Place Names Act 2020

In this section – naming action means an action taken by a responsible authority in accordance with subsection (2) in respect of a place referred to in section 4(1)(c); responsible authority, for a place referred to in section 4(1)(c), means – if the place is located on reserved land, or in a reserved region, within the meaning of the Nature Conservation Act 2002, the Department responsible for the administration of that Act; or if the place is located on permanent timber production zone land, within the meaning of the Forest Management Act 2013, the Forestry corporation continued in existence under that Act; or if the place is on land owned by the Corporation, within the meaning of the Hydro-Electric Corporation Act 1995, the Corporation; or in any other case, a council of a municipal area where the place is located, unless another authority is prescribed for the place.

In accordance with the guidelines, the responsible authority for a place referred to in section 4(1)(c) may do one or more of the following in respect of the place:name the place; alter, or revoke, an approved name for the place; alter, clarify, extend or reduce the location, boundary or extent of the place.

The responsible authority for a place referred to in section 4(1)(c) must ensure that any naming action, performed in respect of the place, complies with – the relevant provisions of the guidelines; and this Act and any other applicable Act; and the relevant procedures of the responsible authority.

As soon as practicable after performing a naming action in respect of a place, the responsible authority for the place is to submit details of the action to the Registrar for recording in the register.

The Registrar must record in the register the details of each naming action performed by a responsible authority, as submitted to the Registrar under subsection (4), unless subsection (6) applies in respect of the naming action.

The Registrar may only refuse to record a naming action performed by a responsible authority, as submitted to the Registrar under subsection (4), if – the naming action results in – a name for a place that does not comply with the guidelines; or a name for a place that is an approved name for another place; or prescribed circumstances exist in relation to the name.

If the Registrar refuses under subsection (6) to record a naming action in respect of a place, the Registrar is to – notify the responsible authority for the place, in writing, of the refusal; and in the notification under paragraph (a) – state that the responsible authority is to submit, under subsection (4), another naming action in respect of the place; and specify the period in which such a submission is to be made; and refer the naming action to the Panel if – the responsible authority does not submit another naming action for the place in accordance with paragraph (b); or the Registrar refuses under subsection (6) to record the subsequent naming action submitted in accordance with paragraph (b).

The referral of a naming action, in respect of a place, to the Panel under subsection (7)(c) is taken for the purposes of this Part to be a proposal, in respect of the place, forwarded to the Panel under section 10(2)(b).