Residents of a booming estate are being asked to come up with a name for a new suburb that will include its emerging city centre.
A public survey has been launched to gather community input on a name for the central part of the rapidly growing Aura development.
The proposed suburb, which is currently part of the Bells Creek locality, has grown far faster than expected and is projected to ultimately be home to more than 8000 residents.
Member for Caloundra Kendall Morton, who has launched the survey, said the new suburb would neighbour Nirimba, Baringa, Galalba and Banya.
“The Aura city centre requires a new locality name and that includes the naming of what will be a new suburb,” she said.
“This particular area refers to what will ultimately be the city centre for the location.
“It will have a shopping centre – where work has started – the train station, lots of housing, the Aura Hotel and People’s Place, so it is an exciting part of the Aura master-planned community.
“All of this will benefit the people that have chosen Aura as their home and it’s an exciting and wonderful addition to the Caloundra region.
“People are proud of the identity and branding that has been attached to area, and the ability to be able to keep that identity is really important for people. So naming the city centre suburb will have an impact for generations to come.
“When I talk to people in the community and say ‘where do you live?’, they say they ‘live down at Aura’ or ‘I work at Aura’, ‘my kids go to school in Aura’.
“There is actually no suburb at the moment that attaches to that name. But now, this particular suburb-naming survey may mean my role in this is to make sure that the community has a voice in that name.”
Under the approved Caloundra South Master Plan, the new suburb will feature 4200 new dwellings; community facilities and services including police, fire and ambulance; and recreational infrastructure including a 15-hectare sports park, 10-hectare recreation park and a 1.8-hectare indoor sports facility.
The city centre precinct will have up to 140,000sqm of retail and commercial space, employing about 7000 workers, as well as the 11-hectare Aura Parklands, a public space akin to Brisbane’s South Bank.
A spokesperson for Aura developer Stockland said a new suburb name would provide an identity for the major economic precinct.
“The future city centre is expected to become a vibrant destination in the heart of Aura and it’s important that the name reflects and recognises the spirit of the community,” they said.
Ms Morton said community input was essential in shaping the suburb’s identity.
“This is about more than a label on a map, it’s about creating a place identity that locals can be proud of, and that reflects the character of our growing Sunshine Coast community,” she said.
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The naming process involves the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development, and includes consultation with the council, First Nations people and community groups.
Survey results will be presented to the department minister, who will work with its Director-General to decide on the final name.
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