Family street names approved

The developer of a Mosgiel subdivision has won approval from the Dunedin City Council for family-themed street names, despite concerns the council's road-naming policy was failing its first test.

Councillors at yesterday's infrastructure services committee meeting voted to allow Gladstone Oaks developer Rennie Logan to name one street Prudence Pl, after his sister, and an access way Karen Lane, after his wife.

The names continued a family theme which began when he named the subdivision's main road Irwin Logan Dr, after his father, who was the original landowner, a GP and former Mosgiel borough deputy mayor.

It had continued with the naming of other lanes in the development after Irwin Logan's grandchildren, before the council adopted a new road naming policy in December last year.

The policy emphasised names should reflect a common or established theme, a historical person or event, a significant feature, a traditional or appropriate Maori name, or a personal name to recognise special service.

A staff report to yesterday's meeting said the proposed names did not meet the requirements of the policy, and council land information team leader Rob Garrett told councillors the situation was "a little bit tricky".

The developer had a long-standing intention to use family names, but a formal request for the latest examples had come after the new policy was adopted, he said.

His proposed names also had the support of the Mosgiel Taieri Community Board.

Most councillors appeared happy to grant Mr Logan's request, but Crs Kate Wilson, Jinty MacTavish and Teresa Stevenson all opposed the names.

Cr Stevenson said the Irwin Logan Dr name was fitting, but others were less so.

Cr MacTavish said the names were not "particularly appropriate" and did not fit the new policy.

"We have just adopted a policy and the very first time we have got some names coming to us, we are not sticking by our policy."

However, Cr John Bezett was happy to support the names, saying in his view the policy's rules were intended to control the naming of major roads, not "a couple of minor roads".

Mayor Dave Cull said the main purpose of a road name was to ensure it was unique and people could find it, and the council would be "arrogant" if it overruled the community board's wishes.

Councillors voted 9-3 to accept the names, but the decision requires final approval at the next full council meeting on February 20.