Two wetlands in Canning Vale are the first to be renamed using Noongar names, as part of a plan to rename all conservation category wetlands in the City of Gosnells.
The plan to rename the City’s wetlands follows a request from the State Government in 2019 and honours the history, culture and languages of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The wetland formerly known as the Comrie Road wetland has been officially named Maladjiny-ap Balyan Boodjar, which translates as place of growing wetland. It is pronounced ‘mala-GIN-up Bal-yan BOOJ-ar’.
The other wetland, formerly known as the Shreeve Road and Waterperry Drive wetlands, will be named Nakaal Maya Balyan Boodjar. The new name translates to peaceful place wetland and is pronounced ‘NAR-kal May-a Bal-yan BOOJ-ar’.
Mayor Terresa Lynes said the names were chosen by local Aboriginal Elders and the Langford Aboriginal Association.
“Currently, less than 15 per cent of the parks within the City of Gosnells have an official name registered with Landgate, so this program will help to rectify this while honouring the traditional owners of this area and recognising the enduring links between Country and culture,” she said.
“Registering place names with Landgate is important so that a single name for a place is recognised – allowing residents, emergency services, map providers and travellers to find our parks.”
The conservation category wetlands are highly valuable natural pockets in the City’s suburbs. These areas fill up after significant rain and often dry out during summer, creating feeding and breeding opportunities for a variety of fauna.
Beyond the program to rename the City’s conservation category wetlands, the City is also working to register official names for parks that have never been officially named.
When work to improve a park is completed as part of the City’s capital works program, the City now registers an official name with Landgate.
Caption: Mayor Terresa Lynes with one of the new signs installed around the renamed Wetlands bordered by Shreeve Road and Waterperry Drive in Canning Vale
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