Time and again residents have passionately and vocally responded to decisions that affect them.

Plans to knock down the civic hall, the closure of the Black Hill pool and even the fight to save historic features of the former Ballarat Orphanage have all galvanised people into taking action.

The proposal to name Ballarat’s newest suburb Mullawallah has been one of the most contentious issues facing the City of Ballarat so far this year.

The area, bounced by Wiltshire Lane, the Ballarat-Carngham Road and the Glenelg Highway, was slated to be named Mullawallah after respected Aboriginal elder William Wilson, also known as King Billy or Mullawallah.

However, it was abandoned after a significant groundswell of opposition, based on concerns about the name’s spelling and pronunciation, and residents’ safety in emergencies, particularly because of similarly named towns and suburbs across Australia.

But – again – residents have shown they are prepared to use people power to make a stand. An online petition on change.org

urging the council to put the Mullawallah name back on the table has received about 1000 signatures in a short space of time.

Mayor John Philips said the name had never been taken off the table, but rather the opposition had caused the council to undertake a more thorough consultation process before announcing the suburb’s new title.

The concern is that the thorough consultation should have been done before any decisions were made, rather than afterwards.

Or does the council often underestimate the passion of the people, especially when it comes to matters that will closely affect them. 

Substantial and detailed community conversations are the hallmark of any thriving town, but before, not after, decisions are made.