Council has voted to seek ministerial agreement for dual naming of Ben Boyd National Park "in recognition of our shared history" through an amended council motion proposed by Cr Robyn Bain.
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The motion was not carried unanimously though with both Crs Cathy Griff and Jodd Dodds voting against the amendments to the staff recommendation.
Discussion on the naming of Ben Boyd National Park followed a meeting of council's Bega, Eden and Merrimans Aboriginal Liaison Committee who want council to advocate for local involvement in the current debate about the name of Ben Boyd National Park.
The original staff motion asked for council to write to Environment Minister Matt Kean, requesting that local Aboriginal people be involved in the current independent historical review of Ben Boyd's activities and the appropriateness of the name of Ben Boyd National Park.
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But Cr Bain said through her involvement on the Biamanga National Park four dual names were about to go to the minister for Gulaga/Mt Dromedary, Barunguba/Montague Island, Biamanga/Mumbulla Mountain and Najanuga/Little Dromedary.
Both Crs Griff and Dodds said the motion wasn't about the suitability of a name, but about advocating for local involvement in the choice of name for Ben Boyd National Park.
While Ben Boyd is remembered as a significant figure in the colonisation of the local area, there are aspects of his legacy that are contested and council staff said that "in the lead up to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Ben Boyd National Park, the current historical investigation presented an opportunity for truth-telling around the impacts of colonisation".
Cr Bain said that during discussion with the Biamanga board of management, she had been "witness to a process that is shared, of significant value and removed conflict for the community".
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"There has been no conflict, everyone recognises we have shared history. It's inclusive, non divisive and it's shared. I thought we could move things along really well and create a shared history for our part of the world."
However, council's director community, environment and planning, Alice Howe said Minister Kean had initiated an investigation into whether Ben Boyd, as a name, was appropriate.
"I believe that Cr Bain is advocating for a dual name but not necessarily that the English name is Ben Boyd," Dr Howe said.
