Last year, the Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council (BLALC) commenced an application to dual name the river the Macquarie River - Wambuul.

Bathurst Regional Council agreed to jointly submit the application with the land council, with mayor Bobby Bourke saying the dual name was "long overdue".

Other organisations have since put their support behind the application, including the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, Gunhigal Mayiny Wiradyuri Dyilang Enterprise, and the Orange, Trangie, Warren and Wellington local Aboriginal land councils.

Bathurst Wiradyuri elder Dinawan Dyirribang (Bill Allen) has also spoken positively of the proposal before.

READ MORE: Council proceeding with plans to dual name Macquarie River

The application will be considered by the Geographic Names Board, which takes into account evidence in the form of oral or written tradition that the feature has two names.

A proposal must have the written support of the relevant local council.

BLALC CEO Tonilee Scott has welcomed the support of Bathurst council.

"I would like to thank council for its support and collaboration, as well as local traditional owners and the GNB Board for its acknowledgment of living Aboriginal culture and heritage in our community," she said.

"We want to carry on our traditions as the original custodians of this country and share our rich and ancient history with our communities.

"Dual naming is a respectful and appropriate way to refer to our landforms, waterways and places."

The dual naming system applies to already named geographical features including rivers, creeks, waterfalls, mountains, and caves that are of cultural significance to the local Aboriginal community.

Ms Scott said that dual-naming landscapes connects broader communities with the Aboriginal culture and heritage of the areas they live in.

"Dual naming reflects the bonds between Aboriginal people and our sites and waterways that have continued over many tens of thousands of years," she said.

"Using the Wiradjuri language for the river is a powerful and inclusive symbol of the broader community's appreciation of First Nations people's very long ties to Wambuul."

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