THE Queensland Redistribution Commission has been swamped with responses to the LNP objection to the renaming of the Cleveland electorate Oodgeroo.
Nearly all those who responded supported the renaming of the electorate after the much-lauded North Stradbroke Island poet and civil rights activist.
The LNP objected to the renaming on the grounds that Cleveland has remained much the same since its creation in 1992 from the then district of Redlands.
It argued that it was difficult to comprehend why the name would be changed given Cleveland remained the district’s commercial centre and boundaries had hardly changed.
Karen O’Brien of Point Lookout said naming of the electorate Oodgeroo would be similar to NZ where many place names were of Maori origin which reflected that nation’s culture.
“Naming the electorate Oodgeroo would be ... an improvement on the antiquated and archaic approach the LNP has to Australia's future,’’ she said in her submission.
“How wonderful would it be that an electorate in Quandamooka country has a name that is connected to the Quandamooka people, who, after all, have been associated with the area for around 20,000 years.’’
Lee Curtis of Point Lookout said the origin of the name Cleveland was uncertain and was most likely that of British Admiralty Secretary John Clevland (sic) of whom little was known and what was available was uninspiring.
Keith Stebbins of Coochiemudlo Island said it was only fitting that at least one electorate in Quandamooka country have a name that had some connection to Quandamooka people who had been associated with the area for about 20,000 years.
“In terms of the area’s identity Quandamooka names are actually much more representative of its history and cultural heritage than names such as Cleveland and Redlands,’’ he said.
The LNP’s submission on objections says there are no substantial objections.
Cleveland LNP MP Mark Robinson has declined to say where he stands on the Oodgeroo issue.
Many residents also did not want parts of Redlands to be included in the electorate of Springwood.
Helen Stoodley of Cleveland said she had seen no proposal that showed how Mt Cotton and Sheldon could be effectively managed with the Springwood area.
“I am entirely against this re-allocation,’’ she said.
Ross McGown of Sheldon said major issues like transport, roads and health in the Springwood electorate were not related to Redlands.
Alan Withers of Sheldon said there was no real community connection between Sheldon and Springwood.
Lara Maidment of Sheldon said the voice of locals would be lost to the largely commercial and industrial area of Springwood.