RUSSELL or Canaipa Island?
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That is the question State Development Minister Anthony Lynham has asked Redland residents to answer.
Mr Lynham called for public feedback on changing the island’s name to its traditional indigenous name, Canaipa, after a request from Redland City Council last year.
Submissions to the state can be for or against the name change, but there is no option in the state proposal to only keep the name Russell Island.
However, the state proposal does include using both names while people, and maps, adjust to the name Canaipa Island.
Redland City Council backed the Bay Islands Chamber of Commerce push for the change in September last year.
The support came four months after bay island councillor Mark Edwards was forced to withdraw his initial request to council to support the name change in May 2014 until the islands’ indigenous community was consulted.
Chamber president Colin McInnes said the proposal, first made in 2013, was a bid to bury the island’s reputation as a place where shady land deals were done.
If approved by the state, the island would be referred to as both titles until the aboriginal name, Canaipa, became commonly accepted.
At the time, Cr Edwards said the likelihood of any island name change was "very, very slim" because it affected maritime charts around the world.
“The process can take years but council would support running both names at the same time, similar to the way Ayers Rock was changed to Uluru.”
Russell Island couple Neil and Diane Pitt questioned the name change and said it was a waste of money and claimed there was inadequate community consultation.
"Shouldn’t those who have invested their money and lives in this island be the ones to determine whether this expenditure should proceed?" Mr Pitt said.
"The council, who supported this application, could run a Russell Island landowner referendum/survey in conjunction with the next rate notice at minimal cost."
Cr Edwards said for many years the public had wanted a say on changing the island’s name to Canaipa, which means place of the ironbark spear.
He said the Bay Islands Chamber of Commerce had engaged with the local community before approaching council last year to ask for its in-principle support.
“Council supported the community by writing to the state government as the ultimate decision-makers, asking them to consider the request and I am pleased that they have responded by calling for submissions," he said.
“The proposed name change will strengthen the Redlands’ acknowledgement of the region’s traditional owners, as well as adding to the island’s tourism appeal by highlighting its strong history and cultural connections.”
Submissions on the proposal should be lodged with the Queensland Place Names section of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines website www.dnrm.qld.gov.au by July 29.
Submissions in writing, either in support of or against the proposal, can be submitted online at www.dnrm.qld.gov.au or sent to Queensland Place Names, Level 9 Landcentre, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, GPO Box 2454, Brisbane Qld 4001.
