Victoria’s Labor government is facing strong criticism after renaming a prominent lake in Melbourne’s southeast without consulting the local community.
Berwick Springs Lake, located in Narre Warren, has been renamed Guru Nanak Lake, in honour of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of the Sikh faith.
Ministers Ingrid Stitt and Sonya Kilkenny, along with local Labor MPs Gary Maas and Lee Tarlamis were among the guests in attendance.
The Minister for Multicultural Affairs Stitt announcing Berwick Springs Lake’s change of name said:
“I’m delighted to be recognising the significant contributions of our Sikh community in Victoria by naming a landmark after the founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak.”
Minister Kilkenny posted on Facebook:
“It’s official! Lake Guru Nanak in the Berwick Springs Wetlands Reserve! … Remember a Local, Name a Place!”
However, according to reports, the announcement, made by the state government on 9 November, has now sparked outrage among some local residents, who argue that the name change disregards the long-standing identity of the community.
A Change.org petition to reverse the renaming has already amassed over 4,320 signatures as of mid-November.
Critics of the move claim that the renaming was carried out without any consultation with the local residents, many of whom see Berwick Springs Lake as an integral part of their community.
“The sudden change of this name, without proper community consultation, has caused enormous distress among residents,” reads the petition.
“Berwick Springs is deeply tied to our community’s identity, and this change feels like a betrayal.”
Michael Ball, who is the head petitioner, posted a comment on Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny’s Facebook post, expressing strong opposition to the renaming of Berwick Springs Lake.
Ball emphasised that the local community respects the Sikh community but feels that the renaming process has been disrespectful, particularly because residents were not consulted beforehand. He argued that the renaming of an established public place should involve community input and that the lack of consultation has led to confusion and division.
“The Berwick Springs lake is the focal point of our local area ,it’s our identity and everyone knows it as Berwick Springs.”
Ball also called for the immediate suspension of the renaming initiative, an apology to the Sikh community, and the reinstatement of the original name, Berwick Springs.
The state government, however, argues that the renaming is part of a broader effort to celebrate Victoria’s diversity and acknowledge the contributions of its multicultural communities.
Both Kilkenny and Stitt defended the decision, pointing out that the Sikh community in Victoria, the largest in Australia, has made significant contributions to the state.
The change was part of a larger initiative to rename places across the state to better reflect its multicultural identity. The ministers emphasised the importance of recognising significant figures like Guru Nanak, who is seen by many in the Sikh community as a progressive leader promoting values of equality, truth, compassion, and community service.
While some in the Sikh community have welcomed the decision, according to Daily Mail, others have voiced concerns on social media about the use of religious figures as namesakes for public landmarks.
“I’m a Punjabi Sikh. I’m sorry, but this name is a bad idea. … I don’t think we should be naming landmarks after religious figures (unless a landmark’s notability is specifically due to religion).”
Local residents, however, have been outspoken in their opposition. Some have questioned the relevance of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to the area, noting that he has no direct connection to Berwick Springs. Some critics, commenting on social media, remarked,
“What was Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s ‘long association with’ any part of Victoria?”
“Guru Nanak wasn’t exactly a local—he was born in 1469.”
In addition to the name change, the Victorian government also announced $600,000 in funding for Sikh organisations to hold “Langer” events in the lead-up to the 555th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth.
The controversy has sparked a debate about the role of religious figures in place-naming and whether such decisions should involve broader community consultation.
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