A PLAN to rename a popular Moorabool reserve has been largely opposed.<\/p>\n
More than 80 per cent of public submissions received as part of a proposal to rename Elaine Recreation Reserve on the Midland Highway said its name should remain.<\/p>\n
A community petition had previously called for the park to be renamed in honour of local man and dedicated volunteer Ron Read.<\/p>\n
An officer’s report revealed the proposal received 322 public submissions, with 56 people supporting the change and 255 objectors. Councillors voted to accept the report but hold off a formal decision on the name making process until next month.<\/p>\n
The majority of submissions were received by residents in communities around Elaine, Cargerie, Morrisons and Mount Doran.<\/p>\n
A statement made on behalf of Elaine Recreation Reserve Community Asset Committee chair Diane Cook said the community petition’s organisers were “saddened” to learn of the opposition to their renaming efforts.<\/p>\n
“The signed petition was forwarded to council two-and-a-half years ago after community support for honouring the late Ron Read,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Cook also paid tribute to the late Mr Read’s extensive efforts to reinvigorate the reserve over many years.<\/p>\n
“What you see at the Elaine Rec Reserve is mostly due to the timeless hardwork of Ron over three decades,” she said.<\/p>\n
“No one can deny that Ron Read was the driving force, often behind the scenes, of achieving the end result in which the young and old of today have a picturesque, functional and updated facility.”<\/p>\n
A counter submission by the Elaine Cricket Club – who are the primary user group – opposed the reserve’s renaming.<\/p>\n
Cr Tom Sullivan posed the motion be deferred to allow for “conversations” with different parties in an attempt to find another solution or middle ground.<\/p>\n
The matter will come back before Moorabool Shire council in August.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A PLAN to rename a popular Moorabool reserve has been largely opposed. More than 80 per cent of public submissions received as part of a proposal to rename Elaine Recreation Reserve on the Midland Highway said its name should remain. A community petition had previously called for the park to be renamed in honour of […]<\/p>\n