Three potential names have been short-listed for Mount Gambier’s community and recreation hub, currently under construction.

Mount Gambier City Council has selected Wulanda, Berrin and Mount Gambier CoRe and is calling on community members to make their preferences known and recommend an extended title for the new facility.

The council received 162 name suggestions following two rounds of community consultation to find a name in 2019.

Council chief executive Andrew Meddle said council appreciated all of the contributions provided by the community.

“Elected members had a difficult decision to whittle down the list of potential names,” he said.

“Several names that incorporated First Nations language from the Bunganditj dictionary were suggested, representing the Boandik language of the traditional owners of the land.”

The Regional Sport and Recreation Centre Committee short-listed three names that met the criteria for council’s endorsement at its monthly meeting last week, including Wulanda – Bunganditj language which means enjoy, cherish; Berrin – Bunganditj language which means Mount Gambier; and Mount Gambier CoRe – an acronym for community and recreation that references centre, hub, heart.

The Bunganditj Language Reclamation Committee reviewed all community submissions and provided its support for the use of the two suggested Bunganditj names.

The terms Convention and Recreation Centre; Community, Sport and Recreation Hub and Sport, Recreation and Entertainment Centre have also been presented to the community to guide and inform elected members on community sentiment regarding an extended title for the new facility.

“You may like the sound of Wulanda Convention and Recreation Centre, or perhaps Berrin Community, Sport and Recreation Hub. The community is now invited to tell us which combination of names they like best,” Mr Meddle said.

People without internet access are encouraged to visit the library to lodge their online submission. One submission per registration is permitted.

“The name of the community and recreation hub is important. It is the largest project that council has ever undertaken, and it needs a name and brand that reflects the aspirations of the community for the facility to be a place that people want to visit, experience and return to.”

Community consultation will close on November 13 with submissions presented to council for consideration.

To vote for your preferred facility name, visit: www.haveyoursaymountgambier.com.au/CaRH/survey_tools/name