NewS
ISSUE 16 | November 2021
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PARRAMATTA HIVE HAS STUNG DHARUG COMMUNITY
$30k bill to name building HAT’S in name? Would a building by any other name smell sweeter? After all, the name Parramatta Council has bestowed on its new civic building, Phive, means Parramatta Hive–and it certainly has created a buzz. But will the name that has had no community input and has stung the local indigenous community, prove too sticky?
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DI BARTOK REPORTS N A decision that has divided the community, Parramatta Council is sticking to its guns over the naming of its new civic and community centre due to open in April 2022. The name Phive–Parramatta Hive, pronounced Five–has angered the Aboriginal community, heritage lovers and other members of the wider Parramatta community who have lit up social media with their objections–or just plain bafflement–at council’s choice. The name was put forward by consultants that cost council $30,000 after the community rejected the only two options put to them–the Civic and Civic Place. Phive relates to the present name of the building in Parramatta Square–P5–and considers its role as the hive of Parramatta, as well as its honeycomb roof design. But the “cleverness” of the name has not struck a chord with objectors who feel the name should either reflect the indigenous or colonial heritage of Parramatta. On October 25, the last council meeting before the December 4 election, former lord mayor Bob Dwyer failed in his bid to have the decision made earlier in the month overturned. The decision to go with the name Phive is supported by Labor councillors Pierre Esber, Donna Davis, Sameer Pandey, Patricia
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Prociv, Greens Phil Bradley, Independents Lorraine Wearne and Andrew Wilson and one Liberal Ben Barrak. Those against the name are Lord Mayor Steven Issa, deputy Lord Mayor Michelle Garrard, and Liberals Bob Dwyer, Martin Zaiter, Bill Tyrrell and Andrew Jefferies. In putting his rescission motion, Cr Dwyer felt he could sway at least two of his fellow councillors. But the vote was the same as before. Cr Dwyer suggested that the iconic building be named after colonial architect James Houison or carry a name relevant to the Dharug people of Parramatta. Resident and community activist Darryn Capes-Davis addressed the council meeting to support Cr Dwyer’s rescission motion, calling on better community consultation for a name more fitting. He said the name Phive had “no cultural or heritage connection with Parramatta”. Mr Capes-Davis favoured either the architect Houison’s name or an appropriate Dharug word, Mirrung, meaning “belonging”. The indigenous community is angered by council’s decision that ignored their input. “Not one of the names we suggested was even presented as a choice for people,” Dharug elder Julie Webb told the Times. “We submitted five-plus names for consideration after being approached. A lot of work went into meaningful names that represented inclusiveness.
Building called Phive.
“Given Barramada's linguistically diverse population, pronunciation should not have been a huge problem given it was one name or phrase. Community were not even given the opportunity to try.” The Aboriginal names put forward were: - Yuwingalyang (yew-in-galang) (Place of Truth) - Baramada Butbutyin (Heart of Parramatta) - Baramada Ngurra Nuru (bara-mada nara nuru) (Parramatta Camp Central) - Daranggulang (Cabbage Palm – Life Source (As per the PCC Logo) - Ngurang Budyari Gumadayin (Place of good Spirit) - Ngara Baramadaduruyin (Democracy in Parramatta Prevails) Aboriginal elders say they were not
even advised of the outcome, discovering it on social media. But Parramatta Council has told the Times that the Dharug community was asked for more names after those submitted were found to be unsuitable. There was no response, a council spokesperson said. Parramatta historian Gary Carter has suggested that Barramatugal would have been a good name. But Parramatta Chamber of Commerce president Luke Magee said he was “okay” with the name Phive, understanding the intent behind it. However, he was concerned with the amount of community angst it has caused. “Council could have been more inclusive, engaging the community more, perhaps having a naming competition as has been done with the light rail bridge over James Ruse Drive,” Mr Magee said.
Julie Owens set to resign POLITICS | DI BARTOK ULIE Owens, long-serving Federal Labor MP for Parramatta, has announced that she is resigning from Parliament. Ms Owens, who is in her 18th year of representing Parramatta, will not be contesting the next election, expected to be held early next year. An immensely popular MP, the Liberals have tried with several different candidates to take the seat from Ms Owens. Over the years, the federal seat has swung between Liberal and Labor, with
J Julie Owens.
a swing of 4.17 pc to the Liberal’s Charles CamenzuliI at the 2019 election. With rumours flying of Ms Owens’ impending resignation leading up to her official announcement on Friday, Liberal officials are now working on who should be the candidate. This is amid the Liberals still working out who will be their candidates for the December 4 Parramatta Council election. In a statement, Ms Owens thanked the people of Parramatta for their ongoing support. “I am now in my 18th year as Member for Parramatta and I can honestly
say I’ve loved every minute of it,” Ms Owens said. “Parramatta is home to the most fantastic people I have been blessed to meet so many. It has been an honour to represent this diverse and endlessly fascinating community since 2004. “But the time has come to spend more time with my family, especially my grandchildren. “My goal in this job has always been to make my community stronger. Because no one is better equipped to solve the problems that we face and build a better future for Parramatta than its community.”
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