Orange council asks staff to address gender imbalance in future place names

A review and expansion of the names register will support proposed changes to commemorative naming across parks, reserves, sporting facilities and buildings.

Council: Orange City Council

Meeting: 6 October 2026, 6:00 PM

Recorded status: approved


BRIEF

Orange City Council has asked staff to address an identified gender imbalance in future commemorative naming of council places and assets. Staff will review and expand the names register and report a proposed approach back to councillors. The substantive 6 October resolution passed 7-4. No place was renamed and no new commemorative name was approved.


KEY FACTS

- Council resolved on 6 October 2026 to progress work addressing an identified gender imbalance in future commemorative naming.

- The names register will be reviewed and expanded, with a proposed approach to return to council.

- The substantive resolution passed 7-4, with Cr S Peterson absent.

- No particular place was renamed and no new commemorative name was approved.

- The minutes do not provide the audit’s underlying figures, a target or a timeframe for the work.


ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD

- The resolution concerns future naming work and a proposed approach, not the approval of a particular name or the renaming of an existing place.

- The minutes do not state when the proposed approach will return to council or whether it will contain targets or quotas.


QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING

- When will staff report the proposed commemorative-naming approach back to council?

- What figures and categories were included in the audit of names within the Orange Local Government Area?

- Will the proposed approach include targets, quotas or other measures for addressing the identified gender imbalance?


RECORDED NEXT STEPS

- Progress work addressing the identified gender imbalance in future commemorative naming.

- Review and expand the existing names register.

- Report the proposed approach back to council.


SOURCE PASSAGES

Council asked staff to address an identified gender imbalance in future commemorative naming and to review and expand the names register.
"For: Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr J Stedman (Deputy Mayor), Cr K Duffy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr G Judge, Cr F Kinghorne, Cr D Mallard, Cr M McDonell, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Whitton Against: Nil Absent: Cr S Peterson RESOLVED - 26/560 Cr M Ruddy/Cr M McDonell 3 That Council request that staff progress work to address the identified gender imbalance in future commemorative naming of Council places and assets, including parks, reserves, sporting facilities, buildings and other appropriate public places, and review and expand the existing names register to support this work, with the proposed approach to be reported back to Council." (Resolution 26/560)

The item was heard and voted on in separate parts, and the procedural amendment passed 7-4.
"THE MOTION ON BEING PUT WAS CARRIED. RESOLVED - 26/558 Cr K Duffy/Cr G Judge 1 That Council determine that this item be heard and voted on in seriatim. For: Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr K Duffy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr G Judge, Cr F Kinghorne, Cr D Mallard, Cr J Whitton Against: Cr J Stedman (Deputy Mayor), Cr M McDonell, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy Absent: Cr S Peterson RESOLVED - 26/559 Cr M Ruddy/Cr J Stedman 2 That Council note the report on the Audit of Names within the Orange Local Government Area." (Resolution 26/558)

The substantive resolution passed 7-4, with Cr S Peterson absent.
"For: Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr J Stedman (Deputy Mayor), Cr D Mallard, Cr M McDonell, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Whitton Against: Cr K Duffy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr G Judge, Cr F Kinghorne Absent: Cr S Peterson Cr McDonell asked why there are duplicate names in the table." (Resolution 26/560 vote)


SOURCES

https://orange.infocouncil.biz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2026/10/CCL_06102026_MIN_16030.PDF

https://minutesradar.com/news/orange-infocouncil-council-6-oct-2026-6-00-pm-6-oct-2026-6-00-pm-minutes-orange-council-asks-staff-to-address-gender-imbalance-in-future-place-names/


Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.