal to rename the Epping Animal Welfare Facility the ‘wat djerring Animal Facility’

The Epping Animal Welfare Facility is located at 20 Companion Place, Epping (previously Lot 3, 490 Cooper Street, Epping).

Council commenced managing the Epping Animal Welfare Facility on 16 October 2022 and is providing regional animal welfare services on behalf of the Cities of Whittlesea, Merri-bek and Darebin.

It is proposed that the Facility is relaunched with a new name to move away from being suburb-specific and reflect that the Facility services a much broader region.

To acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which the Facility is located, the Wurundjeri Willum Clan, it is proposed to rename the Facility with the Aboriginal name ‘wat djerring Animal Facility’.

 

wat djerring Animal Facility

In early 2022, an application was submitted to the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (‘Corporation’) seeking suggested Aboriginal names to be provided for use in the title of the Facility.

The name the Corporation offered is wat djerring, meaning “we together”.

The name is pronounced “wot jerring” – the ‘dj’ sound is not known in the English language but is a combination of the two sounds. They are pronounced together, but there is more emphasis on the ‘j’. The name is displayed in lower case lettering, with no initial capitalisation.

The meaning of wat djerring – “we together” – reflects that the three councils are working to deliver positive animal welfare outcomes for our communities and the main goal of the service which is to bring people and their pets back together.

It should be noted that this was the only name supplied for Council’s consideration by the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.

 

Public Submissions

In accordance with the Naming Rules public submissions are invited on the proposed name ‘wat djerring Animal Facility’ by 5.00pm, Sunday 20 November 2022 by email to civic.administration@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or post to Governance Team, City of Whittlesea Locked Bag 1, Bundoora MDC 3083.

If you object to the proposed name, please explain why you believe the name does not comply with any of the following general principles in the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria 2022:

• Ensuring public safety
• Recognising the public interest
• Linking the name to place
• Ensuring names are not duplicated
• Recognition and use of Traditional Owner languages
• Names must not discriminate or be offensive
• Gender equality
• Dual names (naming with two distinct parts, usually one part of non- Traditional Owner language origin and the other of Traditional Owner language origin
• Using commemorative names
• Using commercial and business names is not allowed
• Language (Names should be easy to pronounce. Prefixes, symbols, punctuation marks and abbreviations are not allowed.)
• Directional names north, south, east and west must be avoided
• Assigning extent to a road, feature or locality (Council must clearly define the area and/or extent to which the name will apply.)

Members of public are invited to provide feedback - to have your say visit https://engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/eawfrenaming

Further information on these general principles and the Naming Rules can be accessed via the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website.

 

Support and assistance

If you would like to make a submission it should be in writing and in English unless this unreasonably prevents or hinders you from participating.  If you are unable to provide your objection in writing and/or in English and there are any adjustments we can make to assist you to make a submission, please contact Council on 9217 2294 to discuss the means by which you may make an objection. 

If you do not speak English, we offer various language services to help you communicate with us including VITS and LanguageLinks.  If you have a hearing or speech impairment you may use the National Relay Service. 

 

Outcome

If you lodge an objection, Council will respond to your objection in writing and will notify you of the outcome of the public consultation.

 

Enquiries

If you have any questions please call 9217 2294 or email civic.administration@whittlesea.vic.gov.au