The issue was raised at last week’s meeting of Bathurst Regional Council, where he asked that council consider changing the policy for naming facilities.

“The one we’ve got now you’ve got to be dead before they name anything after you and I don’t think they’re getting true recognition,” Cr Bourke said. 

He said the Living Legends initiative was “working well” and recognition of outstanding alive citizens should be extended to public spaces.

“I think people should be alive knowing that there’s a park or something else [named after them],” he said. 

Council’s guidelines say facilities can be named after individuals in exceptional circumstances to commemorate and recognise those who have contributed significantly to the betterment of the community.

The guidelines also say facilities are “generally” only named after someone who is deceased, but exceptions can be made.