MINISTER DELIVERS ON N.Q. PLACE NAMES

24 October 2008

Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace today announced the official naming of the northern beaches of Townsville and Scottville.

Mr Wallace said he was responding to calls to officially name Balgal Beach, Toomulla Beach, Toolakea Beach and Bushland Beach and create Scottville as a locality in accordance with the Place Names Act 1994.

“The northern beaches area of Townsville is a fantastic relaxation and holiday spot and is popular with both locals and tourists,” Mr Wallace said.

"Although the beach names are well known locally, they have never been officially recorded under the Place Names Act.

"By officially naming these beaches, they will be on the official record forever. Naming will ensure they are included in official maps and in the records of all government agencies."

Mr Wallace said members of the Scottville community had asked to officially create the town as a locality to avoid further difficulties with emergency services and other agencies.

“The issue arose when the town of Scottville was included in the locality of Collinsville under the Act,” he said.

“I have now approved the creation of Scottville as a separate locality under the Act to overcome the problem where organisations such as Telstra, Australia Post and emergency services use localities in their databases, not town names.

“This move, which has the support of the local council, will fix the problem and ease the concerns raised by the community.”

Mr Wallace said the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) administered the Place Names Act that controls the official naming of localities, suburbs and geographical features within local government boundaries.

"In the case of the Townsville northern Beaches, in October 2007, the former Thringowa council submitted a proposal to NRW to officially name the four northern beaches within the council area (now the new City of Townsville)," he said.