Media coverage this morning by the Herald Sun and 3AW implying a community backlash against Yarra Council’s decision to name a right of way ‘Bagung Lane’ in Princes Hill is completely inaccurate. 

This is despite the facts being clearly articulated in a publicly available council report which showed:

• The publicly advertised proposal, which relates to a currently unnamed right of way in Clifton Hill, attracted just 4 submissions. 
• 3 of the 4 submissions stated their strong support for the use of an Aboriginal word in the name. 
• Only one submission suggested the use of a non-Aboriginal name, and only if the pronunciation could not be addressed.

On Tuesday 18 July, Council voted to adopt ‘Bagung Lane’ as its preferred name and to submit it the Registrar of the Office of Geographic Names.

Council’s decision is in keeping with its long-standing policy of consulting the local Aboriginal community regarding new place names.

‘Bagung’ is a Woiwurrung word meaning 'to gather'.